Oklahoma City Thunder: 5 keys to series vs. Jazz
4. Let Russ do Russ things
Russell Westbrook is one of the most polarizing players in the NBA today. He is also one of the best players in the league — ever. This is evidenced most recently by the fact Westbrook has become the first player in NBA history to average a triple-double in two seasons. Not even Oscar Robertson could do this.
More from NBA Playoffs
- Caesars NBA Bonus: Get Ahead of Next Season’s Hype with $1,250 Promo
- How Tyler Herro could impact the Miami Heat in the NBA Finals
- BetMGM NBA Finals Bonus: Take Your Shot at a BIG Win for Game 5! ($1,000 Bonus!)
- Best NBA Finals Sportsbook Promo Codes: Get $4,000+ in Bonuses in FIVE Minutes!
- DraftKings and Bet365 GUARANTEE a $400 Bonus on $6 Wager With NBA Finals Game 4 Promo
Westbrook led the league in assists this year with 10.3 per game. He had 43 games where he had 10 or more assists in the game. In these games the Thunder were 31-12, which was a huge part of their success. Westbrook had 15 or more assists in eight games. In those games, the Thunder went 7-1.
Drilling down even further, when Westbrook had 10 or more assists and 10 or more rebounds, the Thunder went 22-5. In the 25 games where Westbrook collected a triple-double, the Thunder went 20-5.
This season, Westbrook did something he does not usually do — he missed two triple-doubles by not scoring 10 points in a game. Interestingly enough, the Thunder did not lose either of those games.
The bottom line is, when Westbrook is on, there are not many players in the league who can stop him. The Jazz have Dante Exum and Ricky Rubio, who will take the majority of the time against him. Rubio will be a pest, as he has always been known for this. When Exum takes his turn on the Oklahoma City Thunder superstar, it will test his newfound confidence in his game. The Thunder need Russ to decisively be the best player in this series.