![]() ![]() Russell Westbrook (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) / Westbrook vs. So while Westbrook almost certainly has more remaining seasons, there is no certainty that they will be more productive ones. What is more likely is a gradual degradation in production. Paul and Westbrook are not likely headed for dramatic turns for the worse. ![]() Many treat mid-30’s NBA superstars like it’s Logan’s Run, but the reality is that most players, barring serious injury, have steady declines. Westbrook, meanwhile is only 31, and the conventional wisdom is that he has more high-value seasons left in the tank. While Chris Paul’s Hall of Fame credentials are unassailable, at 34 years old he is on the back half of his career. In short, for every 100 shots these two take, Paul is winning 134 to 123. On a point per field goal attempt basis, Paul once again bests Westbrook 1.34 to 1.23. Westbrook has a career average of 23.2 PPG compared to Paul’s 18.5 PPG, but that’s on the back of 18.8 field goal attempts per game to Paul’s 13.7. Nowhere is this more apparent than in points per game. Westbrook commands much more of the ball, which explains the massive edge in usage percentage and has led to him having better counting stats than Paul. Paul’s superiority is in his efficiency, while Westbrook’s is in his volume. The only areas where Westbrook bests Paul are in usage percentage and total rebounding percentage, and usage percentage is not exactly a metric that portents skill. He holds a statistical edge in almost every phase of the game over Westbrook. This may be a hot take for some but the gulf in production leans staggeringly in favor of Paul. ![]() The Rockets were on the cusp of greatness and tried to push just a little bit higher, and just like Icarus, they may have cost themselves the glory they covet so desperately.Ĭhris Paul (Photo by Kim Klement-Pool/Getty Images) / Russell Westbrook was never even in Chris Paul’s leagueįirst things first, Chris Paul is better at basketball than Russell Westbrook. The Rockets once again made it to the second round of the playoffs, only to be eliminated by a title favorite.Ī season after trading for Russell Westbrook, it’s not clear the Rockets are any better and they’re arguably worse. At the conclusion of the regular season, the Rockets held a 61.1 win-percentage, down from last year’s 64.6 win-percentage. The narrative at the time of the trade was that the Houston Rockets had upgraded their roster. The idea of a dual MVP backcourt powering the Rockets to glory was certainly seductive, but has proven to not be enough. In a last-ditch effort to finally surround James Harden with enough talent to snag that elusive championship, the Rockets traded Chris Paul, along with a cachet of assets to the Oklahoma City Thunder for Russell Westbrook. The Houston Rockets walked off the court once again short of their championship aspirations, but the 2019-20 season was supposed to be different. Russell Westbrook and Chris Paul (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) / The Houston Rockets trade of Chris Paul for Russell Westbrook was doomed from the beginning, as Paul is simply a better player than Westbrook.
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