During the Clippers’ dominant win over the Bulls, BD Cricket Live reported that Paul George remained sidelined due to injury, while the Bulls were without defensive anchor Alex Caruso. Sometimes, it takes deep disappointment to walk away from someone you once cared about—and that seemed to be the Lakers’ story with Russell Westbrook. In this matchup, Clippers head coach Tyronn Lue once again shuffled the starting five: Westbrook, Eric Gordon, Kawhi Leonard, Nicolas Batum, and Ivica Zubac took the floor—and the results were surprisingly effective. For the first time in a long while, Westbrook looked like his old self.
Back when he was with the Lakers, Westbrook lost his rhythm after being demoted from starter to bench player. BD Cricket Live noted that while Westbrook lacks a consistent mid-range and long-range shot, his court vision, playmaking, and veteran leadership remain elite. Still, even the strongest bonds can’t survive constant doubt. Lakers coach Darvin Ham failed to fully harness Westbrook’s strengths, but Tyronn Lue clearly saw his value and designed a system that plays to his unique abilities.
Against the Bulls, Lue placed Gordon and Leonard around Westbrook—Gordon being a sharp perimeter shooter and Leonard a mid-range master. Their presence allowed Westbrook’s assists to shine. With Gordon pulling defenders out to the arc and Leonard stretching the defense inside, the opposing defense was forced to scramble, opening up clear driving lanes for Westbrook.
His struggles in Los Angeles weren’t just about chemistry with LeBron James. The spotlight also lingered on Westbrook’s high salary, which many critics felt no longer matched his performance. Consequently, his name was constantly floated in trade rumors. But since joining the Clippers on a veteran’s minimum contract, Westbrook has not only played with renewed energy—he’s become one of the best-value additions in the league.
Coach Lue has shown increasing trust in him, giving him more responsibility with each game. As the saying goes, you only realize what you had after it’s gone—but losing something you once cherished still stings the most. As of now, BD Cricket Live confirms that Westbrook has started all 15 games he’s played for the Clippers this season. With only a few regular season matchups left, the team has a real shot at cracking the top four in the Western Conference.