The Los Angeles Lakers finally got their first win off the season after losing 5 straight games the Lakers on Sunday night won against Denver Nuggets. Head Coach Darvin Ham got emotional on the teams first win of the season and Russell Westbrook’s role coming of bench.
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Russell Westbrook came off the bench for the subsequent straight game and was magnificent in his job, getting done with 18 points, eight rebounds and eight assists while being a group high in addition to 18 out of 32 minutes.
The last two games have shown a brief look at what Westbrook is skilled on in a 6th man role when he’s stumbled with LeBron James and can play with the ball in his grasp while welcoming energy on the both ends of the floor.
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After the success, Lakers lead trainer Darvin Ham communicated how pleased he is of Westbrook for getting involved with this new job.
Darvin Ham on the impact Russ had coming off Bench
“I told him he’s gonna thrive man, just trust me. Trust me. I always told him, your sacrifice, a player of your magnitude for you to do this, it’s gonna send waves,”. “It’s gonna help our team and I said you can’t look at it like you’re getting so caught up in starting. If I remember correctly, he finished the game, right?
And so it’s like, dude I’m putting you in a position where you’re gonna come off, he’s helping us in so many areas coming off the bench, scoring, rebounding, assists, he’s giving those other guys, Austin and those other guys confidence, Matt, Wenyen.
So it’s tailor made in my opinion for our group as it’s built for him to be in that role and then gain his rhythm, and then now when Lebron and Anthony Davis are back on the floor, he’s in a good mood, he’s in a good mix because he’s playing and competing at a very high level.
“And our guys see that once they sit down like ‘OK, he’s taking it up a notch so I can’t come back in and be the one to ruin it.’ So I’m so happy for him man, he’s the last couple of games, Minnesota and tonight, he’s been phenomenal. Nothing short of amazing and I think I’m so happy.
I can’t even imagine what that kid is going through. One of the biggest things about me getting this job was for him to get that respect that he deserves because a lot of went on last year was not his fault and everything, all of the blame, was placed on him said Darvin Ham.
I told him just listen to me, believe in me bro. I’m gonna put you in position to succeed with the group but you gave to put the group first. It can’t be about me or I or mine, it’s got to be us, ours, we. And he’s done that.”
