If we are going to base on that stat then the Lakers should know that it's not a good idea for Westbrook to shoot more often and developed him to be a outside threat to them.

As I have said, Westbrook is still very effective going inside and passing the ball to their shooters. That should be the focus on their new coach and not try to reinvent Westbrook because it might backfire on them and maybe close game that he can't make the shots outside so the blame will be on him again.

You know what is weird about westbrook? The reality is that he would be a perfect player for many teams, he would still be the famous triple double master for so many teams in the league, hell you could put him on warriors and he would beast there, he would be so so so amazing and would get rings there. Why and how?

Well, simply because Klay and Steph would be shooting outside, and westbrook would just take the ball and go in, he would go pass his man with his explosive first step and pace, and if someone comes to defensive help, then he would pass out, even if he can't pass to Klay or Steph, he would find an open man and in that team that is a killer chance. So, it is only Lakers that is the problem, not Westbrook.

And maybe that's where the problem is? Lebron and Westbrook can't play the same role and that's why they've failed in the last season. The job of carrying the ball is not that define, and eventhough Lebron was injured last season, you can see when he played, him and Westbrook are not in the same page. So that is one are that the Ham would have to look at, how and where to divide the taks between this two superstars.

Maybe.
But Lebron already changed his type of game. Most of the time he is outside looking for a pass or using that as a hesitation move to shoot a three. Sometimes post-up perimeter shots.
Westbrook is effective at attacking the paint and he is still doing that, nothing really changed. It's just that, because of lack of shooters in the Lakers roster he is forced to make decisions like doing the outside shots which is not his best strength.
I think Coach Ham will keep on pounding WB as an attacker to create spacing and learn a kick out pass.

Westbrook is very athletic but not a good passer, that's my observation. Although I might be wrong because he used to average a triple double production in the game, but we all know sometimes he does stat padding, and if we compare his stats last season to his production in OKC, you can tell the big difference, so we can ask ourselves if he really is that good.

I think they should try to play LeBron James in his natural position. And they should make some adjustments with Westbrook.
LeBron James is a more influential and better-performing player compared to Westbrook.
So, it would be better if they prioritized the performance of a player who is playing better.
But if they try to make some experiment with Westbrook and he does not play well that is also not going to end up being very good for the team.



The problem is right now Westbrook is not doing anything well enough to give him solid room. And that is going to be a problem for the whole team eventually.
That is obviously not going to be good for the player as well. And the chance of him behaving and not being very friendly with other players is also a possibility.
And I am really at a loss about what the plan is going to be.



Regards

Duke

Honestly, I think Westbrook's poor performance last season wasn't due to aging but because of his unwillingness to somehow adapt his style of play to his new teammates, especially LeBron. So it seems to me Westbrook still has enough athleticism, but he needs to use his strengths differently instead of trying to make triple-doubles every game.

So you think he should still play if that means he stays a Laker? As you just said he could not or did not adapt his style, but maybe his teammates didn't like his style? If you are Westbrook would you want to stay a laker?

It's very noticeable that Russell Westbrook on his first season with the Los Angeles Lakers adjusted his role on the team. He is willing to do that obviously as I found it weird if a player is not willing to adopt the position they were assigned especially if that position is the role they are used to playing with. Westbrook's role on his previous team is almost like similar to his role on the Lakers.

We don't see the Lakers having fully utilized their main cast last season. Lots of games where Lebron James and especially Anthony Davis were put on sidelined because of their respective injuries. With LBJ and AD out, Westbrook instead of supposed to be a good backup player becomes one of the main guys which gives him a pressured task to do since he's not the Westbrook anymore during his prime that is capable of carrying a team.

Poor Westbrook too is always blamed for some Lakers' loss even though he has a good production in that game.

Whether Westbrook did good plays or not, expect criticism will always follow.

Celtics lost some firepower for next season as Gallinari has been diagnosed a torn ACL on his left knee. That's a nasty injury and he's likely to miss the entire season. He's not on superstar level but decent role player that can fill up the rotation which the Celtics badly needs.