Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the NBA, and most other sports leagues around the world, have either postponed or outright canceled their seasons. With no real promise on when things will stabilize, the prognosis on the remainder of basketball remains a mystery.
But as the days and weeks go by, the idea that NBA action might resume in the summer continues to pick up steam. It’s likely that if it does return, it will be at the beginning of the postseason.
Are the players ready? More specifically, is Russell Westbrook ready? According to the Rockets star, he’s always ready.
Russell Westbrook was asked if the NBA starts back up in the summer and immediately goes to the playoffs, will he be ready?
"I'm always ready, Jimmy. I'm always ready. I'm always ready." #Rockets pic.twitter.com/Ndv5YvCpE5
— Alykhan Bijani (@Rockets_Insider) April 22, 2020
Russell Westbrook was on an impressive tear before the league’s hiatus, averaging 27.5 points, 8 rebounds, and 7 assists per game on 47% shooting.
As a team, while the Rockets were holding their own (40-24 record), there were questions about what they could do in the postseason. James Harden was in a major slump and the Clint Capela trade left them having to make a major adjustment in the frontcourt.
Plus, to make the Finals, they’d have to beat out teams like the Lakers, Clippers, and Nuggets. It’s fair to say that the odds are not in their favor.
Regardless, so long as they have Westbrook, they’ll always have a fighting chance.
