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Russell Westbrook Triple-Double Watch: Game 23, versus Houston
Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook is threatening to become the first NBA player to average a triple-double since Cincinnati Royals Hall of Famer Oscar Robertson achieved the double-figure points, assists and rebounds mark during the 1961-62 NBA season. A lot has changed in the league since then, which is why Westbrook’s current averages of 31 points, 11.3 assists and 10.9 rebounds would make such a feat a remarkable achievement in line with some of the greatest individual seasons in NBA history. If not the greatest individual season in NBA history.
As Westbrook takes on each new opponent while the OKC season drawls on, we’ll be updating his chances at matching the Big O’s feat.
It’s never too early for a little fawning. The NBA season is a quarter-in, a month and a half old, more than enough time for those both young and old to deduce that this whole Russell Westbrook Thing, this whole Watch, might be worth our time.
As if we didn’t assume that heading into 2016-17. Silly us.
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A photo posted by Ball Don’t Lie (@yahooballdontlie) on Dec 9, 2016 at 9:30am PST
Westbrook kept his triple-double streak alive in Atlanta on Monday evening, notching 32 points, 13 rebounds and 12 assists in Oklahoma City’s 102-99 win over the Atlanta Hawks. At this point, no amount of goose eggs in Westbrook’s next box score would lead to him dropping out of his triple-double averages.
The question as to whether or not this style of play can sustain, as we watch Westbrook go all out for rebounds while committing to transition play early and often, is for another afternoon. What’s important to note, right now, is that Russell clearly has the league’s attention. Numbers like these just can’t be sloughed off with your typical, rote, “taking it one day at a time”-comments from his contemporaries.
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Including, the best player of his and (possibly, at some point) any generation. Speaking at shootaround on Wednesday in New York, with more than enough going on in his life, LeBron James decided to delve in on the Wonderful World of Westbrook, via ESPN and Pro Basketball Talk:
“Westbrook can do it. He’s capable of doing it. He’s showing it. He’s like the Energizer Bunny, man. He just doesn’t get tired. He doesn’t get tired, and when you have that passion for the game, too, as well, it’s very doable. The game has definitely changed a little bit. It’s more, it’s almost feeling like back in, like, the 80s, you know, when teams were putting up 145 and 135 and more possessions and more shot attempts — obviously, they weren’t shooting as many 3s, but it was a lot of possessions.
“So with that being said, with his athleticism, him being able to get those rebounds, he handles the ball for the majority of the game for OKC so he’s gonna get the assists and I think he’s averaging nine free throws a game. He’s going to make seven or eight of those a game and obviously he’s going to get one bucket — he’s going to get 10 points. That’s the easy thing for him. So it’s very doable.”
Is it? Even if Westbrook fails, though, those working around him are clearly not only effusive in their praise, but quite aware of who they get to lace up with:
Enes Kanter on playing with Westbrook: pic.twitter.com/frZnqA347E
— Royce Young (@royceyoung) December 8, 2016
Rockets guard James Harden, heretofore, has not gotten the same treatment.
He shouldn’t be far off the fawning of his own, but the former Thunder guard and Westbrook teammate’s season has been somewhat swept under the rug what with Golden State and LeBron’s Cavalier dominance, and Westbrook’s attempt at triple-double glory. At 28.5 points and 11.4 assists per game, Harden is attempting to become the first player since Nate “Tiny” Archibald in 1972-73 to lead the NBA in both points and assists per game.
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Archibald’s work at the time set records for scoring for a guard (34) and assists per contest (11.4), and Harden would seem to be well on his way toward his own sense of statistical wonder were it not only for the three guys ahead of him in the scoring column (including Westbrook, DeMarcus Cousins and league-leader Anthony Davis), but Westbrook again at 11.3 assists per game – good for second in the league.
As such, in a year where Harden’s assist count could act as the highest mark we’ve seen in NBA ages, his work has been lost a bit. A pity, because Harden’s 7.6 rebounds (does everybody just do it all, these days?) are remarkable for a guard, working for a respectable 15-7 Rockets team.
Harden was less than respectable in Houston and OKC’s first meeting this season, missing 12 of 16 shots on his way toward a 13-point, 13-assist, six-rebound, three-steal and six-turnover night. In a contest that most hoped would lead to perhaps the game of the NBA’s young season, the Thunder prevailed at home by a 105-102 score in an underwhelming contest, with Westbrook notching 30 points on 9-20 shooting with 12 nine assists, seven rebounds, two steals and six turnovers of his own.
Hopefully, this nationally televised affair brings out the best in both sides. With all three sides showing.
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Kelly Dwyer is an editor for Ball Don’t Lie on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at KDonhoops@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!
