When this piece was originally written last March 30, 2017, Russell Westbrook of the Oklahoma City Thunder, has already amassed 38 triple-doubles (TD) through 77 games, all are of the points-rebounds-assists variety.
(Did Westbrook pad his stats? See related story: Westbrook, Did he pad his rebound stat to Chase the Triple-Double Crown?)
Westbrook got three more consecutive TD’s since, against San Antonio, Charlotte and Milwaukee, to bring his total to 41 and tie the all-time record for a single season. He also lowered his assist requirements to average a triple double for an entire season.
His 12 point-13 rebound-13 assist triple double at Milwaukee made him the only player in NBA history to have two seven consecutive TD streaks. He established his first streak early in the season and coupled it with this on-going streak at Milwaukee.
(Update: Westbrook’s second seven TD streak ended last April 6 when he feel a rebound short against the Memphis Grizzlies. Westbrook, though, hits two crucial long bombs, dished an assist to Doug McDermott for a triple and swiped an end-game steal to secure the win, 103-100. He finished with 45 points on 14-of-25 FG, and 9-of-12 FT, 10 assists, nine rebounds, and five steals in 38 minutes. He was 8-of-13 from three point land.)
For the record, Oscar Robertson is the only player in NBA history to record 40+ TDs in a season. He leads the career triple doubles with 181. He is also the only player to average a triple-double during a season.
Westbrook is now just 16 assists shy from averaging a triple double this season and only a TDs shy to surpass Robertson for the most TDs in a season. He has five games to achieve this. He will face the Memphis Grizzlies this Thursday morning on the road and the Phoenix Suns this Saturday morning also in the road. It would be likely probable that he will get the triple-double average in these two games as well as solo possession of the most triple doubles made in a season.
He gets the Denver Nuggets twice in a home and away set-up, and the Minnesota Timberwolves on the road for his last three teams. Given the defenses that these teams play, looks like these two records should be in the bag for Russell.
Aside from the Among the memorable Westbrook triple-double moments was when he scored 57 points, grabbed 13 rebounds, dished off 11 assists and swipe 3 steals on 21 for 40 from the floor and 9 of 11 from the line for his fourth consecutive TD. He was exceptionally fine from rainbow country, making 6 of 15 but had 7 turnovers. The 57 points is the all-time largest points scored in a triple-double.
Robertson was once featured here on his putting up gaudy numbers but his team was nowhere to be seen come post regular season time.
(See related story: Stat of the Week: Average a Triple Double in 79 Games)
Will Westbrook’s case go the similar path? Many agree that the OKC is not going to win a championship this year. The question is how deep can the Thunder go into the playoffs? They are currently looking at a potential rough path to advance the trail.
If the playoffs started today, the Thunder would be the sixth seed and would face the third-seeded Rockets in the first round, who just beat them a few days ago for the third time in four tries to take the season series.
In case they advance, the San Antonio Spurs are waiting for them in the Western Conference semifinals. The Spurs claimed this series, 2-1, on a comeback win last March 31, US time, April 1 here at home.
If the make it through, it’ll probably be the Warriors waiting for them. The Warriors swept the series by convincing margins of 28, 21, 16, and 16.
If they pass the Western Conference tests, the East ain’t looking menacing at all. They are 1-1 against the Cavaliers, 2-0 against the Celtics, 1-1 against the Wizards, and 1-1 against the Raptors. A championship may not be far if they could just hurdle the Wild, Wild West.
The thing with Westbrook’s triple-doubles is the Thunder tends to win if he registers them. ESPN tracked Westbrook’s OKC win percentages when Westbrook posts a TD. As of this writing, their tally shows the Thunder winning a whopping 78% of their games when he posted a TD. In contrast, they were just a paltry 33.33% if he doesn’t have one.
Clearly, OKC relies on Westbrook’s gigantic production to win games. Could they win playoff games with this style is anyone’s guess.
Thing is, Westbrook should not stop coming out with this absurd number of triple-doubles cause the Thunder really need them badly.
Nonetheless, a lot of the fans who love to watch him play, this writer included, wish Russ make his Perfect Triple-Double, the one he made last March 23, Philippine time, or what is close to it, come more often.
In that game, Westbrook played 28 minutes, scored 18 points, grabbed 11 rebounds, dished out 14 assists, blocked two shots on a perfect 6 for 6 each from the field and the freethrow line without attempting a single three point shot.
Westbrook makes 45.6% from the two point area this year and 46.1% for his career. He is 84% on the free throw line this year and 82.1% for his career. Not too great numbers but not too shabby, either.
It’s the fact that he is just 33.6% from rainbow country this year and 31% for his career, a sub-par mark for a player his stature, that matters most.
Also clearly, jacking up threes may not be Westbrook’s thing. Maybe it’s time he thinks about abandoning attempting too much of them and instead try to take the ball to the hoop where he is, time and time again, proven to be unstoppable.
Can he be the MVP this season? Well, he’s got a lot of company for the award in Houston’s James Harden and Boston’s Isaiah Thomas as the players with most impact on their team’s success this year.
But averaging a triple double in a season, along with the most triple-doubles registered for an entire season, the highest score ever in a triple double, a perfect triple-double, and a day-and-night win-loss differential whenever he registers one, comes only once in a blue moon and should be really hard to ignore.
By: ARMANDO M. BOLISLIS
