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Contrary to the ‘Winning Time’ portrayal, Paul Westhead was an instant success with Lakers

Each week, we’ll be looking back on the newest episode of HBO’s “Winning Time” and fact-checking or adding more details on some of the key and bigger plot points by using the book “Showtime: MAGIC, KAREEM, RILEY, AND THE LOS ANGELES LAKERS DYNASTY OF THE 1980S” By Jeff Pearlman.

Throughout the series, “Winning Time” has played it pretty fast and loose with the facts — literally what makes these weekly articles possible — but this week’s episode is the most egregious example of them taking creative liberties with actual, verifiable truths yet.