Russell Westbrook ‘You, the real MVP’

Common Denominators Don’t Exist:

Don’t waste your time looking for specific commonalities when Russell produces a trip-dub. Like his 42%-58% road -home split Westbrook has accomplished his mastery over lottery and top playoff seeds alike.

Nor will examining the two teams he’s failed to master.  Chicago features a wing heavy Bulls squad (though he came close this season missing the mark by one rebound). Charlotte features two wings who provide solid opponent defenders in Nicolas Batum and Michael Kidd Gilchrist.

A look across the league dispels the wing or lengthy defenders as an issue given Westbrook managed facing the likes of Giannis Antetokounmpo, Kawhi Leonard, and LeBron James.

Psych-Out:

Another deterrent I considered was the relevance of psychological edges.  At one point this season I wondered if Mark Cuban’s shade was created simply to get in Westbrook’s mind. Then the recent Dallas outing occurred. Russ took over both literally and figuratively with 6:15 remaining in the fourth quarter.

Trailing by 11 points, Westbrook scored 12 points as well as an assist and a rebound. Hence, he propelled OKC to a one-point road victory with the Mavericks failing to score in the final 3:31 of the game.

Two nights later Westbrook arguably provided the best example for his MVP campaign resume. Posting the highest-scoring triple-double in history (57 points) he entered the game with OKC trailing by 9 at 7:45 of the final frame. Westbrook scored 19 points including the dramatic 3-point shot to tie the game. In overtime, Westbrook scored 7 points, had 4 rebounds and 2 assists.

Bottom line, the one deterrent appears to fall upon Westbrook’s Thunder teammates. When the squad is especially cold from the field Westbrook tends to miss out on registering a triple-double and the team is more apt to lose.