Official Around the NBA - March Edition!

[PtldPlatypus]

With all this talk of Westbrick's "historic" play, I wonder when the last time a player averaged over 30 FGA for a month, the last time a player had 30+ FGA in four straight games and the record for consecutive games with 30+ FGA.

BNM

Kobe had four straight 30+ FGA games 3/31/06-4/7/06. That was the year he scored 35 ppg.

AI had six in a row from 2/27/02-3/8/02. He shot 40%, but they at least went 5-1 in that stretch.

Jordan went eight straight from 11/26/86-12/9/86, his 3000 point season.

That's as far back as basketball-reference goes on individual game FGA stats.

 

[Strenuus]

Kobe had four straight 30+ FGA games 3/31/06-4/7/06. That was the year he scored 35 ppg.

AI had six in a row from 2/27/02-3/8/02. He shot 40%, but they at least went 5-1 in that stretch.

Jordan went eight straight from 11/26/86-12/9/86, his 3000 point season.

That's as far back as basketball-reference goes on individual game FGA stats.

What were the records of Jordan and Bryants' teams through those?

 

[illmatic99]

Is there a more polarizing player in the NBA right now than Russ?

Man, he might suck in crunchtime, but OKC would be dead in the water getting blown out nightly without him. These numbers are just staggering. Calling him Westbrick and hating on him for every fault is a bit childish. Kinda sad that an OKC hater like me has to essentially defend him on this board

 

[Strenuus]

Is there a more polarizing player in the NBA right now than Russ?

Man, he might suck in crunchtime, but OKC would be dead in the water getting blown out nightly without him. These numbers are just staggering. Calling him Westbrick and hating on him for every fault is a bit childish.

Is getting blown out and barely losing any different? The team is still 2-3 during this stretch. That's not acceptable at all.

 

[Natebishop3]

Is there a more polarizing player in the NBA right now than Russ?

Man, he might suck in crunchtime, but OKC would be dead in the water getting blown out nightly without him. These numbers are just staggering. Calling him Westbrick and hating on him for every fault is a bit childish. Kinda sad that an OKC hater like me has to essentially defend him on this board

I have never seen a point guard trust his teammates less than Westbrook.

 

[Strenuus]

And on top of that, 2 of those games they should have won, but Westbrook choked. I mean, that's horrible. It's one thing to give your team a chance to win, it's another to give them that chance then take it all away by your own doing.

From GOAT to goat, I suppose.

 

[magnifier661]

Is there a more polarizing player in the NBA right now than Russ?

Man, he might suck in crunchtime, but OKC would be dead in the water getting blown out nightly without him. These numbers are just staggering. Calling him Westbrick and hating on him for every fault is a bit childish. Kinda sad that an OKC hater like me has to essentially defend him on this board

Westbrick....

"He doesn't always score 40, but when he does, usually he costs his team the game with an airbl or costly turn over"

 

[illmatic99]

I have never seen a point guard trust his teammates less than Westbrook.

With good reason. He has like 2 other NBA players on that roster.

 

[Strenuus]

With good reason. He has like 2 other NBA players on that roster.

So how does he make his team better by not trusting them to, oh I don't know, get better? It's not like Westbrook is any good at closing games, so he has no room to say that others can't do it. (Not that he has said it, but that he can't say it if he wanted to or anyone says that he could.)

 

[BBert]

The stepping out of bounds made me giddy. It was so...much...fun....

 

[BBert]

The stepping out of bounds made me giddy. It was so...much...fun....

 

[Strenuus]

I enjoyed your double post, BBert.

 

[PtldPlatypus]

What were the records of Jordan and Bryants' teams through those?

Jordan went 2-6 in that stretch. That also included a 7-game road trip.

Kobe went 2-2 in his stretch.

 

[Natebishop3]

With good reason. He has like 2 other NBA players on that roster.

And that's the difference between someone like Chris Paul and someone like Russ. I remember Paul made some pretty crappy players look halfway decent while he was in New Orleans. Remember Hilton Armstron?

 

[BBert]

I enjoyed your double post, BBert.

Haha. So much fun had to do it twice.

 

[Boob-No-More]

He's also on pace for the highest USG% in the history of the NBA.

As I posted in my Westbrook Least Valuable Player thread, he's on pace to become the first player in league history to have a USG% > 38 and a scoring average < 35. The other two were:

Kobe Bryant - 2005-06:
USG% = 38.74
Scoring Average = 35.4 ppg

Russell Westbrook - 2014-15:
USG% = 38.40
Scoring Average = 27.4 ppg

Michael Jordan - 1986-87:
USG% = 38.29
Scoring Average = 37.1 ppg

At least when Jordan and Kobe were dominating the ball at historic levels, they were putting it in the basket. 27.4 ppg on 38.4 USG% is an incredibly inefficient use of that many possessions. I guess that's why the Thunder are 1-3 during Westbrick's "histroric" run and 2-6 when he shoots 30+ FGA and 2-7 when he scores 38+. Well, that and the fact that he's a HORRIBLE closer who chokes big time with the game on the line.

BNM

 

[Boob-No-More]

Kobe had four straight 30+ FGA games 3/31/06-4/7/06. That was the year he scored 35 ppg.

AI had six in a row from 2/27/02-3/8/02. He shot 40%, but they at least went 5-1 in that stretch.

Jordan went eight straight from 11/26/86-12/9/86, his 3000 point season.

That's as far back as basketball-reference goes on individual game FGA stats.

Thanks for looking that up and posting it. Based on USG%, those were the first three guys I thought of.

BNM

 

[Boob-No-More]

With good reason. He has like 2 other NBA players on that roster.

Bullshit. That may have been true last year (well, other than a healthy Durant), but OKC's front office recognized their lack of scoring depth and brought in additional offensive players. Enes Kanter (especially) and Mitch McGary are both excellent low post scorers (Kanter sucks on defense, but that's no reason for Westbrick to freeze him out on offense), Anthony Morrow and D.J. Augustin are both better shooters (especially from 3-point range) and more efficient scorers than Westbrick - note: I didn't say they were better players than Westbrick, but they can put the ball in the basket. Serge Ibaka is also a better shooter (again, MUCH better from 3-point range) and more efficient scorer than Westbrick.

I've been watching Westbrick freeze out Durant in the 4th quarter of playoff games since 2010-11. So, it's no surprise Westbrook is freezing out his "lesser" teammates now - and it's costing them wins. Against PHO, Kanter was unstoppable in the low post, but Westbrook froze him out in the 4th quarter. At the start of the 4th quarter last night, with Westbrick on the bench, OKC scored 12 points on 5-6 shooting in 3 minutes. Augustin scored 7 points on 3-4 shooting during that stretch and pushed the lead to 10 points. Westbrick came in with 8 minutes left and took over. He was 2-9 in the quarter and had zero assists. OKC had a critical 4 minute scoring drought that saw Westbrick go 0-5 and CHI cut the lead from 9 points to 1 point.

Westbrook is fully capable of creating easy shots for his teammates, but he chooses not to. Ibaka, Morrow and Augustin are all very good 3-point shooters. Kanter and McGary are very capable low post scorers. Even with Durant out, OKC would be a VERY good team is Westbrook would use his physical gifts to create easy scoring opportunities for his teammates - but he wants to be the hero and with the game on the line, tries (and fails) to do it all himself.

BNM

 

[KeepOnRollin]

Reggie Miller Says Michael Jordan Once Referred to Himself as 'Black Jesus'

My rookie year we were playing the Chicago Bulls, and this is Michael Jordan’s third or fourth year in. And we were playing an exhibition game...most veterans do not like to play in exhibition games, they want to get to the real thing. I’m a wide-eyed, energetic rookie and...Michael’s going through the motions. And Chuck Person—who’s on my team—who is a trash-talker as well, is like, "Can you believe Michael Jordan, the guy everyone’s talking about, who’s supposed to be able to walk on water? You’re out here killing him, Reg! ... You should be talking to him!" And I was like, "You know what, you’re right!" "Michael...who do you think you are? The great Michael Jordan? That's right, there’s a new kid on town!" He kind of looks at me and starts shaking his head. So at half I have 10, and he has four points...end of the game, the second half, he ended up with 44 and I ended up with 12. So he outscored me 40-2. And as he's walking off, he's like, "Be sure, and be careful, you never talk to Black Jesus like that."

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/...ordan-once-referred-to-himself-as-black-jesus

 

[KingSpeed]

Bullshit. That may have been true last year (well, other than a healthy Durant), but OKC's front office recognized their lack of scoring depth and brought in additional offensive players. Enes Kanter (especially) and Mitch McGary are both excellent low post scorers (Kanter sucks on defense, but that's no reason for Westbrick to freeze him out on offense), Anthony Morrow and D.J. Augustin are both better shooters (especially from 3-point range) and more efficient scorers than Westbrick - note: I didn't say they were better players than Westbrick, but they can put the ball in the basket. Serge Ibaka is also a better shooter (again, MUCH better from 3-point range) and more efficient scorer than Westbrick.

I've been watching Westbrick freeze out Durant in the 4th quarter of playoff games since 2010-11. So, it's no surprise Westbrook is freezing out his "lesser" teammates now - and it's costing them wins. Against PHO, Kanter was unstoppable in the low post, but Westbrook froze him out in the 4th quarter. At the start of the 4th quarter last night, with Westbrick on the bench, OKC scored 12 points on 5-6 shooting in 3 minutes. Augustin scored 7 points on 3-4 shooting during that stretch and pushed the lead to 10 points. Westbrick came in with 8 minutes left and took over. He was 2-9 in the quarter and had zero assists. OKC had a critical 4 minute scoring drought that saw Westbrick go 0-5 and CHI cut the lead from 9 points to 1 point.

Westbrook is fully capable of creating easy shots for his teammates, but he chooses not to. Ibaka, Morrow and Augustin are all very good 3-point shooters. Kanter and McGary are very capable low post scorers. Even with Durant out, OKC would be a VERY good team is Westbrook would use his physical gifts to create easy scoring opportunities for his teammates - but he wants to be the hero and with the game on the line, tries (and fails) to do it all himself.

BNM

This post is 100% true. Also note that OKC won last Sunday when Westbrook didn't play. The starters scored 68 points that game. In Westbrook's 49 point game, the starters only scored 61. Team is better without him.

 

[bulls_with_booz]

It was clear at the end of the Bulls game that Westbrook has an ego. They trapped him in the corner and his foot was on the line, even if it wasn't, it would have been a stupid play IMO. You can see how Scott Brooks is so eager to pander to his star players, IE: Westbrick.

Thibs had Gasol, a great passing big, inbound the ball to the open Etwaun Moore, who took an open 3 and drilled it. A smart play. Oklahoma City has great potential, but Brooks and the Westbrook - Durant ego dynamic will hold them back.

 

[Strenuus]

lebron is stupid. Westbrook like T.

 

[julius]

This post is 100% true. Also note that OKC won last Sunday when Westbrook didn't play. The starters scored 68 points that game. In Westbrook's 49 point game, the starters only scored 61. Team is better without him.

They beat the Lakers. A college team could beat the Lakers right now.

 

[Strenuus]

They beat the Lakers. A college team could beat the Lakers right now.

On that note, Lakers up 10 against Memphis with 9 minutes left in the 4th in Memphis.

You read that right.

 

[Strenuus]

Wow... you get on offensive board in the 4th and you jack a shot right back up. How westbrook of the Lakers.

 

[Strenuus]

The Lakers are doing Laker things and screwing this lead up.

 

[Strenuus]

Lakers are pathetic.

 

[bulls_with_booz]

Lakers are pathetic.

Boozer is playing solid ball for them though.

 

[Strenuus]

Boozer is playing solid ball for them though.

Fantastic. They just gave up a 10 point lead. They only good for tanking.

 

[ripcityboy]

Reggie Miller Says Michael Jordan Once Referred to Himself as 'Black Jesus'



http://bleacherreport.com/articles/...ordan-once-referred-to-himself-as-black-jesus

It's funny. Since he retired. I have never read a former team mate say a kind thing about Michael Jordan. And he always ranks first in biggest jerks in pro sports contests. Guess once your that GREAT you can be that Egotistical.