Russell Westbrook has had to reinvent his furious pace from a historic 2016-17 season to fit into this “Big Three” version of his Oklahoma City Thunder. While the reigning MVP was racking up 42 triple-doubles last season, he's only had a total of four through his first 14 games of the season, having to pace his scoring and all-around aggression to leave shot opportunities available for teammates Paul George and Carmelo Anthony.
In fact, Westbrook has only logged one game with 30 or more points this season, only a season after leading the league in scoring with 31.6 points per game.
“That's a part of my job to make sure those guys are [comfortable],” Westbrook said, according to ESPN's Royce Young. “Those guys are great players and my job is to make sure they're comfortable, and in their spots, and comfortable with the things that best benefits their game.”
When asked about a potential hope to go back to his high-scoring ways, after a four-game skid earlier last week — Westbrook shook his head.
“No, that was last year,” Westbrook said. “This is a new year, new team.”
The Thunder Big Three had been eerily similar through the start of the season, with each player averaging a whisker over 17 shot attempts per game and averaging just a whisker over 20 points each through the first 10 games of the season.
OKC has now found a groove, winning their last three games — the longest win streak of this young season — having found a formula to translate unselfish play into winning games.
“We just communicate, man. We're not worried about it,” Westbrook said. “Whoever has it going, that's where the ball's going. We play off each other and figure it out. The game will tell you what to do.”
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