Westbrook comfortable with adversity at Lakers

As much as the Los Angeles Lakers have preached patience, after a couple of games, a handful of injuries and now an 0-2 regular-season start that included tensions that boiled over in Friday’s loss to the Phoenix Suns, testing any team’s resolve, Russell Westbrook, the former league MVP the Lakers acquired in the offseason, said he’s fine with the uncomfortable orbit the Lakers currently find themselves in.

“I’m fine with adversity, honestly,” Westbrook said Saturday after the team gathered for a shootaround. “I never panic during the course of a season. Especially at the beginning of the season. There’s really no need to. The season is too long and no one is winning anything right now.”

“Yes, it’s good to get off to a good start and feel good about yourself, but especially with me personally, I like to make sure that as the season goes on, I’m constantly improving and I will improve as the season goes on to make sure that my team and my teammates are improving and that we all feel comfortable with each other.”

Rajon Rondo called Saturday’s film review the longest since this group came together – “Rightfully so,” he said – and added that breaking down game tape as a unit was vital to coach Frank Vogel’s success in guiding Los Angeles to the championship two seasons ago, as it lays the groundwork for accountability and participation.

“If Frank is the only one talking in the room, it says we’re doing something wrong,” Rondo said. “So, a lot of people are talking – the coaches, with the players, we’re going back and forth. Not necessarily arguing, chatting, but to understand each other because an open dialogue is better for us to develop a quick chemistry on the court.”

Vogel called the meeting “very healthy” ahead of Sunday’s home game against the Memphis Grizzlies.

“A lot of conversation,” Vogel said. “A couple of really helpful discussions to try to bring some clarity to some of the coverages we’re looking at. Today was a great day of growth for us.”

There was a lot to analyze from the Suns’ loss, as LA shot just 39.5% as a team, as they missed 12 layups while being outscored 52-26 in the paint and their defense gave up a staggering 71 points in the second and third quarters to Phoenix, who finished the game shooting 48.8% as a team.

“The guys are figuring out how to run with me and play a little faster. I’m figuring out how to do other things and get off the ball,” explained Westbrook, who averaged 11.5 points on 35.7% shooting in the first two games . “I’m fine with fighting to figure it out and making sure we’re in the position to do the right things so that, at the end of the year, we can be playing our best basketball.”

The team dismissed any lingering impact of the disagreement between Dwight Howard and Anthony Davis shortly before halftime Friday that required the two big men to be separated.

“It’s over and we move on to the next game,” Westbrook said.

However, another altercation during the Suns game, this one between Rondo and a fan on the court late in the third quarter, was described in more detail.

Rondo, who declined to speak to reporters after the loss, addressed the incident for the first time but did not share exactly what the fan said to him, only that it was enough to make the point guard want to “get the guy off the court.” game.”

“It really doesn’t matter what he said,” Rondo explained. “He didn’t threaten me. I didn’t threaten him. I exchanged words. I took him out of the game.”

When Rondo pointed at the fan to gesture for the referee to intervene, he appeared to form his left hand into the shape of a gun. After Rondo held his hand close to the fan’s face, pressing his thumb down in what could be interpreted as an imitation of a trigger, the fan shoved Rondo and Staples Center security quickly removed him from the arena.

When asked if that was his intention to present his hand as a weapon, Rondo said, “No.”