James Harden took Russell Westbrook aside on the sidelines after the final buzzer signaled the 113-112 victory. Recognizing Westbrook’s frustration from playing just 19 minutes in the close game against the Golden State Warriors, Harden sought to encourage. He wanted to assure the accomplished point guard, destined for the Hall of Fame, that numerous games remain in the season.
“I assured him to stay with it. It’s a lengthy season, and I understand it’s likely frustrating for him with fluctuating minutes,” Harden remarked. “But all of us are figuring out how to play different lineups and identifying who works best with whom.”
Since moving to the bench last month, Westbrook has witnessed variations in playing time, ranging from low teens to achieving double-doubles in points. In the recent Golden State Warriors game, he scored eight points, in contrast to a three-point performance against the New Orleans Pelicans eight days ago.
“It’s frustrating; I think it’s human nature; we all get frustrated,” expressed Harden. “We all want someone to pick us up, tell us it’s going to be OK, and that it’s a process we’re trying to figure out. It was that kind of conversation.”
Clippers’ Harden, too, might benefit from some encouraging words, especially after making only one basket in the fourth quarter on Saturday—his first two-point basket in a fourth quarter.
Powell Replaces Mann
Down by 11 points, Coach Tyronn Lue opted to start the second quarter with Norman Powell on the floor instead of Terance Mann. Lue clarified that it was a spacing issue, not a reflection of Mann’s shooting struggles.
Tyronn Lue explained the decision, stating, “I think if teams are going to overhelp, having an extra shooter on the floor, I thought would be good and beneficial, which it was.” He emphasized that while Terance Mann is considered a capable shooter, he needed a better night from three, prompting the switch to Norman Powell. Powell’s recent performance, averaging 11 points in his past nine games, justified the move, contributing 12 points in 30 minutes during Saturday’s win. Mann struggled with 1 for 6, hitting only a 3-pointer in 24 minutes.
Also read:
