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It was a January game last season, and the Oklahoma City Thunder led the Miami Heat by 23 points midway through the fourth quarter. Russell Westbrook, positioned where many superstar players would be near the end of blowout, was sitting on the bench.There was one problem: Westbrook was three rebounds short of a triple-double.To many watchers surprise, Westbrook popped up and walked over to check back in. He quickly grabbed his three boards, and with the Thunder up 22, they took a timeout and Westbrook sat back down, a 24th career triple-double in hand.In was obvious what had happened, and it wasnt the first time Westbrook had apparently worked for the statistical trinity. A year before, he was on a triple-double roll, but went to the bench with two minutes left in the game, one rebound shy of a triple-double.Tip? he said. Tip?From the bench, he was lobbying the official scorekeeper for an offensive rebound, and after reviewing a replay during a timeout, the scorekeeper obliged, giving him the triple-double before the buzzer sounded. Westbrook denied politicking for it after the game.This season, Westbrook is recording triple-doubles at a historic pace, notching 11 such feats in 22 games, maintaining a current streak of six, and averaging 31 points, 10.9 rebounds and 11.3 assists per game.No politicking or late-game stat-stuffing needed.As is usually the case when anything fun or cool starts happening, skeptics emerge, ready to rain on the history parade. For some, whether its by comparisons or discounting the validity of the numbers, Westbrooks near-nightly showcase inspires more questions than admiration.Is he stat-padding? Chasing rebounds? Hunting assists?Westbrook cares about winning first and foremost, but theres no doubt he pays attention to the triple-doubles. Why wouldnt he? Its an impressive achievement, and one to be proud of. Ricky Davis and Andray Blatche embarrassed themselves just trying to notch one. Westbrook racks them up at will, piling up the stats almost like he cant help it.When he does, the Thunder win. In Westbrooks 48 career triple-doubles, the Thunder are 42-6. In his 11 this season, theyre 9-2. The two losses were a two-point loss to the Orlando Magic on a buzzer-beater and an overtime loss to the Indiana Pacers.Theres also this: Via Nylon Calculus, theres evidence to suggest the Thunders best offense comes from a Westbrook defensive rebound.When Westbrook hauls in a rebound, the Thunders pace cranks up, and the team shoots a higher effective field goal percentage (55.3 percent) than when he doesnt grab the board (50.3). One of the Thunders primary struggles this season is in the half court, but they remain lethal in transition. The Thunders best path to transition is getting the ball in Westbrooks hands as quickly as possible.So Westbrook just cuts out the middle man, sometimes at the expense of his big men. But theyre in on the take.Against the Hawks on Monday, Westbrook undercut Steven Adams for a rebound, with Adams literally pulling his hands back as Westbrook snared it.No one cares. Wed rather it be him [getting the rebound], Adams said. I like it because I can actually box out my dude. Its good that he actually gets to come in and take it. I dont mind it.Both Adams and Enes Kanter have joked about needing to box out Westbrook because hes taking their rebounds. Those are big man stats, and Westbrook, a 6-foot-3 point guard, currently resides first on the team in boards, and ninth overall in the league. The Thunder bigs jab Westbrook about taking their rebounds in the film room, recently noting one where he ripped the ball right out of Joffrey Lauvergnes hands.As long as our team gets a rebound, it doesnt matter, Adams said. Theres just some funny ones that we kind of mock him about.Westbrook rebounding isnt some new development, though. Last season, he was only 2.2 rebounds per game away from averaging a triple-double. He has always ranked among the best in the league from the guard position, but this season, he has taken a statistical leap.What makes him a great rebounder, Billy Donovan said, besides the strength and athleticism, he is great at following the flight of the ball. He understands where its going to go and he gets his speed and quickness and athleticism off the floor and into the game because he knows where the ball is going to go.Westbrooks instincts are particularly spectacular. Like this play and this play. He flows to the rebound, and the Thunder are instantly on the attack.It makes everything faster, Andre Roberson said of Westbrook rebounding.Then theres the fact, as Donovan points out, that opposing guards dont try to rebound against the Thunder much because they fear Westbrook in transition. So that gives him free rein to attack the glass.If that was becoming a trend where guards were offensive rebounding against us, wed pay more attention to that, Donovan said. I think because of the player he is in transition, more teams are sending back three [players].Theres concern about Westbrooks ability to sustain this level of play throughout the season. Hes running a monopoly on the Thunders offense, on pace for the all-time high in usage rate (40.2 percent) while also leading the league in assist rate (54.5).Its an astonishing offensive responsibility, on top of everything else. But Donovan is unconcerned. The Westbrook way since his rookie year is to play every game, regardless of opponent, at the highest level of energy possible.I dont see him playing any differently than the way he played last year, Donovan said. Except hes better.Then theres this: Westbrooks season is a welcome respite and distraction from the events of the summer that saw the franchise turned upside down with the departure of Kevin Durant to the Golden State Warriors. The Thunder arent as good as they were, but Westbrook is still providing every reason to watch. Theyre as must-see as theyve ever been.Westbrooks individual achievement has spilled over to team success, with his teammates feeding off the triple-double run. It has given the Thunder an identity as they rally around their new solitary leader, and Westbrooks nightly commitment is showcased by the numbers he puts up.You want to always appreciate it and not take it for granted, Nick Collison said. It is pretty special. And it would be different if he was out hunting these statistics. Guys can do that. Theres a lot of guys that do that. But hes really not. Hes really just playing the game. And thats whats best about it. Craig Conroy Jersey . -- Nate Robinson has played for seven teams, so beating one of them is no longer a rare occurrence. Mike Vernon Jersey . -- The Magic have their first victory of the new year. http://www.cheapflamesjerseyschina.com/matt-bartkowski-jersey/ .com) - The red-hot Los Angeles Kings will try to extend their winning streak to a season-high seven games when they visit the Edmonton Oilers for Sundays clash at Rexall Place. Wholesale Flames Jerseys . -- Running backs Darren McFadden and Rashad Jennings were back at practice for the Oakland Raiders on Wednesday despite being hampered by hamstring injuries. Doug Gilmour Jersey . Despite dominating possession, Schalke needed an own goal from Nicolas Hoefler for the breakthrough a minute before the interval. The Freiburg midfielder misjudged Jefferson Farfans corner and bundled the ball into his own net. You win some, you lose some.Its the how you win or lose that makes your Sunday fantasy football experience: that hunch you had to start a rookie quarterback who promptly went off, or that No. 1 pick who unexpectedly let you down.Each Sunday, well recap the weeks winners and losers from a fantasy perspective, complete with applicable game and historical data. Check back after the conclusion of the 1 and 4 p.m. ET (and, when applicable, Sunday Night Football) games for our picks of the weeks best and worst.WinnersDrew Brees, QB, New Orleans Saints: Say hello to our scoring leader from the Sunday 1 p.m. ET game block, as Brees dropped 30 fantasy points on the perceived-by-many-to-be-up-and-coming (including by this columnist) Oakland Raiders defense. Its the 83rd time during his career that Brees has reached the 30-point threshold, second-most in history behind only Peyton Mannings 105.Brandin Cooks, WR, Saints: Cooks performance played a large part in driving Brees points total, particularly a 98-yard receiving touchdown during the third quarter. It was the longest receiving play in a regular-season or postseason game since Eli Manning and Victor Cruz connected for a 99-yard score during Week 16 of 2011, and it helped Cooks to a career-best 27 fantasy points.Willie Snead, WR, Saints: Cooks wasnt the only Saints wide receiver who got into the action. Snead had a productive game of his own, setting a new personal best with 23 fantasy points.Jameis Winston, QB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers: A preseason breakout pick by many (again, this columnist included), Winston got off to a good start to 2016, scoring 25 fantasy points to finish tied for fourth at his position through the Sunday 4 p.m. ET games. What was particularly unusual about it was the opponent; the Atlanta Falcons, hosts for this contest, typically rein in the passing game, evidenced by the fact that Winstons fantasy point total was the most by any individual quarterback against the Falcons since Aaron Rodgers managed 27 against them in Week 14 of 2014.Its also a good sign for the second-year signal-caller, in that only six other quarterbacks since 1950 have scored more fantasy points during Week 1 of their sophomore seasons: Cade McNown (33, in 2000), Dan Marino (32, in 1984), Daunte Culpepper (30, in 2000), Phil Simms (29, in 1980), Drew Bledsoe (28, in 1994) and Norm Snead (26, in 1962). In addition, Winston now has 286 fantasy points through his first 17 NFL contests, which places him seventh all time through that many games, behind Cam Newton (364), Robert Griffin (344), Culpepper (324), Kurt Warner (312), Marino (294) and Andrew Luck (288).Winstons 60.0 percent ownership, and especially his 15.7 percent start percentage during Week 1, in ESPN leagues is certain to rise as a result.Spencer Ware, RB, Kansas City Chiefs: As expected, Ware got the start in place of the injured Jamaal Charles (knee), and he made it count, his 25 fantasy points matching C.J. Andersons total from Thursday night for the lead among running backs through the 4 p.m. ET games. Curiously, it was Wares receiving exploits that fueled his point total, as he caught seven of eight targets for 129 yards, resulting in a 32-point day in leagues that use PPR scoring. Thats more targets, catches and receiving yards than Ware had in all 13 of his career games entering the season combined, and it hints that he could be a factor in the receiving game even after Charles healthy return. Ware, incidentally, is owned in 79.8 percent of ESPN leagues and was started in 57.6 percent.Jack Doyle, TE, Indianapolis Colts: Did anyone start Doyle? Heck, does anyone own Doyle? Check the stats: The highest-scoring Week 1 tight end, through the 4 p.m. ET games, was owned in 0.02 percent and started in 0.01 percent, but he scored two critical fourth-quarter touchdowns in the Colts heartbreaking 39-35 loss.Dwayne Allen, TE, Colts: Perhaps all he needed was a full-time opportunity to claim the Colts tight end targets; Coby Fleeners offseason departure granted Allen that chance entering 2016 (Doyles Week 1 explosion notwithstanding). It paid off, for Week 1 at least, as Allens 13 fantasy points set a new personal best, after he had managed only five double-digit efforts in his first 43 career contests, and never more than 12 in a single game (Week 1 of 2014). He remains available in 62.1 percent of ESPN leagues, incidentally, and had the performance that is much, much more sustainable.Andrew Luck, QB, Colts: Thanks in part to his tight ends performances, Luck captured the weeks top score through the 4 p.m. ET games, tallying 35 fantasy points in what was an expected high-scoring affair against the Detroit Lions. Though Luck already had 12 career games with at least 25 fantasy points to his credit, with six of those coming in his breakthrough 2014 (and most recent fully healthy) campaign alone, this was the first time that he had ever scored this many.Incidentally, Luck now has 1,040 career fantasy points, in 56 games played. Cam Newton is the only quarterback to score that many through as many career contests; he scored 1,061 fantasy points through his first 56.Carson Wentz, QB, Philadelphia Eagles: Few were so bold as to use Wentz -- he was started in just 2.7 percent of ESPN leagues, and is owned in 10.8 percent -- but his 19 fantasy points on Sunday was still a good start, though granted it came against a bad Cleveland Browns defense.dddddddddddd Only 14 other quarterbacks since 1950 managed more fantasy points in their NFL debuts than Wentz.Melvin Gordon, RB, San Diego Chargers: How disappointing was his 2015 rookie campaign? Heres one way to quantify it: Gordons two rushing touchdowns on Sunday were two more than he had in all 14 games in which he played last season. In fact, since 1950, Gordons 217 total touches without a touchdown in 2015 were tied for seventh-most, behind only Marcel Shipps 258 in 2003, Adrian Murrells 242 in 1999, Kevin Faulks 241 in 2003, Harold Greens 237 in 1993, Preston Carpenters 220 in 1956 and Jess Phillips 220 in 1973.Those scores fueled a 17-point fantasy day for Gordon, which is not only more than he had in any single game in 2015, but also more than he had in any two-game span in 2015 (his two-game best was 14, Weeks 2-3).Victor Cruz, WR, New York Giants: Consider it a win for him even if more from a personal perspective than a significant fantasy storyline, as in his first game since Week 6 of 2014, Cruz caught all four of his targets for nine fantasy points. Cruz is owned in 18.9 percent of ESPN leagues, which should only rise if he keeps this up.LosersAdrian Peterson, RB, Minnesota Vikings: The No. 1 running back selected on average, and No. 3 player overall, in ESPN drafts this preseason, Peterson let his owners down in a major way, scoring only three fantasy points on 19 rushing attempts. That matched his worst fantasy performance in a game with at least that many opportunities; he also had three fantasy points on 19 rushing attempts during Week 5 of 2008. Its a poor first step for Peterson, who at age 31 is trying to become the first player since Thomas Jones in 2009 (221 fantasy points, age 31) to manage a 200-point fantasy season at the age of 31 or older, and the 10th different player to reach that threshold at his age or older. In Petersons defense, however, it is not the first time he has been held to single-digit fantasy points during Week 1, as he actually did it in 2015 (5 fantasy points) en route to a 217-point final season total.Devonta Freeman, RB, Falcons: Dont take out all of your frustrations on Peterson; 2015s top-scoring running back, Freeman, had an almost equally disappointing Week 1, with only four fantasy points on 15 touches. Especially disconcerting was that Tevin Coleman, widely regarded as Freemans backup, had the clearly superior game, with 11 fantasy points of his own (as well as a 16-8 advantage in PPR scoring). Freeman was the No. 5 running back and No. 9 overall player off the board in average ESPN drafts this preseason, and he was started in 99.3 percent of ESPN leagues. Coleman, incidentally, was the No. 50 running back off the board in drafts, is currently owned in only 51.8 percent of leagues and was started in 2.6 percent.Keenan Allen, WR, Chargers: Bad news on the injury front, as Allen suffered an apparent torn right ACL on a non-contact play on the first snap after the two-minute warning during the first half of Sundays game. Before departing, Allen had been off to an outstanding start, with six fantasy points (12 in PPR) on seven targets. His season is almost assuredly over, which is devastating news to his owners who helped make him the No. 16 wide receiver off the board during the preseason. (For help with potential replacements, check out Eric Karabells column Sunday evening.)Tyrod Taylor, QB, Buffalo Bills: Owners in 37.0 percent of ESPN leagues saw Taylors favorable Week 1 matchup and started him, and those owners received a mere five fantasy points from him. Its only the second time in his past 17 games that he finished in single digits, and in fact was his worst score in any of his 15 NFL starts.Gary Barnidge, TE, Cleveland Browns: With two of the most heavily owned tight ends, Rob Gronkowski (100.0 percent owned in ESPN leagues) and Tyler Eifert (84.3 percent owned), sitting out Week 1, Barnidge wound up the sixth most-started player at the position (77.7 percent of leagues). Unfortunately, he failed to come down with either of his two targets, his zero representing his worst fantasy performance since Week 17 of the 2014 season.Dak Prescott, QB, Dallas Cowboys: One of the most buzz-worthy players of the 2016 NFL preseason, Prescott had a forgettable regular-season debut, scoring 10 fantasy points on 45 pass attempts (the third-most attempts by any player through the 4 p.m. ET games). Though his wide receivers hardly did him many favors, Prescotts 16.6 percent start rate in ESPN leagues isnt especially likely to rise in Week 2.Dez Bryant, WR, Cowboys: He deserves more of the blame for Prescotts pedestrian fantasy point total, as out of his quarterbacks 45 pass attempts, Bryant saw five targets and caught only one of them for 8 yards and therefore a big, fat fantasy doughnut. It was only the third time in his career Bryant has been shut out, but bear in mind that both of those were games missed by Tony Romo: Week 12 of 2010 and Week 14 of 2015. In 14 career games Bryant has played during which Romo was entirely absent, Bryant has 103 fantasy points (7.4 average); he has averaged 11.5 fantasy points per game when Romo has participated for at least one snap. Cheap Jerseys [url=http: out, but bear in mind that both o/url] Wholesale Baseball Jerseys ' ' '