Dunking With Wolves
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NBA Playoffs: Comparing Timberwolves Starters to Remaining Players

By Zach Burnside

Jan 12, 2016; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (0) dribbles past Minnesota Timberwolves guard Andrew Wiggins (22) and guard Ricky Rubio (9) during the first quarter at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 12, 2016; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (0) dribbles past Minnesota Timberwolves guard Andrew Wiggins (22) and guard Ricky Rubio (9) during the first quarter at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports /
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Zach LaVine

Similarly to Ricky, Zach is a unique player. At this point, the most similar player to Zach LaVine remaining in the playoffs is Russell Westbrook.

Mar 14, 2016; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves guard Zach LaVine leaps to the basket on a dunk attempt against the Phoenix Suns at Talking Stick Resort Arena. The Suns defeated the Timberwolves 107-104. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 14, 2016; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves guard Zach LaVine leaps to the basket on a dunk attempt against the Phoenix Suns at Talking Stick Resort Arena. The Suns defeated the Timberwolves 107-104. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /

Like the previous comparison between Ricky Rubio & LeBron James, this isn’t to say that Zach LaVine is an MVP candidate or should be considered a top-five player in the league, but watching the two players definitely yields similarities.

Of all the things that both of them do well, the skills overlap for the most part. When Zach sees an open lane to the hoop, he is going to jump at the opportunity and drive the rim.

The same is true for Westbrook.

Both Zach & Russ are extremely aggressive basketball players with the ball in their hands always looking to score for their team. Comparing the numbers that each player put up in their second year in the league (this season for LaVine and 2009-10 for Westbrook), some similarities jump out. LaVine shot a little better, 45.2 percent to 41.8 percent, but their scoring numbers were similar with LaVine scoring 14 points per game and Westbook putting up 16.2 points per contest.

The two places where the differences are really glaring are in three-point percentage and assists.

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Despite how badly Flip Saunders and Sam Mitchell wanted LaVine to be a point guard, he is clearly better suited to be off the ball as demonstrated by his pre/post all-star splits. He made his threes at a 38.9 percent clip this past season compared to Westbrook’s 22.1 percent in his sophomore season.

Zach also struggled distributing the ball, posting 3.1 assists per game to go with a 1.6 AST/TO ratio, while Russ posted eight assists per game with a much more respectable 2.4 assist-to-turnover ratio.

Zach LaVine is clearly a shooting guard while Russell Westbrook is a point guard with the scoring mindset that fits along with the new breed of point guards around the NBA. The two players have slightly different skill-sets, but the both possess the Mamba mentality.

The Golden State Warriors-Oklahoma City Thunder match-up should require no more incentive to watch, but observing the way that Russell Westbrook drives the rim and scores at will should remind you of a similar electric, bounce-out-of-the-gym athlete that the Timberwolves have on their roster.

Next: Andrew Wiggins And His Countryman

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