Jamal Murray shoots 11% better with Westbrook on. Jokic scores 10 more points with Westbrook on. Westbrook is one of the only PGs that focuses on feeding big men.
Westbrook's game is way beyond TS%. Most important stats for playmakers are points created per 36 and also on/off metrics for EFG% and points per 100. On/off metrics for EFG% shows the impact of a playmaker on shot quality. On/off on points per 100 shows the actual impact the playmaker has on the scoreboard.
Playmakers should be getting the best scorers the ball where they want it. This is different from LeBron James style. LeBron James plays a free style where he wants the defense to react and double and then throw it to a random player to shoot a 3. He doesn't emphasizing feeding the best scorers on the floor.
Westbrook has made his impact again on the Nuggets. TS% is not a useful metric to measure players like Westbrook when he focuses on getting the best players the more shots and better shots, elevating the EFG% and points per 100 for each of the best players.
| Player | Metric | Westbrook On | Westbrook Off | DIFF |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jokic | Pts per 100 | 45 | 35 | 10 |
| Murray | EFG% | 56 | 45 | 11 |
| MPJ | EFG% | 61 | 57 | 4 |
Westbrook coming off the bench last year:
| Player | Metric | Westbrook On | Westbrook Off | DIFF |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plumlee | EFG% | 66 | 51 | 15 |
| Coffey | EFG% | 63 | 53 | 10 |
| Zubac | EFG% | 67 | 64 | 3 |
| George | EFG% | 58 | 56 | 2 |
| Kawhi | EFG% | 60 | 58 | 2 |
| Zubac | Pts per 100 | 25 | 21 | 4 |
| George | Pts per 100 | 35.4 | 33.9 | 1.6 |
The stats are pretty drastic, but James Harden is a good passer to centers also. The stats were more drastic with the Lakers in his last season.
| Player | Metric | Westbrook On | Westbrook Off | DIFF |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Davis | Pts per 100 | 38.4 | 35.6 | 2.8 |
| Wenyen | Pts per 100 | 23.7 | 12.3 | 11.4 |
| Bryant | Pts per 100 | 30 | 25 | 5 |
| LeBron | Pts per 100 | 39.2 | 38.1 | 1.1 |
| Davis | EFG% | 62 | 55 | 7 |
| Wenyen | EFG% | 66 | 55 | 11 |
| Bryant | EFG% | 75 | 64 | 11 |
| LeBron | EFG% | 57 | 53 | 4 |
Westbrook's game is way beyond TS%, especially when he shoots relatively low volume.
Westbrook is clearly elite and one his kind at elevating big men to score more and at higher efficiencies. Lakers are still missing a piece like Westbrook to unlock Anthony Davis and LeBron and its other centers.
If Lakers had Westbrook, they would be #1 in the West.