Russell Westbrook's Shot Profile Suggests Easy Adjustment to Rockets

Westbrook is generating 40.9% of his shot attempts within three feet of the basket, his highest rate since 2008-09

Russell Westbrook broke out a key phrase throughout the Rockets' preseason when pressed with questions regarding his shaky jump shot. "I'm more than just a scorer," the 2016-17 MVP said on multiple occasions, noting his impact as a passer, rebounder and defender.

Those qualities have been on full display through four games. Westbrook is on a tear to start the season, tallying 41 assists (second-most behind Malcolm Brogdon) and 48 rebounds (10th in the league) in Houston's 3–1 start. Yet while Westbrook's non-scoring impact has been impressive, it's not shocking. His scoring efficiency has been the season's most pleasant early surprise. 

Westbrook's shooting numbers were largely disastrous in his final two years with the Thunder. He shot under 30% from three in back-to-back seasons, and his 46.8% effective field goal percentage last year ranked 51st out of the 52 players to take at least 1,000 shots (rough year for Andrew Wiggins). Westbrook has never been mistaken for a sharpshooter, but 2018-19 marked a decline from passable to poor. 

His percentages have rose across the board through four games. Westbrook's 52.3 eFG% in 2019-20 marks a career high despite a 31.3% clip from three, and his shooting success appears to be more than a product of small sample size. The two-time scoring champ is generating shots in an increasingly efficient manner.

The two charts above plot Westbrook's shot attempts in 2018-19 and 2019-20, per NBA.com. They provide a pair of important conclusions. For one, Westbrook is increasingly efficient around the rim through four games. He's made 81.5% of shots within three feet this season, a significant leap from last year's (still respectable) 65% mark. 

The location of Westbrook's shot attempts are of greater note. He's shied away from many of the elbow and wing jumpers that provided skepticism entering 2019-20, entering Friday with just 7.6% of his shots coming from between 10 and 16 feet. By comparison, 14.3% of Westbrook's shots came from that range last year. The average distance of Westbrook's shots is 10.9 feet this season, down from last year's 12.5 mark. These subtle adjustments are responsible for an improved shot profile. 

Westbrook is increasingly embracing post-ups of opposing guards, especially after made baskets. The Rockets have the league's No. 2 pace not only due to fast-break opportunities, but also Westbrook's proclivity to attack early in non-transition possessions. He'll begin his back-down within a step of the three-point line, then bully smaller guards until he's rocketing toward the rim. The speed in which he gets to his spot in the paint often leaves a center out of the picture. 19-year-old Darius Bazley is the victim of Westbrook's strength in the clip below. 

Each game is an exercise in restraint for Westbrook as he adapts to his new environment in Houston, though maybe the necessary adjustment was overstated entering 2019-20. The post-Durant Westbrook was created largely out of necessity, with no other Thunder player ready to seize Oklahoma City's scoring burden. The Rockets have perhaps the best scorer this century. We've seen Westbrook more in his natural habitat early this season, with his responsibilities shifting from being an alpha scorer to a 48-minute menace. Westbrook hasn't taken more than 17 shots in a game this season. Just one of 16 attempts on Wednesday came out of the paint but inside the three-point line. Westbrook will never be a fully Moreyball disciple, though he's fallen well within expectations of his desired shot profile. The Rockets are 3–1 and Westbrook has been as good as advertised. His altered role is paying major dividends early for Mike D'Antoni and the Rockets.