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“Right now I’m just running around”: Russell Westbrook breaks down abysmal Game 2 performance vs Lakers

Samir Mehdi
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Russell Westbrook breaks down abysmal Game 2 performance vs Lakers

Russell Westbrook says, “I’m just running around,” following his lacklustre game tonight against the Lakers and draws out what he needs to do. 

Game 2 between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Houston Rockets took place Sunday night, with a lot riding on the game, after Rockets upset Lakers in Game 1.

The Lakers took a substantial lead on the Rockets early on in the game, with the Lakers marching ahead with as much as 21 point lead.The Rockets clawed back however, outscoring the Lakers in the 4rd quarter and taking the lead.

Also Read: Draymond Green reveals how Rockets are spoiling the market for big centers

This effort remained futile as the Rockets ended up losing the bout, 117-109.

Russell Westbrook has another below average game for the Rockets

Russell Westbrook might be one of the most inconsistent players of our generation. His performances have been a rollercoaster ride throughout these playoffs.

Westbrook scored 24 points in Game 1 and helped the Rockets take a Game 1 victory. However, the 2017 MVP had only 10 points on 4-15 shooting tonight, while also recording 8 turnovers. He also posted up a -14 plus/minus.

The Lakers made it a point to make Westbrook shoot some 3s, as the Rockets star was rarely allowed to drive to the rim.

When asked about his abysmal performance, Russell Westbrook said, “I’m just running around. I need to watch film.”

Rockets Head Coach Mike D’Antoni was also asked about Russell Westbrook’s performance and how important he is to the team. To this he responded, “He’ll be fine. Not worried about him.”

Should the Houston Rockets be concerned about Russell Westbrook’s inconsistencies?

Westbrook has always been a high volume shooter, usually chucking up shots when he go-to shots are not falling. It shouldn’t be argued whether or not Westbrook is a great player, as when Westbrook gets going, it is very difficult to stop him.

The future Hall-of-Famer was also very confident in his ability to bounce back, as he said, “It’s only one game,” when questioned by a reporter.

The Lakers seem to have figured out the small-ball strategy of Rockets. The defense on Harden tonight was brilliant, as they double teamed him almost all night, forcing the support cast to come up with most of the offensive goods. A similar strategy could be expected in Game 3, as shutting down Harden throws a lot of the onus on the perimeter, who could have an off day.

About the author

Samir Mehdi

Samir Mehdi

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Samir Mehdi is a senior strategist for the NBA division at The Sportsrush. Ever since he was 13 years old, he’s been obsessed with the game of basketball. From watching Kobe Bryant’s highlights on YouTube to now, analyzing and breaking down every single game on League Pass, Samir’s passion for the game is unwavering. He's a complete basketball junkie who not only breaks down current games but also keenly watches ones from the 60s’ and 70s’ while also reading comprehensive books on the history of the league. Samir’s life revolves around basketball and he hopes that shows in his work. Aside from work, he loves to spend time in the gym and with his friends at social gatherings.

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