Milwaukee Bucks Game Preview: Jan. 2 vs Oklahoma City Thunder
By Ti Windisch
Player To Watch: Russell Westbrook
Without Kevin Durant around, all Russell Westbrook done is set career-best marks in points, rebounds and assists per game while having one of his most efficient seasons ever as an NBA player.
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Westbrook is averaging 30.9 points, 10.7 assists and 10.5 rebounds per game, on pace to average a triple-double for the first time since Oscar Robertson. He’s also shooting 43.2 percent from the field and a career-best 33.2 percent from three-point range.
It hasn’t just been flashy numbers for Westbrook this year either. Oklahoma City needs their star player. With him on the floor, the Thunder outscore opponents by 6.2 points per 100 possessions. Without him, Oklahoma City gets ran off of the floor–opponents outscore the Thunder by 12.1 points per 100 possessions when Westbrook sits.
Milwaukee will have to take advantage of a weak Thunder bench in the minutes Westbrook is on the bench, and force him into bad shots while he’s on the floor. Good luck to Malcolm Brogdon if he’s still the starter on Monday–one of the bigger challenges in the NBA awaits Milwaukee’s point guard in Westbrook.