OKC Thunder: Russell Westbrook growing up in a hurry

Despite leaving empty-handed (the team frowns upon passers-by wandering in with autograph requests), the man complimented a team employee on how much better the squad has looked of late. His final words before darting out the door: "Now if we could just get a point guard.”

Oklahoma City has one, folks. His name is Russell Westbrook.

But with 23 games left, the time has come for Westbrook to prove he can blossom into the team’s full-time playmaker. Time to show he can make his teammates better by creating shots for them even when his aren’t falling.

On too many occasions this season, Westbrook has put his head down and barreled to the rim, forcing up a shot rather than running a set to find the open man. Westbrook’s poor decision-making at times has stirred skepticism among fans over whether he possesses the set-up skills needed to be a floor general. His erratic play also led to 38 percent shooting in February and a 3.9-turnover average.

But rather than reining in the No. 4 overall pick and force-feeding fundamentals, coach Scott Brooks has given Westbrook the freedom to learn on the fly.

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