FanPost

Could Russell Westbrook and Blake Griffin play well together?

The Pistons have not traded for Russell Westbrook. If the rumors out there have any merit, the Pistons likely won't be getting Westbrook. But before that does or does not happen, it might be ideal to try and determine whether or not Westbrook and Blake Griffin would play well together.

For the most part, the concentration about Westbrook has appeared to be on one of two things: 1) his very large and still growing contract that would hinder Pistons free agency for years and 2) he's a ball hogging, not efficient chucker. Both points are valid concerns. But the second concern is one that is possible (though I will admit it is unlikely) to change, or work with. With Griffin being this team's leader, it is important to determine whether or not adding Westbrook will work basketball wise.

If I have not said this before, let me say it now: the Pistons do not deserve Blake Griffin. From everything I have seen, he has been a consummate professional. He has always seemed very respectful, appears to give everything he has, and just seems like a really good dude. And because of all of that, and the turmoil the Pistons franchise has been through for nearly a decade, I want better for him.

Initially, I fear that adding Westbrook would disrupt the team chemistry. I do not see Westbrook wanting to be second in charge. I think, in part, that was much of the reason he and Kevin Durant had the issues that they did. As much as I respect Griffin, I don't think he would enjoy Westbrook coming in and trying to be the head guy. I think Griffin would still play ball and give his everything, but it is fully possible that if the team isn't winning and Griffin and Westbrook do not get along, that Griffin requests a trade.

But I am an optimist. So I am going to hope that Westbrook comes in with a smile, Griffin walks into the room with a grin, they give each other a dap and a hug, and walk to the gym with Griffin's arm over Westbrook's shoulder. So now the question turns to how well they will play with each other on the floor, or will they.

Westbrook - from rookie to team leader

Westbrook came in to the league as the fourth pick in the league and started 65 games in his rookie season averaging over 32 minutes per game. He took over for Earl Watson who had been the Thunder/Supersonics starting point guard for over a year. Westbrook's athleticism seemed like an ideal pairing with a young superstar in Durant.

Westbrook went from averaging 13.4 shots per game as a rookie to a high of 24 shots per game the year after Durant left OKC. His usage rate basically shows the same pattern - going from 25.8-percent up to a career high of 41.7-percent the year after Durant left. And possibly more importantly, so has his assist numbers; 5.3 assists per game his rookie year to 10.4 the year Durant left.

Paul George arrives!

The 2016-17 Thunder without Durant won 43 games - a 16 game drop from the year before - and lost to the Houston Rockets in the first round of the playoffs in five games. In an attempt to go further in the playoffs, the Thunder traded for Paul George. The regular season result was a seven win increase, but they still lost in the first round of the playoffs in six games to the Utah Jazz.

What is more important for us to look at is Westbrook's stats when George showed up. His shots per game went from 24 the year before to 21.1 the first year George was in OKC and 20.2 the second. His usage rate went from 41.7-percent to 34.1-percent to 30.9-percent, his lowest usage rate since his second season in the league. His assists pretty much stayed where they had been - above 10 per game.

Those stats give me hope that Westbrook can and will recognize Griffin's ability and work with Griffin instead of against him.

Westbrook's playing style

When you see a Westbrook highlight, it is more likely to be a dunk or insanely athletic layup more than some Stephen Curry-esque or Damian Lillard-like three point shot. Westbrook is fast, has a pretty good to great first step, and will pretty much dunk on anybody. That's his A game. You can see this in his Tracking data on stats.nba.com. Last year, 33.9-percent of his shots came on 3-6 dribbles and another 30.6-percent on 7 or more dribbles.

Unfortunately, one of the things Westbrook has also increased over his years is the number of times he shoots a three pointer per game while regressing on his efficiency of making them. Last year Westbrook averaged 5.6 three pointers per game. For guards, that is tied for 33rd most in the NBA. He made only 29.0-percent of them. For players averaging 5.0 threes per game or more, Westbrook was dead last in converting them.

Griffin's playing style...has changed

Griffin has changed his game over the years to lengthen his career as much as possible, considering the injuries he's sustained over the years. Unlike Westbrook who went from 13.4 shots per game up to a max of 24, Griffin's shots per game have been pretty consistent. As a rookie, Griffin averaged 16.8 shots per game. Last year, he shot the most of his career - 17.9 shots per game. His lowest year, for reference, was 13.4 shots per game in his third season. But outside of that year, he's never average less than 15.5 shots per game.

Much like Westbrook, Griffin made a name for himself with some rather electric dunks. He was an athletic freak. But sadly, his body could not maintain that level of physicality. But Griffin is smart. While his shots per game have not changed much over his 9 seasons in the NBA, where he shoots them has drastically changed.

Last year Griffin averaged 7.0 three point attempts per game. He shot 522 three pointers. For comparison, he didn't shoot his 522nd career three pointer until his seventh season. He shot a total of 268 threes in his first six seasons combined. And while you likely won't see Griffin in the three point contest, he's not a bad three point shooter anymore.

While Westbrook has increased his number of three point attempts, how often he makes them has been up and down over the years. Griffin, on the other hand, since he started shooting threes regularly, has only increased his efficiency from deep. Remember how Westbrook's 29-percent was worst of any guard shooting five or more threes per game? Griffin's 36.2-percent was 42nd (out of 71) of all players shooting five or more per game, 21st of all forwards. Better than Durant and LeBron James.

Griffin is George is Griffin?

If you compare Griffin from last year to George from last year, it gives you a sense that this could actually work.

Westbrook had a usage rate of 30.9-percent last year along with George's 29.5-percent. Griffin wasn't too far off of George's rate at 30.2.

With Griffin's style of play change, he has needed the ball in his hands more than before. When stats.nba.com started tracking dribble data, 84.5-percent of Griffin's shots were with two dribbles or less. Last year that was 51.8-percent. Last year, Westbrook shot the ball 64.5-percent of the time with three or more dribbles. Thankfully, George's dribble data last year is not too dissimilar to Griffin's - 55-percent of George's shots were on two dribbles or less.

George averaged 36.9 minutes per game. Griffin averaged 35.

George averaged 9.8 threes per game making 38.6-percent. Griffin averaged 7.0 threes on 36.5-percent.

George averaged 7 free throws per game. Griffin averaged 7.3.

George averaged 8.2 rebounds and 4.1 assists per game. Griffin averaged 7.5 and 5.4, respectively.

George was better last year, specifically at putting the ball in the basket. But when it comes to how they were used, how often they were used, they don't appear to be too dissimilar. Granted, they had two different coaches and two different point guards and two completely different rosters. So putting Westbrook and Griffin together does not exactly mean it will work.

Always at least one playmaker

They don't play the same position. They don't HAVE to be on the court at the same time all of the time. This allows there to always be at least one playmaker on the court at a time. And, considering Griffin's injury history, it may allow Griffin to play less - saving him for a potential playoff run.

So can it work?

I don't know. Looking at the numbers alone, I want to say yes. There are possibly, likely, some numbers that I missed or missed the nuance on how those numbers were achieved. Westbrook may hate Casey's system, or he might thrive. Griffin may not mesh well with Westbrook, or maybe they become the best of friends and teammates. But seeing the similarity between George and Griffin's numbers from last year gives me hope that it could work. OKC won 49 games last year in the Western Conference. That would have had the Pistons in 4th or 5th place in the Eastern Conference.

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