Russel Westbrook Averages Triple Double Again
Marc Stein on Basketball game
Russell Westbrook Makes Triple-Doubles Look Like shooting fish in a barrel. They're Not.
Westbrook, the Washington Wizards guard, is on track to average a triple-double for the fourth time in 5 seasons, making it seem most routine. So why doesn't anybody practice it?
Russell Westbrook and Scott Brooks huddled by phone late Sunday. After the Washington Wizards' eighth consecutive victory, and with the second one-half of a back-to-back looming Monday night against San Antonio, Westbrook wanted to do some extra strategizing with his bus.
It was only a few months earlier that six consecutive Washington games were postponed because the Wizards had been ravaged by a coronavirus outbreak. Their U-plow has been so dramatic, with Westbrook's play reminiscent of his Oklahoma Metropolis best, that Brooks couldn't resist interrupting the serious tone past needling his star baby-sit.
"I told him: 'Y'all've got to start rebounding the ball — only five tonight?'" Brooks said. "But busting his chops."
Those five rebounds Westbrook managed in Lord's day's victory over Cleveland, to go with 14 points and eleven assists in 36 minutes, were indeed an bibelot. In nine of his previous 10 games, xiii of the previous 15 and 16 of the previous twenty, Westbrook reached double figures in points, assists and rebounds.
In his first season as a Sorcerer, at historic period 32, Westbrook is averaging 21.eight points, xi rebounds and 11 assists per game — with a league-leading 29 triple-doubles to hike his career total to 175. Denver'due south Nikola Jokic, with 15 triple-doubles, is his closest pursuer this season. With vii more triple-doubles, Westbrook will pass Oscar Robertson every bit the North.B.A.'south career leader.
This is where it's important to note that Westbrook, who is on a course to average more than ten rebounds per game for the fourth fourth dimension in five seasons, stands 6-human foot-3.
The official stance of this newsletter is that Westbrook's forthcoming accomplishment should be celebrated heartily, at the very least for his relentless rebounding at that size, but information technology'south hard to say how much fanfare awaits him when he eclipses the Big O. This isn't fifty-fifty a record that Robertson knew he set at the fourth dimension, since the term "triple-double" didn't come into faddy until the 1980s.
Another tricky variable: In my 28 seasons of full-time N.B.A. reporting, Westbrook is right there with Allen Iverson when information technology comes to the most polarizing players I accept covered. Because of Westbrook's brawl-dominant mode, fickle jump shot, high turnover rate, occasionally short demeanor and, about of all, zip championships, information technology is often easier to observe his critics than his admirers.
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Every bit Westbrook closes in on Robertson, there is also a rising tendency to dismiss triple-doubles as empty calories because they happen then frequently in the wide-open up modern game. (Case: On March 17, Westbrook was one of vi players to record a triple-double that twenty-four hours.) Westbrook'south triple-doubles in item tend to be discounted in a way that others aren't, which he brought up in a video session with reporters later on Monday'due south overtime loss to the Spurs.
"I think information technology'south very interesting that it's not useful now that I'one thousand doing it," Westbrook said.
Equally covered in a recent slice by my colleague Tim Reynolds of The Associated Press, at that place were merely 18 triple-doubles leaguewide equally recently as the 2011-12 regular flavour. This season's total has already topped 100, for the 5th season in a row, pointing to the diverse offensive advantages enjoyed in today'southward N.B.A. The faster stride of play creates more possessions, and thus more statistical opportunities, and restrictions on defenders take been designed to promote more freedom of motion on law-breaking. Players are as well encouraged to shoot three-pointers at record rates, boosting scoring numbers and leading to more long rebounds. One-time schoolers resistant to the iii-point revolution, in response, are prone to belittle at some of the gaudy stuff we see in box scores these days.
Notwithstanding this is where I experience compelled to repeat that part about Westbrook standing just six-3. He is the only histrion in league history at that size or smaller to average at to the lowest degree 10 rebounds a game over a full flavor.
"It's a lot harder at vi-three," said Lafayette Lever, who went past the nickname Fat and amassed 43 triple-doubles from 1982-83 through 1993-94.
Lever understands Westbrook's claiming besides as anyone. He was a half-dozen-3, 170-pound baby-sit who rang up a league-leading 16 triple-doubles in 1986-87, alee of both Magic Johnson and Larry Bird, and he didn't have Westbrook's explosion.
"Russell is then much more than athletic than I was at any indicate in fourth dimension," Lever said in a phone interview, "probably from the day he was born."
Lever, though, had an exceptional knack for rebounding, which he credited to playing on a high schoolhouse team with no ane taller than 6-3. He withal ranks 10th in career triple-doubles. It wasn't until Johnson joined the Lakers, five seasons afterwards Robertson's retirement, that triple-doubles were seriously tracked and discussed, just amidst my N.B.A.-obsessed loftier school friends in the 1980s, we associated triple-doubles with Lever as much as with Magic or Bird, since he seemed like such an unlikely source for them.
Lever accrued all 43 of his triple-doubles in a six-season span with the Denver Nuggets from 1984-85 to 1989-90 as one of the driving forces on a squad that, like Westbrook, wasn't always appreciated. Detractors at the time took outcome with the freewheeling manner those Nuggets played under Coach Doug Moe — and the wild scores and stats their games produced.
Epitome
Turbocharged statistical lines are a staple now in a league where 13 teams out of thirty, inbound Tuesday's play, were attempting at least 40 pct of their shots from 3-point range. Cries of stat padding became commonplace in Westbrook's later years with the Thunder, and the hyper-awareness of triple-doubles — and a respective urge to chase them — is another perceived reward for the Westbrook generation. But Lever insisted that achieving the consistency of Westbrook'southward board piece of work is far harder than it looks.
"Information technology'due south nevertheless a big deal," Lever said, "considering non everyone is able to do it."
Westbrook fabricated similar statements after the Wizards' winning streak was snapped by the 146-143 loss to the Spurs. Asked about his latest triple-double, which included 22 points, 13 rebounds and fourteen assists — albeit on nine-for-26 shooting — Westbrook said: "I honestly believe in that location is no player like myself. And if people want to take it for granted, sorry for them. But I'm pretty certain if everybody could do it, they would do it."
Information technology'due south difficult to argue with that logic, although many attempt. In 2016-17, Westbrook became the offset player since the 6-v Robertson in 1961-62 to average a triple-double for an entire season. That feat helped Westbrook, starring for the 47-win Thunder, go the Due north.B.A.'due south first Well-nigh Valuable Player Accolade winner from a sub-50-win team since Moses Malone in 1981-82.
With a boost from his recent surge, Westbrook is on a course to average a triple-double for the fourth time in five seasons, which in theory should position him as an M.VP. candidate. The reality is much colder: Westbrook has seemingly normalized averaging a triple-double and has been traded twice during that run, suggesting to some that triple-doubles aren't especially valuable. Or, worse, that he is not a player to build around.
Washington acquired him from Houston on December. two in a bandy of disgruntled backcourt stars that sent John Wall to the Rockets. In January and February, Westbrook'south play was alarmingly inefficient and turnover-laden, with noticeably fewer rushes to the rim. Since the All-Star break, Westbrook has consistently played at a summit-30 level, and Washington has a net rating of plus-four.4 points per 100 possessions with both Westbrook and Bradley Aggravate on the floor.
Concern persists over Westbrook'southward five turnovers per game, and his curious slippage at the complimentary-throw line to a career-low 62.8 percent from 76.iii percentage last season, but the abiding thrust Westbrook plays with has made the Wizards hard to guard. His presence has not hindered Beal'due south scoring, as some surmised when the merchandise went down; Beal is locked in an almighty battle with Gilt State'southward Stephen Back-scratch for the league's scoring title.
In March and April, Westbrook became the beginning thespian to register at least 300 points, 150 assists and 150 rebounds in sequent calendar months since Wilt Chamberlain in Feb and March of 1968, according to inquiry from the statistician Justin Kubatko. Westbrook will never be for everybody, especially without a ring, but Brooks couldn't have lobbied harder for the Wizards to reunite them when the trade opportunity arose. He coached him through most all of Westbrook's start seven seasons in Oklahoma City,
"The rebounding is the well-nigh incredible matter," Brooks said. "He goes and gets them. He simply has that knack. It doesn't matter who's in front of him; he always has one more than step on his ladder. The volition, the athleticism the competitive drive — I knew what our team needed.
"Eleven rebounds a game for guy 6-iii? We'll never see a histrion like him always again, not in my generation or my kids' generation."
Corner Three
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You inquire; I answer. Every week in this space, I'll field 3 questions posed via email at marcstein-newsletter@nytimes.com . Please include your get-go and last proper noun, as well as the city you're writing in from, and make sure "Corner Three" is in the subject line.
(Questions may be condensed or lightly edited for clarity.)
Q: The Knicks have overperformed this season. The front function did not make any splashes at the trade deadline. Jeff Van Gundy recently mentioned on goggle box that the Knicks were "still incredibly limited" talent-wise. Their best role player is Julius Randle , but the Northward.B.A. has been a perimeter-based league for some fourth dimension. How will Leon Rose address this? — Wallace Leeth (Paterson, Northward.J.)
Stein: April has been a month for Knicks fans to savor. 18-carat optimism and joy are tangible at Madison Square Garden for the first time in years. I suppose it was inevitable that someone would inject a sober dose of pragmatism into the conversation, just it's also hard to quibble with the patient approach — so far.
The Knicks are ahead of schedule and well positioned to pursue signings and trades to bolster an offensively challenged roster, with considerable salary-cap space and two outset-round picks forthcoming in the off-flavour. Squad officials know they still take plenty of piece of work to do to upgrade the overall talent, but that wasn't imperative at the trade deadline in March. Information technology's not like there was a divergence-maker they missed out on.
It's true that this forepart office will ultimately exist judged on its ability to sign or trade for at least one certifiable star to pair with Randle, which means persuading an established player to comprehend the claiming of playing in New York every bit heartily as Randle did. Rose and his management squad also accept to brace for ongoing second-guessing about their first typhoon option if the rookie guard Tyrese Haliburton continues to flower in Sacramento, since they could have drafted Haliburton at No. eight rather than Obi Toppin.
The Rose regime, though, has done many practiced things in its commencement yr. The Knicks appear to accept hired the right coach in Tom Thibodeau, helped conductor Randle to All-Star status and can signal to promising evolution from RJ Barrett and the rookie Immanuel Quickley to offset the injuries that have derailed Mitchell Robinson'southward third season.
There have been whispers for weeks that the Knicks' flirtation with the E's No. 4 seed has helped restore their reputation to the point that star players are finally prepared to consider them a destination franchise again. If that proves truthful, they will have multiple pathways to address the concerns you lot raised, whether it's by trying to sign a savvy former All-Star like Kyle Lowry or DeMar DeRozan on a brusque-term deal equally a bridge to gratuitous-agent classes more star-laden than this summer'due south, or by using future typhoon picks (mayhap packaged with Toppin) to construct a meaningful trade.
Things could always go askew if the Knicks rush into the wrong deal, as they have been known to do over the years, or if the squad'south owner, James L. Dolan, decides he needs to go involved afterward abiding by the organization's program to permit Thibodeau and on-court results practice all the talking. Merely I would say that the Knicks have certainly earned a grace period through the end of this surprising season. This is a fourth dimension for Knicks fans, surely, to revel in what'due south going right.
Q: Do they actually get the Oscar itself? Kobe Bryant was very involved in co-creating his film, which is why he was given an Oscar . Executive producers frequently provide financing and aren't involved as hands-on producers. In whatever case, skillful for them. — @FromMeadows from Twitter
Stein: In my exuberance Sunday night, I tweeted that Kevin Durant, Mike Conley Jr. and Rich Kleiman, Durant's business manager, joined Bryant equally Oscar winners from the Northward.B.A. considering they were listed as executive producers for "Two Distant Strangers," which won the best alive action short film category at Lord's day's University Awards. That'south incorrect.
They were part of an Oscar-winning moving-picture show, but did not get awards themselves. Kobe took domicile an Oscar trophy in 2018 for the animated short film "Love Basketball," which was based on a poem Bryant wrote in 2015 to announce his retirement at the end of the 2015-16 flavour.
Q: I've never seen so many tweets and stories virtually a team signing a guy to a 10-24-hour interval contract. We've seen posts nigh Mike James nigh 50 times over the past week. — @MrWright1218 from Twitter
Stein: There are some good reasons for that.
It's partially a part of where nosotros are on the regular-season calendar. There only aren't every bit many roster moves happening this close to the postseason, especially involving title contenders, so the ones that exercise happen generate extra coverage.
Yet it's also a byproduct of the circumstances. James was 1 of the most prominent Americans playing abroad, with a loftier-profile European society (CSKA Moscow), and he had a complicated contractual situation to negotiate — as well every bit six days' worth of health and safety protocols to complete — earlier he could actually join the Nets on Friday. The fluidity of James's status led to more frequent updates.
Numbers Game
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50
Recording 50 wins in an 82-game season is a traditional marker for N.B.A. excellence. Winning l games in a 72-game season is plainly harder, but half dozen teams still have a chance to do and so with nineteen days remaining in the regular flavor: Utah (44-17), Phoenix (43-18), the Los Angeles Clippers (43-20), the Nets (42-20), Philadelphia (xl-21) and Denver (40-21). Of those half dozen, just the Jazz (52) and the Suns (51) are currently on a footstep to practise and so.
61
Nikola Jokic's Thou.V.P. case will undoubtedly be bolstered by his durability in this pandemic flavor. Jokic has played in all 61 of Denver's games and has led the Nuggets to a 6-1 record since Jamal Murray's season-ending human knee injury on Apr 12. Philadelphia's Joel Embiid, widely regarded equally Jokic's closest pursuer in the M.5.P. race, has played in 42 of the 76ers' 61 games.
9
Monday's home loss to the Suns, the No. 2 seed in the Due west, brought a halt to the Knicks' nine-game winning streak. The Knicks have had only ane longer unbeaten run in the 21st century, winning thirteen consecutive games late in the 2012-13 season, which featured the gild's final playoff berth.
37.five
The Knicks' Julius Randle leads the league at 37.5 minutes per game. Motorbus Tom Thibodeau has faced criticism for years about overplaying his best players; Thibodeau most probable would counter that Randle, at 26, is young enough to handle the workload.
xiii
This is Seattle's 13th season without an North.B.A. team. The W.Northward.B.A.'s Seattle Tempest have won 3 championships in that time, merely the wait for a new franchise to replace the SuperSonics will shortly take on a new dynamic when the Seattle Kraken bring together the N.H.L. adjacent season. We're less than 3 months away from the Kraken's expansion typhoon on July 21.
Hit me upwards someday on Twitter ( @TheSteinLine ) or Facebook ( @MarcSteinNBA ) or Instagram (@thesteinline). Send any other feedback to marcstein-newsletter@nytimes.com .
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Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2021/04/28/sports/basketball/russell-westbrook-triple-double.html
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