Los Angeles Lakers

Los Angeles Lakers guard Russell Westbrook reportedly might not have many other opportunities available in the NBA.

During an appearance on his Hoop Collective podcast (beginning at the 30:40 mark), ESPN NBA insider Brian Windhorst said the following about Westbrook's status in the league:

"I know it's just one game in the season, but it's a vital moment for Russell Westbrook. I know this sounds wild, his standing in the league is fragile. Because if he were to push back on his role and get angry and, like, sort of reject it, and the Lakers either traded him or sidelined him, there's no one to trade for him. And even if he took some sort of buyout, he would get another job, but I don't think it would be an advantageous job."

Westbrook has struggled during his first season with the Lakers, and he was benched last week in the latter stages of a 111-104 loss to the Indiana Pacers.

Per ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski, Westbrook expressed disappointment with head coach Frank Vogel's decision to bench him, saying: "Surprised, yes. I was disappointed I didn't go back in, but I'm more disappointed that we lost the damn game. I want to be able to be on the floor to help my teammates and be able to help our team win in games like that--but that was a decision that was made."

The 33-year-old Westbrook is a nine-time All-Star, two-time scoring champion, one-time NBA MVP and likely future Hall of Famer, but he hasn't performed to that level this season.

Through 47 games, Westbrook is averaging 18.6 points, which is his lowest scoring output since his second NBA season with the Oklahoma City Thunder in 2009-10.

His averages of 8.1 rebounds and 7.8 assists per game are more in line with his career numbers, but he has been terribly inefficient, shooting just 43.7 percent from the field and 29.6 percent from beyond the arc.

Westbrook is also turning the ball over 4.1 times per game, and he's had similarly poor turnover numbers throughout his career.

The Lakers acquired Westbrook from the Washington Wizards during the offseason in hopes he could form a Big Three with LeBron James and Anthony Davis.

L.A. traded considerable depth to make it happen, sending forward Kyle Kuzma, center Montrezl Harrell and guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope to Washington.

Westbrook's inconsistency has been an issue this season, but it can be argued that James' and Davis' injury-related absences have been an even bigger issue.

James is currently healthy, while AD is slated to return Tuesday night against the Brooklyn Nets after missing the past five weeks with a knee injury.

Having both James and Davis in the lineup to take pressure off Westbrook could help him become a far more effective player, or at least that is the outcome the Lakers have to hope for.

The 23-24 Lakers are eighth in the Western Conference, and while they are in no imminent danger of falling out of the top 10, which would at least ensure them a postseason play-in game, they would undoubtedly love to get in the top six and avoid the play-in.

Westbrook is signed through this season at a salary of $44 million, per Spotrac, and he has a $47 million player option for next season, so it is difficult to envision any team wanting to trade for him, as Windhorst referenced.

Failing that, the Lakers merely have to stick with him and trust that the vision of a Westbrook-James-Davis trio will become a winning combination.

Former NBA player Lamar Odom is trying his hand at talent management.

Odom spoke to TMZ Sports and revealed he partnered with his manager, Tonita B, to start the Savvy Talent Management Group in an effort to use his own experiences to help young athletes and entertainers navigate their professional careers.

"I wish I would have learned how to save my money a little bit more," he said. "I wish I would have been able to do my due diligence on how to read people the right way, so I can keep the right people in my life that deserve to be there."

He also said he is looking toward the relationship between LeBron James and Rich Paul and how Klutch Sports is run as motivation and a blueprint.

Odom was the No. 4 overall pick of the 1999 NBA draft and played for the Los Angeles Clippers, Miami Heat, Los Angeles Lakers and Dallas Mavericks during a career that lasted through the 2012-13 campaign.

He was the Sixth Man of the Year in 2010-11 for the Lakers and helped the Purple and Gold win back-to-back championships in 2009 and 2010 while playing alongside Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol.

Despite the Los Angeles Lakers' struggles throughout this season, head coach Frank Vogel reportedly doesn't appear to be in any danger of losing his job.

"It's my understanding that the Lakers are moving forward with Frank Vogel," ESPN's Dave McMenamin said on SportsCenter on Monday. "I anticipate him to be head coach for the remainder of this season."

The Lakers are 23-24 this season and 5-5 in their last 10 games Los Angeles fell to the Miami Heat on Sunday in a game in which they trailed by as many as 26 before making a second-half comeback that came up short.

The problems for the Lakers this season start on the defensive end. Los Angeles is giving up 112.7 points per game, which ranks 27th in the NBA. On offense, the team ranks seventh with 111.3 points per game, but it is one of the most careless teams in the league with an average of 14.4 turnovers.

Lakers star LeBron James is enjoying one of his best seasons offensively and is averaging 29.0 points, 7.7 rebounds and 6.3 assists. He had a run of seven straight 30-point games in December, but he didn't get much help as Los Angeles went 2-5 in those games.

The Lakers have been dealing with the absence of star big man Anthony Davis, who has missed the past 17 games with a sprained MCL. Davis is believed to be nearing his return, as he was listed as questionable Sunday before ultimately being held out. He was averaging 23.3 points, 9.9 rebounds, 2.9 assists, 2.0 blocks and 1.2 steals in 27 games prior to his injury.

Los Angeles will take on the Brooklyn Nets on Tuesday in the third matchup of its six-game road trip.

Los Angeles Lakers star Anthony Davis has been upgraded to probable for Tuesday's game against the Brooklyn Nets, per The Athletic's Shams Charania. 

Davis has already missed 17 games this season after spraining the MCL in his left knee on Dec. 17 against the Minnesota Timberwolves.

He also missed two games earlier in December because of knee soreness.

The 28-year-old hasn't been the most durable over his NBA career. He was limited to just 36 games last season because of an Achilles injury and only appeared in 75 games twice in his nine seasons. 

Still, Davis is one of the best players in the NBA when healthy. The eight-time All-Star is averaging 23.3 points, 9.9 rebounds and 2.0 blocks per game this season. 

The Lakers desperately need Davis to return. They are 23-24, eighth place in the Western Conference. Right now, they aren't looking like a team that will be able to compete with the Phoenix Suns and Golden State Warriors to be the West's representative in the NBA Finals, but that could change once Davis returns. 

LeBron James told reporters in his postgame press conference that he is in "one of the best zones offensively" after he dropped 33 points (12-of-22 shooting) in the Los Angeles Lakers' 113-107 loss to the Miami Heat on Sunday.

I'm in one of the best zones offensively I've been in my career. And I don't plan on stopping. That's just how I feel. I feel fantastic. Shooting the ball extremely well from the field. I didn't shoot the three-ball well tonight.

But all eight of them felt great. Shooting efficient from the free-throw line, I'm shooting efficient from the field. Very efficient at the rim. I don't go into the game saying, 'You gotta score 30 or you guys don't have a chance to win.' I just play the game, and the scoring has just been happening organically.

The 37-year-old, who has moonlit for the Lakers at center at times this season, has averaged 29.0 points on 51.8 percent shooting. 

The 17-time All-Star and 17-time All-NBA player's points-per-game average has been his highest mark since 2007-08 when his 30.0 PPG led the league.

James has raised his game another level since fellow superstar Anthony Davis suffered a sprained MCL in his left knee, which has kept him off the court since Dec. 19. He entered Sunday averaging 32.4 points on 53.3 percent shooting and 5.9 assists in 16 games between Dec. 19-Jan. 21, per Basketball-Reference.

On Sunday, James was off from beyond the three-point arc (1-of-8) but money inside it (11-of-14). He scored 11 points and helped cut a 23-point Heat lead down to 111-107 with 1:07 left after a putback layup.

The Eastern Conference-leading Heat held on, but James was spectacular once again as he continued his dominant pace despite nearing the end of his second decade in the league.

LeBron and the 23-24 Lakers will look to get back to .500 as they continue their six-game road trip with a battle against the Brooklyn Nets on Tuesday.

The Miami Heat bounced back from Friday's loss to the Atlanta Hawks with a 113-107 win at home over the Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday. Duncan Robinson led the way with 25 points and six three-pointers as Miami improved to 30-17.

Duncan's 6th triple of the night: HUGE pic.twitter.com/L8ql9SqMuL

— Miami HEAT (@MiamiHEAT) January 24, 2022

Heat star forward Jimmy Butler recorded a triple-double with 20 points, 10 rebounds and 12 assists. He surpassed LeBron James for most triple-doubles in Miami franchise history with 10.

The Heat overcame the absences of starting point guard Kyle Lowry (personal) and sixth man Tyler Herro (health and safety protocols).

The Lakers fell to 23-24 after their fifth loss in their last seven games. James had a team-high 33 points and 11 rebounds. Russell Westbrook added 24 points, nine rebounds and nine assists.

Los Angeles big man Anthony Davis, who was initially listed as questionable and considered to be a game-time decision, missed his 17th consecutive game with a sprained MCL.

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Notable Stats

G Duncan Robinson, MIA: 25 points (6-of-11 3-pt FG)

F Jimmy Butler, MIA: 20 points, 10 rebounds, 12 assists

F LeBron James, LAL: 33 points, 11 rebounds

G Russell Westbrook, LAL: 24 points, 9 rebounds, 9 assists

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Heat Use Ball Movement, Defense to Earn Victory

Miami relied on efficiency on both ends of the floor to hold off Los Angeles. By sharing the ball on offense and playing furious defense, the Heat ran the Lakers out of the building in the early going.

Butler set the tone early with his unselfishness, notching seven assists in the first quarter alone. Playing the role of facilitator in Lowry's absence, Butler did a great job setting his teammates up for high-percentage shots.

Miami led by as many as 26 in the first half after shooting 64.7 percent from deep and recording 21 assists on its 26 field goals. Butler had 10 of his 12 assists before halftime.

Make that 3 3s for Duncan in the first quarter 👌 pic.twitter.com/9lB4uch4Bp

— Miami HEAT (@MiamiHEAT) January 23, 2022

Max Strus crossed up Russell Westbrook and hit the 3 🤯@MiamiHEAT | #HEATCulture pic.twitter.com/Hh4kBKE44Z

— HEAT on FanDuel Sports Network (@FanDuelSN_Heat) January 24, 2022

#JimmyButler proved why he's a #NBAAllStar with his 10 first half assists@MiamiHEAT | #HEATCulture pic.twitter.com/oSR3pCdIkH

— HEAT on FanDuel Sports Network (@FanDuelSN_Heat) January 24, 2022

On the other end of the floor, the Heat played hard-nosed man-to-man defense to stifle the Lakers. Miami did a great job of contesting shots and forcing turnovers. The Lakers had 14 giveaways and shot 7-of-29 (24.1 percent) from three-point land through the first three quarters.

A Duncan steal + Jimmy's 10th assist of the game = easy Max bucket pic.twitter.com/dqHlNwBiyz

— Miami HEAT (@MiamiHEAT) January 24, 2022

Need this energy on defense next half too. pic.twitter.com/tn1xJrCExF

— Miami HEAT (@MiamiHEAT) January 24, 2022

Jimmy Butler rejects Russell Westbrook 🤫@MiamiHEAT | #HEATCulture pic.twitter.com/oCXBborrLO

— HEAT on FanDuel Sports Network (@FanDuelSN_Heat) January 24, 2022

Jimmy doing it all this quarter

(and a slam by Caleb is always nice too) pic.twitter.com/zYYOBiWUKf

— Miami HEAT (@MiamiHEAT) January 24, 2022

Miami got sluggish in the fourth quarter, which allowed Los Angeles to make a big run and get back into the game. But it was timely defense that helped put the game away.

Caleb Martin steals the inbounds pass and finishes 😤

Heat take a 6-point lead with 4 seconds to go!!!!@MiamiHEAT | #HEATCulture pic.twitter.com/lm8WYXKslB

— HEAT on FanDuel Sports Network (@FanDuelSN_Heat) January 24, 2022

Despite the fourth-quarter collapse, it was mostly a dominant performance for a Miami team that hopes to be in title contention this season. Miami finished with 31 assists on its 40 made field goals.

The Heat are just two years removed from a trip to the NBA Finals. If the team continues to play like this when its lineup gets healthy, it wouldn't be a surprise to see Miami make a deep playoff run this year.

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Lakers Doomed by Poor Shooting, Weak Defense

It's been clear throughout this season that the Los Angeles defense is beatable through effort and movement. Against Miami, the Lakers were facing one of the most active offensive teams in terms of cutting and ball movement. So, you can guess how that played out.

Early on, Los Angeles allowed the Heat to get easy looks at the rim and didn't do a good job of running Miami's shooters off the three-point line. It was a recipe for disaster from the start, and the Lakers found themselves facing a 26-point deficit in the first half.

Things didn't get much better after halftime. With its defense struggling, the Los Angeles offense wasn't much better. The Lakers shot 36.8 percent from the field in the third quarter and missed eight of their 11 three-point attempts.

The Heat were able to maintain their lead by taking advantage of Los Angeles' defensive woes.

"Oh my. The Lakers defense in shambles..." - @EReidMiamiHEAT 💀@MiamiHEAT | #HEATCulture pic.twitter.com/QQS1YoP3Rb

— HEAT on FanDuel Sports Network (@FanDuelSN_Heat) January 24, 2022

Duncan Robinson continues to thrive tonight 🔥@MiamiHEAT | #HEATCulture pic.twitter.com/iFynfKo7zm

— HEAT on FanDuel Sports Network (@FanDuelSN_Heat) January 24, 2022

Bam Adebayo just 𝙧𝙚𝙟𝙚𝙘𝙩𝙚𝙙 LeBron James 👀@MiamiHEAT | #HEATCulture pic.twitter.com/Q5Z65thTfV

— HEAT on FanDuel Sports Network (@FanDuelSN_Heat) January 24, 2022

Los Angeles finally woke up in the fourth quarter and managed to cut the lead to as few as four. The Lakers outscored the Heat 37-24 in the final frame, but it wasn't enough.

A late turnover by Los Angeles, the team's 17th, pretty much sealed the win for Miami. The Lakers finished just 11-of-40 (27.5 percent) from beyond the arc.

It was yet another disappointing performance for a Lakers team that had high expectations coming into the season. Had Los Angeles played with the effort it showed in the fourth quarter for the entire game, the conversation would be much different. The Lakers remain a team that cannot be considered among the elite squads in the NBA because of its continued inconsistency.

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What's Next?

The Heat will enjoy a couple of days of rest before returning to action against the New York Knicks on Wednesday. The Lakers will play the third matchup of their six-game road trip Tuesday against the Brooklyn Nets.

Los Angeles Lakers star big man Anthony Davis will not make his return from his 16-game absence on Sunday against the Miami Heat.

Davis, who has been working his way back from a sprained MCL, was listed as questionable for the matchup. Los Angeles head coach Frank Vogel said that Davis has made progress, but he's not fully ready yet.

"Yeah, he’s going to be out tonight," Vogel told reporters. "That was more about, he’s getting closer. He felt good with his work yesterday. But not quite there yet."

Davis has been out since Dec. 17 after Minnesota Timberwolves forward Jaden McDaniels collided with his knee. The injury was expected to keep him sidelined for four to six weeks.

"Whenever AD is ready, we're going to love that, that's for sure," Los Angeles star LeBron James said on Friday. "I mean he's one of our biggest guns that we have, and having him on the floor, it just creates so much for us offensively and defensively, able to do so much more."

Prior to his injury, Davis was one of the Lakers' most productive players on both ends of the floor. He averaged 23.3 points, 9.9 rebounds, 2.9 assists, 2.0 blocks and 1.2 steals in 27 games. While Davis has shot 52.1 percent from the field, he struggled with his outside shot and connected on just 17.9 percent of his three-point attempts.

The Lakers are 23-23 entering Sunday's contest and have gone 7-9 in Davis' absence. Los Angeles has had a hard time finding consistency this season because of injuries and trying to integrate new players.

The offseason addition of All-Star point guard Russell Westbrook hasn't worked out the way the team thought it would. Westbrook is averaging under 20 points for the first time since his second season in the NBA. He also averages 4.2 turnovers, which is tied for the third-highest mark in the league.

Los Angele Lakers big man Anthony Davis, who has missed 16 straight games since Dec. 19 with an MCL sprain in his left knee, will be a game-time decision for his team's road game against the Miami Heat on Sunday.

The Lakers also announced that Davis has officially been upgraded to questionable.

Davis has averaged 23.3 points, 9.9 rebounds and 2.0 blocks in 27 games this year.

The Lakers announced Davis' injury in mid-December and said he would be reevaluated in four weeks.

Head coach Frank Vogel told reporters Tuesday that Davis was cleared for contact after a clean MRI. Per Kyle Goon of the Southern California News Group:

While the Lakers rarely practice with full contact, Davis is expected to get reps with assistant coaches and other personnel during his ramp-up to activity. The Lakers are hopeful Davis returns during the six-game road trip to end the month, with one person close to the organization suggesting Davis could return as soon as Sunday against Miami. Another person with knowledge of Davis' situation didn't tie his return to a specific date but acknowledged he is progressing – although he has still been wearing a brace for workouts.

AD got a little pregame work in prior to the Lakers' 116-105 win over the Orlando Magic on Friday:

AD getting some post reps going against assistant Jon Pastorek … and having a little fun. pic.twitter.com/R9HJFBSA85

— Kyle Goon (@kylegoon) January 21, 2022

Davis' return would be a welcome sight for a Lakers team that sits at 23-23 through 46 games. L.A. lost four of its last five matchups before the win over Orlando.

Now the Lakers are embarking on a six-game road trip that started against the Magic. Adding Davis back to the lineup for this stretch could be a huge boost to the team as it finally looks to break free from hovering around .500.

The Lakers at Heat game will go down Sunday at 6 p.m. ET from Miami's FTX Arena.

Los Angeles Lakers point guard Russell Westbrook said he "turned the page" after getting benched for the final four minutes of Wednesday's loss to the Indiana Pacers.

Westbrook played a key role in Friday night's 116-105 win over the Orlando Magic, tallying 18 points, 11 rebounds, seven assists and three steals in a team-high 35 minutes. He knocked down eight of his 17 shots from the field.

"My job as a player, as a professional, is to do my job, continue to find ways to be able to help impact winning," Westbrook told reporters. "That's all I was thinking about and turned the page to do and that's what I tried to do tonight."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VYNfjVUV7Qw

The Lakers' offseason acquisition of the 2016-17 NBA MVP hasn't delivered the desired results. He's shot just 43.3 percent from the field, including 30.2 percent on threes, while averaging 4.2 turnovers and 3.1 fouls as the team compiled a mediocre 23-23 record.

Westbrook has remained steadfast in his belief L.A. can figure things out and emerge as an NBA title contender, though. He explained his mindset to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski on Friday.

"I want to get better as the season goes on, and I've got to take responsibility for the things I'm doing and how I'm making those around me better," he said. "We have a legitimate chance to be able to win it all, and to do that, I'll have to be better—and I know that I will be."

One promising sign from the Lakers' win over the Magic was the fact Westbrook attempted just a single three-pointer. He's never been an efficient outside shooter but has long continued to force those attempts, which has led to a lot of empty possessions.

The 33-year-old UCLA product is at his best when he's attacking the rim and either using his athleticism to finish or dishing the ball out to more proficiency three-point shooters. LeBron James pointed to that after Friday's game.

"His attacks are great," James said. "Thought he did a great job of getting to the paint, either for his shot or spraying out [to shooters]. And guys just played off of his energy and effort tonight."

If Westbrook focuses more on that drive-and-dish approach, while leaving the outside shots to more effective shooters like Carmelo Anthony, Malik Monk, Wayne Ellington and Avery Bradley, it'll provide an immediate boost to the Lakers' offense.

Talent isn't the issue for Los Angeles, especially when Anthony Davis returns from his knee injury, but getting all of the pieces to fit together has been a challenge for head coach Frank Vogel and his staff.

Maximizing Westbrook's impact will be a crucial part of the equation if the Lakers are going to become a serious threat by the time the playoffs arrive, and he sounds willing to make whatever adjustments are needed.

Friday's performance was a step in the right direction, and he'll look to continue that trend Sunday when L.A. visits FTX Arena to take on the Miami Heat.

Los Angeles Lakers point guard Russell Westbrook was benched at the tail end of a loss to the Indiana Pacers on Wednesday. It was another tough moment amid a season of struggles, with a 5-of-17 shooting performance.

Westbrook played far better Friday in a 116-105 road win over the Orlando Magic, though, scoring 18 points on 8-of-17 shooting. He also grabbed 11 rebounds, dished seven assists and had three steals.

After the game, Lakers forward LeBron James commented on his teammate's bounce-back performance:

.@KingJames (29 PTS, 7 REB, 5 AST) reflects on Russell Westbrook and Stanley Johnson's contributions in tonight's 116-105 #LakeShow win. pic.twitter.com/rB5FEN79wT

— Spectrum SportsNet (@SpectrumSN) January 22, 2022

It's one game. I think he let last game go and was focused for this game, focused on a new game, new trip ... like I said, he's the head of the snake when it comes to being our point guard. He puts us in position, his attack is great. I thought he did a good job of getting to the paint, either for his shot or spreading out, and guys just played off his energy and effort on both ends tonight. And it was a great team effort.

On Wednesday, Lakers head coach Frank Vogel was clear about why he benched Westbrook, telling reporters that he was "playing the guys that I thought were going to win the game."

That didn't happen against Indiana, but the Lakers looked far better Friday, albeit against a team with the worst record in the NBA at 8-39. They outscored Orlando 62-43 in the second half en route to an 11-point win that moved them to 23-23.

L.A. will stay in Florida to visit the Miami Heat on Sunday at 6 p.m. ET in hopes of getting back over .500.