Westbrook has rough time as George shines
Russell Westbrook drove the lane like he has so many times before, but with about five minutes left in the third quarter, he missed like he did so many times Monday night.
It was a rough one for the Thunder superstar.
But it was not a rough one for the Thunder.
That’s because Paul George had Westbrook’s back. In the game, yes. But on that possession, too. About five seconds after Westbrook’s closerange clunker, George drained one of those nothing-but-net, sweetas-cream threes. OKC 122, Utah 113. On a night when George continued to show why he is in the way-too-early conversation for MVP, the Thunder moved to the top of the Western Conference standings. It is by the narrowest of percentage points, but there Oklahoma City is ahead of Golden State.
But if the Thunder wants to truly be a contender to unseat the
Warriors, Westbrook has to be better.
Against Utah, Westbrook was 4 of 18, including 0 of 5 from behind the 3-point line. He missed that signature pull-up jumper at the elbow. He missed from spots where he usually doesn’t shoot, seemingly hunting for a shot, any shot, that would go in.
Now, Westbrook managed a triple-double because, well, he’s Russell Westbrook. But even with 12 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists, he was frustrated.
Late in the fourth quarter coming out of a timeout, Westbrook stood at the mid-court line talking to himself and mimicking his shooting motion. He flicked his wrists forcefully, almost like he was trying to throw away the bad mojo.
Thunder fans tried to help, cheering him after a couple bad free-throw misses. Not rafter-shaking cheers. Polite applause like you might hear at a junior high game when a kid is having a bad time of it.
Billy Donovan tried to help, too, putting Westbrook back in the game late, clearly looking to get him into a rhythm.
When Westbrook checked out, he ripped off his arm sleeve and threw it down.
Even though he talked a good game afterward — “I do other things to impact the team and to win,” he said. “Whatever play needs to be made to win, that’s what I’m gonna do” — his mood was sour, even for a guy who’s never all that sweet in postgame interviews.
Now, stinkers like these are bound to happen as he returns from injury and adjusts the way he plays.
“When you’ve missed as much time as he’s missed, it will take him time,” Donovan said. “But he’ll be fine. I’m not really worried about it.”
Being happy-go-lucky is a lot easier when Paul George is on your roster.
After scoring a gamehigh 31 points on a crazy-efficient 10 shots, George had a few words for Westbrook.
“I told him, ‘I got your back,’” George said. “He’s had me on plenty of occasions where I had an off night. I’m his counterpart. I’ve gotta do the same for him when the ball’s not going in.
“But he’s fine. It’s nothing he’s gotta get coached through.” George smiled a bit. “He knows how to score the ball.”
And Westbrook will score it again. He’s too good a player, too big a competitor not to figure it out. When that happens, the Thunder will be more than a team atop the West.
It will be a true contender.