 salary away. Westbrook has struggled since arriving in Los Angeles from Washington, and he has become something of a scapegoat for the team's poor play. He does deserve some blame, particularly through these opening three games; the former MVP has averaged 10.3 points on 28.9% efficiency as well as a horrendous 8.3% from deep. Note how Westbrook has played just three matches. He was dropped by rookie head coach Devin Ham for the defeat to the Denver Nuggets on Wednesday night, with the decision coming after the 33-year-old wasted possession by missing a wide open jump shot as time ticked down and the Lakers leading over the Portland Trail Blazers. Portland ended up securing the win and many blamed Westbrook's poor shot selection for the defeat. While Westbrook undoubtedly deserves criticism for his play, the Lakers are frankly dysfunctional as an organisation. They decided to not only keep the guard but pair him with his enemy Patrick Beverley, a remarkable decision given both men have publicly mocked one another's achievements in the game. Beverley also spectacularly flopped in the closing seconds against Portland, which was overturned by referees to grant possession back to the Trail Blazers. Damian Lill){kind=link}
The Los Angeles Lakers have started the new NBA season horrifically, losing each of their first four matches amid a woeful shooting slump – but how has it gone so wrong?
The Los Angeles Lakers are winless through their opening four matches to open the 2022/23 NBA season – and their problems show no sign of ending anytime soon.
For the first time since his rookie season 20 years ago, LeBron James is 0-4 to start the new year. The Lakers lost 49 games and finished 11th in the Western Conference last season, while the team failed to bring in any meaningful offseason additions – so perhaps this mess could have predicted.
In fact, many believed the team could have improved via addition-by-subtraction in trading away Russell Westbrook. The first season of the experiment placing the guard alongside James and Anthony Davis went about as bad as it possibly could have done, but the organisation failed to move him and his $47million (£40.6m) salary away.
Westbrook has struggled since arriving in Los Angeles from Washington, and he has become something of a scapegoat for the team’s poor play. He does deserve some blame, particularly through these opening three games; the former MVP has averaged 10.3 points on 28.9% efficiency as well as a horrendous 8.3% from deep.