Russell Westbrook’s Mercurial Performance Powers Denver Nuggets to Victory
In a thrilling display of skill and unpredictability, Russell Westbrook led the Denver Nuggets to a 112-110 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers in Game 1 of their playoff series. The Nuggets’ star point guard, known for his high-energy playing style, played 34 minutes, including the final 23 minutes of the game, which encapsulated half the third quarter and all of the fourth and overtime.
According to Defector.com, Westbrook’s performance was a classic example of his "damp dynamite stylings," which have led people to consider him hyperwashed for several years. However, his coach, David Adelman, has come to rely on Westbrook’s unique abilities, despite his tendency to have seismographically comedic highs and lows.
Westbrook’s impressive performance included several crucial plays, including three baskets he scored late in the fourth quarter to put Denver ahead for the first time since the game was in single digits. He also made a crucial deflection of Nicolas Batum’s inbound pass with nine seconds left, which resulted in the Clippers’ 20th and final turnover. As Defector.com notes, "Westbrook’s ability to FSU covers both teams at all times. That’s the sign-in."
The Clippers’ defensive strategy, which involved leaving Westbrook open at the three-point line, was questioned by many. Westbrook himself was defiant in victory, saying, "Yeah, yeah. We can talk about that more when we take care of business." According to ESPN’s stats, the distance between Westbrook at the three-point line and the closest Clipper was nearly 10 feet, which suggests that the Clippers were not prioritizing his defense.
Despite missing 12 of his 17 shots and four of his six threes, Westbrook’s performance was crucial to the Nuggets’ victory. As Adelman noted, "Russ is Russ. Defensively he was absolutely incredible. He was playing free safety out there. I thought a lot of the reasons why the [Clipper] turnovers happened, even if it wasn’t him forcing it, just the way he was roaming around and impacting the game, it was great for us."
Westbrook’s playing style is well-known for its unpredictability, and he has been open about his approach to the game. When asked about the deflection of Batum’s pass that iced the game for Denver, Westbrook said, "I know that play. They have a dynamic roller with [center Ivica Zubac], great cutters and guys that catch lobs. My job is to be able to be the low man and find ways to, excuse my language, fuck shit up." This quote, as reported by Defector.com, sums up Westbrook’s approach to the game, which is to always be looking for ways to disrupt his opponents and create opportunities for his team.
The Nuggets will look to build on this impressive victory in Game 2 on Monday night. While Westbrook’s performance was crucial to their success, it also highlighted the risks associated with his playing style. As Defector.com notes, Westbrook "could very well be the reason why the Nuggets lose Game 2 because of the giveth/taketh dynamic that has been his M.O. for nearly his entire career." Nevertheless, Adelman and the Nuggets are clearly willing to take that risk, given the potential rewards that Westbrook brings to the table.
In conclusion, Russell Westbrook’s mercurial performance was the key to the Denver Nuggets’ victory in Game 1. His unique playing style, which is both captivating and frustrating, has been a hallmark of his career. As Defector.com so astutely observed, "There is no getting off the Russell Westbrook rollercoaster," and the Nuggets are clearly along for the ride.
