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Patrick Beverley made rounds online after claiming that Russell Westbrook isn't going to come off the bench for the LA Lakers. Former NBA champion and analyst Kendrick Perkins shared his thoughts on Beverley's comments.
Perkins is convinced that experimenting with Westbrook's fit with the team could further damage the star's career.
On NBA Today, he said:
"When you think about the whole Russell Westbrook thing, this thing has been lingering all since Frank Vogel was there. Now, you have Darvin Ham. Now, is he gonna come in?
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"You have Darvin ham trying to experiment and get on the same page with Russ. That situation is a disaster in itself for Russ with the Lakers."
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Perkins also made a bold claim by picking Anthony Davis to win the MVP this season:
"Anthony Davis, my MVP pick, he has been talking a lot of noise. He has been working hard in the offseason. He has been waking up at 5 o'clock in the morning, getting it in.
"Anthony Davis is going to be great, and if he's going to be great, that means the Lakers are going to be great."
The LA Lakers are ready to take on another season filled with challenges. One of those challenges is Russell Westbrook's fit with the roster. New Lakers head coach Darvin Ham has suggested that he's working with Westbrook to get him to come off the bench. This new role could allow the former MVP to have the ball in his hands more and facilitate freely.
Understanding Russell Westbrook’s role with the Lakers
Russell Westbrook may have lost a step in his career, but he's still capable enough to be the top point guard in the league. However, his decision-making was questioned last season with the Lakers and he also shot poorly from deep, at 29.8%.
With a new head coach, Westbrook will be looking to prove his doubters wrong. As per recent reports, Ham has expressed his desire to change the nine-time All-Star's role with the team.
For the upcoming season, Ham is trying to experiment with lineups with Westbrook as the leader on the bench. This was seen in their last preseason game against the Sacramento Kings.
One aspect that wasn't utilized by the Lakers last season was the tandem between Anthony Davis and Russell Westbrook. Davis played only 40 games due to injuries so it will be interesting to see how he pairs with Russ. Coach Ham is looking forward to using AD and the nine-time All-NBA as the engine of the Lakers' offense.
Interestingly, this could work as Russell Westbrook has been known to be a great set-up guy for big men. AD will also get a chance to shine with an All-NBA point guard as his floor general.
AD, Russ and LeBron's first regular season match is against Steph Curry and the Warriors on Oct. 19.
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