Westbrook’s historic season ‘impressive’
Some critics call
a “stat-stuffer.” The Orlando Magic have a different perspective.
“It’s remarkable what he’s done,” Magic coach
said. “A great face of the NBA. A great warrior.”
Westbrook has 37 tripledoubles, only four short of the NBA record of 41 set by
during the 1961-62 season. Westbrook has nine games to get it done, starting tonight against the Magic when Oklahoma City comes to town.
“Russ is playing at an unbelievable level right now,” said Magic swingman
“He is doing so much for them. He’s just impressive.”
Whether he is leagueMVP impressive is the subject of much conjecture. There is growing sentiment that Westbrook and of the Houston should share the Rockets award.
“It’s tough man,” Fournier said. “I think for the first time we should think about a co-MVP, seriously. It’s almost impossible to say it’s going to be James or Russ. They do so much for their teams.” the Oklahoma City Thunder.
“Big dreamer,” said Magic guard and friend
after Tuesday’s practice. “We all talked about that. Sometimes life doesn’t give you a chance to do that.”
The Magic busted up the dream – and their lineup – in the off-season, trading Oladipo, and the rights overall pick,
for last June.
The Magic have since dealt Ibaka to the Toronto Raptors for and the less favorable of the Raptors’ two 2017 firstround draft picks.
However you do the math, it adds up to a bittersweet reunion.
“He’s going to be a brother for life,” Payton said. “We were both stunned. But it’s the nature of the business.”
It was a tough deal too for Vogel, who made a connection with Oladipo when to the 11th Victor was playing at Indiana University and Vogel was coaching the Indiana Pacers. Vogel was hired in May. The next month, Oladipo was gone.
“One of the biggest reasons I took the job,” he said of Oladipo, “...but you can’t make a decision, personnel decisions in particular, with your heart. You have to use your brains and a level head. It was difficult to do.”
Defense, or lack thereof, became another point of contention for the Magic against Toronto on Monday night. They gave up 131 in another loss, their highest points-allowed total of the season.
“Got to keep pounding the rock,” Vogel said. “These guys have to understand that we’re trying to set a standard on the defensive end. It’s not getting done. It’s not been good enough all year and it let us down again last night.”
The Magic scored in bunches as well, with 112 points, but exchanging wild offensive flurries wasn’t enough. was particularly meddlesome, scoring 36 points.
“We had breakdowns across the board with transition, with finding their shooters, how we helped with DeMar,” Vogel said. “Containment issues, again. It’s been a problem for us.”
More “containment issues” await with Westbrook.