2 min read • February 11, 2022
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Star point guard Russell Westbrook has taken the brunt of the blame and condemnation from Lakers fans and national media for the team's struggles this season.
This is despite the 33-year-old being the only key Laker who is available night after night; That is, until last Wednesday, when Westbrook sat on the back end of a back-to-back in a devastating 2-point loss to the struggling Blazers, an ailment that he is listed as day-to-day with.
In a media session on Friday, Westbrook said that he felt the tightness during the 26-30 Lakers' blowout loss to the Bucks Tuesday, in which he scored 10 points with 10 rebounds and 4 turnovers on 3-11 shooting in 26:05, his second-lowest minutes total this season.
He attributed his tightness to "sitting down for long stretches," often this year in the 4th quarter and overtime, which he has done little of in his career.
Back injuries, tightness or soreness – as we see now with Draymond Green – can come up at any time. But his reasoning for this issue is a forced and hollow explanation that doesn't connect with the realities of the NBA, according to our ProBasketballDocs.
There is no doubt that he has some back soreness – although there is no direct video to indicate a certain injury – and that his age and playing time could be tied to it. But there is doubt that it is because of extra time sitting on the bench.
Prolonged sitting can cause some tightness or soreness, but if you look at his normal playing time, the recent changes only amount to a 7-10 minute difference from his season average.
Westbrook has the opportunity to spend that time stretching, working on an exercise bike, or to go into the locker room for treatment, as we have seen historically with players such as Steve Nash or his former teammate Steven Adams.
If it is an issue with lack of movement, that is an easily solvable one that shouldn't result in missed games, especially for a team in the deep hole that Los Angeles has fallen into.
Adjustments are part of the NBA and part of evolving as a player – we have seen his teammates Carmelo Anthony and Dwight Howard do so late in their careers. Westbrook will have to adjust on this team, and in this case that might mean staying loose on the bench when he thinks he should be on the floor.
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