NBA season preview: 5 big questions for the Los Angeles Lakers

LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 12: LeBron James #6 and Russell Westbrook #0 of the Los Angeles Lakers on the basketball court together during the second half of a preseason basketball game against the Golden State Warriors at Staples Center on October 12, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images) /

5 of 5

PHOENIX, ARIZONA – OCTOBER 06: Russell Westbrook #0 and LeBron James #6 of the Los Angeles Lakers warm up on the court before the NBA preseason game against the Phoenix Suns at Footprint Center on October 06, 2021 in Phoenix, Arizona. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /

1. Can Russell Westbrook help the Lakers when it counts?

There’s little doubt that Westbrook can help the Lakers through the doldrums of the regular season with his sheer will. The big question on the Westbrook acquisition is whether or not it actually will help Los Angeles come playoff time.

That’s the point in the year where teams will really focus on making Westbrook beat them with his jump shot. Last year the former All-NBA point guard only managed to connect on 31.5% of his three-point jumpers. Any Lakers’ playoff opponent will be more than happy to let him shoot that percentage in the postseason while making James and Davis offensive spectators.

Vogel and his staff need to start work early on scheming ways to minimize the potential negative impact of Westbrook’s inefficient perimeter shooting on the team’s crunchtime offense. The other challenge in fitting Westbrook into the fold is that he needs to dominate the ball to be successful. Any important position that isn’t initiated by James is a serious failure for the Lakers’ offense.

Next. Every NBA's biggest question heading into the 2021-22 season. dark

The underrated question about Westbrook heading into this season is whether or not he can fit into Vogel’s defensive system. He has all the tools required to be a plus perimeter defender but the gambles he takes can be maddening. He’ll need to cut those erratic plays way down if he wants to be a part of a championship defense.

Home/Los Angeles Lakers