Lakers Notes: Westbrook, Anthony, Defense, Injuries

Russell Westbrook and Carmelo Anthony are known for their offense, but have been making their fair share of contributions defensively lately, too.

“I think for a lot of our guys — (LeBron James), (Anthony Davis), Melo, Russ – a lot of their careers they’ve had a lot of ‘dirty work’ guys around them,” Lakers coach Frank Vogel said, via Kyle Goon of the LA Daily News. “And now they have to support each other in that way and really commit to guarding their own man and executing our scheme.”

Westbrook admitted he is still getting used to Vogel’s fixed schemes.

“I’m more accustomed to sometimes going down and chasing down blocks and pursuing for steals you know, which is something I’m good at as well,” he said. “But also I can get steals by the way we play defense now and making sure I’m in the right places on the weak side, on the ball, especially on the weak side, making sure I’m there and able to help guys and boxing out and things of that nature.”

As for Anthony, Vogel said the veteran forward has been very good in the communication area of defense. Along with that, in Sunday’s win over the Rockets, Anthony compiled four blocks.

More out of LA

• Veteran shooting guard Wayne Ellington has been assigned to the South Bay Lakers of the G League, but for practicing purposes only. Ellington has missed the first seven games after arriving in free agency in August.
• Guard/forward Talen Horton-Tucker has also missed the first seven games, though is scheduled to have the stitches removed on his injured thumb, Vogel said. Still, the Lakers are sticking to their original timeline for Horton-Tucker to return in a couple weeks.
• The Lakers didn’t really have much of an update for guard Kendrick Nunn, who is “poised to miss more time” with a right knee bruise, Goon reported.
• For more on the Lakers’ sudden rise, check out the latest on Hoops Wire: Lakers starting to exhibit chemistry while Carmelo stays hot.