It’s been a rocky start for Russell Westbrook with the Lakers, but he said he intends to be better as the season progresses.
He went just 1-of-13 from the field as LeBron James-less LA was routed by the Trail Blazers on Saturday to drop to 5-5.
But Westbrook hasn’t necessarily been at his best a bit at the start of each of the past two seasons, with the Rockets and Wizards, respectively.
“With that is always a struggle to make sure that I am able to be who I am supposed to be on the floor and that’s doing everything and playing the hardest I can possibly play,” Westbrook told reporters. “And I’ve gotta do that for our team and I didn’t do that tonight but that is something that I will make sure is done moving forward.”
The Lakers played seven of their first 10 games at home. They are 1-2 on the road, with their lone win coming over the Spurs in overtime.
More from LA
- The stomach issue that forced Anthony Davis to leave the Lakers-Blazers game in the first quarter isn’t related to COVID-19, the team announced. Davis sprained his left thumb Friday before getting the stomach bug. “I know this year he’s very upset with how last year went and how much time he missed,” Lakers coach Frank Vogel said. “So, everything that’s 50-50 whether to be in or out thus far this year, it’s been, ‘I’m playing unless I absolutely can’t play.’ He’s just not happy with how much time he missed last year. So, if he can play without major limitations, he’s going to be in there.”
- Dwight Howard said, despite all the injuries, there really is no excuse for the Lakers’ uneven play. “When we’re on the court, we just got to play harder. Every possession has to matter. We just got to play harder, that’s it.”
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