Russell Westbrook was relegated to the bench by Lakers coach Frank Vogel again for the second time this season to finish a game.
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Russell Westbrook was benched in the final minutes of the Los Angeles Lakers’ overtime triumph over the New York Knicks on Saturday, reigniting debate about the former MVP’s fit in Los Angeles. Westbrook did play in the final minutes of the fourth quarter, but he did not return when the game was forced into overtime, as the Lakers completed a 21-point comeback with a 122-115 victory over the Knicks.
“The Brodie” finished the evening with five points, six assists, and four rebounds in 29 minutes. He turned the ball over four times, shot 1-for-10 from the field — including 0-for 3 from distance — and 3-for-7 from the free-throw line.
“The best part of this game is that you win,” Westbrook said after the game. ” … We won the game and that’s all that matters.”
“I missed some shots that I normally make. I don’t want to keep making it about me. When I play bad, you guys ask me a s— ton of questions. And then when I shoot the ball well, I don’t hear too many of those questions. … We won the game and that’s the most important part.”
The decision to sit Westbrook was based on LeBron James‘ success on the night, according to Lakers coach Frank Vogel.
In 40 minutes, James had 29 points, 13 rebounds, 10 assists, and three turnovers in his first game since Jan. 25.
Vogel said, “I think obviously Russ was having a tough night on both sides of the ball, and [LeBron] was really going. So I knew the ball was going to be in [LeBron’s] hands.”
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Westbrook is shooting 43.7 percent from the field, 30 percent from three, and 66.8% from the free-throw line this season. He’s averaging 18.4 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 7.7 assists per game, his lowest total since his sophomore season.
However, it’s a little more complicated than that.
Westbrook is shooting 54.5 percent (225-for-413) on shots within five feet of the basket this season, which is the second-worst FG percent among the 54 players who have attempted at least 200 field goals from that range (James Harden, 52.6 percent ).
He’s shooting 52.9 percent (218-for-412) on layups this season, which ranks 69th among players with at least 100 layup tries, and 59.1 percent (178-for-301) on shots underneath three feet of the basket, which ranks 93rd amongst players with at least 100 FG efforts from that range.
Westbrook has the most missed shots from 0-3 feet (123), 0-5 feet (188), and missed lay-ups in the NBA (194).
To put those figures in context, just 12 players have a higher total field goal percentage than Westbrook’s lay-up field goal percentage this season.
The Lakers’ decision to play Westbrook in the clutch for the rest of the regular season and into the playoffs will be based on those shooting percentages, according to Bayless.
