[ad_1]
CHICAGO – Russell Westbrook is only 31 years and 300 days old, but he’s fading faster than a worn pair of jeans.
Through two games in the current Rockets-Lakers series, the former Thunder is shooting just 14 of 39 from the field and 2 of 12 from 3-point range. He has also missed five of nine free throws.
But here is the statistic that gives Rockets fans ulcers.
Crispy and Rusty Russ has 12 turnovers against just 10 assists. And with a salary of $ 38.1 million this season, Westbrook is what accountants call a poor return on investment.
“Right now, I’m just hanging around. I have to watch the movie and figure out how to be effective,” Westbrook said. The Houston Chronicle after putting on a horror show in Game 2 where he missed 11 of 15 shots and spun the ball seven times.
Continue reading below ↓
Recommended Videos
In fairness to Russ, he is a COVID-19 survivor and had just recovered from a quadriceps injury that caused him to miss four of Houston’s eight seeded games, as well as four games in the Rockets-Thunder series.
But as a boxer who would never give up even if he keeps hitting the other guy’s fists with his face, Westbrook will keep attacking hard and will unknowingly hurt his team.
This is where Rockets head coach Mike D’Antoni must step in and bring in someone else who can contribute as Westbrook cuts through a fog of mediocrity and self-doubt.
Benching a nine-time All-Star and former league MVP will meet with much resistance and criticism, but when the personal struggles of a great player are infecting the overall health of the team, drastic, life-saving measures are needed.
Often times, a great coach has to be a decisive politician. You must be willing to make tough decisions that are correct but not necessarily popular.
Look, I’m not saying that Westbrook should be completely benched. I’m just saying put a shorter leash on it.
When he goes 2 of 12 from 3, when do you tell him to take the ball to the hoops?
MORE OF SPIN
AND WHEN THE BALL ROTATES SEVEN TIMES, WHEN DO YOU PRESS THE ALARM?
The Rockets lost Game 2 by eight, 117-109, and if you take away the 14 points the Lakers outscored Houston when Westbrook was on the floor, who knows?
Which puzzled me why D’Antonio, in the wake of Westbrook’s slow but sure collapse, played Austin Rivers for just seven lousy minutes.
I know, Rivers wasn’t exactly effusive in Game 2 with zero points on 0-of-2 shots, but this kid is capable and he showed it in Game 1 where he had 10 points and three 3s in 16 minutes of action.
The Rockets made 10 more triples than Los Angeles in Game 2, but the Lakers won the fast break run, 20-6, and dominated the points in the paint, 54-26.
Still, if the Rockets can continue to make 3s at a high rate, they have more than one chance to hit the top-seeded Lakers.
What Houston can’t keep doing is watching Russ fade away and let Rivers dry up.
CLOSE THE FRONT DOOR. The law is tough, but the law.
The law is tough but it is the law.
But does it have to be unfairly harsh?
And that was the case at the US Open when Novak Djokovic was suspended for hitting a linesman in the throat with a ball.
Whether he did it on purpose or not is irrelevant. What was legislated here was the action, not the intention.
I understand, you have to apply the rules. But those rules are archaic and must be amended.
Passion and sport will always be intertwined and tennis should open a window for those emotions to breathe. .
Fine the offender, lose a set, but don’t deny him his quest for an 18th Grand Slam title as he robs fans of the joy of seeing the world’s No. 1 player.
