Comparing Russell Westbrook small ball success vs OKC Thunder system
Statistics:
From a statistical standpoint, the numbers aren’t much different. His points per game are the third-highest of his career and most since his MVP season.
With fellow MVP James Harden aligning beside him he’s not required to handle all the playmaking but still ranks 10th among point guards.
| Season | FGA | FG% | 3PA | 3P% | 2PA | 2P% | eFG% | FTA | FT% | DRB | TRB | AST | STL | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008-09 | 13.4 | .398 | 1.6 | .271 | 11.8 | .415 | .414 | 5.2 | .815 | 2.7 | 4.9 | 5.3 | 1.3 | 15.3 |
| 2009-10 | 14.1 | .418 | 1.3 | .221 | 12.9 | .438 | .428 | 5.1 | .780 | 3.1 | 4.9 | 8.0 | 1.3 | 16.1 |
| 2010-11 | 17.0 | .442 | 1.3 | .330 | 15.7 | .451 | .454 | 7.7 | .842 | 3.1 | 4.6 | 8.2 | 1.9 | 21.9 |
| 2011-12 | 19.2 | .457 | 3.0 | .316 | 16.2 | .482 | .481 | 6.3 | .823 | 3.1 | 4.6 | 5.5 | 1.7 | 23.6 |
| 2012-13 | 18.7 | .438 | 3.7 | .323 | 15.1 | .466 | .470 | 7.0 | .800 | 3.9 | 5.2 | 7.4 | 1.8 | 23.2 |
| 2013-14 | 17.2 | .437 | 4.7 | .318 | 12.5 | .482 | .480 | 6.4 | .826 | 4.5 | 5.7 | 6.9 | 1.9 | 21.8 |
| 2014-15 | 22.0 | .426 | 4.3 | .299 | 17.7 | .457 | .455 | 9.8 | .835 | 5.4 | 7.3 | 8.6 | 2.1 | 28.1 |
| 2015-16 | 18.1 | .454 | 4.3 | .296 | 13.8 | .503 | .489 | 7.2 | .812 | 6.0 | 7.8 | 10.4 | 2.0 | 23.5 |
| 2016-17 | 24.0 | .425 | 7.2 | .343 | 16.8 | .459 | .476 | 10.4 | .845 | 9.0 | 10.7 | 10.4 | 1.6 | 31.6 |
| 2017-18 | 21.1 | .449 | 4.1 | .298 | 17.0 | .485 | .477 | 7.1 | .737 | 8.2 | 10.1 | 10.3 | 1.8 | 25.4 |
| 2018-19 | 20.2 | .428 | 5.6 | .290 | 14.5 | .481 | .468 | 6.2 | .656 | 9.6 | 11.1 | 10.7 | 1.9 | 22.9 |
| 2019-20 | 22.6 | .474 | 3.8 | .254 | 18.8 | .518 | .495 | 6.5 | .777 | 6.3 | 8.0 | 7.0 | 1.7 | 27.5 |
| Career | 18.8 | .437 | 3.7 | .304 | 15.2 | .469 | .467 | 7.1 | .800 | 5.4 | 7.1 | 8.3 | 1.8 | 23.2 |
Provided by Basketball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 3/13/2020.
Glass Cleaner:
Part of the reason the Rockets were able to invest in the small ball style is Westbrook’s ability to rebound. Some have thought Steven Adams was potentially sidestepping those rebounds for Russ to stat pad.
But his numbers in Houston continue to showcase his brilliance in this area. With 8.1 boards per game, he trails only the much taller Luka Doncic as the best rebounders for their position. Moreover, he leads the Rockets in rebounding.
Biggest changes this season:
There are a few differences this season for Russ, none the least of which is the Rockets are load managing him although that’s a rarely discussed topic. After years of raging on the court from the tip to the final buzzer, this feels like an appropriate measure for the Rockets to employ to extend the point guard’s game and allow him to continue to play with that wild abandon game in – game out.
Houston has completed nine back-to-back sets of which Westbrook has sat one game in each. He’s also missed a further two games in a busier period of the schedule.
After years of the Thunder struggling to put numerous 3-point shooters on the court, the Rockets offer a bevy of 3-point snipers. (see below for more on this effect under style)
Rockets style:
In many ways, Russell Westbrook is the point guard version of Giannis Antetokounmpo. With the Rockets electing to go small ball, suddenly the court is like an open run-way for him. He’s never had this much space to operate in and the dividends the Rockets and Russ are reaping became immediate.
This season has witnessed a progression of the Rockets’ style. Many wondered how the Brodie, a notoriously poor 3-point shooter would fit into Houston’s system. Presumably, the choice to dive fully into a small ball lineup had a lot to do with Westbrook. Breaking the season into three tiers the notable change is obvious:
First 24 games:
Westbrook’s core stats aren’t drastically different: 22.5 points, 8.0 rebounds, 7.4 assists. But note the efficiencies and his 3-point attempts: 42.2 percent on 19.8 field goal attempts and was taking 5.1 perimeter shots connecting at 23.0 percent through this initial schedule segment.
Next 20 games:
There is a noticeable shift in the number of 3-point shots Russ takes and the uptick in his production in the second tier of games. The core stats are 30.7 points, 8.0 rebounds, 7.4 assists. As for the 3-point differences, he begins to take less (3.1) attempts and shoots a mildly better efficiency of 24.2 percent. His field goal attempts increase to 25.1 attempts with higher efficiency of 48.1 percent.
Since trade deadline:
The numbers clearly show how much Westbrook is benefiting from the shift to the small ball system. The point guard’s overall production features core stats of 31.7 points, 8.2 rebounds, 5.5 assists. Of note, his assists take a drop but that’s a natural shift given the open lanes he now has to drive the ball directly to the basket.
The biggest change is his shooting efficiencies. The number of shots falls in between the two tiers above with 23.8 attempts but his accuracy vaults to 54.6 percent. Likewise, he’s reduced his 3-point attempts to 2.4 per game and lo and behold he’s connecting above the league average (38.5 percent).
Comparing Westbrook best stats with the OKC Thunder vs. small ball:
Although most of the stats are similar there are two specific numbers that prove why playing small ball is the best system for Westbrook:
Best field goal percent with OKC Thunder: 33.0 percent in 2010-11
Best 3-point percent with OKC Thunder: 45.7 percent in 2011-12
Field goal percent in Rockets’ small ball system: 54.6 percent
3-point percent in Rockets’ small ball system: 38.5 percent
This is arguably the perfect system for Westbrook and the first time in his career he’s had a system and a perfect mix of teammates to allow him to flourish to the best of his ability.