Russell Westbrook is writing a perfect closing chapter with the Nuggets

Nikola Jokic typically isn't involved in Denver Nuggets business at the ownership or front office level, so during a sick offseason in Denver, the three-time MVP stepped up to the plate for free agent reinforcements. When I saw him stand, I frowned a little. . This summer, the Nuggets lost a key starter in Kentavious Caldwell-Pope just to save on payroll. Jokic had a veteran replacement in the backcourt in mind:Russell Westbrook.

Westbrook has been with six teams over the past seven years, but he hasn't scored at league-average efficiency ( Measured by true shooting percentage plus) in any of them. He was the worst high-volume 3-point shooter in the league for a team that was desperate for shots. It would have been easy to dismiss the Westbrook signing as another example of the Nuggets' disastrous summer, and further proof that all-time great players don't make great GMs.

At least, that was the case until Westbrook gradually proved to be a valuable part of Denver's turnaround.

The Nuggets improved to 14-10 on the season with a thrilling victory against the Sacramento Kings late Monday night and currently sit as the No. 5 seed in the West. Denver continued to teeter on the brink of a humiliating defeat for much of the second half. Leading by as many as 23 points early in the game, a combination of lackluster defense and an inefficient scoring night from Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray resulted in the Kings leading by 10 with less than four minutes left in regulation time. allowed to be taken away.

Jokic was in the center of Denver, playing perfect basketball until the end, as he always does. Westbrook's fingerprints were all over the victory, too.

The Nuggets' comeback began with Westbrook rebounding a missed three, pushing the ball down the floor, and Murray making a three. Then, without the ball, Westbrook cut the baseline and Jokic found him for an easy layup. After the Nuggets got within one point on a few possessions, Westbrook looked like he could be the hero from three points down, but he wisely passed it to Jokic inside, who hit a small flip shot for the first bucket. I decided.

Westbrook contributed to the victory with 18 points, 10 assists, 9 rebounds, and 3 steals. He logged 35 minutes of work that night. Westbrook will start in place of injured Christian Braun and form Denver's opening unit. Finished with a net rating of +17.7.

There's a reason Westbrook is available as a veteran minimum this offseason. At 36 years old, Westbrook remains an inefficient scorer. His two-point field goal conversion rate has plummeted this season, playing for a Nuggets team that still lacks spacing. Even if he makes a 3-point shot, it is considered a victory for the opposing defense. At the same time, Westbrook made a positive contribution to his playing time by finally leaning into the role player side of his game rather than trying to be the MVP he once was.

Westbrook's impact on Denver this year goes back to his defense, playmaking, and energy. The Nuggets found a way to “let Russ be Russ” while giving Russ the lowest shooting frequency of his career. He accepts the fact that this is Jokic's team and everyone else has to do their part.

Westbrook is solidifying his defense.

After the Kings win, Nuggets head coach Mike Malone said of Westbrook's underrated defensive contributions:

All year long, Westbrook has accepted taking on difficult defensive duties. He rates as one of Denver's best defenders across a variety of metrics. Defensive EPM this season is +1.3.ranked in the 87th percentile, in the same neighborhood as Lou Dort, Jaden McDaniels, and Jayson Tatum. He ranks second on the Nuggets behind Jokic in both defensive win shares and defensive box score plus/minus. He ranks 14th in the league in total stolen bases (40) and sixth in stolen base percentage (an impressive 3.1 percent).

Westbrook began reinventing himself as a defender during his time with the Los Angeles Clippers. LA didn't need him to score with Kawhi Leonard, Paul George and James Harden, but they needed someone who could protect strong opposing guards and push the ball in transition. That skill has carried over to Denver. That might be the biggest reason Westbrook is still in the league at this point.

Even if you give Westbrook a day to beat off dribble handoffs, he's still quick enough to get there. Even after all these years, Westbrook's “Pick Six” still causes an endorphin rush.

Westbrook is still a talented athlete at this point in his career, running and jumping. It's a feel-good basketball story to see him take pride in his defensive end.

Westbrook knows how to beat Jokic in two-man games

Westbrook knows he's in Denver because Jokic wanted him. He seems to accept that his greatest utility offensively is getting the ball to big men.

Westbrook has assisted Jokic 57 times this season. NBA.comThis is the most of any Nuggets player. Jokic is completing 58% of these feeds, which is about the best on the team and shows that Russ knows how to get the ball to the best player alive where he wants to score.

Even with teams constantly passing under Westbrook's ball screens, he still has enough speed to engage opposing bigs and open lanes for Jokic. The Stallion big man has never really played with an elite distributor before, and his soft hands and large catch radius have made him an easy target for Westbrook's feeds this year.

Giving the ball to Jokic should be easy on paper, but given Denver's lack of shooters, it's not as easy as it seems because the entire opposing defense is chasing Jokic. You have to give credit to Westbrook for putting the ball in a tight window and creating a scoring opportunity.

Westbrook ranks 17th in the league in total assists this season. His assist percentage ranks 15th in the league at 33.9 percent. His 12.1 assists per 100 possessions ranks seventh in the league behind Jokic. On a per-minute level, his playmaking this year has been pretty close to elite, helping to lift Denver's offense, which is still at the bottom of the league in three-point percentage.

Westbrook's energy was essential for Denver

The Nuggets were a slow team last year, finishing 26th in pace. I think Westbrook will be helpful in that department this season, actually making a noticeable difference and helping the team. Jump all the way to 5th place.

Denver's pace improved from 99.12 to 102.8 with Westbrook in the game. With Russ on the bench, the Nuggets would rank 17th in pace. With him on the floor, they'll be ranked No. 5.

Westbrook hasn't lost his explosiveness even in middle age. He can turn on the jets whenever he has an open floor in front of him, and will almost always squirt the ball to an open teammate.

Nuggets need good vibes from Westbrook to last.

Denver doesn't have much margin for error with this team. Jokic will do everything he can for this franchise, but at the end of the day, games are still played 5-on-5, and the quality of each team's weakest link is always exposed in high-leverage games.

The Nuggets have always lacked shot creation around Jokic, and that's one area where Westbrook really helps. It's odd to think of Westbrook as a fill-in player when his entire career has been defined by a “Russ against the World” mentality. But he only matured late in his career and has been a quality glue for Denver thus far.

Westbrook is making it easier for his teammates to take shots. He fills in some of what the defense lost with the departure of Caldwell-Pope. He's also moving a stagnant team in ways that didn't seem possible after last season.

Westbrook will likely play in some big games for the Nuggets this season. Because he's so good and Denver doesn't have a better option. So far, he's rewarded their faith and given us a good chapter in the second half of the career of one of the best guards of his generation.