Los Angeles Lakers guard Russell Westbrook and coach Darvin Ham. Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

ESPN writer: 'Things need to change in LA, and rather quickly'

By Sean Keane | Last updated 10/24/22

After the Los Angeles Lakers started the season 0-3, NBA insider and Lakers expert Ramona Shelburne said on NBA Today that "There's a sense that things need to change in LA, and rather quickly."

Russell Westbrook scored 10 points in Monday's loss to the Portland Trail Blazers, shooting 4-15 from the floor. For the season, Westbrook is shooting 29%, and has made just one of his 12 three-point attempts. In Monday's loss, Westbrook re-entered the game with 4:42 remaining and the Lakers leading 98-90. The rest of the way, Portland outscored Los Angeles 16-6, with Westbrook missing both of his shot attempts, including a missed jumper with 18 seconds left on the shot clock when he was trying to get a two-for-one opportunity.

This was a horrible shot & miss by Westbrook trying to get the two for one (I assume).

He was wide open and should have made the bucket, but that’s not the play that needed to be attempted with the current situation at hand.pic.twitter.com/EBgA4a1gAW
— Carlos Yakimowich (@SportsFocusLA) October 23, 2022

ESPN was harsher about his shot.

ESPN today #ESPN #Savage #NBA pic.twitter.com/sSAfvyQgZ7
— Kandy (@KingK419) October 24, 2022

New coach Darvin Ham has encouraged Westbrook to change his game, screening more and going to the basket. The results have certainly been mixed so far, and Shelburne said that Ham sitting Westbrook in the 4th quarter Monday night may only be the beginning. "Whether that means pulling Russell Westbrook from the starting lineup or the closing lineup," said Shelburne, "You get the sense something has to change in the next few days or they're going to be 0-6."

The Lakers schedule doesn't get easier, with road games in Denver and Minnesota coming up. The Nuggets coming to LA next weekend, followed by the 2-1 Pelicans and the undefeated Utah Jazz. While their defense has improved since last year - despite Jerami Grant scoring the game-winning basket over LeBron James and Anthony Davis Monday - the offense has struggled. The Lakers have scored the second-fewest points in the NBA and have the league's worst offensive rating.

Shelburne opined that while the team is sensitive to Westbrook's pride, "You have to be careful not to lose the rest of the team" while playing Westbrook, if he's a detriment to winning. Coach Ham was more blunt.

Darvin Ham when asked if he has concern about how Russell Westbrook will handle being benched late on Sunday: “We don’t have time for people to be in their feelings”
— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) October 23, 2022

Westbrook might indeed be in his feelings, but the Lakers are already running out of time.

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