Darvin Ham originally said that Westbrook was going to be
an important piece in his system, and that Russ was one of the
reasons he took the job. He was looking forward to working with
Russ.

However, he recently stated the following: “ I kind of want LeBron to have the ball
basically all the time, every possession, run the show.”

Well, doesn’t that contradict what he said about Russ?

Russ can’t work off the ball, because he can’t shoot, and he doesn’t like
to work off the ball. So what is he going to be in your system, if he doesn’t have the
ball?

This is why I agree with Russ on wanting to be traded, because his usage rate
is going to decline, and Ham’s comments supports that. Russ isn’t stupid.

ALL HAIL THE KING of LOSING: LEBRON
Bulls | Bears | White Sox | Yankees | Notre Dame | Illinois | Chelsea | Real Madrid

the same shit vogel wanted him to do.

have his own lineup where he can be the ball dominant scorer who attacks the basket and dishes to open teammates when he cant get to the rim.

i think russ former agent was trying to sell russ on that plan too but russ would rather be traded and be a starter.

it makes sense when you consider hams comments are about bron doing what he does best (running the offense) and russ still being integral to their plan (heading up the bench unit). ham isnt necessarily contradicting himself or flip flopping.

>Well, doesn’t that contradict what he said about Russ?
>
>Russ can’t work off the ball, because he can’t shoot, and
>he doesn’t like
>to work off the ball. So what is he going to be in your
>system, if he doesn’t have the
>ball?

didn't Russ play of the ball with Harden in Houston?

either way until Russ is actually traded Ham has no choice but to say "all the right things" publicly.

________________________________________
"Take the surprise out your voice Shaq."-The REAL CP3
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v2H5K-BUMS0

lost two superstar because they ended up not being able
to get along.

History repeating itself?

ALL HAIL THE KING of LOSING: LEBRON
Bulls | Bears | White Sox | Yankees | Notre Dame | Illinois | Chelsea | Real Madrid

>lost two superstar because they ended up not being able
>to get along.
>
>History repeating itself?

Houston was good in the 2nd half they just ran into a healthy Bron and AD in the bubble

________________________________________
"Take the surprise out your voice Shaq."-The REAL CP3
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v2H5K-BUMS0

“This is not opinion; I'm telling you what I have heard. They don't want to play with each other anymore. Russell Westbrook doesn't want to play with James Harden. James Harden doesn't want to play with Russell Westbrook. Russell Westbrook wants the ball in his hands. He doesn't want to play off the ball as much. He looks at his success in Oklahoma City over the previous several years—the ball needs to be in his hands. That's his mentality.”


https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2917674-stephen-a-james-harden-russell-westbrook-dont-want-to-play-together-anymore

At the end of the day, Russ didn’t want to play off the ball and
wanted to be the main handler

At least Russ is straight up and consistent, it’s everyone else
selling bullshit. He knows what he is and what he wants to do.

He should have stayed Washington…

ALL HAIL THE KING of LOSING: LEBRON
Bulls | Bears | White Sox | Yankees | Notre Dame | Illinois | Chelsea | Real Madrid

... but if Russ wants to get dealt to Indiana or whatever, get instantly bought out for a tiny fraction of his current contract, sign a mid-level exception 8-mil, 1 year deal in Washington, dominate the ball all year, piss off Beal, win 30 games, and be out of the league entirely by 2024-25 at latest? That's his prerogative, I suppose.

Or he could at least *attempt* to set screens, to defend, to backcut, to do things he never had to do when he was in his late-20s when he could be a net positive basketball player by sheer talent, athleticism, speed, and will. Now he has to do those things at this age if he wants to contribute to winning basketball.

If he does those things, he's obviously a player whose talent and experience could prove useful. Melo adapted to a lower-usage role when it seemed like he was going to be out of the league. Russ can do the same if he wants to stick around. An older player needs to adapt to stay in the league.

And if he's going to adapt, he may as well try to adapt while cashing a check for 47 million dollars.

My movies: http://russellhainline.com
My movie reviews: https://letterboxd.com/RussellHFilm/
My beer TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thebeertravelguide

but is about Russ and where he fits in Darvin’s system.

Separate subject all together.

That FA thread is All jacked up with other subjects when it should
just be about FA moves.

ALL HAIL THE KING of LOSING: LEBRON
Bulls | Bears | White Sox | Yankees | Notre Dame | Illinois | Chelsea | Real Madrid

https://www.si.com/nba/lakers/news/lakers-news-russell-westbrook-refused-to-regularly-set-screens-for-lebron-james-rm94#:~:text=Lakers%20News%3A%20Russell%20Westbrook%20Refused%20to%20Regularly%20Set%20Screens%20for%20LeBron%20James,-Lakers%20forward%20LeBron&text=Lakers%20players%20Russell%20Westbrook%2C%20LeBron,same%20page%20for%20championships%20aspirations.

Newly acquired Westbrook had a conversation with James after their first game together in what may have looked like a discussion over the amount of screens Westbrook was setting (quotes via Zach Lowe, The Lowe Post Podcast)

"You can tell they had a team meeting about Russ screening for LeBron before the second game of the season against the Memphis Grizzlies. Screened 8 times for Lebron in that game, it worked pretty well."

James is well known for getting on-ball screens to help create more driving lanes to the basket, disrupt the defense to pick up James at the 3-point line while simultaneously providing open passing lanes. Westbrook did not shoot great from the 3-point line so having him roll after picks seemed ideal.

"After that game, here are the number of ball screens Russ set in the 6 subsequent games, this is from Second Spectrum 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, and 1. He did not set more than 2 in a basketball game in which the professional Los Angeles Lakers were involved until March. He didn’t set more than 4 in any other game in the entire season."


>Or he could at least *attempt* to set screens, to defend, to
>backcut, to do things he never had to do when he was in his
>late-20s when he could be a net positive basketball player by
>sheer talent, athleticism, speed, and will. Now he has to do
>those things at this age if he wants to contribute to winning
>basketball.
>
>If he does those things, he's obviously a player whose talent
>and experience could prove useful. Melo adapted to a
>lower-usage role when it seemed like he was going to be out of
>the league. Russ can do the same if he wants to stick around.
>An older player needs to adapt to stay in the league.


Russ about to fade into Bolivian.

___________________

Mar-A-Lago delenda est

________________________________________
"Take the surprise out your voice Shaq."-The REAL CP3
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v2H5K-BUMS0

___________________

Mar-A-Lago delenda est

since his mindset is always attack, why change it? Set him up for success and put the rock in the hands of your best decision maker.

------------------
One Hundred.

So it’s together. (c)

Until then, I’m all out of fucks to give for everyone from Jeanie to Brawn to Brow and Russ.

Coach Ham has sold his ass off like prime Shawn Michaels, but he needs to dial this shit back. I’m still a fan though. He’s brought an optimistic energy so far.

The rest of the big names can fuck off until they do something substantial in the office and on the court.

not be a laker when camp opens. That is what’s being reported..
He might eventually get John Wall’d

ALL HAIL THE KING of LOSING: LEBRON
Bulls | Bears | White Sox | Yankees | Notre Dame | Illinois | Chelsea | Real Madrid