Westbrook's Finals Shooting Volume

[cartwrightbows]

In the first two games of the NBA finals, Russell Westbrook has shot 10/24 and 10/26 from the field. That gives him a Finals average of 25 FGA per game. Durant has shot 12/20 and 12/22 averaging 21 FGA per game, Lebron is averaging 23 FGA per game, D Wade is averaging 19.5 FGA per game. So, effectively, the 4th best player on the floor is shooting the most shots. I understand a lot of this has to do with match ups, but still worth noting.

I realize, that right now, this is just 2 games and Westbrook is capable of shooting less and effecting the game in other ways. But he is also fully capable, especially having the most favorable match up on the floor against Mario Chalmers, of continuing to shoot at this volume over a 6 or 7 game series. If that ends up being the case, his NBA finals FGA average would look absolutely bizarre amongst the 4 greatest players of the last 30 years.


In Magic Johnson's 9 NBA Finals appearances he shot 339/657 over 50 games. That gives him an average of 13.1 FGA per game for his Finals Career. (Granted, Magic was more of a facilitator in the majority of his Finals appearances)

In Larry Bird's 5 NBA Finals appearances he shot 260/568 over 31 games. His FGA per game average for his Finals career is 18.3.

In Michael Jordan's 6 NBA Finals appearances he shot 438/911 over 35 games. That gives him an average of 26.03 FGA per game for his Finals career.

In Kobe Bryant's 6 NBA finals appearances he shot 267/645 over 31 games. 20.8 FGA per game.

Granted, Westbrook isn't in Iverson territory. Allen Iverson had over 30 FGA per game in his NBA finals appearance, but how could you blame him? But if these numbers hold out over the duration of this series, Russell Westbrook will end his first NBA finals averaging more FGA per game then Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, and Kobe Bryant. And 1 less than the greatest NBA player of all time. I guess my point here is...uhm....Maybe he should shoot less?

[cartwrightbows]

Just to dispel the argument that you can't compare players across eras because the nuances of the game are so different, here are the highest FGA per game numbers of the last 10 NBA Finals.



2011- Dirk- 20.8

2010- Kobe- 23.3

2009- Kobe- 27

2008- Kobe- 21.8

2007- Lebron- 22.5

2006- Dwayne Wade- 23.2

2005- Tim Duncan- 18.4

2004- Kobe- 22.6

2003- Jason Kidd- 20.2

2002- Shaq- 21

2001- Allen Iverson- 32.5 (this number looks worse than it is. here is a link to that team's roster. http://www.basketball-reference.com/pla ... inals.html . Just dragging that group to the Finals makes him a God.)



First, take a look at the 8 names on this list. All first ballot Hall of Famers. Second, note the fact that every single one of these players is undoubtedly better than Russell Westbrook. Lastly, note the fact that none of these players had someone on their team remotely close to caliber of Kevin Durant (with the exception of 2002, 2004 Shaq/Kobe) to be stealing shots from. So, essentially Russell Westbrook is on pace to average the 3rd most field goal attempts per game in the last 12 years.

[tclg]

Thats a lot of field goal attempts. But well the heat want russel to beat them not durant