Russell Westbrook (Getty Images file)
Spotlight on… Russell Westbrook, guard, Thunder
When: So many players had all-star-level production during the evaluation period of Jan. 31-Feb. 6, but Oklahoma City’s Russell Westbrook stood out from the rest. And because of that, the Thunder point guard has earned his second Post player of the week award this season.
What’s up: Westbrook was on fire for a Thunder team that won twice in four games during the week with averages of 33.0 points, 9.0 assists, 8.0 rebounds and 2.3 steals per game. On top of that, Westbrook was a 50-40-90 guy from the field, shooting 51.1 percent overall, 41.2 percent from 3-point range and 91.7 percent from the free-throw line.
Background: Westbrook’s two biggest games of the week came in a home-and-home series against New Orleans. The Thunder, without Kevin Durant, took the first game, in New Orleans, with Westbrook leading the way with 45 points, six assists and six rebounds. Durant returned for the second matchup, but it was the Westbrook show again, as he scored 48 points with 11 assists and nine rebounds. And it would have been the headline had Anthony Davis not made a double-clutch, buzzer-beating 3-pointer to win that game.
Dempsey’s take: Say what you want about Westbrook’s willingness, or unwillingness to pass, or to back down as the Robin to Kevin Durant’s Batman; the man is the most explosive guard in the league. He scores at will and is a triple-double threat pretty much every time he hits the court.
