For the first time since Russell Westbrook's rookie year, the Oklahoma City Thunder won't be competing in the postseason. It took until game 82, but with the Pelicans' win last night, the maimed, Westbrook-gunning Thunder lost out on the Western Conference's No. 8 seed. Westbrook scored 37 points, including 23 in the first quarter, to finish the season with a 28.1 PPG average and narrowly win the scoring title over the Rockets' James Harden.
After the game, Westbrook batted down questions that would've given him room to bask in his achievement. In fact, he sounded kinda pissed about the whole scoring champ thing:
“Shit. It doesn’t mean nothing. Good job. Hooray. I’m at home. Watching other teams play. Doesn’t mean nothing.”
Well, at least he allowed himself one "good job," albeit a sarcasm drenched one at that.
We're going to miss Westbrook's recklessly awesome play. Finally getting to see Anthony Davis play crunchtime playoff minutes is important to the NBA nerdosphere, and we're saved from watching Westbrook go down in a ball of fire against the Warriors, but that would've been an appropriate end to his one-man show of a season.
Dunks like this one from last night will, unfortunately, be put on hold until October. Six months without Russ.
Damn.
As Des Bieler of the Washington Post points out, this is the first time since the 1951-52 and 1952-53 seasons that teammates have won back-to-back scoring titles. Paul Arizin and Neil Johnston of the Philadelphia Warriors were the only duo to do so in NBA history. Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook have one more year to get themselves back to the Finals before the franchise's situation becomes murky.
Send all complaints, compliments, and tips to sportstips@complex.com.
[via Washington Post]
