Is Westbrook Averaging a Triple Double Again
Marc Stein on Basketball game
Russell Westbrook Makes Triple-Doubles Look Easy. They're Not.
Westbrook, the Washington Wizards baby-sit, is on track to average a triple-double for the fourth fourth dimension in five seasons, making it seem most routine. So why doesn't everyone do information technology?
Russell Westbrook and Scott Brooks huddled by telephone late Sunday. After the Washington Wizards' eighth consecutive victory, and with the 2nd one-half of a dorsum-to-back looming Monday night confronting San Antonio, Westbrook wanted to do some extra strategizing with his passenger vehicle.
It was but a few months earlier that six consecutive Washington games were postponed because the Wizards had been ravaged by a coronavirus outbreak. Their U-plough has been then dramatic, with Westbrook'southward play reminiscent of his Oklahoma Urban center best, that Brooks couldn't resist interrupting the serious tone by needling his star baby-sit.
"I told him: 'You lot've got to beginning rebounding the ball — simply 5 this evening?'" Brooks said. "Just busting his chops."
Those 5 rebounds Westbrook managed in Sunday's victory over Cleveland, to get with fourteen points and eleven assists in 36 minutes, were indeed an anomaly. In ix of his previous ten games, thirteen of the previous 15 and sixteen of the previous 20, Westbrook reached double figures in points, assists and rebounds.
In his first season every bit a Magician, at historic period 32, Westbrook is averaging 21.viii points, xi rebounds and xi assists per game — with a league-leading 29 triple-doubles to hike his career total to 175. Denver's Nikola Jokic, with fifteen triple-doubles, is his closest pursuer this flavour. With 7 more than triple-doubles, Westbrook will pass Oscar Robertson as the N.B.A.'s career leader.
This is where it's important to note that Westbrook, who is on a class to average more x rebounds per game for the fourth time in five seasons, stands 6-human foot-3.
The official stance of this newsletter is that Westbrook's forthcoming achievement should be celebrated heartily, at the very least for his relentless rebounding at that size, but it's hard to say how much fanfare awaits him when he eclipses the Big O. This isn't even a record that Robertson knew he prepare at the time, since the term "triple-double" didn't come into vogue until the 1980s.
Another tricky variable: In my 28 seasons of full-time N.B.A. reporting, Westbrook is correct there with Allen Iverson when it comes to the about polarizing players I have covered. Because of Westbrook's ball-dominant style, fickle jump shot, high turnover charge per unit, occasionally brusque demeanor and, most of all, zero championships, information technology is often easier to find his critics than his admirers.
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As Westbrook closes in on Robertson, there is also a rising tendency to dismiss triple-doubles as empty calories considering they happen then oft in the broad-open mod game. (Example: On March 17, Westbrook was one of 6 players to record a triple-double that twenty-four hours.) Westbrook's triple-doubles in detail tend to be discounted in a way that others aren't, which he brought up in a video session with reporters subsequently Monday's overtime loss to the Spurs.
"I think it's very interesting that it's non useful now that I'yard doing information technology," Westbrook said.
As covered in a recent slice past my colleague Tim Reynolds of The Associated Printing, in that location were just 18 triple-doubles leaguewide every bit recently equally the 2011-12 regular flavour. This flavor's full has already topped 100, for the fifth flavor in a row, pointing to the various offensive advantages enjoyed in today'due south N.B.A. The faster stride of play creates more possessions, and thus more than statistical opportunities, and restrictions on defenders have been designed to promote more freedom of motility on criminal offense. Players are likewise encouraged to shoot 3-pointers at record rates, boosting scoring numbers and leading to more than long rebounds. Old schoolers resistant to the iii-signal revolution, in response, are prone to scoff at some of the gaudy stuff nosotros see in box scores these days.
Yet this is where I feel compelled to echo that part about Westbrook standing but 6-3. He is the only player in league history at that size or smaller to average at to the lowest degree 10 rebounds a game over a full season.
"It's a lot harder at 6-3," said Lafayette Lever, who went by the nickname Fatty and amassed 43 triple-doubles from 1982-83 through 1993-94.
Lever understands Westbrook's challenge as well every bit anyone. He was a 6-three, 170-pound guard who rang upward a league-leading xvi triple-doubles in 1986-87, ahead of both Magic Johnson and Larry Bird, and he didn't have Westbrook's explosion.
"Russell is so much more athletic than I was at whatsoever betoken in fourth dimension," Lever said in a telephone interview, "probably from the day he was born."
Lever, though, had an infrequent knack for rebounding, which he credited to playing on a high schoolhouse team with no one taller than 6-iii. He still ranks tenth in career triple-doubles. It wasn't until Johnson joined the Lakers, five seasons after Robertson'southward retirement, that triple-doubles were seriously tracked and discussed, but amongst my Due north.B.A.-obsessed high school friends in the 1980s, we associated triple-doubles with Lever as much every bit 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 bridge with the Denver Nuggets from 1984-85 to 1989-xc as one of the driving forces on a team that, like Westbrook, wasn't ever appreciated. Detractors at the time took issue with the freewheeling manner those Nuggets played nether Motorcoach Doug Moe — and the wild scores and stats their games produced.
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Turbocharged statistical lines are a staple at present in a league where xiii teams out of thirty, inbound Tuesday's play, were attempting at least forty percent of their shots from 3-point range. Cries of stat padding became commonplace in Westbrook'southward subsequently years with the Thunder, and the hyper-awareness of triple-doubles — and a corresponding urge to hunt them — is another perceived advantage for the Westbrook generation. Just Lever insisted that achieving the consistency of Westbrook's board work is far harder than it looks.
"Information technology's still a big deal," Lever said, "because not everyone is able to exercise it."
Westbrook made similar statements later the Wizards' winning streak was snapped by the 146-143 loss to the Spurs. Asked about his latest triple-double, which included 22 points, xiii rebounds and fourteen assists — albeit on 9-for-26 shooting — Westbrook said: "I honestly believe there is no thespian like myself. And if people want to take it for granted, sorry for them. But I'yard pretty certain if everybody could exercise it, they would do it."
It'due south difficult to contend with that logic, although many try. In 2016-17, Westbrook became the first player since the 6-5 Robertson in 1961-62 to average a triple-double for an entire season. That feat helped Westbrook, starring for the 47-win Thunder, become the N.B.A.'due south starting time Well-nigh Valuable Player Honour winner from a sub-fifty-win team since Moses Malone in 1981-82.
With a heave 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 Thou.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 non a player to build around.
Washington acquired him from Houston on Dec. ii in a swap of disgruntled backcourt stars that sent John Wall to the Rockets. In January and February, Westbrook's play was alarmingly inefficient and turnover-laden, with noticeably fewer rushes to the rim. Since the All-Star pause, Westbrook has consistently played at a summit-30 level, and Washington has a net rating of plus-4.4 points per 100 possessions with both Westbrook and Bradley Beal on the flooring.
Concern persists over Westbrook'due south five turnovers per game, and his curious slippage at the free-throw line to a career-low 62.8 percent from 76.3 percent last flavour, merely the constant thrust Westbrook plays with has made the Wizards hard to guard. His presence has non hindered Aggravate's scoring, every bit some surmised when the trade went downwards; Aggravate is locked in an almighty boxing with Gilded State's Stephen Back-scratch for the league'south scoring title.
In March and April, Westbrook became the kickoff player to register at to the lowest degree 300 points, 150 assists and 150 rebounds in consecutive agenda months since Wilt Chamberlain in February and March of 1968, according to research from the statistician Justin Kubatko. Westbrook will never be for everybody, especially without a ring, only Brooks couldn't accept lobbied harder for the Wizards to reunite them when the merchandise opportunity arose. He coached him through nigh all of Westbrook's start vii seasons in Oklahoma City,
"The rebounding is the most incredible thing," Brooks said. "He goes and gets them. He just has that knack. Information technology doesn't matter who'southward in forepart of him; he always has one more pace on his ladder. The will, the athleticism the competitive drive — I knew what our squad needed.
"Eleven rebounds a game for guy vi-iii? Nosotros'll never see a player similar him ever again, not in my generation or my kids' generation."
Corner Three
Prototype
Y'all inquire; I respond. Every week in this infinite, I'll field three questions posed via e-mail at marcstein-newsletter@nytimes.com . Delight include your outset and final name, as well as the city you're writing in from, and make sure "Corner 3" is in the subject line.
(Questions may be condensed or lightly edited for clarity.)
Q: The Knicks have overperformed this season. The front role did not make whatever splashes at the trade deadline. Jeff Van Gundy recently mentioned on telly that the Knicks were "still incredibly limited" talent-wise. Their all-time player is Julius Randle , just the Northward.B.A. has been a perimeter-based league for some time. How will Leon Rose accost this? — Wallace Leeth (Paterson, North.J.)
Stein: April has been a month for Knicks fans to relish. 18-carat optimism and joy are tangible at Madison Square Garden for the outset time in years. I suppose it was inevitable that someone would inject a sober dose of pragmatism into the conversation, but it's also difficult to quibble with the patient arroyo — and then 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 2 first-round picks forthcoming in the off-season. Team officials know they all the same accept plenty of work to practice to upgrade the overall talent, but that wasn't imperative at the trade deadline in March. It's non like there was a difference-maker they missed out on.
It's true that this front part will ultimately exist judged on its ability to sign or trade for at least ane certifiable star to pair with Randle, which ways persuading an established histrion to embrace the challenge of playing in New York every bit heartily every bit Randle did. Rose and his management team as well have to brace for ongoing second-guessing about their kickoff draft selection if the rookie guard Tyrese Haliburton continues to blossom in Sacramento, since they could accept drafted Haliburton at No. 8 rather than Obi Toppin.
The Rose regime, though, has washed many skilful things in its starting time year. The Knicks appear to have hired the right coach in Tom Thibodeau, helped usher Randle to All-Star status and can bespeak to promising development from RJ Barrett and the rookie Immanuel Quickley to first the injuries that have batty Mitchell Robinson'southward third season.
There have been whispers for weeks that the Knicks' amour with the Due east's No. iv seed has helped restore their reputation to the signal that star players are finally prepared to consider them a destination franchise again. If that proves true, they will take multiple pathways to address the concerns you lot raised, whether it'south by trying to sign a savvy former All-Star like Kyle Lowry or DeMar DeRozan on a short-term deal as a bridge to free-agent classes more than star-laden than this summer's, or by using future draft picks (perchance packaged with Toppin) to construct a meaningful trade.
Things could always go askew if the Knicks blitz into the wrong bargain, as they have been known to do over the years, or if the team'south possessor, James L. Dolan, decides he needs to get involved after abiding by the organization's plan to allow Thibodeau and on-court results do all the talking. But I would say that the Knicks have certainly earned a grace catamenia through the finish of this surprising season. This is a time for Knicks fans, surely, to revel in what's going right.
Q: Exercise they really get the Oscar itself? Kobe Bryant was very involved in co-creating his pic, which is why he was given an Oscar . Executive producers ofttimes provide financing and aren't involved as hands-on producers. In any instance, good for them. — @FromMeadows from Twitter
Stein: In my exuberance Dominicus nighttime, I tweeted that Kevin Durant, Mike Conley Jr. and Rich Kleiman, Durant's business manager, joined Bryant as Oscar winners from the N.B.A. because they were listed as executive producers for "Two Distant Strangers," which won the all-time live action short film category at Sun's University Awards. That'due south wrong.
They were role of an Oscar-winning film, merely did not go awards themselves. Kobe took dwelling house an Oscar trophy in 2022 for the blithe brusque film "Beloved Basketball game," which was based on a poem Bryant wrote in 2022 to announce his retirement at the finish of the 2015-16 season.
Q: I've never seen and so many tweets and stories virtually a team signing a guy to a 10-day contract. We've seen posts nearly Mike James about 50 times over the by week. — @MrWright1218 from Twitter
Stein: At that place are some good reasons for that.
Information technology'due south partially a function of where we are on the regular-flavour calendar. There simply aren't as many roster moves happening this close to the postseason, especially involving championship contenders, so the ones that practice happen generate actress coverage.
Notwithstanding it's also a byproduct of the circumstances. James was one of the about prominent Americans playing abroad, with a high-profile European lodge (CSKA Moscow), and he had a complicated contractual state of affairs to negotiate — besides as six days' worth of health and safety protocols to complete — earlier he could actually bring together the Nets on Fri. 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 flavour is a traditional marker for N.B.A. excellence. Winning 50 games in a 72-game flavor is obviously harder, only six teams still have a chance to exercise then with 19 days remaining in the regular season: Utah (44-17), Phoenix (43-eighteen), the Los Angeles Clippers (43-20), the Nets (42-20), Philadelphia (40-21) and Denver (40-21). Of those half-dozen, only the Jazz (52) and the Suns (51) are currently on a step to do so.
61
Nikola Jokic'due south G.Five.P. instance will undoubtedly be bolstered by his durability in this pandemic flavour. Jokic has played in all 61 of Denver's games and has led the Nuggets to a 6-1 tape since Jamal Murray's flavor-ending knee injury on April 12. Philadelphia'southward Joel Embiid, widely regarded as Jokic's closest pursuer in the Thou.V.P. race, has played in 42 of the 76ers' 61 games.
ix
Monday'southward habitation loss to the Suns, the No. 2 seed in the West, brought a halt to the Knicks' nine-game winning streak. The Knicks have had only one longer unbeaten run in the 21st century, winning 13 consecutive games belatedly in the 2012-13 flavor, which featured the order'south last playoff berth.
37.5
The Knicks' Julius Randle leads the league at 37.5 minutes per game. Coach Tom Thibodeau has faced criticism for years about overplaying his all-time players; Thibodeau well-nigh likely would counter that Randle, at 26, is young plenty to handle the workload.
13
This is Seattle'due south 13th season without an N.B.A. team. The W.N.B.A.'s Seattle Storm take won three championships in that time, but the look for a new franchise to replace the SuperSonics will before long take on a new dynamic when the Seattle Kraken join the Due north.H.L. next flavor. We're less than 3 months away from the Kraken's expansion draft on July 21.
Hitting me up someday on Twitter ( @TheSteinLine ) or Facebook ( @MarcSteinNBA ) or Instagram (@thesteinline). Send whatever 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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