[NY Times] "Russell Westbrook: The Triple-Double Machine"

more anti-"Harden deserves the MVP" media conspiracy

http://nyti.ms/2gG0DeM

Russell Westbrook: The Triple-Double Machine
Westbrook, the Thunder guard, is dominating opponents this
season with double-digit averages in points, rebounds and assists.
By SCOTT CACCIOLA NOV. 29, 2016

Russell Westbrook needed one more assist for another triple-double in his ruthless campaign across the N.B.A., so he drove the lane and tried to thread a pass to Joffrey Lauvergne, his teammate with the Oklahoma City Thunder. Instead, the ball bobbled loose for a turnover, and time soon ran out — on the first half.

Westbrook’s greatest achievement this season might be the way he has turned the extraordinary into the mundane. It happened again in that game at Madison Square Garden on Monday night. Drama no longer comes in the form of whether he can assemble another triple-double — reaching double digits in three statistical categories — but whether he can pull off the feat in a single half.

His gaudy numbers hardly register with teammates anymore. It is just his way of doing business.

“Outside of you guys talking about it, nobody talks about it,” said Coach Billy Donovan, who detailed the countless other postgame topics of conversation that take precedence, including potential areas of improvement and Oklahoma City’s next opponent.

During the Thunder’s 112-103 victory over the Knicks, Westbrook checked the necessary boxes for his third straight triple-double — and his eighth of the season — when he connected with Victor Oladipo for a layup 79 seconds into the third quarter. But he kept going, of course, shedding and demoralizing defenders on the way to 27 points, 18 rebounds and 14 assists.​

long article, more at the link