Westbrook to blame for OKC’s uneven play?

Russell Westbook has used nearly 32 percent of the Thunder's possessions while on the floor, the fifth-highest rate in the league. (Garrett W. Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images)

Here’s a funky little stat: Russell Westbrook has used more possessions this season than Kevin Durant. Translated into normal people terms, that means Westbrook has ended more Thunder possessions, via a shot, turnover or drawn foul, than the guy who is about to be a two-time scoring champion.

Westbrook has used nearly 32 percent of the Thunder’s possessions while on the floor, the fifth-highest rate in the league. He has also assisted on 43 percent of the Thunder’s baskets in that floor time, also the league’s fifth-highest mark and a rate we expect from an elite point guard.

But here’s the thing: Those elite point guards who pass so often typically don’t use up so many other possessions looking for their own shot. Since the league instituted the three-point shot in 1979-80, only three guys have finished a season with a usage rate above 30 percent and an assist rate above 40 percent: LeBron James (last season), Dwyane Wade (twice) and Tony Parker, on a thin 2008-09 Spurs team that missed Manu Ginobili for half of that season. Even Derrick Rose, talked up as an MVP for carrying such a heavy load in Chicago this season, is not on pace to pull the 40/3o double. Most top point guards have never even approached the 30 percent usage mark. Even Monta Ellis hasn’t cracked it over a full season.

In other words: Westbrook is acting like a James/Wade type, which some might consider a problem because James and Wade did not have someone like Durant around when they hit the 40/30 double. Let’s not exaggerate and call this a crisis, though; the Thunder have hovered around the top five in points per possession all season, and though they score a hair more efficiently with Westbrook on the bench, the gap is tiny, and they are still dynamite offensively when he’s on the court. His ability to draw fouls at a superstar level kept this offense afloat early in the season, when Durant was struggling.

Still: Several Thunder-watchers are wringing their hands a bit today, after Westbrook barreled his way to 5-of-17 shooting and three turnovers in the Thunder’s (very nice) win in Denver on Tuesday. Here’s Royce Young of Daily Thunder, praising Scott Brooks’ decision to keep Westbrook on the pine for longer than usual in that game:

I was actually entirely fine with [Eric] Maynor finishing the game and leaving Westbrook on the bench. There’s no way to put it other than Westbrook was bad. He was forcing things, stopping the ball and taking tough shots. Maynor had the Thunder playing loose. And it looked like Scott Brooks might let Maynor close it. Normally Westbrook comes back with about eight minutes left in the fourth, but this time, he didn’t check back in until there were just four minutes remaining.

And here’s Darnell Mayberry, The Oklahoman‘s outstanding Thunder beat writer, on the same issue:

Look, I’m not trying to be hard on Russell Westbrook. But something is seriously up with him and it probably needs to be addressed in the offseason. Here’s the thing: 77 games into his third season, I can’t say that his decision-making has gotten that much better. It’s grown tremendously from his rookie season to this season. You can’t take that away from him. But his third-year development has left more to be desired. Westbrook can be an incredibly useful scorer thanks to his explosiveness. But it’s nights like tonight, when Russ doesn’t have his shot falling, that would be the perfect time for him to downshift and set up plays for his teammates. But he rarely, if ever, does that.

Finding a balance between two ball-dominating stars is never easy, and the Westbrook/Durant thing has been simmering all year now that Westbrook has blossomed into a scoring star. But if you watch the Thunder, you know Westbrook has a tendency to force it, and that tendency could cost the Thunder a critical possession or two against an elite defense during the postseason.

I’m staring right now at a three-on-one fast break from Tuesday’s game, with Westbrook streaking down the right wing, Durant trailing above the foul line and Kendrick Perkins standing wide open under the rim. And yet, Westbrook won’t pass the ball. He holds on to it until he gets near the paint, where he elevates without an apparent plan. He’s kept it long enough that Nene has slid into his path. Westbrook lets go of the ball in mid-air, as he slams into Nene, and it’s unclear if he’s shooting or passing. It doesn’t matter. It’s a charge, and Perkins slams his hands on his legs in frustration.

This wasn’t an isolated thing — not Tuesday night or this season. Westbrook either misses or opts against too many easy passes to open players, one reason his turnover rate remains a bit too high.

Let me be clear again for the Thunder-Heads: Westbrook is a fabulous player, and the Thunder’s offense is one of the league’s best. You could even argue that the Thunder’s supporting cast, minus James Harden (improving every day!), is made up of guys who need Westbrook and Durant to carry this much of the load. That argument probably short-changes Serge Ibaka and Nick Collison, but it’s a valid issue at times for a team that is giving heavy minutes to Thabo Sefolosha and Perkins.

And yet, the balance still isn’t quite right in Oklahoma City. The fact that the team is so good already anyway should frighten us all.