For most point guards
Barkevious Mingo Color Rush Jersey , grabbing 16 rebounds to achieve a milestone would seem a daunting task.
For Russell Westbrook, it seemed a foregone conclusion.
The Thunder star entered Wednesday’s regular-season finale against the Memphis Grizzlies needing 16 rebounds to become the first player to average a triple-double in multiple seasons. He had four rebounds at the end of the first quarter, then snagged seven in the second in just under nine minutes. He had five rebounds in the first 2:42 of the third quarter to reach his goal, and the crowd gave him a standing ovation.
He finished with just six points, but he had a career-high 20 rebounds and 19 assists in a 137-123 win. He finished the season with averages of 25.4 points, 10.1 rebounds and 10.3 assists.
”I’m very, very thankful and blessed, man, to go out and compete,” Westbrook said. ”Like I’ve said many, many times, I don’t take this game for granted. I don’t take going out on the floor and competing for granted. When God has got something planned, ain’t nobody who can stop it.”
After averaging a triple-double and setting a single-season NBA record with 42 triple-doubles last season, he added 25 more this season
http://www.giantsauthorizedshops.com/authentic-will-hernandez-jersey , and the Thunder won 20 of those games. He ranks fourth in NBA history with 104 career triple-doubles, three behind Jason Kidd.
”His numbers help them win,” Grizzlies coach J.B. Bickerstaff said. ”They’re not meaningless numbers. You get numbers on a bad team or in a blowout game or whatever it is, but he shows the consistency every single night, going out and performing at a high level. There’s very few guys, maybe a handful of guys that play with that level of intensity, with a burning fire, to be the best player on the floor every single night. He’s one of those guys.”
Westbrook had season lows of two field goals made and nine shot attempts against the Grizzlies as he focused on other aspects of the game.
”Russ is going to play the game,” said Paul George, who scored 40 points Wednesday night. ”He’s one of the best to do it at that position. He was looking to get guys going early and saw how the game was unfolding. He stayed with it.”
Longtime teammate Nick Collison said Westbrook continues to amaze him.
”I’ve seen him lock in, and I want to really appreciate how good of a player he is and the production he’s had these last two years,” Collison said. ”It’s not just that. I’m not too much into the statistics. They’re amazing, but seeing him put the organization on his back and lead the organization through a tough time and the way that he’s able to show up every night and produce and compete and lead the team has been really fun to watch.”
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>YAWN!That seems to be the reaction from everywhere except New England when Pro Picks has asked folks about the prospect of the Patriots being in yet another Super Bowl.Apparently, they have become the team people love to hate: America’s Team they ain’t.And they care not a bit about their popularity
Cheap Anthony Miller Jersey , or about what they’ve already achieved.“I think it’s a mistake if you take anything we’ve ever done in the past and translate it to what we’re doing now,” left tackle Nate Solder says.“I think it’s a different story. We’re writing our own story this year, so what we’re doing is preparing to see the Jacksonville team of this year and how we’re going to beat them and be as ready as we can go to play our best football.”That might elicit more yawns, but it’s indicative of how things work in Foxborough.But there’s a sneaking suspicion that the Patriots (14-3) are well aware of what All-Pro safety Jalen Ramsey of the Jaguars (12-6) has been saying about Sunday’s AFC championship game, in which host New England is a 9-point choice. Ramsey guaranteed a Jacksonville victory.“I think what I have learned for a long time is it’s how you play, it’s not what you say,” Tom Brady said during his weekly radio appearance on WEEI in Boston.“Everyone has different ways of handling things. Players do, coaches do. We do what works for us, other players do what works for them. The game is going to be decided by who plays the best, not who hypes the best or speaks the best.”This is a meeting of the No. 2 (Jags) and No. 5 (Pats) scoring defenses in the league. It’s also a meeting of Brady against Blake Bortles.Enough said.YAWN!PATRIOTS, 31-16Minnesota (minus 3) at PhiladelphiaNo shortage of attention here after both of these teams went down to the wire to advance.This one figures to come down to defense: Minnesota allowed the fewest points in the NFL, 252, while Philadelphia was fourth stingiest.That could mean it will be decided by the pass rush, and each team has some dynamic sack threats. The Eagles’ Fletcher Cox was sensational against Atlanta last weekend
Pittsburgh Steelers Jerseys Womens , and is complemented by Brandon Graham, Derek Barnett and Chris Long. For the Vikings, it’s Everson Griffen and Danielle Hunter causing problems.“We don’t want to steer away from nothing different than what we do,” Graham says, “and we’re going to go out there and we’re going to wreak havoc. We’re going to go out there and give it everything because it’s the championship, baby.”Philadelphia last made the Super Bowl for the 2004 season, losing to New England. The Vikings haven’t been in the big game since 鈥?get this 鈥?1977, their fourth loss in as many tries.That’s ancient history, of course. After what’s been dubbed the “Minneapolis Miracle” that lifted them past New Orleans last Sunday, they believe anything is possible.If they do things right.“What matters is how we play on Sunday, how we execute today in practice, how we do those things,” coach Mike Zimmer says. “I feel like I have a pretty smart, level-headed football team. They understand the magnitude of things and they know what’s at stake
James Daniels Jersey Elite , so let’s just go out, let’s continue to do what we’ve been doing all year long, let’s play good, let’s play together as a team, take care of the football. All of the things you talk about all year long, really.”As they say in politics, this one is too close to call. So going with the hosts.EAGLES, 21-20_2017 RECORD:Last week: Against spread (3-1). Straight up (2-2)Season Totals: Against spread (122-124-10). Straight up: (165-97)Best Bet: 10-9 against spread, 11-8 straight up.Upset special: 10-8 against spread, 9-9 straight up.
