OKC Thunder: 5 Keys To Beating The Spurs
3. Russ Being Russ
Before Game 5 of OKC’s first round series against Dallas, Mavericks owner Mark Cuban said the Thunder only had one superstar and that Russell Westbrook wasn’t it. In that game, Westbrook made sure Cuban ate those words with 36 points, 12 rebounds and nine assists in the series-clinching win.
Russ won’t find that same kind of external motivation against a more respectful opponent like the Spurs, but the Thunder will need him to be just as prolific against Tony Parker, Patty Mills and Danny Green if they want to have any chance of advancing to the conference finals.
Russell Westbrook had 36 points, 12 rebounds, 9 assists last night. Joined LeBron and MJ as only guys to do that in playoff game since 1993.
— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) April 26, 2016
During the regular season, Westbrook averaged 23.5 points, 10.4 assists, 7.8 rebounds and 2.0 steals per game on 45.4 percent shooting. Though he shot a putrid 29.6 percent from three-point range, he tallied more triple-doubles in a single season (18) than anyone except Magic Johnson since the NBA/ABA merger.
In the playoffs, Westbrook has predictably elevated his play so far, averaging 26.0 points, 11.2 assists, 7.2 rebounds and 1.6 steals per game, shooting a smoking-hot 46.3 percent from the floor and 37.9 percent from three-point range — despite increasing his long range attempts from 4.3 per game in the regular season to 5.8 per game in the postseason.
Will Westbrook’s blistering three-point barrage continue? For the Thunder’s sake it’ll have to, because if his streaky perimeter shooting proves to be unsustainable against the league’s best defense, OKC will have its hands full. With Kevin Durant and Kawhi Leonard squaring off, Westbrook has to provide the Thunder with a tangible advantage for their star power to win out.
Next: No. 2