Report: Warriors believe Westbrook's style is 'easy to defend'
The Golden State Warriors feel they have the 2016-17 Most Valuable Player all figured out.
The reigning NBA champions "don't fear" Oklahoma City Thunder All-Star Russell Westbrook's style of play because it's "so easy to defend, it's like cake to them," said ESPN's Zach Lowe during his "The Lowe Post" podcast, crediting several anonymous Warriors players.
In four regular season games against the Warriors this past season, Westbrook averaged a near triple-double of 27.3 points, 10 rebounds, and 9.5 assists in 32.1 minutes, although the Thunder wound up dropping all four of those contests. Westbrook only shot 37.5 percent from the field, as well, and turned the rock over more times (32) than he did against any other team Oklahoma City squared off with on four occasions.
His overall usage rate of 41.6 set an NBA record, shattering the previous record of 38.7 set by Kobe Bryant in 2006. Westbrook lacked the on-court support system around him which certainly played a part in his historic 42 triple-doubles, as it forced the 28-year-old to go above and beyond what's asked of anyone in his shoes.
That will no longer be the case moving forward, however, as the offseason acquisitions of Paul George and Carmelo Anthony provide Westbrook a legitimate second and third option who can carry the offense when he isn't on the floor. More importantly, though, Oklahoma City has enough talent to hold their own against the Warriors, at least on paper.
Golden State may not be afraid of Westbrook, but with George and Anthony by his side, they'll perhaps take him and his squad a tad more seriously.
The new and improved Thunder will get their first crack at the Warriors on Nov. 22 at Chesapeake Energy Arena.