Welcome to the Basketball Hangover. I write about what’s happening in the NBA daily, even when COVID has ravaged the league.
Russell Westbrook is getting closer to history.
(PHOTO CREDIT: Kim Klement/USA Today.)
The Wizards are getting closer to the 8th and 9th seeds as well as clinching a play-in berth with a week and change left in the regular season. As for Russell Westbrook? He is getting closer to Oscar Robertson‘s record of most career triple-doubles in the NBA. Russ went for 13-17-17 in their overtime win against Toronto on Thursday.
A lot of people seem to downplay what Russ is doing. Maybe it’s because he does it so frequently, which would admittedly become normal to us that we take it for granted. But the dude is getting closer to getting his 4th triple-double season. FOUR. And in the history of this league, it’s only happened one other season (Oscar).
Many would say that his style of play is not conducive to winning basketball. Yeah, so his teams weren’t exactly “winning” in those other three seasons. In 2017, they were overwhelmed by the Houston Rockets. In 2018, they were somewhat upset by Donovan Mitchell and the Utah Jazz. The following season, Damian Lillard waved them goodbye with his famous long bomb at the buzzer. The Thunder never got out of the first round.
But it also helps to have talent. In 2012, the Thunder went to the Finals. A Thunder team that had Kevin Durant, Westbrook, James Harden, and Serge Ibaka. And they might have returned to the Finals in 2016 (sans Harden) if they were able to keep that 3-1 lead against the Golden State Warriors.
With this Wizards team, though, Westbrook (and Bradley Beal) have to do a lot of playmaking and table-setting. Sometimes, I’m amazed that Westbrook is leading the league in assists considering the team around him. But again, he finds his guys at the right spots. And the fact that this 6’3″ guard is getting double digits in rebounds is astounding (yes, some will say his teammates just let him but rebounds do involve hustle, ya know).
Westbrook has 180 triple-doubles for his career and it is only one behind the Big O. He has 34 trip-dubs this season. People say it is easier to get triple-doubles now and it is to an extent. But if it really is THAT MUCH EASIER, then a lot of people would have 25 triple-doubles this year, right? The closest to Westbrook this season is MVP candidate Nikola Jokic at 15. Only two other players have 10 or more. I will never not be amazed at what Westbrook is doing.
And what makes this even more unbelievable is that he didn’t start racking these up until 2014-15. He had 11 that season. Then he went bonkers after Durant left, when he set the record for most triple-doubles in a season with 42 in 2016-17.
Westbrook can easily break another of Oscar’s records (career triple-doubles) within the next few days. And he mostly did it in the second half of his career. As for most career achievements, we’re going to appreciate this a few years after he’s done playing.
Bullet Passes
Anthony Davis tweaked his back in the Lakers‘ game against the Clippers. Davis would not return and it gave way for a Clippers blowout. He’s said to be okay for Friday’s game against Portland.
The Lakers are lucky he’s okay. If Davis was going to be out for an extended period of time, the chances of them winning the title would drastically go down. But this Blazers game is critical as the winner takes over the 6th seed and avoid the play-in for the time being.
Memphis blew a game against Detroit. I don’t want to say they’re “gimmie” games but this is a team that they should’ve beaten. Golden State did their part in beating Oklahoma City so now the Warriors are in the 8th spot.
The importance of being in the 7th and 8th seeds is that they get two chances to advance to the postseason. For the 9th and 10th, they can only lose once.
Kyrie Irving scored 45 but it wasn’t enough against Dallas. The good news is that James Harden should be back soon. Again, if the Nets are healthy, I like their chances of going to the Finals.
Pascal Siakam went for 44-11-7 in that aforementioned OT loss against the Wizards. It’s just sad how Toronto’s season went downhill. One thing that people don’t talk about much is that they’ve had to play their games in Tampa. So they’ve been a road team this entire time.
The Pacers needed a win in the worst way after all this turmoil about Nate Bjorkgren came out this week. Ironically, they beat the Hawks, who is now coached by Nate McMillan. McMillan was fired by the Pacers after the bubble season.
Again, it is worth noting that the Hornets went from 4th to 8th pretty quickly. The Knicks and Hawks got hot, the Celtics woke up a little bit, and the Heat did a little winning as well. The Hornets have also been 7-11 without Gordon Hayward. That’s rough.
NBA Scoreboard
May 6, 2021
Watch This Play
Caleb Martin leaves Nikola Vucevic stunned by this jam.
(VIDEO CREDIT: House of Highlights.)
Vucevic was okay but a hell of a dunk by Martin.
Everyone, please take care of yourselves during this pandemic. And that goes for everyone involved with the NBA as well.
You can find Rey-Rey on Twitter at @TheNoLookPass.
You can also check out Rey-Rey’s podcast, Rey-Rey Is Fundamental, for more basketball content and, really, whatever else.
R.I.P. Nala.