Russell Westbrook shirks responsibility despite poor performance in LA Lakers' loss - "You're saying what I was trying to do? Nothing"
LA Lakers superstar Russell Westbrook offered some enigmatic responses during his recent post-game interview. With some extremely measured and deadpan answers for the Lakers' loss, Westbrook remains tight-lipped regarding the issues plaguing the team.
Coming off their 104-106 loss against the Portland Trail Blazers, the LA Lakers have notched their third defeat of the season. This is certainly a cause for concern for them.
Having formed a bit of a losing habit, the Purple and Gold will need to switch things up soon. In this manner, having players disclose what they believe is plaguing the team is often a positive sign. However, 9x All-Star Russell Westbrook has been keeping his cards fairly close to his chest as of late.
Westbrook has received a lot of criticism regarding his performance in Sunday's game. Although his overall impact was negligible, he caught a lot of flak for some of the plays he made late in the game.
When asked about his mentality when returning to the floor late in the game, Westbrook said:
"Just play. I'm confused on like- the team went on a run when I was out of the game and then I came back in. You're saying what I was trying to do? Nothing. Just play."
After a dreadful start to the season, the Lakers will head out on their first road trip of the 2022-23 campaign. Considering the grueling state of affairs that will follow, Westbrook was asked how the team would get back to winning games.
"I don't have the answer for that one. Just keep competing."
Westbrook ended his interview with a rather measured take on the Lakers' shooting woes.
"Not sure. I'll take a look at the film and see what was happening in that moment before I say something that wasn't true. So I want to take a look at that first."
Russell Westbrook talks to the media after finishing with 10 points, 6 boards, and 6 assists against the Blazers. https://t.co/dnPYMLVo94
Needless to say, Westbrook has maintained a fairly composed disposition while fetching questions. However, his responses give away very little in terms of meaningful information. This hasn't been well-received by a majority of fans.
Considering the importance of the 9x All-Star to the team, the Purple and Gold will need to see Westbrook have more of an impact. However, given his current form and the building pressure from fans and the media, the star faces significant obstacles in the way of doing so.
Russell Westbrook continues to fall short of the LA Lakers' expectations
Russell Westbrook managed to bounce back to some extent in the game against the Portland Trail Blazers. After a horrendous night against the LA Clippers, the superstar certainly showed some improvement. However, the contribution was way short of what is expected from a player of his caliber.
Russell Westbrook recorded 10 points, six rebounds and six assists against the Trail Blazers. This seems like a decent stat line for a role player, but it's certainly unbecoming of a superstar.
In light of current difficulties, the superstar hasn't made the situation easier for himself. Having shot 4-15 from the field and 0-3 from beyond the arc, the superstar only highlighted and contributed to the Lakers' shooting woes.
Additionally, a costly late-game shot by Westbrook resulted in a game-winning opportunity for Damian Lillard and the Trail Blazers.
Russell Westbrook took this shot up 1 with 18 seconds left on the shot clock.
Lakers crowd and announcers were all shocked.
https://t.co/06lxcFKu65
With a two-game road trip coming up, the LA Lakers will desperately need to start winning games. In such a situation, the team will also hope to see Westbrook turn up with a set of positive performances.