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A Russell Westbrook with two faces | NBA

LeBron James absent because suspended, Anthony Davis diminished because of illness, the Lakers needed a great Russell Westbrook to leave New York with a victory. The Californians got it… only half time.

Because in the first period, the playmaker missed his subject, with 6 1/5 points in the shoot and 5 lost balls … Fortunately, the break will do him a lot of good.

“It just clicked”, explains Anthony Davis to ESPN, to justify this change of level in his teammate. “I don’t know if he saw a good matchup or not, or if someone, an opponent or a fan, spoke to him. I don’t know, but whatever, we need him like that for the entire game. “

In the third quarter, therefore, the 2017 MVP compiles 18 points to 7/10 in the shoot, with 3 assists and 2 interceptions. Then, in the last act, he adds 7 points, to end this game with a new triple-double: 31 points, 13 rebounds and 10 assists. Under his leadership, Los Angeles will win the second half, but not the game.

“I tell him every match: be yourself, that’s why you’re here”

And even if he only lost one ball after the break, it is again this subject that has returned to the mat. With 4.9 balls lost per game, Russell Westbrook is the most expensive player in the league behind James Harden (5 possessions lost per game). A habit at home for a few seasons since he has not experienced an exercise without at least 4 lost balls on average since 2013/14.

“It’s funny to talk about that, because I haven’t heard of my lost balls in five matches. Why ? “, recalls, smiling, the former Thunder, who had lost “only” 12 balls in the last four matches. “You guys are really funny. It’s just about playing the game. I adjusted between the first and second half. I was good at picking my positions and being aggressive rather than jumping and looking for passes. It’s easy for me to correct that. “

It is this aggressive version that Anthony Davis constantly wants to find. The interior, who is still refining his relationship with the playmaker, confirmed Russell Westbrook, does not want to see him hesitate or force passes.

“Russell has to keep playing like this no matter who’s on the floor. He must be himself ”, declares “AD”. “I tell him every game: be yourself, that’s what you’re here for. Often he is passive and seeks out others. It’s good, but it gets out of the rhythm. He can do it very well by remaining aggressive. “

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E0MPXAB39Nk

Russell WestbrookPercentageRebounds
SeasonTeamMJMinTirs3ptsLFOffDefUntilPdFteIntBpCtPts
2008-09OKC823339.827.181.52.22.74.95.32.31.33.30.215.3
2009-10OKC823441.822.178.01.73.24.98.02.51.33.30.416.1
2010-11OKC823544.233.084.21.53.24.68.22.51.93.90.421.9
2011-12OKC663545.731.682.31.53.14.65.52.21.73.60.323.6
2012-13OKC823543.832.380.01.43.95.27.42.31.83.30.323.2
2013-14OKC463143.731.882.61.24.55.76.92.31.93.90.221.8
2014-15OKC673442.629.983.51.95.47.38.62.82.14.40.228.2
2015-16OKC803445.429.681.21.86.07.810.42.52.04.30.323.5
2016-17 OKC813542.534.384.51.79.010.710.42.41.65.40.431.6
2017-18OKC803644.929.873.71.98.210.110.32.51.84.80.325.4
2018-19OKC733642.829.065.61.59.611.110.73.42.04.50.523.0
2019-20HOU573647.225.876.31.86.27.97.03.51.64.50.427.3
2020-21WAS653643.931.565.61.79.911.511.72.91.44.80.422.2
2021-22LAL183542.928.766.31.36.98.28.73.31.34.90.219.3
Total9613543.730.578.81.75.77.48.62.61.74.10.323.1

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