Russell Westbrook leads the NBA in turnovers per game. Entering Tuesday’s tilt against the Memphis Grizzlies, Westbrook committed 4.8 turnovers per game. Against the Grizzlies he committed eight, tying his season-high.
However, he wasn’t the only Wizards player struggling to protect the ball. The team as a whole had 22 turnovers. The NBA leading-scorer Bradley Beal had six.
But, it’s Westbrook’s struggles that haunted the Wizards. He committed five turnovers in the second quarter. He had four of the Wizards’ seven during a four-plus minute stretch that led to a 25-4 run by the Grizzlies.
That run blew the game away, flipping a 48-44 lead for the Wizards into a 69-52 deficit. Memphis never looked back, as they led by as many as 23 en route to a 125-111 win. The final score was a lot closer than the game actually was.
The Grizzlies scored a whopping 32 points off the Wizards’ 22 turnovers.
Following the loss, Wizards head coach Scott Brooks said Westbrook’s turnovers is committing “too many.”
Russell Westbrook is averaging 20.0 points, 9.8 rebounds and 9.8 assists. However, the turnovers are problematic. Especially for a Wizards team that margin of error seems thin.
Certainly, Westbrook is trying to make plays. He is asked to create chances for his teammates. Given that he is a playmaker, he is bound to make mistakes forcing the action. However, he has to find the perfect balance in creating and taking what the defense gives him.
With the loss, Washington is now 5-13 when Westbrook commits five or more turnovers. There are surely other factors that go into that mark. But, it’s hard not point to the glaring volume of hiccups.
Washington shot 50.6% from the field against Memphis. But they took 14 less shots and made six fewer. That’s a direct byproduct of the turnovers. It’s an obvious area that needs to be corrected soon if the Wizards want to get back on track.
