'It's time for Russell Westbrook to come off the bench' 😦 - Kendrick Perkins | First Take 

Stephen A. says Westbrook needs to accept that he can't shoot: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-K59ETDyqXmc.html

"Its not about who starts but who finishes" Kendrick Perkins- Problem is you dont want him in the game during closing time either

Now they have Stephen A saying Russell "Westbrick" @2:23 💀

3:07 - When SAS said let me use a boxing analogy, I immediately thought of Max Kellerman. This show has lost a lot without him.

Sigh I remember when Westbrook was an 80% free throw shooter, & a decent midrange scorer. That was 2016

I don't think perk and Russ gonna be cool after this segment 😂😂

“Attacking the basket with vigor”but he was 1-11 on layups

Stephen A - I don't agree with that Perk - That's your problem 🤣🤣🤣🤣

Russ would be seen in a much better light if he dedicated half as much energy on defense as he does on offense.

Molly: Broken How?! Perkins: I'm about to explain Molly.. MOLLY SHUT UP YOUR A MODERATOR NOT INTERVIEWER.

When he do attack he don’t even be finishing layups and be missing dunks

After this all-star break, I don't hear anything about Westbrook. Don't be surprised if he figures out -Max Kellerman

I loved how this clip ended straight after Molly's question...without showing the guys answering her stupid question.. Molly, stay out of the conversation pleaaasee!!! Stop cutting the guys off!!

It’s crazy watching Thunder highlights back when KD and Russ played together. Russ was lighting quick!!! Especially on those ally oops with him cutting to the basket.

I agree with Perk… I’ve always thought that LeBron and Westbrook and AD won’t work cause of lack of shooting and because they’re kinda ball dominant. But if u make Westbrook a primary ball handle off the bench, u can not only give LeBron some rest but u could let him do what he knows what to do…

I been saying Westbrook should come off the bench since beginning of the season

Dude this team will lose whether they bench him or not, have the seen Lebron defend? Have they seen monk or THT defend? Have they seen melo defend? Their best defender is literally always hurt and their second best defender is on his 3rd 10 day contract. That should tell you something

2:24 Stephen A calls him Russel Westbrick 🤣🤣

We got him, we gotta deal with it. He’s gotta take the best player on defense.

So Stephen A forgot that when russ attacks the basket, he goes up and can't finish? And when he can't finish he panics and turns the ball over? Westbrook is the prime example of what happens if you rely purely on athleticism to play ball. He stopped focusing on defense, and put his effort into collecting triple doubles and became much less of an actual bball player. Which is insane to think about.

Legit what happened to Westbrook's mid-range pull-up?

45 mill off the bench? Poorly constructed team

“It’s not about who starts the game it’s about who finishes” bro we don’t want Westbrook finishing the game 💀

How is coming off the bench gonna change anything when he is supposed to play 30+ minutes every night?

Lol Stephen A must of forgot that even when Russ does get to the basket he’s been missing layups and DUNKS!!!

when Westbrook played for okc in his prime, he was invincible, minus carelessness and recklessness, due to high energy playing style, which got him all the success. when Westbrook played elsewhere, which he was still in his prime, things were much simpler because there wasn't the demand that he carried all those years at okc; he just simply had to score, which was in his nature. now when Westbrook is playing for lakers, he's not in his prime anymore. he's prolly coming to realization, that he no longer has the motor to do what he was able to do. (playing high energy throughout all 4 quarters, even playing good defense) but with Vogel, everyone knows he's demanding to play defense first, which is very opposite of what Russ was accustomed to. (as offensive playmaker) although he's still considered superstar, who has high level of skills in variety ways (scoring, passing, rebounding), he has no say in what is demanded of him, but to follow as team players, especially knowing how much lakers have expectation of him. I doubt Russ will try to talk it out with Lebron or anyone, but playing with everything he has. but without communication, the frustration from both parties (Russ vs Vogel) will just keep building up. at some point, lakers management has to make a decision, who they should side with, and make some drastic changes.

But Russ can't even finish at the rim consistently anymore...he misses easy open layups and dunks. He's become useless. And that's said because he was a top 5 player a couple of years ago, especially in 2017.

He exerts all that energy just to not win when a lot of that energy can be used on defense

Stephen A Smith made a mistake in call Russell Westbrook Russell Westbrick 😂😂😂

44 mil to come off the bench, nah that's not going to work.

Last 7 Games *Brodie the Builder* 12.9 PPG - 7.4 RPG - 5.1 APG 1.0 TO PG - 30.2% FG *LeBron James* 30.3 PPG - 8.1 RPG - 5.9 APG 2.1 TO PG - 49.7% FG

Stephen A: I don’t agree w that. KP: That’s yo fault.

they don’t have the personnel to bench russ🤣🤣

2:24 S.A.S now calling him “Russel Westbrick” 🤣

People love to forget he was a career 80% free throw shooter before his slump

Westbrook has issues and is not doing well. I have not heard any commentators mention the fact that Westbrook is at home. Being at home I’m sure he has a number of different distractions with family, former friends and not to mention his outside business interest (commercials, etc). All that being said, I think he is trying to hard to live up to all of the false expectations of him. He should just settle down and play basketball like he has done in the past. Just my two cents.

This the same dude who said Russell was the the greatest OKC player of all time… smh

“I’m bout to explain, Molly!” 😂

Russ would do a A. Brown before he sit on the bench and rightfully so

Perks is right on the money Russell Westbrook is my second favorite player in the NBA but that's not Russ he quicker and stronger than most guards in the NBA but somehow guards been destroying the Lakers this year if you can't score at least stop your player from scoring

To SAS's point, Russ was attacking the basket and getting some good looks but shot 1/11 in the paint in last game. JWill, I think it was, brought up an interesting stat yesterday: Westbrook is 10/17 in dunks. Just nothing seems to be working for him. If his athleticism is waning, then the question is does he have the ability and is he fundamentally sound enough to reinvent himself at this point in his career?

It doesn't matter who starts and who plays from the bench. It the fact that they don't play defense.

Stephen a Smith Literally called Westbrook “Westbrick” 2:22

He’s blowing layups too tho, so where does that leave him?

The realization you can't shoot then you agreeing with perk to come off the bench 🤦🏽‍♂️🤦🏽‍♂️yes he needs to do whats best for the team, and whats best for the team is him coming off the bench.

Westbrook should use this as motivation, he knows he’s been playing like garbage all year. He needs to get better. His stats suggest that he’s not a good player in general right now.

The thing is he could really thrive off the bench or woodsman be so much pressure 😫 but I never understood why it's hard 4 certain players to come off the bench... he should just play his game 🎮

5:15 😂😂😂 he really talked to Molly how we're all thinking! She's annoying!

Let's make Russ the scapegoat Charlie's Barkley was right

One thing I love about kendrick perkins is his loyalty to teammates. You can hear him at the beginning of the segment have an almost emotional response to wether russ should come off the bench or not. That goes back to russ's okc days. KP was an important role player for them and I think because of the time he spent with Russ (if im not mistaken KP was part of the OKC squad that lost in the finals dont quote me on that though) he has a hard time being objective in situations like this. Love Kendrick. His travels were absolutely amazing. Like 've never seen. 8-9steps while switching pivot foot in the high post way out by the three point line. And on top of that my god sir he was indubitably a scholar and a gentleman 😎

SA since coming back from Covid has been alot of " I'm not sure, I don't know " bring back Max please.

3 things the Lakers need to apply. 1. Run pick and roles with Lebron since he is playing the 5 spot. Lebron cam roll or set the screen and pop a three or mid range. 2. Russ come off the bench in for Lebron, so that he can run the second unit. 3. Russ wants to run, but when he looks back he is the only one. He is used to playing along side young legs that are hungry for playing time. Get off DJ and find a young center who can run along side Russ. He is playing with the total opposite now.

Y'all know Russ would never do this

How is get ups audio is always louder then first take when y’all use the same studio lol

Good points. This is a great basketball challenge. A basketball conundrum. More like the rubics cube but there is more than one solution. A situation like this is what separates good coaches from great coaches. The coaching staff in L.A. has better odds than David when he fought Goliath. Better odds than ali when he fought Liston. Better odds than when Cleveland beat golden state in 2016. They were down 3 to 1. The Lakers are a great puzzle. They still have time to put the pieces in the correct order. But they are running out of games as we speak. It will be fun to watch.

Stephen A. Smith using Boxing analogy means he had to think of something not related to basketball to make a point 😏

As someone who is not a Westbrook fan, and thought his MVP award was one of the worst given out in my lifetime, I do feel bad for how badly the media clowning him these days.

I was literally thinking this morning

He needs a highscreen every single time, allow him to pick up speed. The offense has to run off that for Westbrook to be effective. Go trade for Steven Adams...wait I think that's actually a great move.

Perk is starting to catch up to Stephen A on the hairline 😅🤣🤣

Stephen A called that man Russell Westbrick like it was his name. 2:24 mark

Glad I’m not a lakers fan. As a clippers fan dealing with 2020 playoff pg was enough stress.

Stop putting all the blame one 1 man sheesh! it's a team sport for crying out load, the fact that Rus was on the bench and they still gave up easy points proves that it's not Rus alone but Lebron and the entire Roster.

All he has to do is adopt a better shot selection, take care of the ball and play better defense. All the winning characteristics. He's been a three times assist leader in the NBA. Why is it so hard for Russ to understand he will finish as a top 3 in TO's in NBA history and that's something he can absolutely change before it's too late.

Not in the starting 5 makes you bad? Don't disrespect my boi Manu. Being the guy who takes over the car and helps build/sustains advantages or helps save the game is an incredible role to have

masterful analysis whoa and Steven A. Smith, great counter perspective. Masterful

He did not wear a dress for him to come off the bench lol

Perk you got no say in who come off the bench or not. You should of been off the bench your whole career

SAS. Nailed it. I’ve said this about RW on multiple videos. It’s like our W has to prove others wrong when they sag off of him and bait him into shooting. The Lakers did the same thing to him in the bubble and he gave into it multiple times per game. He hast to accept the fact that he cannot shoot. And he cannot allow change to bacon. He hast to find another way to put up an attempt and find another way to get the ball to a teammate.

For those people trying to defend Westbrook go look at the 4th quarter of okc finals game when they had harden kd and Westbrook and you'll think you're watching a Lakers game today

Westbrook just needs to attack the rim more. Slice through and dish out or finish at the rim. That's when he is best. If he still has energy left in the tank that's the way to go. Let him do what he does best, would make the team better also. Perkins commenting is bs anyways lol

Coming off the bench being that energy guy wouldn't be a bad thing.

"Allow me to finish, Molly" should be the name of this show

Smartest take stephen A made in a while

Steven A. "I'm not sure I agree with that" Big Perk "that's your fault" Molly "🤭"

Wow that was dope I think you both are right if he attacks the basket or dish out & also give 100% effort on D he back at the top

Coming from a mavs fan: I’ve seen the pacers and lakers game. Pacers went on a 23-7 run with Russ on the bench. It’s inexcusable how bad this defense is . They have to play better. I deeply hold Vogel accountable and pelinka for how the team is constructed.

everytime i am playing nba2k i put westbrook on 6th man and my starting line up 1st quarter 12 mins - 8 mins bradley monk lebron ad howard 8 mins - 2 mins bradley monk anthony lebron ad 2 mins to 8 mins in second quarter westbrook reaves tht anthony jordan 8 mins to second quarter to 4 mins to second quarter bradley monk lebron ad howard 4 mins to halftime bradley or monk reaves or ellington anthony or ariza lebron AD 3rd quarter and 4th quarter repeat the strategy

The Lakers and Frank Vogel put Westbrook in the tragic situation. Vogel needs to be fired and bring in new coach who can coach the players on the roster. Westbrook is not a scrub, this guy is future hall of famer. So you're telling me his coach can't figure out how to maximize his ability to help this team. This is a ridiculous. Jennie needs to make change in the front office leadership them she needs to go get her a new coach. Westbrook is not the reason why the Lakers are losing.

He just dunk on gobert. Im pretty sure he can still attack the rim.

Props to KP fo keepin' real, despite his friendship with Westbrick

Russ should do everything that Stephen A said BUT on the bench and guaranteed they would start getting W’s

Perkins said Greatest Player ever to wear a Thunder jersey!!! 🤣🤣🤣

So everyone is talking about Russ getting benched but not the coach stupid decision to leave Melo in the game? Did they win that game? The coach got bailed out because everyone is focusing on Russ being benched and not his boneheaded rotations.

Perk: Wassup Molly Molly: Ban him

Molly: "Broken how!" Molly, give the man time to complete his comment. 😐

Something happen to his confidence similar to Bem simmons. Russ was for 8 or 9 years shot over 80% from the free throw line and had a mean pull up mid range shot. The last 3 years both simply vanished. Something definitely happen with his mindset and confidence. Smh

I don’t get what Stephen a smith is tryna say… the best solution is still to come off the bench to give Lebron some more rest time

I'm old enough to remember Perk one time said Russell Westbrook was the best player OKC ever had.....

Russ used to have a killer pull up free throw line shot early days w KD like 13 ft in. He doesn’t do that anymore. He used to be a decent ft line shooter too now he’s below 60%.

As soon as AD get his convalescent home release paperwork in order, the current Russell Westbrick situation will change everything for the 1980's Lake Show!

I agree with both. He can't shoot, but when he comes off the bench, run some plays to use his level of game play. He can run the floor.

But y’all forcing Simmons to shoot but telling Russ not to…I thought y’all said every point guard has to shoot…make up your mind

If he's broken the media PLAYED THE BIGGEST PART in breaking him

If they had someone who could start PG

On a side note... when Jalan dissed Perk that's when Jalan lost Molly's heart. (just my opinion)

Agreed

I agree 💯 with u big perki

Thank You SAS Your Right for Once.👑⚰️

SAS isn’t wrong. The problem is when he attacks he doesn’t finish and if he’s fouled he’s missing those free throws. His confidence is so shot that dude looks miserable out there.