Its not so much that Westbrook comes up small but he goes 1v5 a LOT. He doesn't trust his teammates to get a basket when the Thunder need a basket but even knowing he is 1v5 he is going to get a shot off and it'll look good. Yes he will miss easy open shots and layups but who doesn't. Westbrook is borderline unstoppable when he is on and he has the mindset of a chucker so he is going to be chucking whether they are going in or not and recently his % is not great at all. His turnovers come from the same thing, and westbrook has always been a turnover machine I don't see any of those changing but I don't necessarily thing its a detriment to his team because of what else he brings.
Losing isn't a detriment to his team?
They have a horrible record when Westbrook takes over 20 shots, or has 40+ points.
I don't really think it's chucking thinking about it... I think it's just ball hogging.
Even Kobe/MJ would pass the ball late in the game if someone had a wide open shot.
See the death threats Steve Blake received to his family, or see Steve Kerr.
Westbrook does bring a lot to the table there is no denying that...
The issue I have is the Thunder would be better late in games without a top 5 or top 10 player in the league because he doesn't make the right basketball play that directly leads to his team losing.
If Lillard/CP3 made the same plays Westbrook does... They'd get crucified.
He's prolly a top5 defender in the game, and prolly the most athletic guard today...perhaps ever..
But what happens when he looses that athleticism... When it's gone because he doesn't understand basketball...
Will he be able to have a lengthy career? I don't think so