Darvin Ham’s explanations on sitting Russell Westbrook: “We do not have time to consider individuals’s emotions”

Lower than every week after the beginning of the 2022-2023 season of the NBA tensions have elevated inside Los Angeles Lakers. If a begin with a steadiness of 0-3 was not dangerous sufficient, the final loss got here in a duel during which they have been main in opposition to Portland Path Blazers (106-104) by 7 factors with lower than 2 minutes remaining. A recreation during which Russell Westbrook performed the fewest minutes of any starter on the workforce and was sat out at an important second when the Angels had an opportunity to win.

After the sport the Lakers head coach was requested, ham darvin, whether or not or not he was frightened about his choice to sit down Westbrook down for the ultimate possessions. The debutant coach didn’t mince phrases in his phrases.

“We do not have time to consider individuals’s emotions. I wouldn’t have time for that”Ham stated of the choice to decide to bench the 2017 MVP.

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Given the context within the recreation and the rumors surrounding a attainable Westbrook commerce, that is far more than a technical choice or a sideline.

In Sunday’s Oct. 23 loss to Portland, Westbrook sat out the primary 7:18 of the fourth quarter earlier than getting into with 4:42 remaining. When Russ returned to the court docket, LeBron James made it from the free throw to increase the result in 98-90. For the following jiffy with Westbrook on the parquet the Angels gave up a 14-4 run and Portland took a 2-point lead with 12.4 seconds remaining.

In that stretch of the sport, Westbrook’s choice to cease for a leap shot from mid-range with a +2 for the Lakers has been the supply of a number of criticisms. It would not assist that the purpose guard’s miss got here on the offensive possession that preceded Damian Lillard’s 3-pointer to place the Blazers forward.

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With an opportunity to tie or win with 12.4 seconds remaining, Ham eliminated Westbrook, choosing an Austin Reaves lineup as a substitute.

The transfer paid off instantly, as James tied the rating with 7.7 seconds remaininghowever on the following possession, Jerami Grant gave his workforce the victory with an ideal motion.

The basket that gave the victory to the Blazers on the Lakers’ residence (106-104)

straw grant

✅ LeBron James: 31 factors, 8 rebounds, 8 assists
❌ Russell Westbrook: 4 of 15 in TC, 10 factors in 27 minutespic.twitter.com/OTp8XxecK2

— 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 Spain 🇪🇸 (@sportingnewses) October 23, 2022

Russ sat out every of the final three possessions of the sport, one more signal that his standing with the workforce is not robust in any respect.

Though it’s usually necessary to not give an excessive amount of significance to the +/-, this time it’s price highlighting. Within the 4:30 that Westbrook was on the court docket within the fourth quarter the Lakers have been outscored by 10 factors. The Californians misplaced the duel by 2.

This matchup was itself a continuation of the 2017 MVP’s struggles since coming to the franchise. Certainly, he completed with 10 factors, 6 rebounds and 6 assists, however he was left in a poor 4 of 15 (26.7%) capturing from the sector.

Westbrook was the one Lakers starter to have a adverse +/- within the recreation.

As tensions proceed to construct with every Laker loss, one other choice like this from Ham may sign the start of the top of Westbrook’s time as a Laker.

The opinions expressed herein don’t essentially symbolize the NBA or its organizations.