Slowing Down Russell Westbrook

/ sgodfrey630

Russell Westbrook, point guard of the Oklahoma City Thunder, reminds me of Road Runner from the Looney Tunes cartoons with how fast he can get from one end of the court to the other as his feet spin in a whirlwind, coupled with his relentless energy that causes defenders to stand idly in the dust like Mr. Wile E. Coyote. On top of that, Westbrook looks like a Monstar from Space Jam with a bulging upper body, menacing scowl, and the physicality he brings to the court – aka destroying rims.

He’s a freak. And he’s good.

The Jazz are tasked with slowing down this beast of a basketball player over a seven-game series in the first round of the 2018 NBA Playoffs. For Coach Quin Snyder and Co, the game-plan is centered around the Westbrook Freight Train and so far the Jazz are winning. The series record is 3-1 in favor of Utah because of the way they have been able to limit Westbrook’s impact on the court. How are the Jazz slowing him down?

ICYMI: Two Jazz players are in the conversation for end-of-season awards and it’s time to make their case. For Rudy Gobert, is he an All-NBA center and Defensive Player of the Year nominee or did injuries deter the legitimacy of his candidacy? For Donovan Mitchell, people outside of Utah may wonder why we are infatuated with this guy, but he healed our heartbroken souls of 2017 and is giving us a glimpse of excitement, stardom, and passion we haven’t had in awhile.

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK – DECEMBER 5: Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Utah Jazz plays defense against the Oklahoma City Thunder on December 5, 2017 at Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Layne Murdoch/NBAE via Getty Images)

The Context: AKA Stats

Westbrook is Mr. Triple Double, averaging 10+ points, rebounds, and assists two years in a row. Stop for a second and appreciate it, whether you agree with it or not, as that’s something historic for TWO STRAIGHT YEARS. Whether you love or hate the idea, Westbrook collects stats and is pretty darn good at it. It’s what earned him an MVP, All-Star appearances, and record book submissions.

This year specifically, Russ played 80 games, 36 minutes a night, and the extremely exerted effort didn’t tax his stats one bit: 25 points, 10.3 assists, 10.1 rebounds plus 1.8 steals for good measure. He shot 45% from the field, only 30% from deep though, and had a 25 PER (good for 11th best in the league). He did have a turnover problem with nearly five a game, which would put him second in the league.

Four games into the playoffs, the Jazz are doing something right to affect the Stat-Collecting Guru. Compare his season averages to his playoff averages. Russ is down five points, 21 ppg, but still grabs 11 rebounds and 8 assists per game. However, his field goal percentage has dipped dramatically: 36% from the field and 21% from three (compared to 45% and 30%). In OKC’s game one win, Westbrook had 29 points but in the three losses since he has only put up 19, 14, and 23 which is a huge letdown for the former Scoring Champ. His turnovers have even gotten worse with games of five, three, eight, and five giveaways. As well, despite being a league leader with PER and his value on the court, Russ has been barely average in the postseason with a 16.2 rating (15 is the league average rating).

https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js
Here’s one more telling stat. Even in the game one win, the Thunder were outscored by one with Russ on the court. In game two, Russ was a -5. Game three? -25. Game four? -14.

Again: what are the Jazz doing right against The Brodie?

Oklahoma City’s Russell Westbrook (0) passes the ball from between Utah’s Joe Ingles (2) and Derrick Favors (15) during an NBA basketball game between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Utah Jazz at Chesapeake Arena in Oklahoma City, Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2017. Photo by Bryan Terry, The Oklahoman

The Matchup

There are hardly any players in the NBA that can slow down Westbrook. You need someone with speed to keep up with him or someone with the strength to bang around with him. Combining the two is problematic.

On paper, Joe Ingles is one of the Jazz’s best defensive players, but he is far too slow to keep pace with Westbrook. On top of that, he is guarding Paul George and trying to disrupt his rhythm. Jae Crowder off the bench would be another good option with his size and strength, but his minutes aren’t lining up with Westbrook, and he has the same problem as Ingles with being a step too slow. That leaves Ricky Rubio and Donovan Mitchell, who are both quick enough to slide around on the perimeter. Mitchell specifically is handling his own versus Westbrook as he has the athleticism to make a difference vs Russ and throw him off.

https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js

Case in point: this block.

https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js

https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js

The key for Rubio or Mitchell is to stay in front of Westbrook as much as possible. It’s impossible to stay in front, slow him down, or stop him for a full game, but the Jazz are preaching containment. Rubio took the challenge during the first half of game three and then Mitchell switched onto Westbrook for the rest of the game. Remember, Westbrook has two points in the 4th quarter in games two and three COMBINED.

We’ve also seen Ricky Rubio play out of his mind at the point guard position, clearly one-upping The Triple Double King. Consider:

https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js

With regards to Mitchell’s defensive impact on Westbrook, Eric Woodyard of the Deseret News reported this quote:

“It’s just an adjustment we made throughout the game just to put a little bit more length, but I think that was it,” Mitchell said of defending Westbrook. “Just trying to contain him. I think I did a pretty good job. There were times where I kind of fell asleep, but I think overall I did a pretty good job and I’ve just got to be able to contain him because he likes to get out in transition and get downhill, and I just tried to limit that as much as possible.”

Mitchell was heralded as a defensive talent coming out of college and has claimed to desire that recognition more than rookie of the year or future scoring records. He likes playing defense and wants to play defense. To desire that against a top talent like Westbrook is amazing, but proof of the player D-Mitch is.

In Gobert’s beautiful Swat Lake City post for the Player’s Tribune, he points out what stood out to him about Mitchell’s game from the get-go. Gobert says:

“My first thought after seeing him was, He can play defense. I always look at how a new guy approaches defense — does he play as hard on D as he does on the other end? Donovan did. I respected that right away.”

What’s helping him go full speed vs Westbrook is how hard he plays D, but also his youth, his energy, and his talent. It’s working. In game four, Monday night, monitor the individual matchup and track Mitchell’s impact on D.

Update from Game Four

This article was originally posted prior to Monday night’s game, but the Jazz’s defensive gameplan kept Westbrook in check en-route to another win, 115-102, to take a commanding 3-1 lead heading into game five in Oklahoma City on Wednesday (7:30 tipoff MT).

https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js

ICYMI (but how could you?): Ricky Rubio had a dominating game three which prompted Westbrook to vow something of the like would never happen again. Westbrook brought intensity and full-court pressure on Rubio right from the get-go but then got into foul trouble (four first-half fouls, all drawn by Rubio). By the time the game ended, Westbrook was reckless, out of control, and asking for fights as he was in everybody’s business – but unnecessarily so.

https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js

https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js

Why?

Because he is flat-out frustrated by the defense that has been hounding him every minute of every game this playoff series. Adding to the weight is that he is a superstar, a lone ranger, who should be able to get it done on the biggest stage against an ‘inferior’ opponent. He isn’t and he won’t and therefore, his legacy and reputation will be scrutinized and analyzed for the offseason and next few years. Looking around him, his team isn’t a team and Paul George is a free agent and could leave while Carmelo is washed and owed a lot of money. That’s a yuck.

That’s all collapsing on Russ and then the Jazz’s defensive pressure continues to press down on him on a nightly basis, too. Monday night Russ did get 23 points, but nine were from the free throw line and it took him 18 shots on 39% to get that far. The Jazz continued to put both Rubio and Mitchell on Westbrook, daring him to get into the paint to then face Gobert and his go-go gadget arms. Game four proved again how reluctant Russ is in wanting to get inside, which is usually his bread-and-butter. Instead, he settled for midrange jumpers or forced passes to a big. The Jazz have taken away his rhythm.

The Gobert Effect Plus a Little Quin

Helping Mitchell or Rubio out is the big fella down low to dictate the paint. Westbrook wants to attack the basket and get his buckets down low. In the regular season, 38% of Westbrook’s shots were within three feet of the hoop, his highest from any distance. As you probably are guessing, that number has dipped in the playoffs where it is now 32% of his buckets are at the rim and 32% are from 10-16 feet.

Zach Harper delved into these numbers a bit more and pointed out that “with Gobert on the floor in these three games, that drops even more to 28.3 percent of his shots coming in the restricted area. His output on midrange jumpers has jumped from taking one 31.4 percent of the time in the regular season to 45.3 percent of the time with Gobert on the floor in this series. Westbrook has made just 33.3 percent of those shots.”

First, whoa.

Second, why? Rudy Gobert, sure, but also Quin Snyder.

It is on purpose that Snyder and Co. are designing their gameplan around Westbrook and letting him settle for midrange jumpers. It is on purpose from the coaching staff to instruct the perimeter guards to keep Westbrook out of the paint as that is where he is most lethal. If, however, big man Steven Adams sets a solid screen and Westbrook gets space, the Jazz are instructed to switch and move and create chaos to at least get back to Westbrook or confuse him.

The Pick-And-Roll is a staple to the NBA diet as teams thrive on creating mismatches and getting the switches they want. The roll or the pop leads to ideal shots, shots that are practice and perfected. Every single team runs a version of this play and it’s successful most of the time.

However, in this series, the Jazz are causing disruptions with the Pick-And-Roll initiated by Westbrook. Consider this video breakdown by Nick Sciria of BballBreakdown:

https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js

Coach Snyder recognizes how well the Thunder run the PnR, especially how good Westbrook can be when in space. To compensate, the whole team has to be dialed in which the video above proves. Rubio, Gobert, and Ingles are involved in the situation and communicating effectively to debunk the play. From Snyder (given to Woodyard):

“If Westbrook sees those (gaps) he’s aggressive, and he’s able to hit them, and he does that anywhere,” Snyder said. “So, for us, I think we’ve got to have everybody ready to guard everybody. Whoever that means on our team has to step up, and if we do get cross-matched where there are switches or it’s transition, guys just have to be disciplined in what they’re doing.”

What helps is that the best defensive player in the NBA is patrolling the paint and waiting for a switch or a chance to help out. If Russ does venture into the paint he meets up with Pine Tree Gobert who effects the shot or decision-making process. Even if Gobert doesn’t block a shot, or even challenge the shot, he is in Russ’s head and daring him to do something. Most times, it isn’t in Westbrook’s favor.

Think about that: Westbrook is one of the best reckless, relentless, balls-to-the-wall drivers in the NBA yet he is avoiding the paint, avoiding Gobert, and avoiding the rim. As well, Westbrook is a smart basketball player who has been in the NBA for ten years, yet is struggling to make the right basketball plays or the in-moment decisions. As Harper said, “He looked lost in-between decisions of how to navigate the offensive end of the floor he loves to claim as his own.”

https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js

Speaking about this, Gobert said that making Westbrook think is part of his plan. Gobert admits:

“Just trying to make him think,” Gobert said of Westbrook. “Everyone knows I protect the rim, and I know that they know. So, I just gotta play games, make them think. They’re one of the best teams, especially Westbrook, attacking the basket. Got to be aware and try to do my best.”

Royce Young, the beat writer for the Thunder for ESPN, has noticed Westbrook’s offensive limitations this series and wrote:

Westbrook has had strange nights before, but he was noticeably passive at moments and indecisive in the paint. The Jazz have used a smart scheme to try to confuse him, deploying stunts and drops from Gobert while trying to eliminate everything at the rim. It has left Westbrook over-reading help and leaving his feet to get caught in midair with no great safety valve available. So many of Westbrook’s turnovers were on him for making a bad initial decision but were engineered by the Jazz’s spot-on rotations. Westbrook scored two points in the fourth quarter of Game 2; he didn’t even attempt a shot in the fourth quarter of Game 3

The Jazz are the best defensive team in the NBA and the playoffs, in large part because of The French Rejection. Having a Gobert is a luxury that the Jazz get to enjoy. He is a future Defensive Player of the Year and the most important player on the court at times. To prove it, compare and contrast these shot charts of Utah and OKC’s offense in the first round of the playoffs.

What stands out? How about OKC taking 22 fewer shots at the rim? How about the Thunder shooting 54% at the rim compared to league and Jazz average of 58%? How about all the shots the Jazz are forcing on the left side of the court, an uncomfort zone, and how red it ranks compared to league average? Who affects this shot chart the most?

Rudy. Gobert.

Disclaimer: My Apologies

By writing this article, I am cursing the Jazz.

Right?

A player like Westbrook is bound to go off at any moment and so far, he hasn’t had any of those moments. He did have the 29 in game one and he is technically still averaging a triple-double in the postseason, but he hasn’t had a major, explosive impact on the game. This is especially true in the fourth quarter, as games have been tight, where he hasn’t taken over. He can and, I would assume, he will.

I expect a game from Westbrook where he goes nuts and does everything and it all works out and leads OKC to a win. It will happen and by writing this piece, I am sorry if it happens tonight. I’M SORRY.  Adding more concern is that Westbrook was adamant after game three about Rubio’s impact and how it’ll never happen again. He has a personal vendetta now which means Westbrook will look to kill tonight, so I’m nervous. I’m just hoping that his outburst comes in game five at home, not tonight in Salt Lake so the Jazz can still win the series in six, as I originally predicted.

If the Jazz can keep their defensive rules humming against one of the league’s best players, they will be in good shape. Home or away, tonight or a Game 7, the Jazz have figured some things out to get Westbrook to work a little harder or make more challenging decisions. So far, it’s working. Even if Westbrook shuts down Rubio as he vowed, can he solve the Gobert-conundrum? Can he figure out Quin’s Pick-And-Roll problem?

Slow down The Brodie, the Jazz say, and let Carmelo beat you, says I.

//www.instagram.com/embed.js

If you like what you’re reading, sign up for my email list, follow me on Twitter @JazzJunkie12 or go like The Tortured Fan on Instagram. As always, Go Jazz and #TakeNote.

 

Leave a comment