OKC Thunder: What Russell Westbrook must improve in his game

1. Smarter decision-making

One of the key traits that separate the great point guards from the good ones is their decision-making, especially in the critical moments of a game.

Think Magic Johnson, John Stockton, Isiah Thomas, Jason Kidd and so on. One thing they all had in common was this: Their decision-making as point guards was off the charts. That, in part, is why they’re either NBA champions or first-ballot Hall-of-Famers.

They knew when to attack the rim, when to trust teammates, when to take over a game and when to take the last shot.

Russ struggles with this. It’s become a reccurring theme over the years. The eye test doesn’t lie.

Whether it’s committing costly turnovers in pivotal moments, jacking up a bad shot on a crucial possession early in the shot clock or taking the last shot to win the game, Westbrook has proven over the years that his decision-making is something he must work on.

It could be one of the reasons why he’s led the league in turnovers three times out of his 10-year career. This past season, Russ finished with the second-most turnovers in the league with 325. It’s the third time he’s done so.

Again, you can’t ignore Russell Westbrook’s greatness. We should applaud his confidence, his belief in himself and his willingness to have the courage to take the last shot to win a game. There’s nothing wrong with it. But until he improves in these three areas, it’ll be extremely difficult for OKC to come close to winning a championship.