Russell Westbrook requests to come off the Clippers bench to help 'establish continuity' among their starters with team spiraling after trading for James Harden

With the Clippers just 3-7, Russell Westbrook has reportedly volunteered to come off the bench.

The Clippers traded for James Harden on October 31, and since then, a starting lineup of him, Westbrook, Kawhi Leonard, Paul George and Ivica Zubac has coincided with five straight losses.

That starting five will now be broken up on Friday after Westbrook approached the coaching staff with the idea of coming off the bench to help the first unit 'establish continuity,' according to Bleacher Report's Chris Haynes.

Terance Mann will reportedly start in Westbrook's place vs. the Rockets.

The 35-year-old is averaging 14.0 points, 7.0 rebounds and 5.7 assists per contest this season.

He and Harden have extensive history, as the two previously starred together on the Thunder and briefly reunited on the Rockets.

And Westbrook will now apparently take a backseat to his teammate with the Clippers looking for their first win since October 31.

For his part, Harden has averaged just 15.0 points per game in LA thus far (which would be his lowest over a full season since 2011-12), though he's shot the ball efficiently to the tune of 47.1 percent from the field and 37 percent from three.

The guard admitted to reporters earlier this week that he wasn't entirely in 'game shape' after he largely held out of training camp as he sought a trade out of Philadelphia.

'I keep reiterating that I didn't have a training camp or a preseason,' he said. 'Kinda learning on the fly for a new team, also getting myself into James Harden shape and game shape is very, very important.'

The Rockets and Clippers will tip off at 10:30pm ET.