Upon Russell Westbrook’s arrival to the Clippers, many were uncertain about the kind of impact he would have on the team. While it is still challenging to precisely measure his contribution, Westbrook has undoubtedly infused the team with much-needed energy.
Since Westbrook’s inclusion in the LA Clippers, they have a record of 6-7, with five losses being agonizingly close against Sacramento Kings, Denver Nuggets, Orlando Magic, and Oklahoma City Thunder. These were games that could have gone either way, and the Clippers could have easily won them.
After the Clippers’ recent win against the Oklahoma City Thunder, Kawhi Leonard praised Westbrook’s impact on the team, highlighting his ability to bring energy, pace, and play both ends of the court. With Paul George currently out, Westbrook’s role in the team is even more critical, and he has delivered in game 1 without George. Westbrook scored 24 points, 7 assists, and 4 rebounds on 62/50/75 shooting, including an electrifying alley-oop with Bones Hyland that had the crowd roaring. It was everything the LA Clippers required from Westbrook in Paul George’s absence.
With eight games left in the regular season without Paul George, the Clippers will depend on Westbrook’s performance more than ever.
