Russell Westbrook named Western Conference player of the week
The OKC Thunder are on a five-game winning streak and they are getting recognition in the league after Russell Westbrook won the Western Conference player of the week.
The Oklahoma City Thunder were supposed to be one of the best teams in the league. They started the season down in the dumps of the Western Conference, but have since changed their ways now and are on a five-game winning streak. Most of that is thanks to Russell Westbrook.
Westbrook was named Western Conference player of the week after a Christmas performance against the Houston Rockets in which he finished with 31 points, 11 assists and six rebounds. The Rockets are one of the top two teams in the league.
During the five-game stretch, Westbrook has averaged 29.8 points, 9.5 assists and 9.0 rebounds per game. He has solidified himself as the leader of the team again.
Paul George made this fact known after Westbrook hit a game-winning 3 against the Atlanta Hawks.
"”I think we know now how to close and where we’re going to to close,” George said. ”Russ is our leader. … We knew that we could kind of mess them up with the play that we had, cause some confusion. They backed off and Russ had an easy, open opportunity. Russ is as good as anybody when it’s closing time.”"
The Thunder are figuring out what player is good in what situation and who to go to at certain times. It was just a matter of time until the OK3 started to get going.
The defense is the main reason why this complete 180 has been generated. OKC is third in defensive rating with 101.2. When they win, they are second in the league in defensive rating at 95.4.
The hustle is also there on defense. They are first in the league in deflections per game with 18.3 and first in loose balls recovered per game with 9.2.
With three talented superstars on the team and how much experience they have, playing on defense has come together faster than on offense. That is most likely because defense is more of a team effort. With the superstars on their team players can sometimes resort to ball-watching and playing one-on-one on offense.
Having the same team effort to put the ball in the hole on offense will lead to the Thunder going up to a higher level. They are currently in the middle of the pack in terms of offensive rating at 18th (104.0).
Paul George and Russell Westbrook have been strong on defense all year when it comes to stealing the ball. They are first and second in the league in steals per game.
Westbrook leads the team in scoring, rebounds and assists. He is averaging 23.9 points, 9.9 assists and 9.4 rebounds per game. He is close to averaging a double-double and possibly on his way to another triple-double average for the season.
Westbrook’s nonstop motor is what has been pushing him to the level he is on. In the game against Houston, he scored 11 points in under nine minutes in the fourth quarter.
"”I’m coming,” Westbrook said after the Christmas Day win. ”That’s what I bring to the table. Once I hit the floor, it’s nonstop.”"
With the scoring power that the Thunder have in Carmelo Anthony, Paul George and Westbrook they can win any game when the offense is clicking.
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We have seen them blow out the defending champs in the Golden State Warriors and beat the second-best team in the conference, so the sky is the limit for the this Thunder team.