The Denver Nuggets beat the LA Clippers in a best-of-seven game, fair and square, by simply following the scouting report. They knew of a weak bench, virtually no backup center, and certain players' shooting flaws in LA's rotation.
But, to say that luck was not in their favor is up for debate. Of all the ways Denver could have hit a game-winner, they won from a game-four airball. This moment shifted the series, as LA could have had a two-game lead.
The sequence of good fortune continued to fight the Clippers, as Russell Westbrook suddenly became consistent from three-point range. This is unfortunate for LA, as a right-place-right-time moment from Aaron Gordon was not the last bit of luck they received.
Head coach Tyronn Lue resorted to a common strategy teams have previously went with, advising his players to give him breathing room to shoot. He may win his team an occasional game, as every subpar three-point shooter has a feel-good night, but the former MVP was excellent for six straight.
In fact, Westbrook shot 41.9% from beyond the arc on 5.2 attempts per game over seven contests.
To show Lue why disrespecting his jump shot was not smart, Westbrook slammed the ball home in game seven and let his emotions out with a technical foul.
Fast-forward to his performances against the Oklahoma City Thunder, and Westbrook appears to have lost his jump shot. This is extremely coincidental, and it ultimately leaves fans irate, as they know how rare it is for a non-three-point shooter to consistently shoot the lights out.
Russell Westbrook's splits against the Oklahoma City Thunder prove his first-round shooting to be an unforgettable fluke
Russell Westbrook's last six games against the Oklahoma City Thunder have given Denver Nuggets fans the same show that LA Clippers fans have seen. Hence, the Clippers' front office wanted a split, as Westbrook was horrific in the 2023-24 playoffs.
Furthermore, in the second round thus far, Westbrook is averaging 10.5 points, which is solid, but he is shooting 35.6% from the field and 18.5% from a distance. Granted, his defense has been outstanding, but the atrocious shooting splits he is posting prove that Tyronn Lue's strategy was correct.
This provokes nothing but frustration, but it is safe to say Westbrook had a fluke series against his former team. He is a sensational player with a three-point jumper has always been on-and-off.