Russell Westbrook performs key function in Lakers’ latest wins regardless of chilly capturing – Press Enterprise

SACRAMENTO — The Lakers’ four-game profitable streak probably would not have been potential with out Russell Westbrook after Saturday night time’s opener.

Earlier than the Lakers’ matchup with the Kings, Westbrook had averaged 13.8 factors, 7.8 rebounds and seven.8 assists over his earlier 4 video games. The Lakers outscored opponents by a team-high 46 factors in his 107 minutes.

That is the form of impression the Lakers as soon as hoped for once they traded for the 2017 league MVP 18 months in the past; a flexible playmaker who may rating. As he started to come back off the bench this season, the fervor surrounding Westbrook died down and the 34-year-old appeared to settle into that function.

However as ever, there’s at all times one thing polarizing about Westbrook’s sport. this season it has been his capturing.

Westbrook was damage for his shot choice final season, ending 44.4% from the sphere and 29.8% from 3-point vary. Westbrook is taking just below two and a half makes an attempt per sport this season and is capturing 40.9% from the sphere and 28.2% from behind the arc. His capturing mark can be the second-lowest of his profession if sustained over the course of the season. his 3-pointer can be the fourth-lowest.

Effectivity has by no means been a trademark of Westbrook’s sport (whilst MVP he shot 45.9% on 2-point makes an attempt). Coach Darwin Hamm, one in all Westbrook’s greatest defenders, stated he is not too involved at this level. The most important sin, in his opinion, might be for Westbrook to hesitate.

“If he is organising a smaller participant, I would like his focus to be attending to the rim, attending to the paint,” Hamm stated. “When he will get it on the perimeter, I do not need him to second-guess himself. I would like him to make fast selections, whether or not it is a secondary swing or a fast drive or only a catch and shoot. And I simply suppose that form of rhythm and that form of half-court tempo and, once more, being considerate about what you wish to do offensively, that is going to heal quite a bit, I believe.”

Efficiency stats paint a poor image of Westbrook’s sport. Stat website Cleansing the Glass ranks Westbrook within the backside 10% in mix capturing (29%), factors per shot try (96.5 factors per 100 makes an attempt) and turnover share (16.4). %).