LOS ANGELES — After the Los Angeles Lakers were crushed by the rival Clippers on Thursday night, Russell Westbrook said he's still trying to figure out his role with the team, which he said happens "every single night." changed."
The Clippers embarrassed their hallway neighbors 132–111 to sweep the season series 4–0. Reggie Jackson enjoyed his best playing as a Clipper, torching the Lakers for 36 points, nine assists and eight rebounds.
Later, Lakers head coach Frank Vogel said the coaching staff had discussed several options to help the team get back on track, including the possibility of bringing Westbrook off the bench.
"We've talked about everything," Vogel said as the Lakers discussed the idea of getting Westbrook off the bench.
Asked if this is something that can be seen going forward, Vogel repeated himself: "We've talked about everything."
The Lakers were once again trying to find the answer to why they continue to achieve less. Westbrook had 17 points and eight rebounds, but played for just over four minutes in the fourth quarter after trailing 30 in the third quarter to the Lakers.
Despite a "little struggle" finding his role in his first season with the Lakers, Westbrook said he is determined.
"My role and what I'm doing has changed every night," Westbrook said. "So I'm just trying to figure out what I'm playing for and be able to benefit and help my team."
He continued: "But my hopes are still the same. I'm not a quitter. It's not in my genes. I don't quit, no matter what happens. I'm going to fight to the end, and if it doesn't work out." If it does, that's good too. I can live with the results. But I'm never one to give up or give up because of a small struggle happening this time of year."
Meanwhile, Westbrook's point guard counterpart Jackson danced around the Lakers' defense and conceded 21 points, five rebounds and five assists in the second half. He punished the Lakers for scoring and controlling the game, and for finding mismatches to teammates.
At one point in the fourth, a red-hot Jackson scored 10 Clippers points out of 12 and was feeling so good he was turning his body to in-game music as he dribbling the ball across the half court.
"He played very well," Vogel said. "Reggie Jackson played out of his mind tonight."
While the eighth-placed Clippers have won five straight games without the injured Kawhi Leonard, Paul George and Norman Powell, the Lakers (27-35) are ninth in the Western Conference after entering the season as title favorites. The Clippers have won seven straight matches against the Lakers and won a series series win over their rivals for the first time since 2015–16.
"I mean, they're a better team," LeBron James said of the Clippers sweep.
Injuries like Anthony Davis have been devastating to the Lakers' consistency and defence. The chemistry has also been hard to build as Vogel sifted through 31 starting lineups this season to find answers.
Vogel said the search for anything that could fix the Lakers would continue.
"No stone has been left unturned in trying to find solutions to get this right," Vogel said. "But it hasn't taken shape. We're not lacking. We'll continue. We're trying to find ways to adjust and move and win with Anthony. We haven't got it yet. But something like that." What we can't do. We haven't found it yet."
Clippers coach Ty Lew said he still believes the Lakers are a team they would like to face in the playoffs.
"I think they have some of the best starting lineups in the NBA," Lew said. "Just figuring out how they want to play, big or small, Eddie is back, Eddie is out, Braun is out. So it's very hard. But when they're in the playoff [or] play-in game I guarantee you don't want to see that 8 seed, or whatever seed they're going to play.
"They're a really good team. They just have to figure out how they want to play, but they also have to figure out their health condition. That's what really hurt them throughout the season."