To the surprise of few and even at the risk of falling into habitual vice Judging in hindsight, all fears regarding the difficult adjustment of Russell Westbrook in the Los Angeles Lakers were glimpsed once the season began and were completely fulfilled as it progressed.
The first efforts by the management pointed to Buddy Hield and the arrival of DeMar DeRozan was practically closed before that meeting with LeBron James and Anthony Davis that ended up tipping the scales in favor of Westbrook.
Even then it did not seem like an ideal basketball ecosystem for him, but the effort of the Los Angeles star duo was enough for Pelinka and company to shift their own responsibility as architects of the squad in favor of that apparent whim.
Even being far from the best seasons of his career, his individual numbers did not look -apparently- not bad at all, rising to 18.5 points, 7.4 rebounds, 7.1 assists and 1.0 steals per game within a team that only reached 33 victories between numerous physical problems, visible chemistry problems and a preparation of the rosterquestionable to say the least.
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