Draymond Green's Russell Westbrook Statement Before Clippers vs. Mavericks

The LA Clippers have a tough test with Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving

Apr 7, 2024; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Clippers guard Russell Westbrook (0) looks on / Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

The LA Clippers will host the Dallas Mavericks on Sunday for Game 1 of the Western Conference playoffs, facing off with Luka Doncic for the third time in the postseason since 2020. Both teams have made big changes to their starting lineup since their last opening round matchup, with the Clippers adding James Harden, and the Mavericks adding Kyrie Irving.

During a recent episode of his podcast, Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green said the Clippers will need to start Russell Westbrook at some point in this series for his defense on Kyrie Irving.

"The X-factor in that series is going to be Russell Westbrook," Green said. "Because Russell is gonna have to guard Kyrie Irving... Russell Westbrook is the X-factor in that series. Russell Westbrook is the X-factor for that team. No surprise they've struggled as much as they've struggled over the last month and a half, because Russell missed most of that time. Russ on Kyrie, Kawhi is gonna have to go guard Luka... I also think at some point in this series, Ty Lue is gonna have to scrap Russell Westbrook off the bench and move Russell Westbrook into that starting lineup in order to win this series. That’s just my take."

Westbrook was LA's best guard defender this season, holding opponents to 43.6% from the field, which was 6th in the NBA among all guards who defended as many shots as him.

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