Uncertainty continues as Lakers struggle to integrate Russell Westbrook

LOS ANGELES — The commentary captured the Lakers’ confidence in their stars. The commentary also captured the Lakers’ uncertainty with everything else.

The Lakers (26-28) play the Milwaukee Bucks (34-21) on Tuesday (10 ET, TNT), and the matchup may not be the NBA Finals preview some expected at the beginning of the 2020-21 season. Amid all the concerns the Lakers have fielded about their health, Russell Westbrook’s fit and the team’s roster construction, there are two reasons the Lakers have persistent optimism that their bumpy roller-coaster ride will have a smooth ending.

“When your starting point is LeBron James and Anthony Davis,” Lakers coach Frank Vogel said, “you have a chance.”

Vogel then added qualifying statements about the state of the Lakers. He cited Westbrook’s “body of work” as a nine-time All-Star because of his dynamic playmaking and competitiveness. He gushed about Malik Monk’s complementary scoring. He mentioned in general terms the team’s centers (Dwight Howard, Deandre Jordan) and wing players (Trevor Ariza, Carmelo Anthony, Avery Bradley, Talen-Horton Tucker).

“If it all comes together with the starting point being LeBron and AD, then you got a chance,” Vogel said. “So the optimism is going to be strong.”

But that just raises another question that yields as much uncertainty as optimism about the Lakers’ title fortunes:

Do the Lakers enter Thursday’s trade deadline determined to correct their roster flaws? Or do they stand pat and hope that improved health and more on-court chemistry will yield better continuity?

“I don’t really like to play fantasy basketball,” James said. “This is the group that we have going into the deadline and ready to take on all challenges that this season has given us. If there is an opportunity? I’ve said this every year, if there is an opportunity to get better, then you explore those options. It’s always been like that my whole career. I’ve said it over and over. If you have an opportunity to get better, no one turns that down.”

James has historically had an influential role with the team’s roster construction when he played in Cleveland (2003-10), Miami (2010-14), Cleveland again (2014-18) and the Lakers (2018-present). James also had a say in the Lakers acquiring Westbrook last summer from the Washington Wizards in exchange for Kyle Kuzma, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Montrezl Harrell and the team’s No. 22 pick.

Will James share his voice once again with Rob Pelinka, the Lakers’ vice president of basketball operations and general manager? “You got to ask Rob that question,” he said. Though James was not forthcoming in his exact role on what the Lakers may or may not do before the trade deadline, he at least offered public support for Westbrook.

Westbrook has averaged 18.4 points while shooting 43.7% from the field and 30% from 3-point range along with 7.8 rebounds, 7.7 assists and 4.1 turnovers per game. This marks Westbrook’s lowest scoring season since his second year in Oklahoma City (2009-10). For better and for worse, Westbrook’s shooting percentage, rebounds, assists and turnovers are near his career averages through 14 seasons.

“I only care about his state of mind and how much he can give to himself,” James said. “If he commits to himself, then it trickles down to the rest of us. I don’t really get involved in all the other schematics with things off the floor. All I care about is how he is and how his well-being is and how his family is doing. The game will translate. You put the work in, the game will translate.

“Guys struggle all of the time. Guys feel like they can figure it out themselves or that they can do more. That’s okay. At the end of his day, as his brother, we all are in this together. We’re all in the foxhole together. There is not one guy that is doing it by themselves. There is not one guy that gets the blame over the other guy. There is not one guy that gets the praise over the other guy.

“When we lose, we all lose. When we win, we all win. It’s really that simple.”

If only it were that simple.

"I feel pretty good today, looking forward to seeing how I feel tomorrow and we'll go from there." LeBron James on his recovery after logging 40 minutes against the Knicks. pic.twitter.com/14lDuE65dy

— Spectrum SportsNet (@SpectrumSN) February 8, 2022

The Lakers anticipated Westbrook to have a reduced scoring role because of James and Davis. The Lakers did not anticipate Westbrook would play only a combined seven games thus far with James and Davis because of numerous injuries. But they also expected Westbrook to play more consistently, even if he’s asked to play off the ball or compensate for the team’s overlapping injuries.

“He’s done it throughout his career,” Vogel said. “He’s played with great players. He knows how to play to win. So, it’s not something that’s new.”

It is new, however, for Westbrook to sit during crunch time. He sat for the final 3:52 of the Lakers’ eventual 111-104 loss to the Indiana Pacers on Jan 19. Westbrook also sat in overtime during the Lakers’ 122-115 win over the New York Knicks on Saturday. Following Westbrook’s first demotion in favor of Monk, Vogel simply chalked the decision up to “playing the guys that I thought were going to win the game.” Following the Lakers’ win over New York, Vogel acknowledged Westbrook’s five-point effort on 1-of-10 shooting and four turnovers factoring into his decision as well as James’ availability as a playmaker and Talen Horton Tucker’s defense.

After each benching, Vogel said he has had direct conversations with Westbrook about his decision. Westbrook has publicly supported Vogel’s decision, while also conceding frustration with struggles involving the team and himself.

“I’ve always taken pride with my team and making sure I’m communicating with guys with whatever happens within a game,” Vogel said. “Obviously not every player every game. But if certain things require to reach out or just a follow up, then we’ll have that.”

In fairness to Westbrook, he has shown marked improvement in between both benchings. Following his first benching, Westbrook spent the next six games averaging 22 points while shooting 53.5% from the field and 35% from deep along with 6.8 rebounds and 6.7 assists. In the past three games, however, Westbrook has averaged only 10.3 points while shooting 27.5% from the field and 16.7% from deep along with 6.7 rebounds and 7.7 assists.

Hence, Vogel’s omission of Westbrook’s name when he expressed optimism about James and Davis. Technically, the Lakers have listed James (left knee soreness) and Davis (right wrist soreness) as probable for Tuesday’s game against the Bucks. But they are bullish about their recent health.

Though James said he has received “around-the-clock treatment” after playing 40 minutes against the Knicks, he downplayed any concerns about his 37-year-old body as his 19th NBA season grinds on.

“I don’t think I have a setback,” James said. “I just want to continue the treatment and the rehab and things that I’ve been doing the last couple of weeks to get me back on the floor. So, I’m going to continue to do that over the next 24 hours.”

James said he did not have his left knee drained after missing three games because of continued swelling. Still, Vogel insisted that he and the training staff will “be responsible with the minutes and the load that he’s carrying within those minutes.”

Perhaps easier said than done. James had 29 points on 54.2% shooting along with 13 rebounds and 10 assists in 40 minutes in overtime against New York. No wonder Vogel said it’s “extremely” difficult to follow through on his plan “not to overdo it.”

“I want to play him 48 minutes a night,” Vogel said. “He’s willing to listen. He understands the big picture and marathon. At least you plan out going into the game. Obviously, sometimes the game requires an adjustment to that.”

As for Davis, the Lakers have seen a dramatic improvement with how he has played since missing 17 games with an MCL sprain in his left knee. In the past six games, Davis has averaged 25.7 points on 56.4% shooting along with 11.3 rebounds and 3.0 blocks. On Davis’ 18 blocks in the past six games, Vogel mused that “hopefully it’s not just determined by the ball containment and just the opportunities to get blocks.”

Regardless, the Lakers have seen Davis become more aggressive on both offense and defense while assuming more time at the center position.

“I do think that he’s had a look about him the last X amount of games since Bron went out that resembles most closely the 2020 AD than maybe we’ve seen since then,” Vogel said. “That’s a real positive sign.”

Is that enough of a positive sign for the Lakers to contend for an NBA title just like they did two years ago? Perhaps not given the Lakers’ influx of injuries. The Lakers ruled Anthony out against the Bucks because of a right hamstring strain that also sidelined him against New York. Howard is listed as questionable with lower back tightness. And Kendrick Nunn has yet to play a game all season because of a right knee bone bruise.

Nonetheless, James has maintained some relative optimism because of “some of the games that we’ve played, some of the quarters that we’ve had and the film work that we’ve put in.” Most of those positive developments have included James and Davis, leading the Lakers with uncertainty on if they should or even can make any deals before the trade deadline.

“You have to evaluate what you’ve had. You can’t focus on what you haven’t had,” Vogel said. “You evaluate on the body of work that our guys have put forth so far and understanding that we haven’t been whole for the whole year, or most of the year. You make whatever decisions based on that.”

The Lakers will soon determine this week what those decisions will be.

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Mark Medina is a senior writer/analyst for NBA.com. You can e-mail him here, find his archive here and follow him on Twitter.

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