Terance Mann found it perfectly on a laser pass on the counter-attack. But once you reach the basket, Russell Westbrook didn’t really take off and his layup, although open, crashed on the circle. And the Clippers missed an opportunity to get back in front, against the Pelicans.
The latter ended up winning where the replacement leader of the Clippers, blocked by Dyson Daniels on a breakthrough penetration a few seconds later, was recalled by Tyronn Lue on the Californian bench, 8 minutes from time. With a very poor final copy: 3 points – lowest total of his season – 1/8 on shots (0/2 at 3-points), 4 rebounds and 2 assists in 14 minutes, and – 8 when he was on the ground.
“ It’s a period of adjustment for him, coming off the bench, he’s trying to find his rhythm, his ‘groove’. We need to make him play a little more in the post, against smaller players. He made some good attacks, he went to the rim a few times where he missed a few layups. But we need him to attack the rim like he does “, poster Tyronn Lue.
In addition to his few misses near the circle, his leader especially sent a number of shots that were far too short, reflecting a blatant lack of rhythm. An observation that has been verified since he left the Clippers bench, an adjustment decided in the wake of the arrival of James Harden. While he was averaging 14 points (46.5%), 7 rebounds and 6 assists as a starter, Russell Westbrook saw his performance drop to just 7 points (28%), 4 rebounds and 4 assists, while playing 10 minutes of time. less for four games.
A false rhythm
“ He has to get used to it, come off the bench, find where he can be effective for us in attack. PG (Paul George) and he have been playing well together for years. It will come, it will take a little time but it will come », Yet promises his coach, who found that Ivica Zubac, PJ Tucker and he had good streaks together, in San Antonio in particular during the two previous meetings. “ We found the rotations we like and want », Maintains the technician.
The problem of this night, and it is linked to the performance of the replacement, is that the Clippers had difficulty flourishing offensively. “ We finished with 27 assists and only 11 lost balls, but we didn’t feel like we were on the right pace. But we must do better to be in place more quickly “, demands Tyronn Lue.
He adds, in conclusion: “ I found that offensively, we were on a bad tempo all evening. Their pressure hindered us, slowed us down. We were never really able to play our 2nd or 3rd option (on systems), because at the time of initiation there was no time left on the possession. I take responsibility for it. We have to be better on offense. »
| Russell Westbrook | Percentage | Rebounds | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | MJ | Min | Shots | 3pts | L.F. | Off | Def | Early | Pd | Party | Int | Bp | Ct | Pts |
| 2008-09 | OKAY | 82 | 33 | 39.8 | 27.1 | 81.5 | 2.2 | 2.7 | 4.9 | 5.3 | 2.3 | 1.3 | 3.3 | 0.2 | 15.3 |
| 2009-10 | OKAY | 82 | 34 | 41.8 | 22.1 | 78.0 | 1.7 | 3.2 | 4.9 | 8.0 | 2.5 | 1.3 | 3.3 | 0.4 | 16.1 |
| 2010-11 | OKAY | 82 | 35 | 44.2 | 33.0 | 84.2 | 1.5 | 3.2 | 4.6 | 8.2 | 2.5 | 1.9 | 3.9 | 0.4 | 21.9 |
| 2011-12 | OKAY | 66 | 35 | 45.7 | 31.6 | 82.3 | 1.5 | 3.1 | 4.6 | 5.5 | 2.2 | 1.7 | 3.6 | 0.3 | 23.6 |
| 2012-13 | OKAY | 82 | 35 | 43.8 | 32.3 | 80.0 | 1.4 | 3.9 | 5.2 | 7.4 | 2.3 | 1.8 | 3.3 | 0.3 | 23.2 |
| 2013-14 | OKAY | 46 | 31 | 43.7 | 31.8 | 82.6 | 1.2 | 4.5 | 5.7 | 6.9 | 2.3 | 1.9 | 3.9 | 0.2 | 21.8 |
| 2014-15 | OKAY | 67 | 34 | 42.6 | 29.9 | 83.5 | 1.9 | 5.4 | 7.3 | 8.6 | 2.8 | 2.1 | 4.4 | 0.2 | 28.2 |
| 2015-16 | OKAY | 80 | 34 | 45.4 | 29.6 | 81.2 | 1.8 | 6.0 | 7.8 | 10.4 | 2.5 | 2.0 | 4.3 | 0.3 | 23.5 |
| 2016-17 ★ | OKAY | 81 | 35 | 42.5 | 34.3 | 84.5 | 1.7 | 9.0 | 10.7 | 10.4 | 2.4 | 1.6 | 5.4 | 0.4 | 31.6 |
| 2017-18 | OKAY | 80 | 36 | 44.9 | 29.8 | 73.7 | 1.9 | 8.2 | 10.1 | 10.3 | 2.5 | 1.8 | 4.8 | 0.3 | 25.4 |
| 2018-19 | OKAY | 73 | 36 | 42.8 | 29.0 | 65.6 | 1.5 | 9.6 | 11.1 | 10.7 | 3.4 | 2.0 | 4.5 | 0.5 | 23.0 |
| 2019-20 | HOU | 57 | 36 | 47.2 | 25.8 | 76.3 | 1.8 | 6.2 | 7.9 | 7.0 | 3.5 | 1.6 | 4.5 | 0.4 | 27.3 |
| 2020-21 | W.A.S. | 65 | 36 | 43.9 | 31.5 | 65.6 | 1.7 | 9.9 | 11.5 | 11.7 | 2.9 | 1.4 | 4.8 | 0.4 | 22.2 |
| 2021-22 | LAL | 78 | 34 | 44.4 | 29.8 | 66.7 | 1.4 | 6.0 | 7.4 | 7.1 | 3.0 | 1.0 | 3.8 | 0.3 | 18.5 |
| 2022-23 * | All Teams | 73 | 29 | 43.6 | 31.1 | 65.6 | 1.2 | 4.6 | 5.8 | 7.6 | 2.2 | 1.0 | 3.5 | 0.5 | 15.9 |
| 2022-23 * | LAL | 52 | 29 | 41.7 | 29.6 | 65.5 | 1.1 | 5.0 | 6.2 | 7.5 | 2.3 | 1.0 | 3.5 | 0.4 | 15.9 |
| 2022-23 * | LAKE | 21 | 30 | 48.9 | 35.6 | 65.8 | 1.4 | 3.4 | 4.9 | 7.6 | 2.0 | 1.1 | 3.4 | 0.5 | 15.8 |
| 2023-24 | LAKE | 13 | 29 | 43.9 | 30.0 | 59.3 | 1.2 | 5.0 | 6.2 | 5.5 | 2.7 | 1.9 | 3.0 | 0.2 | 12.8 |
| Total | 1107 | 34 | 43.8 | 30.5 | 77.7 | 1.6 | 5.7 | 7.3 | 8.3 | 2.6 | 1.6 | 4.1 | 0.3 | 22.2 | |
How to read the stats? MJ = matches played; Min = Minutes; Shots = Successful shots / Attempted shots; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; Off = offensive rebound; Def=defensive rebound; Tot = Total rebounds; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost balls; Ct: Against; Pts = Points.
