The moment that transformed Russell Westbrook and the Clippers’ NBA title chase
“He has made the ultimate sacrifice.”
In December, the Clippers were able to establish a more well-rounded team with Westbrook leading the second unit alongside Powell, who has proven to be a strong candidate for Sixth Man of the Year. According to Second Spectrum, Powell has a league-leading 49.4% accuracy on catch-and-shoot 3-pointers this season. This strong pairing helped the Clippers go on a 26-5 winning streak and rise to the top of the conference standings.
“I am aware of my abilities and strengths, regardless of whether I am starting or substituting. I am confident in what I contribute to the game.”
Westbrook’s continuous aggressive approach and determination coming off the bench has been evident.
The team’s practice was postponed due to a meeting. However, Lue proceeded to his media session with reporters before informing the players. They were only notified when Westbrook showed up on the court, wearing a white practice jersey meant for reserves.
The Cleveland Cavaliers made a huge comeback in their most impressive performance of the season. In the third quarter, Westbrook assisted Powell in scoring a crucial 3-pointer off an offensive rebound. In the last play of the game, Westbrook intercepted the inbound pass and prevented Cavaliers player Max Strus from making a game-winning 3-point shot.
After Westbrook came back from hand surgery on March 25, the Clippers have a record of 7 wins and 2 losses. Even though Kawhi Leonard was absent for five consecutive games due to knee inflammation, the team has been able to regain some of their confidence and dominance at the start of the season. At one point, they were leading the Western Conference with a 34-15 record on February 6, but then experienced a slump, losing 12 out of their following 22 games. This raised concerns about whether they had reached their peak before the playoffs.
George explained to ESPN that it was our responsibility to ensure its success. He stated, “As a group, we are aware of what it means to make sacrifices.”
Lue shared that in his conversation with Westbrook, he expressed his willingness to do whatever it takes for their team to win. This includes being open to coming off the bench if it is determined to be the best decision.
Westbrook declared, “There is no one superior to me when I enter the game in this league.”
Lue acknowledged that the unwavering energy brought by this player on a nightly basis has been instrumental in saving numerous games this season. He also praised the player’s impact in last year’s playoffs and acknowledged the adjustment he has had to make. However, for the team to achieve success, everyone must be willing to make sacrifices.Despite Westbrook’s career-low usage rate of 23.9% this season, the Clippers are shooting 55% off of his passes — second only to LeBron James among players with at least 400 assist opportunities, according to ESPN Stats & Information. Westbrook is averaging a career-low 2.1 turnovers this season and is tied for the third best assist-to-turnover ratio during crunch time in the league.
Leonard shared with ESPN that when he witnessed Westbrook arrive at the practice court, he felt a sense of sacrifice. Prior to this, they had discussed the importance of sacrificing for each other in order to achieve success. Westbrook selflessly agreed to come off the bench in order to improve the team’s performance.Harden will be a free agent this summer. Lue has one year left on his deal. Westbrook, meanwhile, has a player option worth just over million this upcoming offseason.
“It’s comforting to know that I can still make it up there and take a breath of the fresh air,” remarked the guard, aged 35, following the Clippers’ narrow 102-100 victory.
George stated that they simply let him be himself, so that he can take charge and be forceful with the second unit. They greatly value his contributions.
The LA Clippers struggled to catch up after a 25-8 deficit against the Denver Nuggets last Thursday and required a strong impact from their bench players.2024 NBA playoffs tracker
Westbrook marked their third consecutive home victory with several hip sways at center court and directed some select phrases towards the Cavaliers bench.
Westbrook clarified that a modification was necessary and expressed his confidence in Lue’s ability to implement it successfully.
When the Clippers’ starting players struggled initially or required a push, Lue turned to Westbrook to lead comeback victories, like when he contributed to overcoming an 18-point disadvantage in the last 10:54 to defeat the Brooklyn Nets in late January.
This is a crucial playoff season for the Clippers and their top players. Leonard and George are striving to meet the team’s championship hopes in their fifth year playing together. While Leonard recently agreed to a three-year contract extension, George has yet to do the same.
“We have accomplished a great deal in our professional journeys. Therefore, I believe he simply desires a chance to reach that level and achieve victory.”
Westbrook shared, “While on the court, I am capable of multitasking. I excel at defending at a superior level, which I believe I have been executing above par compared to other players in the league this season.”
On that particular day, Westbrook scored 23 points, grabbed 9 rebounds, and had 6 assists in 31 minutes of play. However, despite his impressive stats, he is also relied upon to make meaningful contributions that may not be reflected solely in the box score, as he holds the distinction of being the only player to average a triple-double four times in a single season.All times Eastern
Lue mentioned that there were doubts about Westbrook, but he still managed to maintain an average of 24 points, eight rebounds, and seven assists during the playoffs even without Kawhi or PG.
Lue and Westbrook were unsure about the expectations of the role, but the former MVP was still extremely self-assured in his belief that there is no one who can replicate his abilities.
The Utah Jazz collaborated with [player] to facilitate a buyout.
“I am aware of my identity and my capabilities on the court,” Westbrook stated in an interview with ESPN. “Since joining the league, no one has been able to match my skills. I have earned my position due to my consistent performance every night.”
ESPN Staff Writer Ohm Youngmisuk
In the end, it was about determining who would make the sacrifice and how much each person would sacrifice,” stated Westbrook. “I ultimately made the decision to take on more sacrifice.”
Westbrook, with 1,039 regular season starts under his belt, has found ways to contribute off the bench this season. He maintains his position as one of the top defenders in the league and remains the only player to achieve an average of 10 points, five rebounds, and five assists coming off the bench in his career, according to research by ESPN Stats & Information.
“It was a significant move by Westbrook, that marked the beginning.”
After causing trouble for the reigning champions, Westbrook continued to make an impact. Amid a pair of free throws for Denver, he communicated instructions to his teammate Mason Plumlee from one side of the court to the other. This led to a successful play where Plumlee set a screen for James Harden, who then passed to Westbrook for an impressive alley-oop.
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The Nuggets will face the Timberwolves at 10 p.m. Now, Westbrook’s season of adjustments continues with another challenge: coming off the bench for the first time in the postseason after making 116 career playoff starts. The team’s four stars — Leonard, George, Harden and Westbrook — have talked all season about putting aside egos and accolades to win a title together in their hometown.
At the 9:53 minute mark in the second quarter, Russ took flight. He soared towards the basket and slammed in a two-handed alley-oop dunk from Powell. With great force, Westbrook pulled down the rim and let out a loud scream, energizing the audience at Crypto.com Arena. In just six minutes, Westbrook either scored or assisted on 15 points, contributing to a 22-6 run that narrowed the Nuggets’ lead to one point.
After the defeat in Denver, Lue stated to ESPN that he was not yet prepared to make changes to his starting lineup, which consisted of George, Harden, Leonard, and Westbrook. However, in the 76 minutes they played together, their net efficiency was -11.9.
Harden’s recent action has resulted in him being ranked fourth in the league for assists per game at 8.6, giving him a greater responsibility as a playmaker for the Clippers.
During his time with the Clippers, Westbrook has consistently expressed his contentment. In response to inquiries about his role on the bench, Westbrook stated to ESPN that his improved mental state played a role in his comfort.
Harden gave credit to him when speaking to ESPN, acknowledging that their main goal is for the entire team to be successful. He was the one who started the act of putting their individual success aside for the sake of the team’s success. As a result, Harden’s role now involves taking charge of the team’s offense.
The following day, Lue received a message from Westbrook requesting a meeting. Prior to practice on November 16, Lue and Westbrook reached an agreement that would greatly impact the Clippers’ season.
“I expressed uncertainty about whether that would be the best decision. However, we will give it a chance.”
“The ultimate goal in mind was to win the championship, which was the decision made.”
Westbrook expressed his contentment with being in Los Angeles and stated in an interview with ESPN that he is prepared to face whatever comes next, whether it be playing at the Clippers’ newly named Intuit Dome in the upcoming season or taking his constant self-assuredness to a different team.
In regards to his future, Westbrook stated, “No matter where I am, I will always do what the team needs from me. There is a misconception that I have been actively opposing, but my top priority has always been the team.”
Unfortunately, Westbrook’s initial hopes for his debut season with the Clippers have not been met. Though he first joined as the starting point guard, after the late-October acquisition of Harden, he has once again taken on the sixth man role. However, unlike his brief time with the Lakers, this change has actually helped fuel the Clippers’ most successful regular season in the Leonard-George era.
On Tuesday in Phoenix, Westbrook replaced the injured Harden as the starting player and sparked a 35-4 initial streak. With this, Westbrook achieved his 199th triple-double, extending his record for the most in any career. He also became the first member of the Clippers to score 16 points, grab 15 rebounds, and dish out 15 assists in a single game as the team triumphed over the Suns, 105-92, securing their spot in the playoffs.
According to Westbrook, it is difficult for the average person to see the true impact of a player’s performance just by looking at statistics. One may think that with only 5 points, Russ had a bad night, but that may not reflect what actually occurred during the game.
Following his start in the last 21 matches of the 2022-23 season, Westbrook assumed a larger responsibility in the Clips’ first-round matchup against the Suns due to George and Leonard’s injuries. He made a significant impact in the team’s lone victory when he grabbed five offensive rebounds and had a crucial block on Devin Booker in the final moments of Game 1.
George and Clippers coach Ty Lue both agree that the team can learn from Westbrook’s transition to the second string.
During that time, Russell Westbrook began playing aggressively. He assisted Paul George in making a 3-point shot with 1 minute and 5 seconds left in the first quarter. He then made successful passes to Amir Coffey and Norman Powell, resulting in two more 3-point shots on back-to-back possessions in the beginning of the second quarter.
Westbrook’s points per game (11.2) and average minutes (22.7) have both decreased to the lowest in his career, while his 3-point shooting stands at only 27%. However, there has been an improvement in his defense. According to Second Spectrum tracking, he is ranked in the top 10 for field goal percentage allowed as the defender in this season’s games.
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