Before we even begin to examine RussWest, we need to congratulate RussWest. When you get named to the All-NBA Second Team with DWade, Pau, Dirk, and A'mare, you had a stellar season. During the course of the first 82 games, Russ scored 21.9 a game, handed out 8.2 dishes, and grabbed 4.6 boards nightly. He did this while not only raising his percentages from the field, behind the arc, and the line but while starting 82 games for the second straight year. The guy is good and deserves all the accolades heaped on him this year.
But is he a point guard? During the postseason Russ has had criticism thrown his way, most notably after hoisting 30 shots, many of them contested or simply bad, in a game four loss to the Denver Nuggets in round one. Do we need to remind you some lanky guy named Kevin Durant wears the same jersey as #00?
7.5 for 17 or .442. That is what Westbrook just from the field during the regular season when he averages his 21.9 points per game. 8.4 for 20.9 or .402 is his field goal percentage before the start of game six against Memphis. And while his points per contest is up to 24.6 it his taking him almost an extra four shots a game to accomplish that. That raising of shot attempts coincides with a drop in his assists to 6.6, down from his regular season 8.0.
Armed with his knowledge, the question is if it Russell Westbrook is a point guard. The answer, in my opinion, is: not yet. He still has moments where he takes bad shots, whether they be highly contested or forced early in the shot clock. But then he flashes moments of brilliance: finding an open teammate on a drive and kick, getting the offense going in the half court, or pushing the ball up court when the game allowed. For the Thunder to win a championship Westbrook will need to pick in choose his spots, driving hard to the rim, getting to the line and kicking out, not jacking up shots.
He has the skills to be a Batman on a lesser team, but on a team with Kevin Durant, he needs to be Robin.
