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Why is Sacramento Kings Buddy Hield Trending on Social Media After Russell Westbrook’s Floundering Lakers Debut?
It isn’t the 2021-22 season-opening night that the Los Angeles city expected. Their newly acquired triple-double master, Russell Westbrook, put up a poor performance in his debut with the Lakers, while they faced defeat against the dominant Golden State Warriors. In a show that was not as impressive, Westbrook’s trade to the Lakers is a decision that fans are now calculating as an error.
A blockbuster matchup between Lakers and Warriors is an enticing kickstart to an NBA season. And that’s how the schedule makers planned it. The Lakers have been in the headlines this offseason. Former bubble champions have escalated their roster stacked with veteran players. This summer, the Lakers signed Russell Westbrook, Carmelo Anthony, and got back some previous teammates including Dwight Howard.
Sep 28, 2021; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Russell Westbrook (0) answers questions during media day at the UCLA Health and Training Center in El Segundo, Calif. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
Rising expectations from Russell Westbrook drastically fell in his Lakers debut
Amongst the star-studded lineup, Russell Westbrook came into the team with a ceremonial stature. Joining the pre-existing superstars, LeBron James and Anthony Davis, Westbrook formed a Big 3 in LA. The hype has been beyond bounds with Westbrook’s return to his home city as well as the eagerness to witness three exceptional players together on the court.
Rising expectations didn’t match what the fans witnessed on the opening night of the 2021-22 regular season.
Oct 12, 2021; Los Angeles, California, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Damion Lee (1) drives against Los Angeles Lakers guard Russell Westbrook (0) during the second quarter at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Kiyoshi Mio-USA TODAY Sports
Despite James and Davis combining 67 points, Westbrook’s poor shooting show proved to be a misery for the Lakers. The star guard had pale numbers on the board with 8 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 assists while shooting 4-of-13 from the field. His shooting was a major concern from beyond the arc as he went off without converting any of the four attempts.
LA fans express disappointment by trending Buddy Hield on social media
Well, that opened up the point guard for a lot of criticism on Twitter. Moreover, they suggest Buddy Hield was a better option over the former MVP. You must be thinking about how Sacramento Kings shooting guard, Buddy Hield, come into the picture?
During the offseason, the Lakers were about to make a trade deal for Hield, however, they ended up signing Westbrook in a couple of days. Having said that, Westbrook’s floundering debut has pushed Hield to Twitter’s top trending charts.
I love Lakers fans so much https://t.co/iPtHPiEErs
— Harrison Faigen (@hmfaigen) October 20, 2021
The disappointment towards their homeboy comes after month-long anticipation. Hield, the 2020 Three-point contest champion, has been with the Kings since 2017. Imagine if the Lakers would have signed him, what could have changed for the title contenders?
With Hield coming in, the Lakers would have adjusted him as the starting guard with the bigwig duo of Bron-AD handling the inner space.
It’s the first game of the season and the fans are extremely invested in this season. Can Westbrook reverse his form in the next game? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
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