Making things different for Russell Westbrook
Billy Donovan told The Vertical it’s going to be “totally different” this season compared to two years ago when Westbrook was needed to carry the Thunder through a wave of injuries.
With Kevin Durant off to Golden State, there’s a pocket of NBA onlookers who are salivating at the thought of a “Russell Westbrook One-Man Wrecking Crew” type of season.
Thunder coach Billy Donovan is here to extinguish all that talk.
Donovan told The Vertical it’s going to be “totally different” this season compared to two years ago when Westbrook was needed to carry the Thunder through a wave of injuries. Here’s what needs to happen to ensure that:
STAY HEALTHY
As Cameron Payne wheeled around Westbrook’s contract extension press conference, his right foot in a boot following Jones fracture surgery, one couldn’t help but draw comparisons to Durant. Two years ago, Durant also needed the aid of a scooter during his injury-ravaged season.
Barring a setback, Payne is expected to be ready for training camp, which starts Sept. 24. Any complications from the July 25 surgery, however, would hurt. Payne’s workload is expected to increase this season following a successful summer league in which he finished top scorer at 18.8 points per game.
Donovan believes Westbrook’s season to come will be different from 2014-15 because the Thunder is starting out without Serge Ibaka and Durant rather than having to adjust to injuries mid-season. “We’ve got some time to evolve and develop a style of play and a system,” Donovan said.
But what if injuries force Westbrook to compensate? With Durant gone, Westbrook and Victor Oladipo will be counted on to create offense individually, but so will Payne. Besides Westbrook, no player currently on the Thunder roster scored a higher percentage of his baskets unassisted than Payne last season (65.8). Part of that is because Payne is a point guard. Part of it is because he can create his own shot. If Payne isn’t creating in three-guard lineups with Westbrook and Oladipo, he’ll certainly be counted on to create in the second unit.
If Payne has setbacks in his recovery, it could be a challenge to get reintegrated. Last year in preseason, Mitch McGary showed flashes of being able to contribute before a concussion forced him to miss valuable practice time. McGary never caught up. Payne’s defense also remains a question mark.
If Donovan wants a Westbrook season that’s different than two years ago, he’ll need the full complement of players, particularly Payne.
HELPING HANDS
Ten of Westbrook’s 20 best scoring performances of his career came in the 2014-15 season in which he averaged a careerbest 28.1 points per game. Nine of those performances happened without Durant. The Thunder went 1-8 in those games.
Monster games from Westbrook alone won’t guarantee the Thunder wins.
“I think from a style of play standpoint, we’ve got to maximize the people around him inside the system where they can be effective, productive and can help,” Donovan said.
Westbrook is going to find his teammates for easy baskets. He had the second-best assist percentage in the league last season, assisting on 49.6 percent of the Thunder’s field goals when in the game. The question is can the Thunder finish at a high rate without Durant and Ibaka, two of the best mid-range jump shooters in the NBA?
When Andre Roberson was being ignored on offense by Golden State in the Western Conference finals, Donovan found ways to make him effective. Donovan made Roberson the screener on pick-androlls, bringing him closer to the offense instead of marginalizing the athletic wing.
With Durant and Ibaka gone, more attention will be on Westbrook, which means Roberson — who will play significant minutes because of his defense alone — has to shake an admitted propensity to “tense up.”
“Yeah it is at times,” Roberson said when asked if it’s almost harder to shoot wide open. “because you kind of put so much pressure on that one shot. In my opinion it is tougher than a contested shot.”
STACHE AND SMASH
Westbrook’s continued development with Enes Kanter and Steven Adams should alleviate the offensive pressure.
When Kanter showed up at the trade deadline two seasons ago, he and Westbrook didn’t take long to demonstrate chemistry in the pick-and-roll. Per nba. com, Ibaka was sixth in the NBA in pick-and-roll possessions (277) last season. Kanter was 21st with 190, but averaged more points per possession than Ibaka as the roll man — 1.09 to 0.96. The opportunities for Kanter will only increase with Ibaka in Orlando.
The chemistry started to materialize with Adams as well last season. Westbrook has grown conscious of getting Adams involved in the offense, making a point after a Western Conference semifinals loss to San Antonio that he did a poor job by getting Adams only one shot. Including the playoffs, the Thunder was 13-4 last season when Adams attempted eight shots or more.
Donovan hasn’t made it apparent what offensive style the Thunder will play, but after losing two shooters like Durant and Ibaka, it can’t all fall on Westbrook. He might be the “catalyst and the key” again, as Donovan said, but it won’t be in the same manner as when Westbrook made his first MVP run two seasons ago.
“He’s obviously proven he can score,” Donovan said. “but I think Russell’s also smart enough now to understand he’s got to take the group with him.”