The Clippers had trouble figuring out their star-studded lineup. It took Russell Westbrook accepting a different role to get the team on track.
Ohm Youngmisuk has covered the Giants, Jets and the NFL since 2006. Prior to that, he covered the Nets, Knicks and the NBA for nearly a decade. He joined ESPNNewYork.com after working at the New York Daily News for almost 12 years and is a graduate of Michigan State University.And then with 9:53 left in the second, Russ went airborne. Soaring in for a two-handed alley-oop dunk from Powell, Westbrook yanked the rim down before unleashing a scream that woke up the crowd inside Crypto.com Arena.
"I know who I am and what I'm able to bring to the game," Westbrook told ESPN."Nobody's able to do what I can do since I got in this league. And the reason why I'm in the position I'm in is because nobody ever knew I could do night-in and night-out basis." Having started 1,039 regular-season games, Westbrook has found ways this season to make an impact off the bench. He has been among the league's top defenders and continues to be the only player to average 10 points, five rebounds and five assists off the bench in his career, according to ESPN Stats & Information research.
"He just said, 'Whatever I need to do for us to win, I'm willing to do,'" Lue said of his conversation with Westbrook."'If coming off the bench is going to be the right thing to do, then I'll do that.'The meeting delayed practice. Lue, meanwhile, went to handle his media session with reporters before he could inform the team. Players learned of the move when Westbrook emerged onto the court. His practice jersey was flipped to the white side -- for reserves.
"When I'm on the floor, I'm able to do other things," Westbrook said."Defend at a high level, which I think I've been doing pretty much better than anybody in the league this year." And when the Clippers' starters got off to a slow start or needed a boost, Lue relied on Westbrook to orchestrate comeback wins such as when he helped erase an 18-point deficit in the final 10:54 to beat the
The Clippers will need Westbrook again in the playoffs. Westbrook said he isn't sure what it will feel like to come off the bench in the playoffs for the first time. But, like the offensive rebound tip to Powell or his game-clinching defense in Sunday's win over Cleveland, Westbrook knows the difference in a series can come down to a matchup or a big play.
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