The Chris Paul track now ruled out, who will be the main provider of good balls to Kawhi Leonard and Paul George next year with the Clippers? One of the options is simply to leave with the incumbent at the end of last season: Russell Westbrook.
The latter, who received an astronomical salary last year (47 million dollars), attacks this off-season with the status of “free agent”. But the Californians have every intention of keeping it.
” It’s up to him to choose. He was phenomenal during his time with the Clippers. He is clearly making a Hall of Fame career, he is one of the 75 greatest players of all time. We want Russ back, but we also respect the fact that he’s a free agent and he has the option to choose, but we hope we can keep him as Clipper. », lawrence frank posterthe president of the franchise.
Is Russell Westbrook the man for the job?
With just under 16 points and 8 assists on average, the All-Star leader has not significantly changed his statistical production compared to his start to the season with the Lakers. If not a much higher level of skill: 42% success, including 30% at 3-point, with the Lakers, then 49% on shots, including 36% from afar with the neighbors.
Especially in the first round of the playoffs against the Suns, in the absence of the two-headed monster Leonard – George, he was able to raise his level of play to shoot more than 23 points, 7 rebounds and 7 assists. Can the former MVP be the man for the job when Tyronn Lue says he prefers to play with a traditional playmaker?
” The term ‘traditional playmaker’ refers to tradition. Yes, what we are looking for is a player who can launch an attack, serve Kawhi and PG in their spaces, push the tempo, play with rhythm, execute and read pick-and-rolls well “, enumerates Lawrence Frank.
The examples of the Warriors, the Heat or the Nuggets
The latter continues: Russ can pass that some of our other players can’t. But I think the more guys there are who can initiate the game… Look at the teams that beat us, they don’t all have a traditional playmaker. […] The Nuggets point guard is probably (Nikola) Jokic. Jamal Murray is the ‘playmaker’. Golden State, like Steph, is one of the all-time greats, but you could say Draymond (Green) light the wick. In Miami, Gabe Vincent starts as leader but Bam (Adebayo) light the wick. »
With Ivica Zubac, Mason Plumlee or even Marcus Morris do not have this creative interior profile. Hence this desire to have a leader in addition to a rear army / versatile wingers. It’s up to Tyronn Lue to find the right formula, showing himself, as Lawrence Frank says ” flexible and adaptable ” with his players and ” make the most of their abilities “.
| Russell Westbrook | Percentage | Bounces | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Crew | GM | Minimum | Shots | 3 points | LF | Off | Def | Early | pd | party | Int | bp | CT | Points |
| 2008-09 | OKAY | 82 | 33 | 39.8 | 27.1 | 81.5 | 2.2 | 2.7 | 4.9 | 5.3 | 2.3 | 1.3 | 3.3 | 0.2 | 15.3 |
| 2009-10 | OKAY | 82 | 34 | 41.8 | 22.1 | 78.0 | 1.7 | 3.2 | 4.9 | 8.0 | 2.5 | 1.3 | 3.3 | 0.4 | 16.1 |
| 2010-11 | OKAY | 82 | 35 | 44.2 | 33.0 | 84.2 | 1.5 | 3.2 | 4.6 | 8.2 | 2.5 | 1.9 | 3.9 | 0.4 | 21.9 |
| 2011-12 | OKAY | 66 | 35 | 45.7 | 31.6 | 82.3 | 1.5 | 3.1 | 4.6 | 5.5 | 2.2 | 1.7 | 3.6 | 0.3 | 23.6 |
| 2012-13 | OKAY | 82 | 35 | 43.8 | 32.3 | 80.0 | 1.4 | 3.9 | 5.2 | 7.4 | 2.3 | 1.8 | 3.3 | 0.3 | 23.2 |
| 2013-14 | OKAY | 46 | 31 | 43.7 | 31.8 | 82.6 | 1.2 | 4.5 | 5.7 | 6.9 | 2.3 | 1.9 | 3.9 | 0.2 | 21.8 |
| 2014-15 | OKAY | 67 | 34 | 42.6 | 29.9 | 83.5 | 1.9 | 5.4 | 7.3 | 8.6 | 2.8 | 2.1 | 4.4 | 0.2 | 28.2 |
| 2015-16 | OKAY | 80 | 34 | 45.4 | 29.6 | 81.2 | 1.8 | 6.0 | 7.8 | 10.4 | 2.5 | 2.0 | 4.3 | 0.3 | 23.5 |
| 2016-17 ★ | OKAY | 81 | 35 | 42.5 | 34.3 | 84.5 | 1.7 | 9.0 | 10.7 | 10.4 | 2.4 | 1.6 | 5.4 | 0.4 | 31.6 |
| 2017-18 | OKAY | 80 | 36 | 44.9 | 29.8 | 73.7 | 1.9 | 8.2 | 10.1 | 10.3 | 2.5 | 1.8 | 4.8 | 0.3 | 25.4 |
| 2018-19 | OKAY | 73 | 36 | 42.8 | 29.0 | 65.6 | 1.5 | 9.6 | 11.1 | 10.7 | 3.4 | 2.0 | 4.5 | 0.5 | 23.0 |
| 2019-20 | HOO | 57 | 36 | 47.2 | 25.8 | 76.3 | 1.8 | 6.2 | 7.9 | 7.0 | 3.5 | 1.6 | 4.5 | 0.4 | 27.3 |
| 2020-21 | WAS | 65 | 36 | 43.9 | 31.5 | 65.6 | 1.7 | 9.9 | 11.5 | 11.7 | 2.9 | 1.4 | 4.8 | 0.4 | 22.2 |
| 2021-22 | ALL | 78 | 34 | 44.4 | 29.8 | 66.7 | 1.4 | 6.0 | 7.4 | 7.1 | 3.0 | 1.0 | 3.8 | 0.3 | 18.5 |
| 2022-23 * | All Teams | 73 | 29 | 43.6 | 31.1 | 65.6 | 1.2 | 4.6 | 5.8 | 7.6 | 2.2 | 1.0 | 3.5 | 0.5 | 15.9 |
| 2022-23 * | ALL | 52 | 29 | 41.7 | 29.6 | 65.5 | 1.1 | 5.0 | 6.2 | 7.5 | 2.3 | 1.0 | 3.5 | 0.4 | 15.9 |
| 2022-23 * | LAKE | 21 | 30 | 48.9 | 35.6 | 65.8 | 1.4 | 3.4 | 4.9 | 7.6 | 2.0 | 1.1 | 3.4 | 0.5 | 15.8 |
| Total | 1094 | 34 | 43.8 | 30.5 | 77.8 | 1.6 | 5.7 | 7.3 | 8.4 | 2.6 | 1.6 | 4.1 | 0.3 | 22.4 | |
How to read the stats? MJ = matches played; Min = Minutes; Shots = Shots made / Shots attempted; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; Off = offensive rebound; Def= defensive rebound; Tot = Total bounces; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost bullets; Ct: Counters; Points = Points.
