The Westbrook Rules: How the Lakers Can Best Optimize Russell Westbrook!

The question is not whether Russell Westbrook can make his game fit with LeBron James and Anthony Davis but whether the Lakers can adjust their team style of play to optimize and unleash Russell Westbrook.

The Lakers know the only way Westbrook is going to work alongside James and Davis is if the two superstars adjust their games and roles to accommodate Russ rather than asking him to change the way he plays. James giving up the ball and moving to four and Davis giving up power forward and moving to the five are moves the Lakers have to make to give Westbrook at the one a chance to be a championship caliber lineup.

While Russ had a dud of a game against the Warriors, the Lakers did not play him in lineups that complemented strengths like his ability to attack the rim or mitigated weaknesses like not being a good jump shooter. Instead of playing Westbrook with at least two respected 3-point shooters to create space for him to attack the rim, the Lakers basically played him in lineups where opposing defenses could turn him into a jump shooter.

What the Lakers need to do is establish the Westbrook Rules, a set of guidelines to ensure Russ will be surrounded by players who complement his strengths and mitigate his weaknesses whenever he is in the game.

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Westbrook Rule #1: Surround Russ with Elite Shooters

Even before trading for Russell Westbrook, packing the paint was already the preferred league strategy for preventing LeBron James and Anthony Davis from attacking the rim and turning them into jump shooters.

With Russell Westbrook joining LeBron James and Anthony Davis, teams are going to double and triple down on that strategy. Better to give James, Davis, and Westbrook wide open jumpers than let them get to the rim. Tuesday night, the Warriors executed that plan to perfection, limiting LeBron to two shots at the rim and four in the paint and forcing him to take six shots from midrange and a eleven threes from beyond the arc.

While teams will pack the paint regardless of whom the Lakers have on the court, the Lakers still need to counter this strategy by making sure to pair two high quality 3-point shooters whenever they play their big three. That means they can’t waste one of the two shooting spots next to the big three in their starting lineup on a low post traditional center like DeAndre Jordan or Dwight Howard. They need to start two capable 3&D players.

Tuesday night, Russ played 16 of his 35 minutes with a low post center and a single 3-point shooter in the lineup. Westbrook Rule #1 should be to always surround Russ with multiple 3-point shooters in every lineup.

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Westbrook Rule #2: Surround Russ with Elite Defenders

Integrating Russell Westbrook into a Lakers team with a ‘defense first’ coach like Vogel and a top ranked defense in the NBA last season despite losing James and Davis to major injuries will clearly be a challenge.

Vogel struggled with his rotations in the opening game against the Warriors on Tuesday night, mainly because of the nagging injuries that have rendered Ariza, Horton-Tucker, Nunn, and Ellington unavailable. That forced Vogel to play Russ in lineups with other guards whose strengths were not defense. Defending Curry and Poole with Westbrook and Rondo or Westbrook and Monk should never have seen the court.

The Warriors destroyed the Russ and Rondo and Russ and Monk lineups. Vogel played Westbrook with Rondo for 7 minutes Tuesday night for a -70 net rating and Russ with Monk for 12 minutes for a -69.8 net rating. While only one game, the Lakers will face this dilemma all season long: How do they get shooters in the game without compromising their defense. The answer could be more Kent Bazemore and Avery Bradley.

Frank Vogel did not do Russell Westbrook a favor by playing him with Rajon Rondo or Malik Monk for 19 of his 35 minutes. Westbrook Rule #2 should be to always surround Russ with elite defenders in every lineup.

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Westbrook Rule #3: Encourage Russ to Be Russ

While the Lakers need to put Westbrook in lineups that complement his strengths and hide his weaknesses, they also need Russ to be Russ. That’s what was really missing from the Lakers’ effort against the Warriors.

The Lakers need Westbrook to be the relentless, fearless, attack dog player who averaged a triple-double in four of his last five seasons. While they want better shot selection and defense, they want Russ to be Russ. The Lakers didn’t trade for a dumbed down version of Russell Westbrook. They traded for a third superstar with the idea it would be James and Davis rather than Westbrook who would have to make more adjustments.

Frank Vogel has said Russell Westbrook’s poor first game was on him for not doing the things needed to allow Russ to be Russ and promised the Lakers would make adjustments tonight to complement and unleash Russ. Regardless of the adjustments the Lakers make, the onus has is still on Westbrook to be more aggressive, to find ways to get to the basket. Russ needs to come out and be himself, play the game like he always has.

I expect Russ to come out in full-throttle Russell Westbrook mode tonight, looking for redemption for last Tuesday night. Westbrook Rule #3 should be to always encourage Russ to be Russ in every lineup.