Report: Rockets didn’t tell Russell Westbrook to cut back 3-pointers

Russell Westbrook is shooting far less 3-pointers during his recent surge, but there wasn’t a directive from the Rockets about it.

Houston star Russell Westbrook has changed his shot selection during his recent surge, but a new report says that choice came solely from the nine-time All-Star himself — rather than any directive from the Rockets.

In an analysis story on Westbrook’s evolving fit during his first season in Houston, SB Nation‘s Michael Pina included this nugget:

According to a team source, nobody in the organization told Westbrook to stop shooting threes, and the team expects his period of adjustment to continue as we go deeper into the season.

At a recent game, Westbrook described the trend with a keen self-awareness that underlies the type of individual growth Houston is desperate for, telling reporters: “I was only taking the shots I wanted. That’s me maturing in this game and figuring out my spots and shooting the ball when I’m ready to.”

To that point, Westbrook recently completed a five-game run from Jan. 18 through Jan. 26 in which he shot only two 3-pointers, combined. For many NBA guards, taking 3-pointers out of their arsenal would almost certainly lead to a decline in their scoring numbers.

Yet, thanks in large part to his unique ability to attack the basket with a ferocious blend of quickness and power, Westbrook averaged 34.4 points per game on 56.3% shooting over those five games. He also tallied 9.8 rebounds, 8.8 assists, and 2.4 steals per game.

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Overall, in his first 40 games with the Rockets, Westbrook has averaged 26.3 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 7.4 assists. Both his points and assists totals are in the NBA’s top 10 in those categories for the 2019-20 season.

But Westbrook has been even better in recent weeks. In 21 games since Dec. 7, the former MVP is averaging 30.5 points on 49.8% shooting.

Prior to that, Westbrook had scored just 21.7 points per game on 39.9% shooting, with more than a quarter (5.4) of his 20.1 average shots per game coming via 3-pointers — which he made just 21.6% of. By contrast, in his torrid stretch since Dec. 7, just 3.2 of Westbrook’s average of 24.0 shots per game have been 3-pointers.

That 30.5 points per game figure makes the 31-year-old Westbrook the NBA’s third-leading scorer over the last eight weeks, trailing only teammate James Harden and Portland guard Damian Lillard.

Since Christmas Day, when Westbrook shot 0-for-8 on 3-pointers in a deflating loss at Golden State, he’s averaged just 2.3 attempts from 3-point range over a 12-game span.

But what might be most encouraging of all is that Westbrook had the self-awareness to make the changes all on his own, and his efficiency has improved as a direct result. Harden said after that Dec. 7 game that Westbrook’s adjustment to a new team could take “a whole year,” but his close friend and backcourt mate seems to have expedited the timetable.

At the moment, the biggest challenge for the Rockets is getting Harden out of his shooting funk. Over the last 10 games, the 2018 MVP is shooting just 32.9% from the field and 22.5% on 3-pointers.

That Harden slump is a big part of why the Rockets are just 4-7 in their last 11 games entering Friday, even with Westbrook playing so well.

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Harden, Westbrook and the rest of the Rockets return to game action Friday versus Dallas, with tip-off scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Central time from Toyota Center. The game will be nationally televised on ESPN.

Both the Rockets and Mavericks enter Friday’s game with identical 29-18 records, tied for No. 5 in the Western Conference playoff race.