Russell Westbrook Triple-Double Watch: Game 39, at Chicago
Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook is threatening to become the first NBA player to average a triple-double since Cincinnati Royals Hall of Famer Oscar Robertson achieved the double-figure points, assists and rebounds mark during the 1961-62 NBA season. A lot has changed in the league since then, which is why Westbrook’s current averages of 31.4 points, 10.6 assists and 10.3 rebounds would make such a feat a remarkable achievement in line with some of the greatest individual seasons in NBA history. If not the greatest individual season in NBA history.
As Westbrook takes on each new opponent while the OKC season drawls on, we’ll be updating his chances at matching the Big O’s feat.
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At this point, you’d think Russell Westbrook would be getting sick of taking on the best that the NBA has to offer, seemingly every other night.
Poor Russ. Now he knows how the rest of the league feels.
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The Thunder are set to take on Chicago Monday night at the United Center, with Bulls All-Star Jimmy Butler raring to having a go at Westbrook following his 42-point explosion in a 19-point comeback win over the Toronto Raptors on Saturday night. This comes just days after Russell took on another MVP candidate in James Harden, who responded with a 26-point, 12-assist, 8-rebound night (ridiculously, paring down his regular season averages) in the face of Westbrook’s 49-point night.
After a “night off” against Denver (32 points, 17 rebounds, 11 assists, three steals) in Saturday’s win, even Westbrook would seem jelly-legged at the thought of trying to keep up with Butler …
Jimmy Butler's PER in the fourth quarter/OT has risen to 35.8 thanks to his hot January start. MJ holds the Bulls' record at 32.9 in 1996-97
— Marc Stein (@ESPNSteinLine) January 9, 2017
And yet:
Jimmy Butler is sick and wasn't at shootaround. Gametime decision
— Sean Highkin (@highkin) January 9, 2017
Even better, for the Watch:
McDermott will start if Jimmy doesn't play
— Sean Highkin (@highkin) January 9, 2017
That’s “[Doug] McDermott,” Chicago’s emerging small forward, and miserable defender. It isn’t likely he’ll cross match with Westbrook much should Jimmy Butler sit out, but Butler (a perpetual All-Defensive Team member even prior to his ascension to mini-LeBron status) was always going to spend significant time guarding Russell Westbrook.
Now, should the cold hold up, this would mean Westbrook would have his longest stretches working up against new starter Michael Carter-Williams, or veteran Dwyane Wade. Wade has already ruled himself out of Tuesday’s back-to-back finale against the Washington Wizards, mind you. That’s the sort of legs Russell Westbrook might be working with.
Jimmy Butler, as we’re writing, remains a game-time decision.
Bulls coach Fred Hoiberg hit the nail on the head Monday when he called the presence of Russell Westbrook “a full team problem” even with Butler having cleaned up in time:
“They’re third in the league in fast-break points, all because of Westbrook,” Hoiberg said. “He gets it down fast and does a great job of dropping it off. Their bigs are great rim runners. They get a lot accomplished in the post in transition as well. It’s a full team awareness issue with Westbrook.”
It’s a full league awareness issue with Russell Westbrook. The guy has hit the second week of January with statistics like these, and the removal of Jimmy Butler from the defensive mix on Monday could leave the Thunder licking its chops in anticipation.
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Kelly Dwyer is an editor for Ball Don’t Lie on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at KDonhoops@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!