You’re both the point guard and the guy who had been here. The other guys are new. Did that give you added responsibility?

Russell Westbrook: Just figuring it out. I think early on, I was just trying to figure it out, man. I was trying to make sure that everybody was comfortable, everybody was doing exactly what needed to be done. That’s a part of my job regardless of what the numbers look like, my stats. Never worry about that. Just worry about making sure our team is at a level where we all feel comfortable in winning and making basketball plays. I think we’ve done a good job of just trying to figure each other, learning and watching film and trying to make the right plays. Even though we might have been missing shots early, just try to make the right plays and do the right things.

Since the start of December, you guys have been really good, and you’re doing close to what you were doing last year statistically. What’s changed?

RW: I put a lot of pressure on myself, because I’ve been here, myself and Nick has been here the longest. I put a lot of pressure on myself because there’s a standard here in Oklahoma City and the Thunder when you put on this jersey — what it means, how you’re supposed to go out and represent. I put a lot of pressure on myself to make sure that whenever we have new guys, new teammates that come here, they understand, they know the standard and what to expect. I put that on me. ‘

Are you able to play more freely now that you’re more comfortable with these guys?

RW: As I’ve gotten older, every year I’ve tried to add aspects to my game, whether it’s leadership, whether it’s defending at a high rate, whatever it is. Every year I try to become a better leader, and part of that is being able to learn the game while watching film, learning your teammates. Like I said in previous years, I think a lot of times people just give people the leadership tag without actually knowing what leadership is. It’s not just about what you say or how you do it. It’s about what you do on a night in and night out basis, how you know your teammates. What are you willing to do for your teammates, to sacrifice and different things of that nature.

Is it oversimplifying to say that you were thinking more at the beginning of the season than you have to think about now?