In the Western Conference this season, the competition for rankings is very fierce. Besides the Thunder's record of 29 wins and 5 losses, which leads by a wide margin, teams like the Rockets, Grizzlies, Nuggets, and Lakers have similar records and win rates, with minimal differences. The Rockets and Grizzlies are neck and neck without any win difference, ranking second and third in the West respectively. The Nuggets and Lakers also have identical records, making the battle for position extremely competitive. In their last 10 games, the Nuggets have a record of 7 wins and 3 losses, steadily improving their win rate. Jokic has recently been scoring over 40 points per game, demonstrating his strong offensive power. Westbrook has also been performing exceptionally well, both offensively and defensively. With a record of 10 wins and 3 losses, they are third in the league! Everyone thought he was old, but he still has the power to fight.
This season, Jokic has consistently topped the MVP list, even though Alexander from the Thunder has been playing outstandingly, Jokic remains at the top. Jokic is averaging 31.5 points + 13.0 rebounds + 9.7 assists + 1.7 steals + 0.6 blocks this season, with points, rebounds, and assists all ranking in the top three in the league. Jokic's three-point shooting percentage is 47.3%, the highest in the league. Jokic has already recorded 14 triple-doubles this season, the most in the league. According to NBA reporters, when Jokic and Westbrook are on the court together, the Nuggets' offensive efficiency reaches an impressive 127.8.
Westbrook, after leaving the Lakers and moving to the Clippers, has now found his way of playing with the Nuggets, and it's a style that perfectly complements Jokic. NBA reporters have reported that in his last 10 games, Westbrook has averaged 15.6 points + 6.7 rebounds + 7.2 assists + 1.8 steals, with a shooting percentage of 49.8%, which is quite good. Nuggets head coach Mike Malone highly recognizes Westbrook's performance, and Malone has been starting Westbrook recently, which reflects his trust in him.
According to official NBA statistics, when Westbrook starts this season, the Nuggets have a record of 10 wins and 3 losses, with a win rate as high as 77%. Moreover, when Westbrook starts, he averages 8.3 assists (sixth in the league) + 2.3 steals (third in the league). The assist numbers are not surprising, but the steal numbers are quite unexpected. Many times, we think Westbrook's defense is poor, but in fact, his defense this season has been excellent. In an interview, Mike Malone candidly stated that Westbrook is playing the best defense of his career, changing people's impression of his defensive shortcomings.
This season, Westbrook's changes are evident to the entire league. Starting with defense and efficient scoring, if his shooting is not good, he doesn't force shots, instead passing more and assisting his teammates, focusing more on defensive battles. Westbrook enjoys doing the dirty work on defense, and his reliance on ball possession is decreasing. ESPN officially reported that Westbrook's usage rate this season has reached a career low, but his true shooting percentage of 56.8% is the third-highest of his career.
Everyone in the league thought Westbrook was old, but he still has the power to fight and create historic first records. For example, Westbrook recently had a perfect shooting night, going 7 for 7, scoring 16 points + 10 rebounds + 10 assists + 4 steals. With 201 career triple-doubles, Westbrook holds the historical record. Many fans didn't expect that Westbrook would find his best playing style with the Nuggets, alongside Jokic. Now, Westbrook can be said to have rejuvenated; he plays comfortably with the Nuggets, has a great partnership with Jokic, and can help the team win games. Can the Nuggets' lineup win the championship this season?
