Welcome to Triple-Double Watch, a weekly check-in on everyone’s favorite arbitrary milestone of round, base-ten numbers.
As 2017 comes to a close, we’re almost through the holiday season. So hopefully you finished all the shopping for the avid NBA obsessive in your life and have your New Year’s resolutions lined up. This week’s slate culminated with the five star-studded games on Christmas and presented us with three more triple-doubles.
The marquee game of the week pinned the Finals rivals, Cavaliers and Warriors, against each other. While the ending was defined by a controversial call between its two biggest stars, Draymond Green played a huge role in the outcome. The Warriors’ backbone helped his team unwrap a win on Christmas by giving the gift of a triple-double, spreading the cheer of 12 points, 12 rebounds, and 11 assists. Green had five triple-doubles last season, including one with no points, and this marks his first of 2017-18.
Pau Gasol, enjoying his dip in the rejuvenating waters of San Antonio, also recorded his first triple-double of the season. In a win over Sacramento, the elder Gasol put up 14 points, 11 boards, and 10 dimes. The performance brought him to 10 triple-doubles for his career.
Another week went by and Russell Westbrook added another triple-double to his total. Related; the sun rose in the east and set in the west today. His 27-10-10 in a win over the Jazz brought him to 11 on the season. Oklahoma City is starting to get their bearings, winning five straight and eight of their last 10 contests. With their early-season woes behind them(?), the Thunder could pose a threat to the Western Conference contenders, as they own the league’s seventh-best point differential.
By my Triple-Double Score metric, none of these three games were particularly impressive. Only Westbrook’s was above the season’s TDS average of 51.
Next: Nylon Notebook: Ball-movers, black holes and the Warriors blocks
With any luck, 2018 will be full of good health, good times, and if all goes well, plenty of triple-doubles.