Yahoo Sports NBA contributing writer Tom Haberstroh and senior NBA writer Dan Devine discuss Russell Westbrook’s struggles on the Nuggets and whether Denver might miss the playoffs this season. Hear the full conversation on “The Big Number” and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube or wherever you listen.

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Video Transcript

This week's big number is 87.5.

It's actually a small number because that is the Denver Nuggets points per 100 possessions, also known as their offensive rating with a one Russell Westbrook on the floor.

And the reason why I'm referencing that is because that is the lowest team offensive rating for any player on court for any team with a minimum of 75 minutes played.

So Russell Westbrook in his age 36 season, it's been a disaster so far in 79 minutes and 87.5 offensive rating.

That's lower than Cody Williams, the rookie from Utah, Julian Strother, his teammate is, you know, burping up 93.4 points per 100 possessions when he's on the floor.

But number one is Russell Westbrook's on court 87.5.

He actually had a really good game Dan, uh in his last time out 22 efficient points on about 17 true shots.

He was good from long range.

He was attacking the rim.

He got to the free throw line 10 times and hit all 10 free throws while talking a lot of smack.

Um What uh I think it was Nick Claxton and so that's good.

But the fact that the best case scenario is that they need overtime to get past Brooklyn.

It's really sad.

So, the Denver Nuggets are two and two.

The offensive rating with Russell Westbrook on the floor is 87.5 and it's, this is where I get to my, um, my verdict here, I'm ready to declare, they're gonna miss the playoffs, like, like Pitbull in that little promo playoffs.

I say no, I say it's timber.

I say they're not gonna get to the top six, which is what they need to avoid the play in.

They might make the plan.

But I'm saying top six in the Western conference by the end of the season because of that second unit anchored Russell Westbrook has been a disaster and I think it's gonna be tough to, uh, pull themselves out of it.

I'm gonna say the Nano on this one, my brother, I'm disagreeing with you.

I'm still, I'm still having the Nuggets go into the top six.

The number itself is not totally bogus, but I still think the Nuggets are going to be able to eke their way into the top six.

They still have a gigantic Serbian guy who's exceptionally good at basketball.

Nikola Jokic has carried them even to two and two, but as long as he's there and soaking up a ton of minutes, I still think they're gonna be able to generate enough efficient offense and keep themselves above water enough to where they're gonna be able to fight their way through the top six.

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