Westbrook: 'I've been s--- the last month'
Russell Westbrook has struggled in December, connecting on 29.7 percent of his attempts from downtown and 38.9 percent from the field overall going into Sunday's game against the Dallas Mavericks.
Westbrook's shooting woes continued with a 4-of-22 performance against the Mavericks, leading the Oklahoma City Thunder star to voice his frustrations following the game.
"I've just got to do a better job, man. It's really on me," Westbrook said, according to ESPN's Tim MacMahon. "I've been s--- the last month or so. I've just got to get focused in and locked back in on what I need to do. I've got to help my guys out. I've been letting them down, man.”
Westbrook acknowledged that he had open looks and was bothered by his inconsistent play on the offensive end. But the 2016-2017 league MVP isn't about to let his recent funk change his approach.
"Scoring the basketball is not the only thing I can do. I’m the best rebounder at my position, the best passer at my position, the best defender at my position," Westbrook said. "I can do everything, and I pride myself on doing that.”
He added, "I guarantee you. I impact the game and teams know. When I'm on the floor, I can do whatever I need to do to make sure that we have a chance to win the game."
Westbrook wasn't the only member of the Thunder who was unhappy following the loss.
Paul George criticized officials for not calling a foul on Mavericks forward Harrison Barnes in the late stages of the game.
Dallas had an 8-0 free throw advantage in the last two minutes.
"Terrible. It was awful. It's no secret. We'll see the L2 (last two minutes report) tomorrow and mismanage of the last two minutes," George said, according to MacMahon. "It sucks. It sucks on our end when they just give free throws away as if we was fouling in those moments and vice versa.
"From my understanding, I thought a big emphasis was you couldn't grab and hold and they allowed it to go on. It is what it is."
The Thunder (22-13) sit third in the Western Conference, 1.5 games back of the top-seeded Denver Nuggets.