Thunder point guard Russell Westbrook is one of the most supremely competitive players in the NBA, and that drive to win was on display last season when he tried to single-handedly will Oklahoma City to the playoffs without All-Star teammate Kevin Durant. Watch him get angry about a reporter’s question regarding his inability to “wear out” Celtics guard Marcus Smart.
Without KD, Westbrook put up numbers that would be impressive in video games, but also hurt the team in the process. Through all the triple-doubles, Westbrook was also hitting the gas too hard on defense in an effort to make plays, and making it easier for opponents to score. He also took his teammates out of their own rhythm, because their chances to contribute were few and far between.
Wizards May Have Already Blown Their Chance At KD
That has carried into this year, where astute basketball observers on Reddit noticed that the Thunder are 0-8 since 2014 in games where Westbrook has attempted more than eight 3-pointers. Westbrook has never been a particularly good 3-point shooter – he has shot 30.5 percent from beyond the arc in his career – but in 2015 he’s taking 5.5 a game, his most ever. He’s taken 16 in the last two games alone, both games Durant missed.
KD is expected to miss several more games with an injured hamstring, which means Westbrook must carry the scoring load. OKC figures to be just fine with him in the leading role, as long as he is taking the smartest shots possible. That approached transformed Durant from a potent scorer to an MVP, and Westbrook has shown that ability. It’s time for his basketball IQ to catch up with his gifts, especially if OKC is to spoil the plans of other Western Conference giants such as the Warriors and Spurs.
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