Westbrook is the Lakers’ scapegoat

It’s possible that a while ago Westbrook thought he had bottomed out with the Lakers. It turns out he didn’t even go down the drain, with the former All Star guard blaming the culprit for everything in LA in a season that posted 18.4 points (down from the 2009-10 season) and 7, 8 rebound counts, 7.7 assists and 4.1 errors averaged 30% on three-pointers in 35 minutes of attendance. After 54 games, he still can’t find chemistry with LeBron and Davis while tired of hearing that the Lakers want to give him but nobody wants him. But is he really to blame for all of this? This is an interesting discussion.

When the Lakers decided in the summer to send their rotation to the Wizards (Kuzma, Caldwell-Pope and Harel) half a year for his sake, almost everyone in the NBA thought it was a wrong move. Not because Westbrook isn’t a great player, but because fitting on the same team as LeBron and Davis seemed difficult, especially when there weren’t any other two shooters on the side of the three on the floor. The Lakers claimed that this was all overkill and they would find a solution. Three months after the start of the season, they are still looking for this solution.

Westbrook has always had a specific – very aggressive – style of play. He did that with the Thunder playing with Kevin Durand (and then alone), with the Rockets alongside James Harden, with the Wizards with Bradley Bill. And with that, he goes to the Lakers with LeBron and Davis. The fact that his style doesn’t match the other two stars doesn’t shock anyone. Anyone who expected to become a shooter at the age of 33 must have seen a different player for so many years. Is there a way to solve all these problems? Could be. But against the Lakers, time is running out.

Protect Giannis Antitokoumbo?

The Bucks… celebrated in Portland, defeating the Blazers 108-137. Bobby Portis broke out with 30 points, Giannis Antetokounbo had – idle – 29 points with 4/7 three points (record for this year), 9 rebounds and 6 assists. Of course, the interesting thing about Giannis was that he started with 3/3 threes in the first few minutes of the game.

As the Blazers played for the belt, the “Greek Freak” found three free threes, took them and pocketed them, opening the Bucks’ game early. Of course, the sequel was different as Giannis scored just another three-pointer in the third period and then spent the entire fourth period on the bench resting.

John is not a shooter. The 28.9% he has on the three hands proves it. However, there are nights when he shoots, and when that happens, it’s impossible for the opposing defense to stop him.

A ray of hope for Pokushevsky

Alexei Pokushevsky has spent much of this season in the G-League. He returned to the Thunder, but in the first three games he was on mission, he didn’t step on the floor. That all changed against the Kings, however, as the Serb seized the opportunity and posted 12 points and 9 rebounds in his team’s 113-103 loss.

Pokushevski had raised the bar with his performances last season, so his start to this year is – and will be – disappointing. But the thunder still seems to believe in him. And logic says they will give him enough time to compete in the second half of the season to understand if he’s worth continuing to bet on.

fear the hit

The heat is still frightening in games that find rhythm. The Hornets understood this well when Miami took them down in Charlotte and clinched a comfortable 86-104 win in a match that even reached +30. If anyone finds it easy to keep a Hornets team at 86 points — and even at home — they probably haven’t seen this year’s Charlotte.

The Heat are (almost) complete as most of their players have returned. Only Markif Morris and Victor Olandipo – who didn’t play at all – are missing. It’s not quite right yet as Kyle Lowry is still wanted. But they are 2nd in the East with a record of 34-20. And they have the ability to break any opponent if they find them relaxed.

The lot fell on Eaton

Όλοι all around the Suns – about which player gets more balls in offense after Booker and Paul – continued for another game. Against the Wizards, it was DiAndre Eaton’s turn to celebrate with 20 points and 16 rebounds in the 95-80 win in Washington.

In the first game after breaking their 11-game losing streak in Atlanta, the Suns just kept playing their own basketball and reappeared as other protagonists — apparently third fiddle to Paul and Booker. In Eaton’s case, of course, that’s necessary because when he’s feeling good, the Suns are doing well and looking up. So easy.