2023-09-23 07:36:21
In February of this year, the Clippers became the team best suited for Russell Westbrook, and now, the Clippers are the team most dependent on Russell Westbrook. Kawhi and PG are still the most important cornerstones of the Clippers. The two determine the “floor” of the Clippers, and Westbrook is a key role in pushing up the “combat ceiling.”
Since the Los Angeles Clippers signed Kawhi Leonard and traded Paul George in 2019 to form a luxury fleet, will they strengthen their point guards? It has become a topic of debate almost every year, from early Patrick Beverley, Lou Williams, Rajon Rondo, Reggie Jackson to John Wall. What most fans did not expect is that Russell Westbrook will be an option in the end. After all, when it comes to style of play, he has never been included in the Clippers’ discussion list, not even as suitable as Malcolm Brogdon, whose trade failed this summer, or the rumored James Harden.
In February of this year, the Clippers unexpectedly became the best team for Russell Westbrook. This is the only place where he can regain his star status. Now, the Clippers will be the team that needs to rely on Russell Westbrook.
When Westbrook compromised with the Lakers last season and became a substitute, and then was sent to the Jazz and was bought out, it was generally believed that “Westbrook would no longer be Westbrook.” The star career may have come to an end, and no team would still be willing to let him go. Under his leadership, can Westbrook, which has been a one-man team for a long time and has almost no green leaf experience, successfully transform? Most people are not optimistic. However, the Clippers came out and provided an environment that was enough to continue the star career. What the team’s head coach Ty Lue didn’t want was a restrained and polite Westbrook. He just wanted “Westbrook to continue to be Westbrook.”
Back in February of this year, there was a wave of differences of opinion between the Clippers’ management, coaches and players when it came to signing Westbrook. Head coach Lue has mentioned to the outside world many times that he is a believer in traditional ball control and hopes to keep a defender on the court to facilitate the operation of tactics. When current general manager Lawrence Frank talks regarding reinforcements, he always brings out the positionless basketball philosophy that he has been talking regarding for 4 years. He believes that it pays more attention to the complementarity of functions than pure traditional ball control. This statement is reflected in the trade manipulation. Before the trade deadline last season, following the Clippers gave up Wall and Jackson, who were not effective, they did not exchange for any point guard. Instead, they used a semi-forced method to make Lue correct. Terance Mann as ball handler.
When Westbrook began discussing a buyout with the Jazz, the Clippers were not interested at first. It was rumored that the signing was made possible only following star George took the initiative to speak out and received support from Kawhi.
Compared with the Lakers, the Clippers, also located in Los Angeles, can be said to be in Westbrook’s comfort zone. He got the starting position as soon as he changed the team. He has the support of a head coach who relies on guards, and the endorsement of his good brother and former teammate George, and he can maintain it. The original unrestrained playing style. The Clippers greatly accelerated following Westbrook joined the team. The original team’s offensive pace PACE of 98.24 was 24th in the league. After the Star Game, it improved to 100.55, which was 13th fastest in the league. Westbrook’s athletic ability was used to play. And ironically, Kawhi and George’s constant load management (translation: rest), both of whom also ended the season early due to injuries, gave Westbrook full hands of the ball and room to play, and he also shattered everyone’s doubts and regained the Prove that he still has star value.
Facing the Grizzlies in the regular season on March 30, when Kawhi and George missed the game due to load management, Westbrook played an annual masterpiece of 36 points, 10 assists and 4 rebounds. In the last three minutes of the first quarter, Westbrook got under the basket once The scene where he fell to the ground and yelled “And 1” following adding a penalty was selected as the fan favorite of the year, fully demonstrating his competitiveness and enthusiasm.
In Game 1 of the playoffs once morest the Suns, even though Westbrook shot a dismal 3-for-19 from the field and only scored 9 points, 8 assists, and 11 rebounds, his defense became the key to winning, defending once morest Kevin Durant 59 times. , Devin Booker and Chris Paul, only lost 6 points, and gave Booker a key shot, helping the Clippers secure the only playoff victory of the season. Later, when Kawhi fell due to injury, Westbrook scored 30 points, 12 assists, 8 rebounds and 37 points, 6 assists and 4 rebounds in Game 3 and Game 4 respectively. He is the sixth player in the history of the Clippers to win two consecutive games in the playoffs. Players who scored more than 30 points posted star data of 23.6 points, 7.6 rebounds and 7.4 assists throughout the series.
Not only is his statistics a star, Westbrook is also a spiritual leader following Patrick Beverley. Lue once mentioned that “the players weren’t depressed[when Kawhi was injured in the playoffs]it was all because Westbrook was in the locker room, and whether I was on the court with him or he was with Michael Jordan, he would do it the same way. Playing ball, he made everyone in the dugout believe that we might win the game.”
1695532563
#Key #Role #Los #Angeles #Clippers #Russell #Westbrook #Regaining #Stardom #NBA #Basketball