Draymond Green Thinks Clippers Should Start Russell Westbrook In Playoffs Against Mavericks

Draymond Green has made it clear that he thinks the Clippers would benefit from starting Russell Westbrook against the Mavericks.

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Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports

Draymond Green has explained why he thinks Russell Westbrook will be the x-factor for the Los Angeles Clippers if they want to beat the Dallas Mavericks in the first round of the playoffs.  

“The x-factor in this series is going to be Russell Westbrook because Russ is gonna have to guard Kyrie Irving. When you got Luka on the floor, Kyrie doesn’t get much attention from the defense, you tend to forget. Let me tell you, Kyrie Irving is a monster. If you decide to forget, Kyrie will go off. Ty Lue knows that they won a title together.”

Draymond wants Kawhi Leonard to guard Luka Doncic while Westbrook guards Kyrie Irving, forcing Ty Lue into promoting Russ to the starting lineup.

“Russ is the X-factor for that team. No surprise they struggled for the last 1.5 months because Russell missed most of that time. Russ on Kyrie, Kawhi gonna have to go guard Luka, at some point in this series, Ty Lue is gonna have to scrap Russ off the bench and move Russ into that starting lineup in order to win this series. That’s my take.”

Green shared his pick for the series before breaking Westbrook’s impact down, picking the Mavericks to win.

“I am taking Dallas in that series. I think Dallas ultimately gets it done.”

Westbrook is averaging 11.1 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 4.5 assists this season, excelling as a sixth man on the Clippers ever since the James Harden trade. 

The Clippers were struggling to win games after the trade initially because Lue was playing Harden and Westbrook together, prompting Russ to sacrifice and move to the bench to keep the balance of the team. It’ll be interesting to see if coach Lue experiments with starting Westbrook in this series for defensive reasons.


Russell Westbrook Shouldn’t Be A Starter Against The Mavericks

His on-ball defense could be a tool to limit the Mavericks’ offense, especially Kyrie Irving given Harden could struggle on the perimeter against both Luka and Kyrie. Russ matches up well physically with Irving and would tire the Mavericks’ guard out over a series, though the Clippers would have to accept heaps of offensive setbacks, primarily in terms of spacing.

The lack of a floor-spacing big means Westbrook lineups would likely need to feature a small-ball five like PJ Tucker to maximize offensive possessions with a non-shooter like Russ. The Clippers anyway play a switch-heavy style of defense which would lead to the Mavericks forcing Russ to switch to a different player, opening Kyrie up for offense.

Westbrook is a necessary tool off the bench as he reinvigorates the lineup with his energy and motor. He could be a starting-caliber player, but what he provides off the bench is not something anyone else can repeat. He can still contribute over 30 minutes on the court if required, but it doesn’t have to be as a starter.

The Clippers likely start with Terance Mann for defense or Norman Powell for offense, as Westbrook’s role on the bench is going to be crucial for their success in this series.

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Ishaan Bhattacharya is a content manager for Fadeaway World from New Delhi, India. With his expertise in NBA content creation, Ishaan brings a wealth of experience to his role, contributing to the site's authority and reach within the basketball community. Over the last year, Ishaan has interviewed Ray Allen and Mark Tatum, while also covering the 2023 NBA Abu Dhabi Games which saw the Dallas Mavericks take on the Minnesota Timberwolves.Since joining Fadeaway World in March 2022, Ishaan Bhattacharya has become known for his unique perspective on the NBA. He consistently delivers this insight through his daily news coverage and detailed opinion pieces on the most significant topics in the league.Before his tenure at Fadeaway World, Ishaan worked in corporate communications, where he serviced prominent sports brands, including NBA India, Sports18, Amazon Prime Sports, and Royal Challengers Bangalore. This experience in strategic communications for leading sports entities has enhanced his ability to craft impactful narratives and connect with a global audience.A true MFFLer (Mavs Fan for Life, for the uninitiated), Ishaan is a massive fan of the Dallas Mavericks. When he is not upset about Jalen Brunson walking in free agency, you can see Ishaan as an avid gamer and content creator. His passion for basketball extends beyond the Mavericks, as evidenced by his thoughtfully curated NBA Mount Rushmore, featuring LeBron James, Michael Jordan, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and Bill Russell—each representing distinct eras and bringing their unique qualities to the game.Featured On: ESPN, Sports Illustrated, Bleacher ReportYahoo Sports, NBA, Fox Sports, The Spun
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