But the unspoken assumption was that Westbrook would indeed change, either out of deference to the Lakers’ track record of success, out of deference to LeBron, out of understanding that his prime is evaporating, or perhaps some combination of all three. Making all three is quintessentially Russell Westbrook: He handles the ball a lot – sometimes to mind-blowing success, and sometimes to chaos.Ī star-driven organization from Pelinka on down, the Lakers have talked extensively about giving Westbrook room to feel comfortable and to play the way that once made him a league MVP. We were trying to get Melo to the top of the floor, but the spacing wasn’t great.”Īny one of those mistakes is a grave slip-up during a high-leverage game situation. Westbrook declined to go into detail on it, as did Anthony.Ĭoach Frank Vogel gave the closest picture: “Not good enough. On that final shot, it was unclear if Westbrook didn’t see the play unfolding the way he wanted, or perhaps was feeling good about his own 3-for-5 night from deep to that point, or maybe thought he could pull up on Dort, who is the Thunder’s best defender. When the Lakers were attempting to set the table for Carmelo Anthony to take a shot at the top of the key for his third straight attempt from that spot, Westbrook pulled up with 3.4 seconds left to attempt the tying shot himself. He lost track of Lu Dort after an inbounds play, allowing the Thunder guard to walk to the rim and dunk uncontested for a four-point lead with 17 seconds remaining. Westbrook erred in the final 21 seconds of Thursday’s 107-104 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder: He lost the ball on a turnover during a fast-break without being forced by a defender.