Westbrook needs breakout in NBA bubble

Not good enough.

Not even close.

And after two games, we already know it: The Rockets aren’t beating the Los Angeles Lakers in this series if Russell Westbrook doesn’t start playing like the real Westbrook.

He was solid in Game 1. Game 2?

Yeesh.

The statistics tell part of the story: 4-of-15 from the floor, 1-of-7 on 3-pointers, 1-of-3 from the foul line, seven turnovers, five fouls, just 10 points.

But what really said it all was

Westbrook, the Rockets’ other $38 million man, strategically sitting on the bench during critical late fourth-quarter minutes Sunday night in the Lakers’ 117-109 victory.

The good news: The series is tied 1-1, the Rockets could have won both games and this Western Conference semifinals battle has just begun.

The other real news: Westbrook is still struggling from the floor in the NBA’s Florida bubble.

The 12-year veteran entered Game 2 shooting just 41.7 percent from the field and an abysmal 18.2 percent on 3s. Sunday night — when the Rockets overcame a 21-point deficit and led 92-90 entering the fourth — he missed wideopen 3s, clanked a lategame free throw when Los Angeles was still within reach and was consistently unreliable on the offensive end of the floor. The former MVP’s trademark on-court speed also worked against him and sometimes held the Rockets’ offense back.

Westbrook being Westbrook, he still grabbed 13 rebounds (four offensive) and collected two steals.

Coach Mike D’Antoni told the truth: The Rockets aren’t winning anything in 2020 without Westbrook.

“That’s not even a question or whatever,” D’Antoni said. “He’s going to work through it and he’s fine. He’s more upset than anybody. He’s a great, great player and he’ll be fine.”

Asked about snapping out of his offensive struggles, the Rockets’ secondbest player responded with a question of his own.

“Snap out of what?” he said. “It happens. It’s OK. I’m going to come back next game. I’ll be ready to go. It’s only — the series is 1-1.”

Westbrook through five playoff games: 39.1 percent shooting, 16.7 percent on 3s, 46.7 percent from the line, 15.6 points, 8.2 rebounds, 22 total assists and 21 turnovers.

It could have been 2-0 Rockets with a sharper first quarter and stronger finish.

Westbrook started just 1-of-5 from the floor, while his team only connected on two of its initial 10 shots. Los Angeles’ defense also kicked in, as Anthony Davis turned his size advantage into an interior advantage, backing down the Rockets instead of settling for longrange shots.

After 12 minutes, the scorching Lakers were up 36-20 and shooting 60.9 percent. It would have been worse for the Rockets if not for three big Danuel House Jr. 3s off the bench.

Westbrook continued to struggle, shooting 1-of-8 and collecting more fouls and turnovers (four) than points (two). The Lakers’ lead reached 42-21 and Los Angeles withstood an expected Rockets run.

Then the near-collapse began.

With 3:25 left in the third quarter, the Rockets were 19-of-37 on 3s. Most importantly, a 21-point deficit had been exchanged for a five-point lead.

The Rockets were pushing around the Lakers again. Los Angeles kept putting James Harden on the foul line. And the Rockets’ third-quarter defense mirrored the Lakers’ firstperiod attack, leading the Rockets to an absurd 41-23 advantage in the quarter.

How backward were the Lakers in the third? Westbrook picked up his fifth foul, stayed on the court as the fourth quarter approached and drilled a 3.

A 2-0 series lead was in sight, two quarters after that image appeared impossible.

But Westbrook was still playing out of control. Then he was out of the game as the Rockets placed an extra shooter around the consistently double-teamed Harden.

“(Westbrook is) still working his way back,” D’Antoni said. “He’ll play with a great intensity. He’ll always be aggressive. He needs to be aggressive — that’s why he’s Russell Westbrook. And that’s fine. He’ll work it out.”

After Westbrook missed another open 3, Lakers veteran point guard Rajon Rondo hit a wide-open jumper. Game 2 was over.

“(Rondo) was extremely aggressive, not only offensively but defensively,” LeBron James said.

Rockets 1, Lakers 1. The battle for a spot in the Western Conference finals has officially begun.

For these Rockets to survive and advance again, Westbrook must start hitting his open shots and sharing the offensive weight with Harden in the bubble.