Russell Westbrook drove the lane, the big man of the Washington Wizards opened the door to Thomas Bryant for a simple dunk after a wrong line and then immediately ran to Bryant to scream his approval.
In his first game with the Wizards, Westbrook entered just 99 first-half minutes in a 99-96 victory over the Detroit Pistons of Washington. But his impact was felt with his energy speed, speed and ability to move the ball forward and focus on defense.
“You could see in the first half how many open shots were actually made,” Wizards forward Davis Burton said of Westbrook’s impact. “And how good we looked and that’s all I would call Rush.
“He set the tone for driving and kicking … I’m sure he’ll get better from here.”
After being knocked out of the Wizards’ first two Prison games, Westbrook played in the team’s final tuneup before the regular-season opener in Philadelphia on December 23. Westbrook finished with 8 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists and 4-for-10, including a rear-to-3 of the arc.
“It was good,” Westbrook said of his first game as a wizard. “We won, the most important part … I like where we were tonight.
“My job is to try to set the tone. Be prepared to play them.”
The Wizards saw Westbrook’s influence in Bradley Bill’s ability offense have had to work one after the other against the defenders and how the Wizards tried to keep pace. Washington Washington led by 16 and Westbrook had 10 fast-break points in the first half.
Bill asked to play with Westbrook. “It was great energy … I don’t think it’s going to be difficult because people are trying to make it. We both do a really good job of feeding each other, just adjusting to how each other plays.
“The most important thing is his speed and the energy he brings to the table … he just works well. We just keep playing each other, feeding each other and pushing each other.”
When Bill missed all seven of his 3-point attempts, he scored 15 points and scored seven field goals. Bill averaged 30.5 points last season, but as the lone star of the Wizards drew the most attention to the opposing defense.
“Our job is to make the game easier for him,” Westbrook said. “Find a way to feed him the ball consistently so he can score at a high rate. He’s shown he’s capable of doing it. It’s going to be great. I’m not a little worried about bread.”
Bryant benefited from Westbrook’s attention, scoring 22 points and 7 of 12 shots. And Wizards coach Scott Brooks loved watching the animated Westbrook celebrate Bryant’s Dunn with a foul and encouraging the big man in the first quarter.
“Really good,” Brooks said when asked about Westbrook’s first prison action. “He looks like all this training camp. His spirit is about winning, not about statistics. He plays the right way and teaches our young fellows the right things. He’s great.
“He’s nothing amazing, what he tells people, how he coaches his teammates and they listen. What he’s done, how he prepares and how he trains and how he looks at the game It’s priceless. “
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