If it is true that we have a tendency to construct our sports activities heroes up so we will then tear them down, then maybe, if just for one night time, we owe Russell Westbrook the reverse. We’ve torn the man right down to the studs; within the media, on Twitter, within the stands. From a basketball perspective, it has been largely warranted. But after what he did for the Clippers of their Game 1 win over the Suns on Sunday night time, it is time to do some constructing again up.
This was not a efficiency captured within the field rating, which, for the report, will present Westbrook, in all-too-familiar vogue, bricking his method to a 3-for-19 displaying. Indeed, these have been some basic Westbrook bricks. An airball masquerading as an help. Front-rim scuds. Backboard bullets. Blown bunnies. Russ’s capturing stays a serious challenge, and it’d finally show an excessive amount of for the Clippers to beat over the course of this sequence if he would not up the effectivity or minimize the amount.
But for one night time, not less than, Westbrook was so impactful within the non-glamour areas that we will positively say there isn’t a means the Clippers win this sport with out him. He was in all places. He pressured and pursued on the defensive finish. He crashed the offensive glass relentlessly. He pressured tempo.
Apologists have a tendency to talk of Westbrook’s power in euphemistic phrases, like when your pals ask in case your date on Friday night time was enticing and also you attempt to run the outdated misdirection play with a nod to their “nice character.”
Did Russ play good final night time?
Uh, properly, he performed exhausting.
Also, if we’re being trustworthy, Westbrook’s motor, whereas commendable, is not at all times factor. He barrels into unhealthy conditions too usually. He tends to be a turnover machine. He takes photographs he should not. His taking part in exhausting is normally solely partially true, as properly. His offensive power is relentless, sure. Defensively, not a lot.
In some methods, Westbrook seems like he is taking part in exhausting in the best way that some super-smooth participant, say a Stephen Curry or Devin Booker, would possibly appear like he is not. Plenty of it’s optics. Get down within the particulars, and Russ dies on screens and jogs round defensively like so many maligned others.
But that was not the case on Sunday night time. This wasn’t simply frantic or situational Westbrook power. This was disruptive, game-altering aggression almost each minute he was on the ground: 10 rebounds, together with 5 offensive, eight assists, three blocks and two steals. And do not begin with the stat-hunting stuff. There are nights to have that take. This was not one in every of them.
Check the protection on Kevin Durant:
In a one-point sport with underneath three minutes to play, Westbrook climbed the ladder and cradled an enormous offensive board that led to the primary of Kawhi Leonard’s consecutive 3-pointers.
Inside the ultimate minute, with Phoenix determined to regain possession, Westbrook corralled one other offensive board and disrupted a second sequence sufficient to knock the ball off a Phoenix participant and out of bounds. It exhibits up within the field rating as a workforce rebound for the Clippers. It wasn’t. It was all Westbrook. The man was all out all night time, by no means as soon as letting his capturing woes bleed into the blue-collar columns.
Finally, with the Clippers holding a three-point lead, courtesy of two clutch, all-net Westbrook free throws, and the clock ticking down towards 10 seconds remaining within the sport, Devin Booker tried to go one on one with Westbrook and bought stuffed. Literally. Westbrook stayed linked to Booker on his drive, blocked his shot, then capped the sequence by redirecting the ball off Booker and out of bounds to offer possession to the Clippers, who promptly sealed the win with a pair of Eric Gordon free throws.
“I informed him through the sport, ‘Your scoring just isn’t that vital. Don’t get pissed off with lacking photographs. You carry us far more than simply scoring the basketball. Don’t let that have an effect on your sport,'” Clippers coach Ty Lue informed reporters after the sport. And he could not have stated it higher. Westbrook could not make a shot to save lots of his life on Sunday, and but, ultimately, he wound up saving the Clippers.
