Schedule could be beneficial for Russ
Grant Hill finished his NBA career with 29 triple-doubles – games with double figures in points, rebounds and assists – but he couldn’t have predicted when he was about to record one. Typically.
“I remember New Jersey,” said Hill, now an analyst on NBA TV and on Turner Sports’ NCAA Tournament coverage. “I always seemed to have a triple-double or close to a triple-double when I played against New Jersey in New Jersey.”
Sometimes, Hill said, the opponent can make a difference when it comes to putting up a range of numbers.
And that could prove relevant for Russell Westbrook.
With 12 games to play, the Thunder guard is closing in on a pair of elusive NBA milestones. He’s on a well-publicized pace to finish the season averaging a triple-double, a feat only one NBA player has managed, Oscar Robertson in 1961-62.
But Westbrook also is nearing the single-season record of 41 tripledoubles Robertson set that year. He needs seven to tie it and eight to break it, and if past success is any indicator, the Thunder’s schedule suggests he has a shot.
Westbrook has 29 career triple-doubles against the 11 teams remaining on the Thunder schedule. Oklahoma City plays the Nuggets twice.
On Wednesday, OKC hosts the Philadelphia 76ers, a team against which Westbrook has four career triple-doubles, all in the past six meetings.
That might not matter. Thunder coach Billy Donovan is unconvinced that a player’s history against an opponent has much meaning in subsequent meetings.
“I think when you get in there and say, ‘OK, this guy always plays well against this team, sometimes that may not be the case the next night,” Donovan said. “Every game is a new competitive challenge and has its own… history, so to speak. Every play does. Every game does.”
But Donovan admits there are strategic constants with a coaching staff – core beliefs and a defensive identity – that a team can study and try to attack in future matchups.
And some of those things can lead to a player’s repeated success.
Hill doesn’t know Westbrook or have any insight into his approach. But after an 18-year career in the NBA, he knows that certain teams repeatedly bring out the best in particular players.
“It could be the matchups,” Hill said. “It could be the other team’s strategy, how they play certain things. It could be a psychological factor. I could have a guy that I’ve had two or three great games against, and I feel like I own him, like I can do whatever I want.”
Hill had three careertriple doubles each against four different teams: the Hawks, Celtics, Nets and Magic. Westbrook has four career triple-doubles each against the Sixers, Rockets, Timberwolves and Magic.
And though Hill said he never set out to get one, there can be strategic reasons why a player is a repeat triple-double threat against a specific team.
If a team’s pick-and-roll defense resulted in leaving a floor-spacing power forward open, Hill said, he might stress to that player to be ready for catch-andshoot opportunities, and that could create assist potential.
If an opponent had a rugged frontcourt, Hill said, he might look to be extra active in helping out his power forward and center on the backboards.
“You know they’re gonna have their hands full on the glass, so I need to creep in there and help them defensively and get some rebounds,” Hill said. “If I average eight or nine a game, maybe I need to get 15 today to help those guys out.”
Those discussions, Hill said, were aimed at winning a game, not at racking up numbers. And though Westbrook’s past tripledouble success doesn’t mean he’ll pile them up down the stretch to catch Robertson’s record, Hill said there’s a certain comfort that comes from having thrived against a team in previous meetings.
“Some of that is psychological,” Hill said. “Some of it is the team and how it matches up with you. But I think that stuff factors in.” Before Tuesday,
had a combined nine Russell’s Reading Rooms in Oklahoma City and Los Angeles. That number expanded to 19 before the end of the day.
Westbrook gathered in a newly-painted room and handed out book certificates to students at Adams Elementary on Tuesday morning. He then picked up a big pair of scissors and cut the ribbon on the latest effort to improve youth literacy.
Before that, Westbrook told a student to try to find him in a book entitled “Year in Sports 2016.”
The wide-eyed youngster did, reminding Westbrook of when he used to go to the library and thumb through books featuring pictures of and
“I tried to play it cool in front of the kid, but it’s pretty cool to be able to see that,” Westbrook said.
While the ribbon cutting was at Adams Elementary, it was about more than just the southwest Oklahoma City school. Russell’s Reading Rooms are also opening at Arthur Elementary, Bodine Elementary, Britton Elementary, Edgemere Elementary, Green Pastures Elementary, Gatewood Elementary, Greystone Elementary, Oakridge Elementary and Pierce Elementary Schools.
The future of at least three of those schools is in doubt.
On Monday, Oklahoma City Public Schools introduced a controversial cost-cutting plan which included recommendations to close five low-enrollment elementary schools in the city. Edgemere, Gatewood and Green Pastures are on the proposed list.
Despite the recommended closings, Westbrook’s Why Not? Foundation remains committed to serving the community.
Representatives from Westbrook’s foundation said they planned to meet with OKCPS on Tuesday, with topics on the agenda including the expansion Reading Room project to other school districts, as well as ideas on how to renovate current Reading Rooms across the city.
Westbrook’s implementation of Reading Room’s across the city could still benefit students potentially on the move. If the proposed closures happen to Edgemere and Green Pastures, their students would move to Martin Luther King Elementary and Spencer Elementary, respectively – schools which already have Russell’s Reading Rooms.
While Westbrook couldn’t visit all of the schools which opened Reading Rooms, each school had a book fair Tuesday and was presented a check from the Why Not? Foundation to cover the costs. Each student who attended the book fair received a free book.
“It’s great, not just here at Adams Elementary,” Westbrook said. “Scholastic has done a great job to allow me to not just open one Reading Room today, but 10 total.
“It’s amazing for me, a huge blessing and a great thing for my foundation to be able to provide books for kids to take home, to enjoy reading at home, and make sure they have fun while doing it.”
Christon on Curry: I just stood my ground
is a twotime NBA Most Valuable Player. is a first-year guard who made the Thunder in training camp.
Worlds collided Monday in Thunder-Warriors Round 4. Christon and Curry’s shoving match sparked a four-technical flurry which included Westbrook and
Christon said Curry was just trying to get into position.
“Just a little pushing and shoving. Nothing too crazy,” Christon said. “Part of the game. Just protecting myself and playing the game, competing.
“I wouldn’t move, so … that’s what happened.”
Christon was one of few bright spots in the Thunder’s blowout loss, logging 10 points (4-of-4 FGs) and two rebounds with zero turnovers in 22 minutes. He’s yet to show any back down in his first NBA season after getting drafted in the second round by the Thunder in 2014.
Christon spent his first season playing for the Oklahoma City Blue before playing in Italy in 2015. He made the team out of training camp in October, securing a roster spot by beating out veteran guard
Now, Christon is Westbrook’s backup. He’s also getting back up from Westbrook.
“I liked it. That’s Russ,” Christon said of Westbrook coming to his aid in the scuffle. “He’s gonna protect me, too. I just stood my ground. I’m a player just like he (Curry) is.”
Tip-ins
The Thunder had a noncontact practice Tuesday, good for Westbrook’s right hand. He suffered a floor burn on it early in the third quarter against the Warriors on Monday, which turned into a blister. Thunder coach said Westbrook is fine . ... The Sixers have won three of five games. One of those games was a narrow 106104 loss to Golden State.