The 2023 NBA playoffs have taken the hoops world by storm with their fair share of upsets in game 1 of the first round. Many expected teams like the Memphis Grizzlies, and the Phoenix Suns to whiz past their opponents. Among the top performers in the playoffs, an unlikely star has taken the front seat. The LA Clippers’ no. 0 Russell Westbrook. The 34-year-old’s impressive performance against the Suns garnered adulation from his teammates, as well as many of his haters.

During his time with the Lakers, it had become obvious that LeBron James and Westbrook were not meant to be together. Westbrook’s trade to the Clippers before the trade deadline day came as a relief for fans of the Purple and Gold. Meanwhile, others were not as short-sighted and could foresee the 2017 NBA MVP’s qualities, if used carefully.?

Russell Westbrook’s strong game against the Phoenix Suns wasn’t a surprise for everyone

The Suns were stunned by the performance of Russell Westbrook, who shot 3 for 19 from the field but still managed to make a huge impact in the game. Although it may have been common consensus that Westbrook’s 2022-23 season was a bust, some strongly believed in the nine-time All-Star’s mettle.

Among Westbrook’s long-time supporters, Paul George stood beside him throughout his whole trade to the Clippers despite being accused of “tampering” by fans. His constant support for his teammate has finally started to show results, as Westbrook has made his mark on the first day of the Clippers’ postseason.

After the game, Paul George, who was watching the game from the sidelines while recovering from an injury, spoke on Russ’s impact on the game, and why he felt Westbrook was special. In an interview with Bleacher Report, the eight-time All-Star couldn’t hide his excitement after seeing Westbrook’s impact on the game.

“This is the reason why Russ was such a huge pickup for us. They just see Russ for the shots that he misses,” said George. He added, “They don’t see him for the rebounding, the defense… They don’t see the intangibles, and they look past everything else that he does. They solely lock into whether he makes or misses shots and judge him off of that. People don’t judge him off who he is as a basketball player.”

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Considering Westbrook’s reputation in the league for the past few years, it is a fair assessment of him. The NBA community has relentlessly trolled his abysmal shooting stats, even giving him a nickname, ‘Westbrick’.?

Haters applaud Russell Westbrook after the game against the Suns

Skip Bayless, the popular sportscaster, has been unapologetically unsupportive toward Russell Westbrook’s inclusion in a basketball game. Hence, when the nine-time All-Star ended the game with five offensive rebounds, eight assists, two steals, and a team-high three blocks, Bayless was taken aback.

The sportscaster couldn’t help but applaud the grit of Westbrook to work his and everyone’s “tail off” in a basketball game. Additionally, he showered praises on the Clippers’ head coach, Ty Lue for making the bold choice of playing Russell Westbrook throughout the game. However, only time will tell if Lue’s plans were a one-off, or will the Clippers continue to dominate against the Phoenix Suns.

Where do you think the Clippers will end up by the end of round 1? Let us know in the comments below

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