After the Los Angeles Lakers’ latest loss to the Sacramento Kings on Friday, Anthony Davis appears to have taken a shot at teammate Russell Westbrook.
After a loss, Lakers star Anthony Davis takes a shot at Russell Westbrook
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Despite LeBron James’ absence due to injury, the Lakers lost 120-114 and fell to 2-10 on the season. Westbrook’s particularly rough stretch at the end of the first half gave the Kings a boost.
Westbrook was called for a technical foul in the final minute of the second quarter, turned the ball over twice (resulting in Kings buckets), and committed a take foul. Westbrook’s unlucky string of plays aided Sacramento, who went on a 14-5 run to end the half.
Westbrook’s “Rock-A-Baby” celebration was mocked by James Worthy and Robert Horry, who do postgame coverage for the Lakers on Spectrum SportsNet.
Westbrook received a technical foul with 36.4 seconds remaining in the first half after scoring on Kings forward Kevin Huerter and taunting him.
James Worthy: "I'm not a fan of people rocking the cradle."
Robert Horry: "When you're the worst team in the league you can't do that."
— Lakers Daily (@LakersDailyCom) November 12, 2022
“We have our moments where our IQ is very high. We have our moments where our IQ is very low,” Davis admitted after the game.
He then became more specific, zeroing in on a play near the end of the first half that appeared to be a clear shot by Westbrook.
“Couple ‘my bads’ at the end of the first half, and they go on a 14-5 run. Certain moments where we can’t have ‘my bads.’ It’s good that guys are seeing their mistakes and owning them but we gotta try to limit those ‘my bads’ to 2-3 per game,” Davis said.
Westbrook finished the game against Sacramento with 21 points, four rebounds, 11 assists, and five turnovers while shooting 6-of-17 from the field, 4-of-7 from beyond the arc, and 5-of-6 from the free-throw line. The MVP in 2016-17 had a plus-minus of -13.
Darvin Ham, the Lakers’ coach, has been very supportive of Westbrook and has maintained that stance despite the team’s tenth loss.
“I thought there were some unfortunate plays that he would normally make. But if I had to do it all over again, I would put him in the same situations,” Ham said. “I’ve got certain things that stick out in my mind, but without going over the film, I can’t really get into detail.”
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Horry: Stop with the Turnovers Russ
“Stop with the turnovers, Russ.” Westbrook had four turnovers at halftime, including a few crucial ones near the end of the second quarter.
Robert Horry: "Stop with the turnovers Russ, please!"
— Lakers Daily (@LakersDailyCom) November 12, 2022
When asked directly about Westbrook’s execution to close both halves against the Kings, Lakers head coach Darvin Ham defended his star point guard’s performance and said he wouldn’t have pulled Westbrook out if he could.
“I thought there were some unfortunate plays that he would normally make,” Ham said. “But if I had to do it all over again, I would put him in the same situations. I thought he was huge for us tonight. Provided a huge boost at the 3-point line. Overall, with his point total. And there were times he pushed the pace. There were times he really put pressure on the paint. Found some guys for easy looks. But it’s tough. I’ve got certain things that stick out in my mind, but without going over the film, I can’t really get into detail. But I will say this, again, if I had to do it all over again, he’d be in the game, for sure — and in those situations.”
Davis Speaks Out About Locker Room Morale
The Lakers are 12 games into the season and currently sit at the bottom of the Western Conference, tied for the worst record in the NBA with the Rockets.
Davis didn’t mince words when asked about the locker room morale following the team’s fifth consecutive loss.
“The energy around our locker room feels like 2-10,” Davis said.
Davis, who battled illness to be available, finished the game with 24 points, 14 rebounds, three assists, and two blocks.
His issue has been a lack of aggression for all four quarters, but the Lakers’ locker room is completely behind him.
“This is his team and we’re gonna ride him until the wheels fall off,” Lakers guard Lonnie Walker IV said after the loss to the Kings.
Westbrook Failed to Finish Both halves
Westbrook struggled at the end of the second quarter and throughout the game. The Athletic’s Jovan Buha went into detail about the UCLA product’s poor play at the end of both halves.
“In the first half, he picked up a technical foul with 36.4 seconds left after scoring on Kevin Huerter and taunting him. That turned into a 3-point possession for the Kings. On the next Lakers possession, Fox stripped Westbrook’s dribble as he tried to beat him past a Davis screen. Two more points for the Kings,” Buha wrote. “Westbrook then lobbed an alley-oop to Davis through a thicket of Kings arms with roughly six seconds remaining in the half. Turnover. He then committed a transition take foul, which gave the Kings a free throw and the ball. Fox drilled a buzzer-beating 3-pointer, making it a four-point Sacramento possession. In 36.4 seconds, the Kings went from down 12 to down four, entirely because of Westbrook’s miscues.
“The final two minutes of the game were a near-repeat. Westbrook, out of position defensively earlier in the possession, eventually recovered and fouled Harrison Barnes on a drive. On the next possession, Westbrook drove with Sabonis defending him, flicking up an out-of-control contested jumper that clanged off the backboard. The next possession was arguably the worst of the game. Westbrook, defending Fox, miscommunicates with Reaves, pausing for some reason as Fox starts driving, and allows Fox to waltz into an uncontested runner in the paint. This was the go-ahead bucket that put Sacramento ahead for good.”
Westbrook did not speak to the media following the game. The Lakers will play Kevin Durant and the Brooklyn Nets at Crypto.com Arena on November 13.
