We all have our demons. Some people are alcoholics. Some people are drug addicts. Some people are addicted to sniffing glue. Everybody is addicted to something. In the case of Russell Westbrook, he is addicted to getting his ass kicked by the 3-point line. Westbrook vs the 3-point line is the greatest on going battle the NBA has to offer. I guess I should clarify it’s more of a one sided battle as the 3-point line continues to kick his ass but it’s the perfect car crash you can’t take your eyes off. The Rockets lost to the Clippers on Friday Night 122-119 and it encapsulated everything that is wrong with Russell Westbrook.
Even when Westbrook plays well-ish, he always finds a way to lose. That’s just in his DNA. Russ was okay for the first 35 or so minutes against the Clippers. Then Westbrook does what Westbrook does. Make horrible decisions and cost his teams in crucial stretches. Here is the final minute or so in the game.
37 seconds left. JaMycal blocked Clint Capela at the rim. The Clippers went down the other end and Lou Williams hit a huge 3. The only problem is that Williams was only open because somebody didn’t bother to get down on the other end.
Game on the line, Westbrook has no interest playing defense. He just wants you to let him rebound the ball so his stats look better. He’s not interested in winning. He has to save his energy to grab a few loose boards.
Now let’s fast forward. Next Rockets possession, James Harden gets fouled and he converts both free throws. Rockets take a 119-118 lead. I’ll let you watch the rest.
Kawhi Leonard hits a clutch 2 to take the lead. 10 seconds left down one. What does Russell Westbrook do? He could let James Harden who has been playing out of mind take the last shot. He could drive to the basket and force the defense to make a play on him or kick it out for an open look. What does Westbrook do? Russ just needed one more hit of the good stuff. He just needed one more blow. Westbrook panicked and took a 3 and proceeded to brick a shot like you knew he would.
Players know. Watching Patrick Beverley make fun of him capped off a perfect night. It’s like watching a person ride a motorcycle while not wearing a helmet and watching them crash. Players know. You can’t win with this guy. Westbrook has ZERO self awareness. Some people just don’t get it. Russell Westbrook never gets it. Everybody is laughing at him.
Westbrook’s battle against the 3-point line is must see TV. Westbrook is now shooting 22 percent behind the arc after his 1-7 performance. Westbrook ranks dead last in that category. LAST.
That’s Westbrook’s entire problem. It’s one thing to not be a good 3-point shooter. It’s another thing to miss nearly all of them and still shoot nearly 6 of them per game. Some things you just cannot explain. Where do black holes come from? Why do magnets have a North and South pole? Why does Westbrook continue to shoot 3’s when he does make any of them? Rhodes scholars have tried to figure out this phenomenon. How an NBA player could have such little self awareness to keep jacking up shots when none go in. Nobody can truly figure out the reason why this keeps happening. All we know is that Westbrook continues to define what a cancer is in the NBA.
Westbrook is on pace to be the worst volume 3-point shooter 3 years in a row. Westbrook likely will go down when he hangs it up as the worst volume shooter ever. It’s one thing to miss all your shots. It’s another to continue to take shots that never go in. My hope is that one day Russell Westbrook gets the help he needs. Right now nobody in the NBA is a bigger joke than Westbrook is.
