Russell Westbrook's Honest Statement on Clippers' Struggles

LA Clippers guard Russell Westbrook returned from injury vs. the Indiana Pacers

Indiana Pacers v Los Angeles Clippers / Katelyn Mulcahy/GettyImages

LA Clippers guard Russell Westbrook made his return from injury on Monday night against the Indiana Pacers, and played very well in his minutes. Finishing with 14 points, 7 assists, and 4 rebounds in just 18 minutes of play, Westbrook was one of the few bright spots for the Clippers in an otherwise very disappointing game. 

This loss dropped the Clippers to 8-10 since the All-Star break, and also dropped them to the 5th seed in the Western Conference standings. The Clippers have been scuffling for a while now, and it’s something Westbrook addressed postgame.

“You don't point fingers, you don't point blame,” Westbrook said. “That’s how I lead… We got to look within ourselves, and figure out how we can better help our team. And I think that's where we start. We start with ourselves. I start with myself. And then we come together collectively… When we’ve done it the right way it shows we’re a hard team to stop… Ultimately as a leader, it's my job just to hold guys accountable, hold myself accountable, and make sure that we stay together through this tough little patch that we're having.”

Westbrook missed the last three weeks with a fractured hand, so he was not on the court for much of this skid, but the Clippers are dealing with certain issues that precede his injury. While entering the playoffs with momentum is important, the Clippers also have to now worry about seeding, and possibly even the play-in tournament. 

Related Articles

Philadelphia 76ers Star Reveals Honest Feelings on James Harden

Exclusive: Russell Westbrook Opens Up About Role With Clippers

James Harden Opens Up About Playing for Clippers After Rough Few Years