Four games have passed, and in the shadow of the excitement surrounding Danny Abdia’s first moments in the NBA, it can already be gently said that the Washington Wizards will not simply stick to the top of the table this season. And if we’ve already noticed this, rest assured that in the US as well: Tonight (Wednesday), Athletic published a wide article on the misuse of the Wizards and Scott Brooks and Russell Westbrook in his first games of the season.
Westbrook, it should be noted, has so far put impressive averages on paper of 19 points, 13.7 rebounds and 12.7 assists – but alongside that he is recording 5.7 turnovers and scoring 10% for three and 47% for 2. And it’s true that we knew about his weakness in off-archery, but the low 2 percent are surprising here – probably given that 57% of the star’s shots in the first few games were from half distance.
“Westbrook is used to playing with a lot of scenes around him, he has gained such a reputation,” Athletic wrote. “The Wizards are pushing him into not-quite-spacious formations, and to get their best version – or at least the version that beats the Bulls in rebuilding – they will need Westbrook in the MVP model.”
The article explained that Brooks mainly links Davis Bartens’ minutes to those of Westbrook, but due to the lack of quality shots, the Washington coach has no choice but to let him play alongside players who score less from the outside. “They don’t have enough shots. They will have to let him play alongside Abdia, Bonga or Brown Jr. at different stages of the game. And he will have to work hard in those lineups.”
