For all the talk of Russell Westbrook‘s atrocious shooting night — he went 3-of-19 from the field in the Clippers NBA playoff opener — there was less talk of how Westbrook was able to do it. And how, despite a shooting percentage akin to a pitcher’s batting average, Westbrook was able to help the Clippers win the game down the stretch.
Using exceptionally athletic defensive prowess and snagging pure-heart (plus killer vertical) offensive rebounds, Westbrook continually helped LA hit re-set on offense at critical moments in the game.
How do you miss 16 shots and still push your team to victory?
First things first: You have to be in the game, which Westbrook was down the stretch. Clippers coach Ty Lue kept Westbrook in the game despite the way he shot the ball — and the coach’s confidence seemed to activate Westbrook’s own confidence that he could have impact in sundry ways that didn’t include banging three-pointers.
Besides, the Clippers have Kawhi Leonard for that — and Eric Gordon, too, when the game is on the line.
Maybe it is Ty Lue’s experience on the Lakers, and having played with the legendary Kobe Bryant, that helps him understand Westbrook and keep the faith, double down on the trust. Consider some of the worst NBA playoffs shooting performances of all time — here are five stunners:
- Dennis Johnson: In Game 7 of the 1984 NBA Finals, Dennis Johnson of the Boston Celtics shot just 1-for-13 from the field, finishing with only 2 points in a loss to the Los Angeles Lakers.
- John Starks: In Game 7 of the 1994 NBA Finals, John Starks of the New York Knicks shot just 2-for-18 from the field, finishing with only 8 points in a loss to the Houston Rockets.
- Antoine Walker: In Game 3 of the 2002 Eastern Conference Finals, Antoine Walker of the Boston Celtics shot just 1-for-16 from the field, finishing with only 4 points in a loss to the New Jersey Nets.
- Kobe Bryant: In Game 7 of the 2010 NBA Finals, Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers shot just 6-for-24 from the field, finishing with 23 points in a win over the Boston Celtics.
Of those games, only game #4, featuring Kobe Bryant’s miserable shooting night, resulted in a win for the team with the notably inefficient marksman. Lue was long gone from the Lakers by then, but he knows his Kobe history. Westbrook may be the beneficiary of Lue’s long knowledge of the game.
- In Game 7 of the 1984 NBA Finals, the Boston Celtics lost to the Los Angeles Lakers.
- In Game 7 of the 1994 NBA Finals, the New York Knicks lost to the Houston Rockets.
- In Game 3 of the 2002 Eastern Conference Finals, the Boston Celtics lost to the New Jersey Nets.
- In Game 7 of the 2010 NBA Finals, the Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Boston Celtics.
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