Russell Westbrook reportedly asks to come off bench, Mann to start for Clippers

In an unfortunate turn of events, the Los Angeles Clippers had an abysmal 0-5 record since James Harden joined the team. Their defensive ranking plummeted to 25th place, and their offensive ranking to 26th. It was a tough sight to witness. The quartet of James Harden, Kawhi Leonard, Paul George, and Russell Westbrook failed to gel, resulting in a disappointing -16.5 net rating when all four were on the court together.

On paper, the most favorable strategy appeared to be starting Terance Mann for his defensive prowess and comfort without the ball, and bringing Westbrook off the bench to inject energy and lead the second unit. However, Coach Tyronn Lue was aware that this decision had to be endorsed by the players themselves, rather than imposed from the top-down, to ensure their commitment to it. As a result, he started with the big four, and the Clippers suffered a -36 point differential in the 85 minutes that Westbrook and Harden shared the court in five games. Anyone observing the games could see that these two needed to have staggered playing time; it was blatantly obvious.

The much-needed change finally occurred. Westbrook approached Lue and volunteered to come off the bench, as reported by Chris Haynes of TNT/Bleacher Report. Mann is set to start in Friday’s game against the Rockets in an In-Season Tournament matchup. Sources revealed that Westbrook approached the coaching staff with the notion of aiding the first unit in developing chemistry and providing the second unit with spirited play. Known as the vocal leader of the team, Westbrook expressed his determination to do whatever it takes to secure victories.

Lue had consistently stressed the necessity for his players to make sacrifices in order to foster cohesion, and this indeed represented the most significant sacrifice thus far. The lingering question remains: Will this alteration yield positive results, or are the Clippers’ components simply inadequate, regardless of Lue’s arrangements? Time will provide the answer. Harden is gradually finding his rhythm, as evidenced by his improved performance in the Clippers’ recent loss to the shorthanded Nuggets. The Clippers, standing at 3-7, urgently need a turnaround. While there are still 72 games left, it will be an arduous task to position themselves for playoff success if they continue to dig themselves into a deeper hole.