Is Russell Westbrook making his debut for the Clippers against the Kings today?
Russell Westbrook has NBA fantasy players on their toes over his availability and potential debut for the Los Angeles Clippers
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Russell Westbrook
Russell Westbrook has shifted teams within the same city by going to the LA Clippers and fans have been eagerly waiting for him to make his debut. The Los Angeles Clippers play the Sacramento Kings on Friday night and Westbrook has a chance to make his Clippers debut. NBA fantasy experts are waiting for the news to add the triple-double king to their fantasy team.
Los Angeles Clippers coach Tyronne Lue has only had praise for Russ going so far as to say, “The ball will be in his hands. You don’t average a triple-double without having the ball in your hands. We know he can make plays and make the right plays.”
It is worth noting that, Russell Westbrook leads the NBA all-time in triple-doubles which are also very valuable to fantasy players as more stats mean more points.
Is Russell Westbrook playing tonight?
According to the latest update by @Underdog__NBA on Twitter Russell Westbrook will make his debut tonight. “Status Alert: Russell Westbrook expected to make Clippers debut Friday,” was tweeted by Underdog NBA. They are a reliable source for everything NBA fantasy related, from lineups to injuries. Westbrook will be making his Los Angeles Clippers debut alongside his former OKC teammate Paul George.
The Los Angeles Clippers are currently the 4th seed in the West and have added Westbrook to solidify their roster before the playoffs. Their opponents the Sacramento Kings are right above them in the 3rd seed which makes this a very crucial game. The Clippers are just 1.5 games behind Sacramento and this win would be a huge boost for their season. They play the Kings twice this week with them being divisional rivals.
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Where is Russell Westbrook playing?
Westbrook will very likely be the starting point guard for the Los Angeles Clippers tonight. Tyronne Lue has not revealed the extent of Westbrook’s involvement in the team yet but has hinted at giving him a starting role. Westbrook was coming off the bench at the Lakers so this will be a fresh start in LA for him. Westbrook has always been a ball-dominant point guard throughout his career.
Lately, Westbrook has embodied the role of facilitator much more than in previous years. Westbrook does not have a refined jump shot like he used to but can still drive through traffic and drop a dime. The Clippers rank 3rd in the NBA in 3PT field goal percentage which gives Russ an important role of driving and dishing out to the open man. Westbrook has a lot of experience doing that with Harden and KD at OKC and will look to channel that inner MVP in him for the Clippers.
Russell Westbrook’s fantasy update and predictions
Russ has been listed as available for the Clippers for Friday night and can be expected to start the game. Westbrook is averaging 33.2 points on NBA fantasy which ranks him 16th for point guards. This is understandable as Westbrook is averaging under 30 mins a game coming off the bench for the Lakers. With a starting role predicted for tonight, expect Westbrook to pump up those numbers. The Clippers will look to make it three wins in a row on Westbrook’s debut.
Westbrook has always been a cheat code on NBA fantasy games as he fills up the stat sheet. However, Russ has seen a steep decline in his efficiency over the years which affects his fantasy numbers. The increase in missed attempts affect his stats and has led to only 66% of fantasy users keeping him as their starter this season. Westbrook in his prime was almost always the #1 pick in NBA fantasy as he averaged a 30pt triple-double in 2017. Westbrook is the only player to ever win league MVP, scoring title, and average a triple-double in the same season. He did all of that in 2016/17. Westbrook might not reach those levels again but can be a reliable pick as a backup PG on the fantasy roster.
Russell Westbrook alternatives for your fantasy team
In case your fantasy team cannot afford the inconsistencies of Westbrook here are some alternatives. Spencer Dinwiddie is another point guard within the same points range but a guaranteed starter. Dinwiddie was recently traded to Brooklyn and has been balling out since his arrival. The Brooklyn Nets will be taking on the struggling Chicago Bulls against who Dinwiddie got 55 fantasy points in their last meeting.
Another young point guard for your fantasy team can be Jordan Poole. With the injury to Stephen Curry, Poole is guaranteed to start and averages 24 points per game as a starter this season. Jordan Poole and the Golden State Warriors will be taking on the tanking 15th-seeded Rockets where Golden State is clear favorites. Poole looks to steady the ship until Steph’s return and will be a valuable fantasy pick for the long term as well.
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Anuj Shrikanth Iyer
(290 Articles Published)