NBA Playoffs 2012: Is Russell Westbrook Most Improved Player of the Postseason?

On a team with notoriety such as that possessed by the Oklahoma City Thunder, it's not too difficult to get lost in the craze. From three-time scoring champion Kevin Durant to sixth man of the year James Harden, the awards and accolades are piling up for this young franchise.

Serge Ibaka leading the NBA in shot blocks was just an added bonus.

Amidst the hype and recognition, however, there is a man who finds himself buried by his teammates' praise and collections of trophies. A young point guard who was selected just three picks after 2011 MVP Derrick Rose has quietly paced the Thunder to a staggering 8-1 postseason record, playing the most efficient basketball of his young career in the process.

This is exactly why Russell Westbrook would not go home empty-handed if there were a postseason awards ceremony.

Upon evaluating the 2011 and 2012 postseason campaigns, it became quite clear that no player has seen as drastic an improvement in terms of his quality of play over the two-year span as has Westbrook.

Then again, where else is there to go but up for an over-dribbling, wildly shooting and turnover-prone point guard?

In the 2011 playoffs, Westbrook was considered by many to be the weak link in Oklahoma City. Despite scoring 23.8 points per game, the former UCLA Bruin was shooting just 39.4 percent from the floor and 29.2 percent from three-point distance. Westbrook also turned the ball over an unhealthy 4.6 times per game and committed 3.3 fouls per contest, fouling out once and reaching five fouls in five other games.

Not what the Thunder were looking for from one of their franchise players.

In the 2012 postseason, though, Westbrook has been a new man. He's averaging a career playoff-best 24.1 points per game, on 47.2 percent shooting from the floor—a 7.8 percentage point improvement from 2011.

Westbrook is also committing just 2.1 fouls per game and has yet to commit more than three in a single contest. He's also turning the ball over just 1.6 times per game, the best of any active starting point guard.

That's three fewer turnovers per game in 2012 than he averaged in 2011.

For a more in-depth evaluation of those statistics, consider that Westbrook's solid 2010 postseason campaign saw him post an 11.5 turnover percentage. In 2011 that number rose to 16.1.

In 2012, however, Westbrook is at an unbelievable 6.5 turnovers per 100 possessions.

That's an improvement from 78 turnovers in 17 postseason games during the 2011 season to just 14 in nine postseason games during his 2012 campaign. That's also a potential 18-point swing in the Thunder's favor.

This has the new Agent Zero's player efficiency rating at 27.6, a full point than that of Kevin Durant.

At the heart of this tremendous improvement has been Westbrook's style of play and maturity. While we could evaluate the statistics and beat the dead horse that's been deceased for over a year, it's important to watch the game film and evaluate the true differences.

In 2011, for instance, Westbrook was visibly frustrated by his inability to make his shots. This led to thoughtless field goal attempt after mindless attempt, as Westbrook desperately searched for his game.

In 2012, Westbrook has shot worse than 40 percent on three occasions, which his ability to contribute in other areas masked. His averages in those games include 6.7 rebounds, 2.0 steals and a matchup point-per-game average of just 10.0.

Westbrook's most significant improvements have not been as a scorer, though. Instead, the true reason for his progress, as well as the Thunder's ability to win in the fashion in which they are winning, is Westbrook's ability to manage games.

The OKC point guard's 4.6 turnovers per game in 2011 came as a result of nine games with at least four turnovers, in addition to another five games with at least three.

He also had four games with seven turnovers, one with six, three with five and another three with four.

In other words, Westbrook just couldn't hold on to the basketball against any of his opponents, posting series averages of at least 4.0 turnovers against the Denver Nuggets, Memphis Grizzlies and Dallas Mavericks.

Thus far in 2012, Westbrook has posted just one game with more than three turnovers, the first game of the playoffs. Since then, Westbrook has averaged 1.55 turnovers per game. He's also yet to turn the ball over more than once since Game 3 of the Thunder's opening series, with the Dallas Mavericks.

That's four games with just one turnover and two with none.

It's safe to say that Russell Westbrook has evolved into one of the best ball-handlers in the NBA. It's also safe to say that everywhere he's lacked in the past, he's found a way to improve.

Unless, of course, you're one of those who values a statistical assist over a player who sets up shots for fouls, secondary scoring opportunities and changes the pace of a game with every move he makes.

The star potential has been realized.