How Russell Westbrook And Chris Paul Put Points On The Board Without Scoring

The Los Angeles Clippers’ Russell Westbrook and Phoenix Suns’ Chris Paul played against one another in the opening game of the NBA playoffs Sunday night. Both of these veteran point guards have been perennial All-Stars during their careers and the kind of players who can light up a scoreboard. But in Sunday night’s game, the baskets weren’t falling easily for these two future Hall of Famers.

However, rather than hang their heads and possibly drag their teammates down with them, they found other ways to make a difference and become significant contributors.

Westbrook went 3-19 in shooting and ended the game with just nine points, yet he played more minutes than anyone else on the team, with the exception of Kawhi Leonard, who led the Clippers with 38 points. When a player goes as cold as Westbrook did, the answer is often to get him off the floor and look to your bench. But Westbrook avoided that outcome by doing darn near everything else a player could be expected to do on the court. This included dishing out eight assists to scorers like Leonard, while blocking three shots, stealing the ball twice and hauling down 11 rebounds, second only to the Clippers’ resident seven-foot giant Ivica Zubac.

Five of Westbrook’s rebounds were off the offensive glass, giving his team more shots at the bucket. And one of the shots he blocked came with 10 seconds left in the game and the Clippers holding a narrow 111-108 lead. As the Suns’ Devin Booker drove to the basket, Westbrook soared in the air. Demonstrating remarkable agility, he not only blocked Booker’s shot but also managed to grab the rebound off of Booker’s blocked shot and swat the ball off Booker and out of bounds, giving the Clippers possession with only a few seconds left in the game.

The Clippers ultimately prevailed 115-110 and, after the game, Westbrook told one interviewer, “At this position, humbly speaking, nobody is a better rebounder than me.” And few would argue.

One who might, at least that night, was Westbrook’s counterpart Chris Paul, whose scoring touch had also gone cold. Paul was a measly 2-8 from the floor, scoring only seven points. But the relatively diminutive point guard – Paul is an even six feet – offered a challenge of his own to Westbrook’s title of greatest rebounding point guard by hauling down 11 rebounds. This total exceeded that of his seven-foot center teammate Deandre Ayton and forward Kevin Durant. To this impressive board work, Paul added 10 assists and a brace of steals in a losing effort for which Paul had nothing to apologize for in terms of effort and impact.

Few of us are always on our “game,” which in basketball is often seen as how you scored. But even when we’re not, there are ways to help our team win. We just need to reach into our toolkit and find the right tool for the right job in that moment. Not feeling as loquacious as usual at a planning meeting? Bring your critical thinking mindset, listen hard and influence the conversation by supporting the best idea that has been made at the table. Not tapped to draft the important memo outlining a high-profile project in your organization? Be the one who gives it the best read and offers the kind of kick-ass edits that make the document sing. Or be the one who researches and finds the key piece of data that seals the deal.

If you’re holding the ladder for the guy or gal who gets to climb to the top this time around, be the best holder that person could possibly have.

Somebody will recognize you for it, but even if they don’t, at least not right away, do it anyway because greatness is achieved when people aren’t looking at you as well as when they are. People will always focus on the shooters and the lead presenters, but rebounders and assist makers who make others look good are highly prized by teammates and leaders, alike.

Sometimes, they just don’t realize it while they’re watching it happen.

Sunday’s was only game one in a series between these two. There will be more games and opportunities for Westbrook and Paul to do what they are best known for, which is scoring their share of points and running the offense. But they remind us how great teammates are those who are flexible and collaborative enough to be able to redefine their roles as “go-to” contributors.

They understand when it’s someone else’s turn to score the points.