Russell Westbrook is writing a perfect closing chapter with the Nuggets

Nikola Jokic usually doesn’t get entangled within the Denver Nuggets’ enterprise on the possession and entrance workplace degree, so it raised a couple of eyebrows to see the three-time MVP go to bat for a free agent addition throughout an in any other case morbid offseason in Denver. Because the Nuggets had been shedding a key starter in Kentavious Caldwell-Pope this summer time simply to avoid wasting on payroll, Jokic had a possible veteran substitute for the backcourt in thoughts: Russell Westbrook.

Westbrook had been on six groups over the past seven years, and hadn’t come near scoring at league-average effectivity (as measured by true capturing share plus) in any of them. He was simply concerning the worst excessive quantity three-point shooter within the league for a workforce that desperately wanted capturing. It was simple to jot down off the Westbrook signing as one other instance of the Nuggets’ disastrous summer time, and extra proof that all-time nice gamers don’t make nice GMs.

At the very least that was the case till Westbrook has slowly confirmed to be a precious piece of Denver’s turnaround.

The Nuggets improved to 14-10 on the season — at the moment good for the No. 5 seed within the West — with an exhilarating late evening win over the Sacramento Kings on Monday. Denver was teetering on the point of a humiliating defeat for a lot of the second half. It had led by as many as 23 factors early within the sport, however the mixture of lackadaisical protection and inefficient scoring nights from Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray allowed the Kings to seize a 10-point lead with beneath 4 minutes to go in regulation.

Jokic was on the heart of Denver taking part in excellent basketball down the stretch, as he all the time is. Westbrook’s fingerprints had been all around the win, too.

The Nuggets’ comeback began with Westbrook rebounding a missed three, pushing the ball down the ground, and hitting Murray for a 3. Then it was Westbrook slicing baseline with out the ball, the place Jokic discovered him for a straightforward layup. With the Nuggets down one a pair possessions later, Westbrook had an open look from three to be the hero … however correctly handed it as much as hit Jokic inside, who made somewhat flip shot for the go-ahead bucket.

Westbrook completed with 18 factors, 10 assists, 9 rebounds, and three steals within the win. He logged 35 minutes of labor on the evening. With Westbrook within the beginning lineup changing the injured Christian Braun, Denver’s opening unit completed with a +17.7 net-rating.

There’s a purpose Westbrook was obtainable for the veteran minimal this offseason. At 36 years outdated, Westbrook stays an inefficient scorer. His conversion charge on two-point subject objectives has plummeted this season taking part in on a Nuggets workforce that also has poor spacing. When he takes a three-pointer, it’s nonetheless thought of a win for the opposing protection. On the identical time, Westbrook has supplied constructive contributions in his minutes by lastly leaning into the position participant features of his sport moderately than attempting to be his outdated MVP self.

Westbrook’s affect this yr on Denver comes again to his protection, his playmaking, and his vitality. The Nuggets have discovered a strategy to “let Russ be Russ” whereas getting him to shoot in any case frequent charge of his profession. He’s shopping for into the truth that that is Jokic’s workforce, and everybody else simply has to play their half.

Westbrook is locking down on protection

Nuggets head coach Mike Malone talked about Westbrook’s underrated contributions on protection after the Kings win:

Westbrook has embraced taking up powerful defensive assignments all yr. He grades out as certainly one of Denver’s greatest defenders in a wide range of metrics. He’s a +1.3 in defensive EPM this season, rating within the 87th percentile and placing him in the identical neighborhood as Lu Dort, Jaden McDaniels, and Jayson Tatum. He’s second on the Nuggets to Jokic in each defensive win shares and defensive field rating plus/minus. He ranks 14th within the league in whole steals (40) and sixth in steal charge (a powerful 3.1 p.c).

Westbrook began to remake himself as a defender throughout his time with the Los Angeles Clippers. LA didn’t want him for his scoring with Kawhi Leonard, Paul George, and James Harden round, nevertheless it did want somebody who might defend high-powered opposing guards and push the ball in transition. These expertise have carried over to Denver. It could be the most important purpose Westbrook continues to be within the league at this level.

Give Westbrook the daylight to interrupt up a dribble-handoff, and he’s nonetheless quick sufficient to get there. All these years later, a Westbrook “pick-six” nonetheless causes an endorphin rush.

Westbrook continues to be a hell of a run and leap athlete even at this level in his profession. It’s a feel-good basketball story to see him take delight on the defensive finish.

Westbrook is aware of learn how to play off Jokic within the two-man sport

Westbrook is aware of he’s in Denver as a result of Jokic wished him. Evidently he’s accepted his greatest utility on offense is getting the large man the ball.

Westbrook has assisted Jokic 57 instances this season, per NBA.com, which is essentially the most of any Nuggets participant by far. Jokic is capturing 58 p.c off these feeds, simply concerning the highest on the workforce, and reveals that Russ is aware of learn how to get the ball to the very best participant alive within the spots the place he likes to attain:

Whilst groups constantly go beneath ball screens on Westbrook, he nonetheless has sufficient velocity to have interaction the opposing large and open up lanes for Jokic. The stud large man has by no means actually performed with an elite distributor earlier than, and his tender arms and huge catch radius has made him a straightforward goal for Westbrook’s feeds this yr.

Getting the ball to Jokic needs to be a easy project on paper, nevertheless it isn’t as simple because it appears with the whole opposing protection pinching down on him given Denver’s lack of shooters. It’s important to credit score Westbrook for becoming the ball by means of tight home windows to arrange scoring possibilities.

Westbrook is at the moment seventeenth within the league in whole assists this season. His help charge of 33.9 p.c ranks No. 15 within the league. His 12.1 assists per 100 possessions ranks No. 7 within the league, one spot behind Jokic. On a per-minute degree, his playmaking has been fairly near elite this yr, and it’s helped hold Denver’s offense afloat whereas it’s nonetheless dead-last within the league in three-point charge.

Westbrook’s vitality has been important for Denver

The Nuggets had been a sluggish workforce final yr, ending No. 26 in tempo. Westbrook figured to assist in that division this season, and he has certainly supplied a noticeable distinction, serving to them leap all the way in which as much as fifth.

Denver’s tempo improves from 99.12 to 102.8 with Westbrook within the sport. With Russ on the bench, the Nuggets would rank No. 17 in tempo. With him on the ground, they’d rank No. 5.

Westbrook hasn’t misplaced his burst even in middle-age. He’s capable of activate the jets any time he has open ground in entrance of him, and for essentially the most half he’s spraying the ball out to open teammates.

The Nuggets want Westbrook’s good vibes to final

Denver simply doesn’t have a lot margin for error with this workforce. Jokic does all the pieces for this franchise, however on the finish of the day the sport continues to be performed 5×5, and the standard of every workforce’s weakest hyperlink all the time will get uncovered in excessive leverage video games.

The Nuggets have all the time lacked shot creation round Jokic, and that’s one space the place Westbrook is absolutely serving to. It’s odd to consider Westbrook as a connective participant when he’s complete profession has been outlined by a ‘Russ in opposition to the world’ mentality. He’s mellowed simply sufficient late in his profession although that he’s actually been a high quality glue piece for Denver to this point.

Westbrook is getting his teammates simpler photographs. He’s serving to substitute a few of what the protection misplaced with Caldwell-Pope’s departure. He’s additionally getting a stagnant workforce transferring in ways in which didn’t appear doable after final season.

Westbrook goes to be a part of large video games for the Nuggets this season, as a result of he’s been fairly good, and since Denver doesn’t have higher choices. For now, he’s rewarding their religion, and giving us feel-good chapter late within the profession of among the best guards of his era.