Game Thread GAME# 57: THUNDER @ BLAZERS - FEBRUARY 27, 2015 - FRIDAY, 7:30 PM (PST), ESPN & CSNNW

[Draco]

Another level of selfishness.

As I mentioned in my other responses, the dude jacked up more shots than his next three highest scoring teammates combined. What I didn't mention is that Westbrook MISSED as many FGA as his next FIVE high scoring teammates combined.

In other words. Russell Westbrook scored 39 points on 26 missed FGA. Kanter, Waiters, Augustin, Ibaka and Singler scored a combined 67 points on a combined 26 missed FGA. That's not just selfish, that's just plain stupid.

Westbrook padded his own scoring, rebounding and assist stats, but cost his team the game. Good for him! That's the Russell Westbrook I like to see. I'm hoping he's the one that leaves OKC for the Lakers. Take his big salary and big ego to Lala Land when he can torpedo that franchise's championship hopes for the next decade.

BNM

Does Westbrook sometimes shoot to much? Yes of course. He even admitted it himself postgame last night. Cherry picking his bad game stats and ignoring his good game stats gives a misleading representation of his true impact to his team. Westbrook has the 4th best PER in Ferbruary since 1997 at 34.2. He is second in the NBA for PER this season with 29.2 behind Anthony Davis. The Thunder started the year 4-12 without Westbrook. Before last night he had carried them to 7 straight wins.

Watching the Thunder play is sometimes very frustrating offensively. They start players like Andre Roberts that have zero offensive game just as in years past they'd start Kendrik Perkins. There is terrible player movement. Westbrook is forced to play 4 vs 5 on offense. If Westbrook was on a team such as the Rockets that spaced the court with effective weapons he might be averaging an efficient 35 ppg.

Westbrook is one of the most physically gifted specimens to ever play the game of basketball. Instead of harping endlessly on his few weakness in his game I suggest you watch the positives of his game that nobody on the planet can match. People made all of the same arguments about Michael Jordan being a ball hog that couldn't win in his younger days.

 

[Boob-No-More]

I think if there's a required like post on S2, this is it.

Although, the only caveat I'd mention is that westbrook was out for a month, so the 3.66 games..... no wait, that makes it worse.

I used the 44 games he actually played in for the calculation. He's also jacked up 30 or more shots five times this season (once every 8.8 games), something Damian has NEVER done in 231 career games.

BNM

 

[Strenuus]

I used the 44 games he actually played in for the calculation. He's also jacked up 30 or more shots five times this season (once every 8.8 games), something Damian has NEVER done in 231 career games.

BNM

I mean, Durants been out a ton so you can kinda see why... but, it's still inexcusable... I wonder what his shot totals are in his career with Durant in games.

 

[Boob-No-More]

People made all of the same arguments about Michael Jordan being a ball hog that couldn't win in his younger days.

Actually no, they didn't. Early in his career Micheal Jordan was the ONLY legitimate scoring option on his team and shooting above .500 FG%. He wasn't freezing out a four-time scoring champ and reigning MVP while shooting .432 FG%.

And, for the record, Russell Westbrook is now in his 7th NBA season. That can hardly be considered "early in his career".

BNM

 

[Strenuus]

How about this for a friday night:

Get off work, grab a pizza, watch the Blazers (Or really, listen to wheels as LP will have it blocked... still a damn good time), then start in on Season 3 of House of Cards.

That's a damn good Friday night.

 

[Draco]

Actually no, they didn't. Early in his career Micheal Jordan was the ONLY legitimate scoring option on his team and shooting above .500 FG%. He wasn't freezing out a four-time scoring champ and reigning MVP while shooting .432 FG%.

And, for the record, Russell Westbrook is now in his 7th NBA season. That can hardly be considered "early in his career".

BNM

Jordan was older than Westbrook when he won his first title. Westbrook got to the finals before Jordan and if you don't think his physicality was a prime reason they blew by Tony Parker and the Spurs you didn't watch that series.

 

[Strenuus]

Here's the referees for tonight

Ed Malloy Dedric Taylor Josh Tiven

 

[Boob-No-More]

Jordan was older than Westbrook when he won his first title.

Westbrook has played with the best scorer on the planet his entire career and has ZERO titles to show for it. Comparing him to Michael Jordan is beyond ridiculous.

I'd be willing to wager that the ONLY way Westbrook ever wins a title is as a late career, coattail riding role player (ala Gary Payton in Miami). He will never lead a team to a title the way Jordan did, let alone 6 of them.

BNM

 

[stampedehero]

Stotts is gonna give Brooks the finger, they'll get into a brawl and the Blazers will respond.
Enes Kanter What kind of name is Enes. Did he sell carpet cheaper??

 

[H.C.]

Jordan was older than Westbrook when he won his first title. Westbrook got to the finals before Jordan and if you don't think his physicality was a prime reason they blew by Tony Parker and the Spurs you didn't watch that series.

It wasn't westbrook alone blowing by the spurs after the spurs took a 2-0 lead. It was Harden/Sepholoshia as well. The spurs couldn't match up athletically when the thunder went small. But it wasn't Westbrook alone, which is what people are saying.

When Westbrook locks in defensively he's a top5 player in the league. I don't know if there is a better defender in the league when he wants to be that.
Last season after he got owned by CP3 in the playoffs... He then turned around and took it @ CP3 and owned him back. Personally shutting down the best PG in the game today and a future hall of famer.
But when Westbrook decides he's going to let Bledsoe nearly drop a triple double on him...
AND let Bledsoe be super efficiant.. shooting the ball... That's inexcusable.
Bledsoe isn't a top 15 pg in the league... and he's undersized.
Westbrook should be in the running from defensive MVP every year.
But he's not because he plays hero ball and doesn't care about defense until he gets criticized by the media.

Watching Westbrook play is like watching Romo or Cutler.. Wondering when they'll make a mistake.

 

[Draco]

Westbrook definitely makes a lot of dumb plays and poor decisions. I'd say he's more like the Michael Vick of the NBA. Won't be good at all in his mid 30's but watching him in his physical prime is amazing.

 

[BBert]

How about this for a friday night:

Get off work, grab a pizza, watch the Blazers (Or really, listen to wheels as LP will have it blocked... still a damn good time), then start in on Season 3 of House of Cards.

That's a damn good Friday night.

Games on ESPN. Do you get ESPN?

 

[kingslayer]

As expected, Westbrook is playing. Kanter is out.

 

[Strenuus]

Games on ESPN. Do you get ESPN?

Hell no would I ever let them have my money.

 

[Strenuus]

Wheels mic is cuttin' out. lol.

 

[Strenuus]

Need this game. LET'S GO!!

 

[EGame]

lillard showing westbrick how to make a l,ayup

 

[Darkwebs]

Dame showing Westbook how it's done

 

[DUB]

Let's go Trail Blazers!

I love Friday, and Saturday games, 'cause I actually get to watch them live.

 

[Darkwebs]

Rolo providing some offense early on

 

[Strenuus]

Do that more westbrook. Get pissed, please.

 

[Darkwebs]

Great charge taken by Dame on Westbrook

 

[DUB]

Yeah! Great D Dame!

 

[Strenuus]

lol westbrook.

 

[julius]

I'm guessing that his ankle is fine.

 

[Darkwebs]

Dame is looking fantastic thus far.

 

[DUB]

Then takes it to the hole!

 

[Strenuus]

Also sucks at passing. lol.

 

[EGame]

good start. very fast paced quarter too which is good.

 

[Sinobas]

LaMarcus back to his bad habits