I swear, my intention was not to turn this blog into a college football/Russell Westbrook site. But the third installment of the CFP is right around the corner and Russ is on fire, so here we are.
The Thunder traveled to the Mecca last night to take on the Knickerbockers. In a 112-103 victory, Westbrook finished with 27 points, 18 rebounds, and 14 assists for his eight triple-double of the season, in only his nineteenth game. He posted the triple-double in just under 20 minutes, the second fastest of his career (17 minutes, 35 seconds in a game last season). By himself, Westbrook has eight triple-doubles, the rest of the league combined has eight.
On the season, Westbrook is averaging 30.9 points, 10.3 rebounds, and 11.3 assists, becoming only the fifth player in league history to average a triple-double more than five games into the season, and the latest since Oscar Robertson in 1963-64. If he posts just 4 rebounds Wednesday against the Wizards, he well become only the second player ever to be averaging a triple-double in December.
Robertson is the only player to ever finish a season averaging a triple-double. He finished the 1961-62 season with the Cincinnati Royals posting 30.8 points, 12.5 rebounds, and 11.4 assists per game. With the Thunder’s remaining schedule of 63 games, it will take a superhuman effort from Westbrook to keep up these numbers, but has been just that up to this point.
On averaging a triple-double on the season, Westbrook said, “Right now, we won three straight, and that is the most important to me”.
The Thunder, who improved to 11-8 on the season, will return to the Chesapeake Energy Arena tomorrow night to take on John Wall and the Washington Wizards. New York falls a game under .500, at 8-9 on the year, and travel to Minnesota Wednesday night to take on the sensational Karl-Anthony Towns, Kris Dunn, and company.
Photos courtesy of: http://sports.yahoo.com/news/russell-westbrook-is-now-officially-averaging-a-triple-double-for-the-season-021048305.html, http://i.cdn.turner.com/nba/nba/history/seasonreviews/1961-62/oscar-robertson-608-072111.jpg
Necessary Roughness 
