Why did the Lakers trade for Westbrook, who has a similar style to James?

Raising this question actually proves that we have a bit of a stereotype about James, because in the past few seasons, James played the role of the team's offensive initiator, and the Cavaliers even equipped James with a He is a circle shooter, so many friends think that he is more stick to the ball.

But let me ask a question, if two James are on the same team, what do you think?

It’s quite scary if you don’t brag or make fun of it. In the past few seasons, the guards James worked with were all shooters, including the Splash Brothers, who I also think are a good match for James. However, James has been paired with guards who are not outstanding in outside ability, which is our familiar old friend Wade.

It is undeniable that the Heat's Big Three are a relatively successful combination. They won the NBA championship for two consecutive years in 2012 and 2013, proving that James can "mix and match", so we don't need to worry about Westbrook. The only thing to worry about with James' chemistry is their age.

James is about to enter the 37th year of his life. Judging from last year's playoff performance, his breakthrough ability has declined significantly, which indirectly led to the decline in his breakthrough and distribution ability. The Lakers The decline in outside shooting percentage is also related to this, and there are fewer opportunities for outside teammates to receive open three-pointers from James' passes. Of course, it may also be because James has just returned from injury.

Let’s talk about Westbrook. Last season, Westbrook averaged his fourth triple-double per game and increased his three-point shooting percentage from 25% in the Rockets to more than 30%. , the outside attack is also considered qualified. And what cannot be ignored is that Westbrook's assists and defense are still at the top level in the league. Although Westbrook's speed has slowed down with his age, Westbrook is still faster than most guards in the league, and his defensive awareness is still very good. .

The joining of Westbrook can largely share the organizational pressure of James, allowing James to focus more on finishing and defense. The Zhan Mei combination has also become a Wei Zhan Mei combination. Moreover, the Lakers' continuous reinforcements have attracted Monk, Anthony, Nunn, Bazemore and Ariza. Their outside firepower has only increased, so the Lakers still have a bright future next season.

Bucks and Nets, don’t think that you are safe once you break out of the Eastern Conference.