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Even with D’Angelo Russell, the Golden State Warriors are the West’s worst team

By Nathan Beighle

LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 14: D'Angelo Russell #0 of the Golden State Warriors looks on against the Los Angeles Lakers during a pre-season game on October 14, 2019 at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Chris Elise/NBAE via Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 14: D'Angelo Russell #0 of the Golden State Warriors looks on against the Los Angeles Lakers during a pre-season game on October 14, 2019 at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Chris Elise/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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D’Angelo Russell has returned, but that hasn’t helped the Golden State Warriors who recently lost at home to the Memphis Grizzlies.

The Golden State Warriors are 5-20. Yes, you read that correctly, and they’re widely considered the league’s worst team. Sadly,  D’Angelo Russell can’t even offer much help at this point.

After missing three of the team’s five games in their season-long East Coast road trip, Russell returned to help lead the Warriors to victory over the Bulls. However, he failed to replicate that success at home against the Memphis Grizzlies.

I wouldn’t call Russell’s performance against the Bulls a success. While they did win, Russell scored just seven points on eight shots. The impact he’s brought to Golden State doesn’t even compare to what he gave Brooklyn last season.

The Warriors are just 2-11 with Russell on the court, 3-9 without him.

He’s missed a handful of games and just hasn’t been able to find a rhythm on either end of the court. Like the Nets had with Jarrett Allen, the Warriors don’t have the rim-rolling big to help threaten defenses off the pick-and-roll.

That’s not an excuse for Russell’s play though. After signing a four-year max-value contract this past offseason, Russell needs to elevate his game to prevent the Warriors from having any idea of trading the 23-year-old guard.

The success that Russell has last season was based on isolation-style basketball. He just hasn’t had that same opportunity this season although the Warriors are not a quality team. Russell needs to assert himself as the leader of this team.

Although he hasn’t played in too many games, Russell has led the Warriors in scoring just three times over the past month. They need more out of him, and finally healthy, expect the Nets’ Russell to start to take the court.

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While all hope may be lost for this season, Russell’s dominance should help ease any trade tension that’ll likely arise in the coming weeks.

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