Draymond Green has explained why he thinks Russell Westbrook will be the x-factor for the Los Angeles Clippers if they want to beat the Dallas Mavericks in the first round of the playoffs.
“The x-factor in this series is going to be Russell Westbrook because Russ is gonna have to guard Kyrie Irving. When you got Luka on the floor, Kyrie doesn't get much attention from the defense, you tend to forget. Let me tell you, Kyrie Irving is a monster. If you decide to forget, Kyrie will go off. Ty Lue knows that they won a title together."
Draymond wants Kawhi Leonard to guard Luka Doncic while Westbrook guards Kyrie Irving, forcing Ty Lue into promoting Russ to the starting lineup.
"Russ is the X-factor for that team. No surprise they struggled for the last 1.5 months because Russell missed most of that time. Russ on Kyrie, Kawhi gonna have to go guard Luka, at some point in this series, Ty Lue is gonna have to scrap Russ off the bench and move Russ into that starting lineup in order to win this series. That’s my take."
Green shared his pick for the series before breaking Westbrook's impact down, picking the Mavericks to win.
"I am taking Dallas in that series. I think Dallas ultimately gets it done."
Westbrook is averaging 11.1 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 4.5 assists this season, excelling as a sixth man on the Clippers ever since the James Harden trade.
The Clippers were struggling to win games after the trade initially because Lue was playing Harden and Westbrook together, prompting Russ to sacrifice and move to the bench to keep the balance of the team. It'll be interesting to see if coach Lue experiments with starting Westbrook in this series for defensive reasons.
Russell Westbrook Shouldn't Be A Starter Against The Mavericks
His on-ball defense could be a tool to limit the Mavericks' offense, especially Kyrie Irving given Harden could struggle on the perimeter against both Luka and Kyrie. Russ matches up well physically with Irving and would tire the Mavericks' guard out over a series, though the Clippers would have to accept heaps of offensive setbacks, primarily in terms of spacing.
The lack of a floor-spacing big means Westbrook lineups would likely need to feature a small-ball five like PJ Tucker to maximize offensive possessions with a non-shooter like Russ. The Clippers anyway play a switch-heavy style of defense which would lead to the Mavericks forcing Russ to switch to a different player, opening Kyrie up for offense.
Westbrook is a necessary tool off the bench as he reinvigorates the lineup with his energy and motor. He could be a starting-caliber player, but what he provides off the bench is not something anyone else can repeat. He can still contribute over 30 minutes on the court if required, but it doesn't have to be as a starter.
The Clippers likely start with Terance Mann for defense or Norman Powell for offense, as Westbrook's role on the bench is going to be crucial for their success in this series.
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