Russell Westbrook does not have a reputation of a reliable shooter to say the least. This clip from the game between the Clippers and Warriors is good illustration of that.
In the video Westbrook is dribbling the ball at the three-point line with zero defenders within few feet from him.
Draymond Green, who was supposed to guard the former NBA MVP, was inside the paint daring Russ to shoot, which he did not do.
Westbrook finished the game with 8 points on 3/12 shooting (0/5 from beyond the arc).
After the game Green talked about his team’s game plan against Westbrook, saying that it could be mentally tough to be wide open every play.
“It’s very easy when a guy is sagging off like that,” the four-time NBA champion said. “When a guy catch, you just rotate to him. We didn’t want to do that.
“I think the game plan worked for us tonight. We got Russ to miss some shots. But I think when you have a game plan like that even more so I know everyone always judge Russ jump shot, but what that does to you mentally is tough.
“I think it was more so the mental than the shot. He’s been shooting the ball well. I think he’s shooting a three like at 33 or 34 percent. But mentally that can get tough.
“So I thought we did a good job of sticking with the game plan and we were able to muddy the game plan for them or muck it up on the defensive side and it ended up working out for us.”
“[Sagging off will not] necessarily get in his head, but it’ll make you think, for sure. Because you’re open every play,” Green added.
“You’re taught in basketball – you’re open, take the shot. But if you’re open every play, you kind of start questioning yourself. So I thought we did a good job executing.”
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