The 30-year-old believes NBA teams are now taking more three-point attempts and admits the Thunder rely on their defensive play to win games.
“We lean on our defence,” Russell Westbrook said.
“Regardless of what happens, teams are going to make shots.
“The way the game is played now, a lot of threes go up, some may go in – but we do other things; get deflections, guard the passing lane, blocks, obviously steals.
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“Once we get on the break, it’s beneficial to us.”
Westbrook’s form has been inconsistent in December, culminating in him shooting only four of his 22 shot inside the arc, in the first of a double-header showdown against the Dallas Mavericks.
Despite Westbrook’s sketchy form, Thunder coach Billy Donovan is not concerned about his superstar.
“Whatever it is he’s going through, when I say I don’t worry about it, I don’t worry about it,” Donovan said.
Westbrook admitted he had been letting his team-mates down too often this season, but then bounced back in the following game to reproduce the form that saw him make seven NBA All-Star team’s.
In the second of the double-header against the Mavericks, Westbrook shot 32 points, going 13-for-24 from the field.
He also recorded 11 assists and 11 rebounds, giving Westbrook his 10th triple-double of the season.
The performance he put on also goes to backing up his earlier claims that he is the best player at most things for his position.
“I’m the best rebounder at my position, the best passer at my position, the best defender at my position,” Westbrook said.
“If scoring ain’t it that night, then I get somebody else to do it.”
The Thunder, who are 23-13, are currently third in the Western Conference and are currently 1.5 games behind leaders the Denver Nuggets.
The Lakers, who are 21-16, come into this game off the back of a 121-114 victory against the Sacramento Kings.
They will once again take to the court without their talisman LeBron James, but fans will be pleased by the announcement that James participated in shooting practice this week.
Lakers coach Luke Walton said it was the first time he had seen James shooting.
“He’s working on his body, his game, himself all the time,” Walton said.
“But that’s the first time I’ve seen him shoot since the injury.”