The Clippers may not have expected that, without a game, they would be pulled into the hot search due to the eye-catching performances of two former players. First, their former second-in-command George, who has been teasing himself, put on an extremely representative performance against the Kings.
By "extremely representative," it means that PG perfectly presented the two characteristics of being super godly and super ghostly in one game. He was able to score 30 points in two and a half quarters, fully demonstrating his scoring burst; yet he could also go scoreless in the final quarter and even commit three consecutive turnovers at a critical moment, leading to a 15-0 reversal by the opponent, and he himself fouled out with six fouls...
Powell's statement, "regarding George's departure as addition and subtraction," is still gaining value. No one can choose their fate outside of destiny; we can only confront destiny within our own fate. Fortunately, we still have the choice to become a better self. George chose a bigger contract and more money, which is beyond reproach. He could have rested easy, but he insisted on stirring up controversy for traffic, turning what could have been a peaceful parting into a scene of mockery, a classic example of a good hand of cards played poorly.
Similarly, his good brother Westbrook is the "reverse George."
George left after weighing his options, while Westbrook was forced into a trade; he took a lower minimum salary, but what remained unchanged was his original intention; from having no tactical status to steadily climbing to the starting lineup, making even the core Murray seem awkward within the team. In the twilight of his career, Westbrook seems to have finally found the rhythm that suits him best.
The Nuggets crushed the Hawks 139-120 at home to welcome a three-game winning streak. In this game, Westbrook shot 5-for-6 for 16 points, 2 rebounds, and 11 assists, with only 1 turnover and a plus-minus of +24, the second-highest in the game!! In the last two games, he shot an ultra-high efficiency of 13 out of 12, and even recorded a triple-double in the previous game.
Westbrook getting a triple-double is not uncommon; he achieved triple-doubles with George, LeBron, and Jokic in Thunder, Lakers, and Nuggets. However, his compatibility with Jokic is significantly higher than the others.
After a short period of adaptation, the Nuggets' record in games where Westbrook starts has reached 9 wins and 2 losses, with a win rate of 81.8%, compared to 10 wins and 11 losses otherwise, with a win rate of 47.6%. His contribution to victory is significantly higher than during his time with the Lakers and Clippers.
Willingness to sacrifice, active defense, and mutual trust are the keys to the chemistry between Westbrook and Jokic. You will find that these two players, with such contrasting athletic abilities, can complement each other on the court - Westbrook slows down to wait for Jokic when he speeds up, and Jokic speeds up to follow Westbrook when he passes. They both excel at sharing the ball and can cut to the basket, not only passing to each other but also creating excellent shooting space for others in the process, often manufacturing paths to the basket for a third person during the "Jokic-Westbrook" interaction. This greatly enriches the Nuggets' offensive creativity under the lack of firepower in the lineup, achieving an effect greater than the sum of its parts.
As a result, the Nuggets' offensive efficiency in the last 10 games is 124, ranking first in the league during the same period!
With a salary of 3.3 million, Westbrook went from being forced into retirement by public opinion to being called upon by Jokic, and now he is adapting well at the age of 36, finding someone who truly understands him. Currently, the Nuggets are also actively seeking ways to strengthen their team, and perhaps this year will be Westbrook's best chance to win his first championship in his career. Let's look forward to the journey of the fusion of two MVPs and two triple-double kings!