NBA fans sharpened their Twitter blades and ripped the Los Angeles Lakers after a loss to the Portland Trail Blazers Sunday dropped their record to 0-3.
It’s not just that the Lakers lost, 106-104. They played poorly in crunch time. They shot just 6-of-33 from behind the arc. Their shot selection literally made fans and broadcasters alike shout “Oh no!”
Check out this ill-advised shot from Russell Westbrook with the Lakers clinging to a 1-point lead in the final minute. Westbrook took the shot with 17 seconds left on the shot clock.
DEAR ROB PELINKA,
IT’S TIME TO GIVE UP THOSE 2 FIRST ROUND PICKS. RUSSELL WESTBROOK HAS GOT TO GO! pic.twitter.com/3sPD2pDIce
— Lakers Lead (@LakersLead) October 23, 2022
Westbrook’s shot drew surprised reactions from LeBron James and Anthony Davis. Actually, they might have been looks of disgust.
LeBron James and Anthony Davis disgusted after Russell Westbrook bricks a jumper with a 102-101 lead. 17 seconds were left on the shot clock and 30 seconds left in the game. pic.twitter.com/GAa7zWAuRl
— Lakers Daily (@LakersDailyCom) October 23, 2022
James played well, scoring 31 points, and Davis added 22 points and 10 boards. Westbrook, however, continued to struggle, shooting 4-of-15 from the floor and scoring 10 points. His stats through three games are ugly: 10.3 points per game, 28.9% field goal percentage, and 8.3% from long distance.
Russell Westbrook’s first 3 games of the season:
10.3 PPG
6.7 RPG
4.3 APG
28.9% FG
8.3% 3PT pic.twitter.com/ySUYaWb8eG— NBACentral (@TheNBACentral) October 23, 2022
Fans on Twitter were not kind to Westbrook.
I WANT RUSSELL WESTBROOK ARRESTED IMMEDIATELY
— LakeShowYo (@LakeShowYo) October 23, 2022
Lakers played the best game they'll play all year and STILL lost because Russell Westbrook thought he was prime Shaun Livingston 6 seconds into the shotclock in the clutch.
This is the guy LeBron wanted to play with. pic.twitter.com/wtqjEGuhZZ
— capo (@missionarymelo) October 23, 2022
Tupac if Westbrook was the shooter pic.twitter.com/lslyXNjZTk
— LakeShowYo (@LakeShowYo) October 23, 2022
“The Los Angeles Lakers are trading Russell Westbrook and future first-round pick to the Trail Blazers for Damian Lillard, sources tell ESPN” pic.twitter.com/zuviEPSQuT
— 𝙲𝙻𝙴𝙾𝙽.🥷🏼 (@cp3sucks) February 4, 2022
This is what the Lakers have built, allowing an aging James to pick his teammates and direct the future of the franchise.
“A 37-year-old LeBron James leading Los Angeles Lakers against Portland Trail Blazers isn’t just a testament to his greatness,” Bill Eshun tweeted.” It also shows the Lakers need major reinforcements as a franchise.”
A 37-year-old LeBron James leading Los Angeles Lakers against Portland Trail Blazers isn't just a testament to his greatness.
It also shows the Lakers need major reinforcements as a franchise
Now they're 0-3 to start the season 😱 pic.twitter.com/d60W90dgvb
— Bill Eshun (@Bill_Eshun) October 23, 2022