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Thunderous Thoughts: Defining and Naming Russell Westbrook Signature Moves

By Jeremy Lambert

January 16, 2017; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (0) during a stoppage in play against the Los Angeles Clippers during the second half at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
January 16, 2017; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (0) during a stoppage in play against the Los Angeles Clippers during the second half at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports /
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Welcome to Thunderous Thoughts, a weekly look at the Oklahoma City Thunder with the main story ranging from something I thought of yesterday to something I thought of years ago. This week, Moves Like Russell Westbrook.

Russell Westbrook has so many signature moves. He’s like a great pro wrestler who has to get his spots in during every single match because the crowd eats it up every time. The issue with Westbrook is that he doesn’t have a name for those signature moves. That’s an issue.

Every great pro wrestler knows that you have to name your moves. Even if you just do a simple powerslam, you need to name it and add a personal touch. That way, when Wrestler B uses a powerslam, which is a move that has been around for fifty years, Wrestler A, who named the powerslam, “The Annihilator” can claim that Wrestler B stole the move from him. It’s all logical in the wrestling world.

This is why Westbrook needs to name his signature moves. This is why I’m here.

Must Read: Five stats that correlate to Thunder wins and losses

The Instant Replay:

Whenever Russ breaks out the euro-step, it’s always a thing of beauty. The only thing more beautiful is when he immediately does a re-enactment. In fact, it’s typically better than the actual Euro-step. Nothing is more frustrating than when the team quickly inbound the ball after the Russ Euro-step and they cut off The Instant Replay.

Reverse Momentum:

Russell Westbrook dunks are exciting. Other teams love them because they usually go on a quick 10-0 run after Russ destroys the rim. Remember that insane dunk against Cleveland last year? The Cavaliers went on a Jordan-Westbrook run after that dunk and effectively ended the game.

Even when Russ blows the spot, like he did against Rudy Gobert and the Jazz this season, the other team benefits. This doesn’t apply to his fast break dunks, just his in traffic dunks where he attempts to posterize an entire organization.

RELATED: Appreciating Russell Westbrook

The Six Point Play:

If Russ hits a three, you know another three is coming on the next possession. It’s the most predictable play in sports.

Take It To The Bank:

With the retirement of Tim Duncan, Westbrook has unofficially become the league leader in bank shots per game. If he sets up on the wing, jab steps a couple of times, and stares a hole through your soul. The bank shot is coming.

SURPRISE!

Think you blew by Russell Westbrook? Think again. Here comes Westbrook’s arm on a reach around to poke the ball away. It works once every 10 games.

One Foul Closer:

Westbrook believes that he gets fouled a lot. In fairness, he does get fouled a lot. But there are certain times when he wants the refs to know that he believed he got fouled, and he wants to discuss this with them.

So, after driving to the basket, and missing a layup due to a foul that wasn’t called, Russ will attempt a “steal” that ends up being called a foul. This does nothing but stop the game so Russ can discuss the foul that wasn’t called on his missed layup.

Third Quarter Special:

OKC is bad in the third quarter. Here’s the reason why: Russ feels the need to take a lot of shots. After playing a well-rounded game in the first half and putting up a 9-6-7 stat line and only taking eight or nine shots, Russ decides, “I gotta shoot more” and proceeds to shoot a lot in the third quarter.

Unfortunately, this is bad news because Russell Westbrook isn’t a great shooter and his teammates go cold. He turns things around in the fourth because Law of Russ says that he won’t miss every shot, but those fourth quarter heroics could be lessened if he didn’t shoot so much in the third.

RELATED: Third Quarter Woes Continue for OKC

The Shortcut:

Sometimes Russell Westbrook misses a mid-range shot short, gets his own rebound, and easily converts the layup. I often wonder why he doesn’t do this more often because it’s a great move to get an easy layup and pad his rebounding stats.

Other Thunder Thoughts

  • Last week I said OKC could lose nine straight. They went on to win the next two. Now I’m convinced that OKC will never win again.

More from Thunderous Intentions

  • Billy Donovan staggering the duo of Steven Adams with Victor Oladipo and Westbrook is such a good move with Enes Kanter hurt. Do people realize that Donovan is a smart coach and he’s held back by roster construction and an erratic point guard? Because he is.
  • Can OKC acquire DeMarcus Cousins prior to Saturday?
  • Andre Roberson is either boosting his trade value or finally improving offensively.
  • I’m off the “OKC needs a star” wagon because I don’t believe they have the assets necessary to acquire a star. Just get a three point shooter. Someone who, when he’s wide open on a three, I feel confident that it’s going in. There’s no one on the team I can say about that right now. Except maybe Alex Abrines .

Must Read: Steven Adams is ‘Bad and Boujee’ – the rap

Make sure you check back next week for the weekly Thunderous Thoughts column and remember to join us this Saturday in our live blog for ‘The Return’

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