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Russell Westbrook finally made his debut for the LA Clippers tonight against the Sacramento Kings. Following a buyout agreement with the Utah Jazz, the former MVP is now playing for the LA Lakers' rival.
At the midway point of the game against the Kings, "Russ" received a nifty dish from Paul George to score his first bucket for his new team.
Russell Westbrook started, something he's always wanted until he agreed to come off the bench for the LA Lakers this season. He scored four points in the first quarter as the first half ended 40-40.
Clippers head coach Ty Lue has relegated Terance Mann, who was given the starting point guard role, to the bench for Westbrook. It remains to be seen if Lue will stick to this setup after Mann's solid play in quarterbacking his team. The sophomore guard earned his starting spot over veterans along with former Clippers Reggie Jackson and John Wall.
Russell Westbrook, who was often booed by LA Lakers fans, got a standing ovation when he was introduced for the first time as a Clipper. Whether the warm welcome stays as the team tries to secure a playoff spot will be worth watching.
Russell Westbrook had a solid debut for the LA Clippers
In just his first game with the LA Clippers, Ty Lue played Russell Westbrook 39 minutes. The point guard responded with 17 points, a game-high 14 assists, five rebounds and a steal. He did have seven costly turnovers, which dampened the impact of his performance.
The Clippers knew exactly what they were getting with Westbrook and he proved that point tonight. He was a menace going downhill, creating opportunities for himself and for his teammates.
Paul George and Kawhi Leonard were the biggest recipients of his aggressiveness and playmaking. "PG13" had 34 points, while Leonard dropped 44 points on 16-22 shooting.
Ty Lue will have to live with Westbrook's often questionable decision-making, which leads to turnovers. The Clippers will also have to adapt to a more clogged paint when the former MVP is handling the ball.
Against the Kings, Westbrook made 1-4 three-point shots. Sacramento's perimeter defenders largely sat in the paint, forcing the Clippers to beat them with Westbrook's inefficient shooting.
On a few occasions, George had to bail out once he decided to go to the rim as the Kings' backcourt helped pack the interior. More experienced teams with better defenders will only make life more interesting for George and Leonard to navigate.
All in all, the Kings got what many believe they will be getting out of Russell Westbrook. For good or bad, they will be stuck with him as they try to secure a postseason spot.
You might also like to read: "Is he gonna be willing to take a lesser role at this point of his career?" - Kendrick Perkins believes NBA GMs will be scared of taking Russell Westbrook, says he could be on the veteran minimum soon
