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It's happening: Westbrook's triple-double season is a near lock

Layne Murdoch / National Basketball Association / Getty

Oscar Robertson stood alone for nearly six decades, but Russell Westbrook is hell-bent on rewriting history.

Westbrook is almost guaranteed to average a triple-double for the year. He needs 76 rebounds and 85 assists over the final 11 games of the season to join The Big O.

That translates to 6.9 rebounds and 7.7 assists each night, which is a walk in the park for Westbrook, who wrapped up his 35th triple-double on Wednesday in 28 minutes without missing a single shot.

To put those seven rebounds and eight assists into perspective: Westbrook has recorded seven or more rebounds 57 times and eight assists or more 55 times.

There will be no letting up for Westbrook, who loves basketball too much to rest while fellow stars take nights off for general maintenance ahead of the playoffs. The regular season is a test of mental and physical endurance, yet Westbrook ran the marathon with the urgency of a sprinter. Save for embarrassments to the Golden State Warriors, Westbrook never cracks. He gets his numbers every night.

Westbrook's usage rate easily eclipses any season in NBA history, and again, there are no signs of letting up. His usage rate remains virtually identical (42 vs. 41) before and after the All-Star break, while his touches per game has held steady (98.4 vs. 100.4). Opportunities will be there for Westbrook to get his stats.

As always, the Oklahoma City Thunder will need every ounce of effort Westbrook can provide. OKC is neck-and-neck with the Memphis Grizzlies in the battle to avoid the San Antonio Spurs as the seventh seed. Catching the Los Angeles Clippers for fifth is also not entirely out of the question, especially with a soft schedule to finish the year. OKC has seven games left against losing teams, as compared to four against winning clubs.

In the unlikely event that Westbrook's record season is in danger down the stretch, the schedule could once again offer solace. OKC faces the Phoenix Suns, Minnesota Timberwolves, and two meetings with the Denver Nuggets to wrap up their season.

That Suns game alone could be all Westbrook needs. He's averaging 41.7 points, 13.7 rebounds, and 13.7 assists in three contests against Phoenix this season. Either way, OKC's last few opponents are all fast-paced teams outside the playoff picture with inconsistent defenses, which translates to prime stat-chasing opportunities.

In any event, barring any last-second setbacks, Westbrook will break Robertson's 55-year record. The only question left to be answered is how MVP voters will value his production.

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