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I’m Going To Defend Russell Westbrook

Russell Westbrook

(Photo Credit: Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images)

Russell Westbrook
I, Trey Daubert, for the first time in my life am going to defend Russell Westbrook. Because somebody needs to be honest in this time of crisis for the Lakers. (Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images)

I’m Going To Defend Russell Westbrook

I am known as the most notorious Russell Westbrook hater on the internet. It’s true. There is even a map out there I’m fully responsible for. I’ve been doing a lot of thinking lately and opening so many doors in my mind. I’m going to do the unthinkable today. I, Trey Daubert, am going to defend Russell Westbrook. You heard that correctly.

Let’s not beat around the bush here. Westbrook has been bad with the Lakers. He still can’t shoot, still has zero self awareness, and is frankly just better off playing for someone else because he’s the biggest cancer in the league. Proving those things aren’t the goal today. We have had 13 years of data to already suggest those things are and have already been true. Today we’re going to put our lawyer cape on and defend the worst player in NBA history.

I am the notorious Westbrook hater and I have every right to be. Over the years, more and more people jump to my side without ever acknowledging that I was the first one at this party. I’ve written more than a handful of blogs explaining why (if it wasn’t obvious already) Westbrook is horrendous.

That’s not the goal today. In fact, it’s time for Trey to be fair and honest. That’s all I ever strive to be. I hate my own NFL team because Lamar Jackson is the quarterback. I actively root against the Ravens every week. I don’t blindly follow anything. What’s fair is fair and Westbrook deserves some praise right now.

At the end of the day, we know certain things to be true:

  • We know Westbrook can’t shoot.
  • We know Westbrook is addicted to turning the ball over.
  • We know Westbrook has zero self awareness when it comes to crunch time decision making.
  • We know Westbrook is a terrible defender.
  • We know Westbrook makes over $44 million while actively causing more harm than good for his own team.
  • We know Buddy Hield is a much better player and a much better fit for the Lakers than Westbrook is.

Again, that’s not what we’re here to discuss. We have 13 years of data to know that all of those things are true.

With the Lakers, Westbrook has been his usual self. Through 35 games, the Lakers point guard is shooting 31.5% from 3 (insert puke emoji) and turning the ball over 4.7 times per game.

Westbrook is chucking up shots on a nightly basis that look like this.

On Christmas Day with the entire world watching, Westbrook shot 4-15 in the restricted area which tied the NBA record for the most missed shots in that area. He tied… himself when he also missed 11 times against the Nuggets in 2020. I mean, this guy can’t even make consistent layups. Westbrook is the most inefficient shooter in NBA history. Which probably isn’t a good thing when he’s always on the floor and constantly has the ball in his hands.

Picking on Westbrook is easy. The guy sucks.

Today is a new day and we’re here to be fair.

Look, I have to give Westbrook credit. Westbrook has given the Lakers everything that we know him to be.

He’s always there even if he’s better off not being there. Westbrook has suited up in every game and is currently playing 36 minutes a night. He’s playing hard even if he’s doing his usual play so hard that he looks like a spaz does his best to appear incredibly dumb. He still can’t shoot. Still turns the ball over. Still, scoring points even if he’s doing it in an inefficient way which is why Los Angeles is a 17-18 team.

Should we get mad at somebody for being themselves? Well, maybe because there are a lot of sick people that don’t get a pass. However, there is a point to be made that Westbrook handed the Lakers his resume and has been 100 percent truthful. He’s given the team everything he’s ever been. Shitty basketball.

As the leader of this Vendetta pirate ship, I’ve gone through a lot of resumes. I can tell you for a fact that there are a lot of liars in the resume world. Westbrook is not one of them. Guy shows up and sucks. That’s the only thing you can ever expect out of him.

Russell Westbrook
Who is the real problem with the Lakers? That’s a much larger question than it appears. (Tom Pennington/Getty Images)

I’ll give you a perfect example. Bill Belichick decided that he was going to draft N’Keal Harry over Deebo Samuel, AJ Brown, and DK Metcalf. He quite literally couldn’t have been more wrong. I knew Harry sucked. If you had an ounce of intelligence, you knew how laughable that decision was. Should Patriot fans be angry at Harry for sucking when everyone who was smart already knew he sucked? OR should we blame the front office for making the stupid decision?

Look, you gotta give it to him. Westbrook has given the Lakers everything that he is. Shitty basketball and all. His resume has been 100 percent accurate. The only one that needs a reality check is LeBron James and the Laker front office.

Once again, we have more data that LeBron continues to be the dumbest personnel guy in the league. Everything he requests is bat shit crazy and stupid.

“Pay Tristan Thompson or I’m out!”

“Sell all the assets for Westbrook!”

“Sign James Jones to sit on the bench because I like him!”

LeBron has rocks for brains when it comes to building a roster. Then cries a river because he screwed things up and finds a new home to screw up. Some would consider a child who has a lot of fun but wrecks the house to be the greatest basketball player of all-time? Kevin Durant might be goofy but he’s certainly not stupid enough to willingly play with Westbrook. He took the first ticket out of town to avoid that disaster.

Let’s shift things back to the Lakers. If you’re a Laker fan, shouldn’t you be forced to root for Westbrook? He’s honest to himself. He’s given the Lakers full effort and all. He’s lived up to his scouting report.

You know who hasn’t? Anthony Davis.

Laker fans were sold a false scouting report. The Pelicans weren’t the problem. Davis is never healthy, refuses to play center because he’s soft, doesn’t work that hard, and is referred to as “Street Clothes” by Charles Barkley. That’s not the guy the Lakers thought they were getting. They thought they were getting an elite interior force, an available player, and a true alpha. AD is neither of those things.

This is an old Lakers roster. A poorly constructed one thanks to LeBron. Westbrook has given the Lakers minutes, hustle, and inefficient production. I can’t say that about another player on the Lakers roster. Who’s the real villain in LA?

I say this all the time. Sometimes you have to fix your expectations rather than focusing your energy on disappointment. The only thing that needs adjusting is the expectations of the Laker front office. WE know Westbrook sucks. You guys were just dumb enough to give up a first round pick, Kyle Kuzma, Montrezl Harrell, and KCP to trade for a hot pile of garbage. They could have just made the trade for Buddy Hield instead. Also odd all those players are playing better without LeBron which always seems to be the case (because the sad truth is LeBron is actually a bad teammate).

Now the Lakers are trying to trade Westbrook. Joke. Anyone with a brain knew to sell that Westbrook stock 10 years ago. The Lakers gave up things to go get the cancerous tunnel that is Westbrook. Who’s the real problem?

If I told Chickster to write the Flyers game recap blogs that McGuinness does. Then watched them turn into a disaster, that’s a me problem. That’s bad leadership. If I told Emma Brown to write soccer blogs, then had her turn around and chuck me the finger, who’s the real problem? I am.

The only one that needs to take accountability today is the Laker front office and LeBron. The Lakers are asking Westbrook to be a good basketball player but that’s just not who he is. It would be like asking me to churn out the Monalisa. My handwriting is ass. I’m simply not capable of doing that. If you’re going to trade someone, maybe think about trading Davis because that guy is a fraud. He never gives you what you expect.

I have now conquered an area of my brain that I didn’t know was possible. I just discovered the only possible way to defend Russell Westbrook. God, I’m so smart. That’s real growth and maturity by me. Which got me thinking; how stupid do you have to be to actually defend Westbrook in any other way? Tell you what, that’s a scary thought. Luckily, I’ll never be that dumb and for that, I feel fortunate.

I just defended Russell Westbrook because sometimes you have to be fair and honest. I would still fight him any time he wants. I also want that on the record. But for today, he gets a pass because everyone else on the Lakers is the problem.

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