By Zahid Matthews 1/26/2020
Russell Westbrook is easily one of the most decorated players of his time. But he’s also easily one of the most polarizing as well. And for the past couple of seasons he hasn’t been particularly efficient in terms of scoring the basketball; but nevertheless this season he’s averaging 25.8ppg 8.1rpg & 7.4ast on shooting splits of 45% fg%, 23% 3pt%, and 78% ft%. Last season he averaged a triple double in which he did for three seasons consecutively; last season he finished the regular season averaging 22.9ppg 10.7ast(Career High/Leauge Leader) & 11.1rpg(Career High). Westbrook has been very inefficient from the 3 point and the free throw line, and he had us fooled that he would be the same inefficient Westbrook this season, but since December 7th, 2019 he’s yet to score below 20 points in a game (Currently on a 19 Game Streak of 20+ points scored) and in the month of January he’s currently averaging: 31.9ppg 8.5rpg & 8.5ast on shooting splits of 53% fg%, 26% 3pt%, 73ft%.
On 1/24/2020 Russell Westbrook scored 45 points, 10 assist, 6 rebounds, and 1 steal on 59.3% fg%, 100% ft% against the Minnesota Timberwolves, pushing the Houston Rockets to a current 28-16 record, 5th best in the Western Conference. He became the first player to score 40+ points in game without attempting a 3 pointer since 2007; Dwyane Wade scored 48 points against the Orlando Magic in 2007 without attempting a 3 pointer. Westbrook also became the only player not named James Harden to score 40+ points and 10+ assist in a game(Houston Rockets Franchise Record). The 45 point game is his current season high in scoring, which was previously a 40 point 5 assist and 10 rebound game against the LA Clippers on 12/19/2019
A large part of Westbrook’s amazing January month is that he’s eased of shooting 3 pointers. He’s taken a total of 19 3 point attempts this January so far, whereas in December he took 57 3 point attempts and in November he took 74 3 point attempts. A lot of people have said for a while now, that ‘If Westbrook would stop “Shot Chucking” from deep and “Stat Padding” he would absolutely dominate’. And so far that logic has seem to be true. Now obviously the question is can he be consist with this level of play? Some say ‘no’, some say ‘yes’. I think he can keep up this level of play until around May or March. Im almost certain he’ll be chucking shots come playoff time.
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