Triple-Double Watch Week 11: Dennis Smith Jr. gets in on the fun

Welcome to Triple-Double Watch, a weekly check-in on everyone’s favorite arbitrary milestone of round, base-ten numbers.

As the calendar year drew to a close, three triple-double performances were added to our running list. Two of the three players involved are mainstays here, while the other is appearing for the first time in his pro career.

The Cavaliers’ recently light schedule (just two games played during this Triple-Double Watch week and three total games in the calendar year’s final 10 days) was likely a boon to Isaiah Thomas and his squad as the diminutive guard prepared to make his long-awaited Cavs debut. The paucity of games, however, did no favors for our Triple-Double Watch or basketball fans hungry for more King James. He went 1-for-2 this week in achieving our favorite arbitrary feat. In California’s capital city on Wednesday, James notched his seventh triple-double of the season, registering 16 points, 14 assists, and 10 rebounds. The Chosen One finished the month with five triple-doubles in 14 tries, second only to Mr. Triple-Double himself, Russell Westbrook, who recorded six.

The Cavaliers lost in Sacramento despite James’ heroics and are currently nursing a three-game losing streak and losses in four of their last five after winning an impressive 18 of 19 contests. Surely, the Cavaliers hope Thomas’ return will lighten James’ load and translate to more victories in the New Year.

NBA WEEK 11 TRIPLE-DOUBLES (12/26/17-1/1/18)

The aforementioned Westbrook turned in three stellar performances this week but “only” came away with one triple-double. On New Year’s Eve, Westbrook’s Thunder narrowly lost at home to the Mavericks despite the UCLA product recording his league-leading 12th triple-double of the season. In Wednesday’s win over the Raptors, Westbrook fell two rebounds short of achieving a triple-double. Two nights later, he cleared that particular hurdle with 14 rebounds but fell a single assist shy of a TD.

While James and Westbrook are often featured on our weekly roundup, Mavericks guard Dennis Smith Jr. appears for the first time, joining fellow rookies Ben Simmons (4) and Lonzo Ball (2) on this exclusive list. Smith’s Mavs have just 13 wins this season, but they’re finally hitting their stride, riding a four-game winning streak that includes road victories at Indiana, New Orleans, and Oklahoma City. Although Smith committed seven turnovers (three short of reaching an embarrassing quadruple-double), the athletic guard scored his 21 points efficiently on 12 field-goal attempts; converting 5-of-7 from deep certainly helped, as he failed to get to the free-throw line.

2017-18 Triple-Double Leaderboard

1. Russell Westbrook (OKC-12)
2. LeBron James (CLE-7)
3. Ben Simmons (PHI-4)
4. Lonzo Ball (LAL-2)
5. James Harden (HOU-2)
6. Kyle Lowry (TOR-2)
7. Nine players tied (1)

Let’s not forget how difficult it is to accomplish a triple-double, even for elite performers at the NBA level. Some of this week’s near-triple-doubles can be instructive:

• The month of December saw the best and worst of Bradley Beal. He turned in a 51-point masterpiece and weeks later had a four-point showing where he went 2-for-15 from the field. His most well rounded effort came on New Year’s Eve, as Beal guided the Wizards to a narrow win over the Bulls. He poured in 39 points but fell one assist and one rebound shy of a triple-double.
• Do-it-all Draymond Green remains at one triple-double this season after a couple close-but-no-cigar nights this past week. Against the Hornets Friday, Green had enough rebounds and assists but was only able to score eight points. Two nights earlier, he had the requisite points but finished with eight rebounds and eight assists. Most recently, on Saturday, he got ejected early in the second quarter, so he did not come close, though he did create room for Zaza Pachulia to notch six assists and eight rebounds.
• It’s been more than a few months without a triple-double for DeMarcus Cousins, who is also stuck on one for the season. In a loss to Dallas, the multitalented big man filled the stat sheet in exciting fashion with 32 points, 20 rebounds, eight assists, five blocks, and two steals; not quite a triple-double though.
• Utah’s Ricky Rubio fell two assists shy of a triple-double. The Spanish point guard, who is best known for his passing ability, is averaging upwards of eight assists per game for his career, yet against Cleveland he had an easier time notching 16 points and 10 rebounds. Donovan Mitchell and Joe Ingles may have “stolen” some of his assists, but Utah was able to secure the win over Cleveland on LeBron James’ 33rd birthday, so it’s doubtful the team-oriented Rubio would have minded.

Next: The 10 greatest mustaches in NBA history

It’s been an honor filling in for Paul. I’ll be back for the next couple weeks. Until next time, let’s pray for the triple-doubles to continue rolling in.