NBA Playoffs: Assessing Lillard vs. Westbrook through two games

Taking a closer look at the individual matchup between Damian Lillard and Russell Westbrook two games into the NBA Playoffs

No current player is more synonymous with the triple-double than Russell Westbrook.

Since Kevin Durant left the Oklahoma City Thunder, Russell Westbrook he has earned 98 individual triple-doubles or one triple-double almost every two games. For a career, only Magic Johnson and Robertson have more triple-doubles than Westbrook.

Based on Westbrook’s player statistics, he should arguably be the greatest players in the history of basketball. However, since Kevin Durant left the Thunder, OKC has not made it out of the first round of the playoffs and they have not won more than 49 games in a season.

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In the 2017 playoffs, OKC lost to the Rockets before they acquired Chris Paul and in the 2018 playoffs, they lost to a lower seeded Jazz team led by a rookie in Donovan Mitchell.

Compared to when Magic and Oscar Robertson played in the NBA, it is easier for guards to get rebounds because the NBA is less physical. Same goes for when Kobe Bryant and Michael Jordan played in the NBA.

In today’s NBA, Stephen Curry is averaging more rebounds per game than Kobe did at his age. And as all Kobe fans know, Kobe was an elite defender. However, Russell Westbrook is still one of the most athletic and dynamic point guards to ever play.

Oscar Robertson the year he averaged a triple-double for an entire regular season, triple double was not a “thing” or an accomplishment. Oscar was also 23 and led his team from a 33 record the previous the season to the NBA Western conference Semi-Finals that year.

While Oscar did not average a triple-double for three straight straight seasons, for four consecutive seasons he averaged greater than 9.5 assists, 9.5 rebounds, and over 28 points per game. And when Oscar was Russell Westbrook’s age, his career numbers were 29.7 points, 8.7 rebounds, and 10.5 assists per game.

If Oscar Robertson would have known that it would have been important to his legacy, he could easily made sure that he averaged a triple-double those four years. Oscar Robertson was not trying to average a triple-double.

Kareem Abdul Jabbar, the ultimate authority on Basketball, said about The Big O:

"“LeBron is awesome, MJ was awesome—but I think Oscar Robertson would have kicked them both in the behind Absolutely. Oscar was awesome. He had brains. […] He had all the skills.…He could rebound and box out guys four and six inches taller than him. He was ruggedly built. He had fluid, quickness and just understood the game. No flair, he just got the job done every night. Who’s going to average double figures in points, assists and rebounds?”"

Maybe Kareem is a little bias in favor of his former teammates. But still, Russell Westbrook ain’t no Oscar Robertson.

OKC’s series against Portland has further highlighted this and the difference between Damian Lillard and Russell Westbrook. And how much the two players dislike each other.

Over the last two games, Lillard has been averaging 29.5 points and is shooting 47.5 percent from 3-point range. Meanwhile, Westbrook is still averaging nearly a triple-double for the series. Russell Westbrook is quietly averaging 19 points, 9.5 rebounds, and 10.5 assists per game.

In Game 1, when Dame guarded Russell Westbrook, he as 4-8 for field goals and received two turnovers. For Game 2, Russell Westbrook was 3-13 when guarded by Dame. And Russell Westbrook received four turnovers and was blocked twice by Dame. While this is accomplish is not a triple-double, it is arguably more impressive.

Damian Lillard this series is not trying to stat hunt or break records. He is trying to win and bust Russell Westbrook’s tail. For him it’s about “Dame Time”, not triple-doubles.

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So, Are Russell Westbrook’s stats a reflection of his quality of play? Not necessarily. However, neither are basketball statistics necessarily a measure of any players quality of play.

For Westbrook, it appears his singular focus is not winning; its winning and getting his numbers. And it could cost OKC the series.