Fansided

30 biggest answers for the 2017-18 NBA season

By Jeremy Lambert

SACRAMENTO, CA - JANUARY 8: Zaza Pachulia
SACRAMENTO, CA - JANUARY 8: Zaza Pachulia /
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OKLAHOMA CITY, OK – MARCH 23: Paul George #13, Carmelo Anthony #7 and Russell Westbrook #0 of the Oklahoma City Thunder stand on the court during the game against the Miami Heat on March 23, 2018 at Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Layne Murdoch/NBAE via Getty Images)
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK – MARCH 23: Paul George #13, Carmelo Anthony #7 and Russell Westbrook #0 of the Oklahoma City Thunder stand on the court during the game against the Miami Heat on March 23, 2018 at Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Layne Murdoch/NBAE via Getty Images) /

29. Can Russell Westbrook rein it in with Paul George & Carmelo Anthony?

What I Said Then: I can’t answer this question. I can’t answer any question when it comes to the Thunder point guard. Not because I’m a bias Thunder fan who won’t let his fandom get in the way of democracy, but because there are no right answers when it comes to Russell Westbrook. The guy’s motto is “Why Not?” He answers questions with questions. Who does that? Only crazy people, right?

It’s impossible to answer questions about Russell Westbrook because just when you think you have all the answers, he changes the curriculum.

What I’m Saying Now: He reined it. Sort of. I watched every Oklahoma City possession this season. No, I’m not typing this from the afterlife. The Thunder worked best when Westbrook was dictating the pace. When he was hauling in rebounds and getting the the court, they were tough to stop. When he got other guys involved, namely Steven Adams, other teams had few answers. But he also did Westbrook things. He took terrible shots at the wrong time. He forced passes that weren’t there.

Westbrook was an issue early in the season. But only because he tried to rein it in too much. He changed his game to get George and Anthony more involved. It didn’t work. He was unsure of himself, leading to even more bad decisions.

But Oklahoma City started to figure it out around December. Westbrook looked more life himself, which was both good and bad. The problem? George and Anthony let him down. George couldn’t buy a bucket after the All-Star break and Anthony couldn’t buy a bucket all season.

Westbrook reined it in the best he could. Maybe that was a bad idea.

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