OT- Around the NBA (1 Viewer)

[magnifier661]

Dallas 0-4. Who would have thought?

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

Dallas 0-4. Who would have thought?

KingSpeed.

 

[Mediocre Man]

Dallas 0-4. Who would have thought?

Their schedule has been pretty brutal, and the loss of Tyson Chandler was huge

 

[RR7]

Probably doesn't need its own thread, saw this from Stein:

Marc Stein @ESPNSteinLine
WOW tidbit of the day (at least to me): Informed that Greg Oden's new salary w/Blazers is $1.5 mil. Original POR qualifying offer: $8.9 mil

 

[Mediocre Man]

Wow if true.

 

[huevonkiller]

The problem is, he has a very strong tendency to compete with the players on his own team. He completely froze out Durant in the 4th quarter of several playoff games last season. There is a reason Batman drives the Batmobile and Robin sits in the passenger seat. Unless someone can convince Westbrook that the two-time reigning NBA scoring leader is the real Batman, OKC will never reach their full potential.

I do think Westbrook could be "the man" on a mid-level playoff team, but when you're the point guard on a team with Kevin Durant, your 1st, 2nd and 3rd job should be to get him the fucking ball, not call your own number six times in a row in the 4th quarter of a playoff game with the game on the line.

BNM

Well no, since Westbrook and Derrick Rose are essentially the same player. So Russell would be just fine in Chicago.

People have created this double standard where Rose is allowed to ballhog and he doesn't get called out on it, Westbrook plays at the same level and handles the ball better than Durant, and all of a sudden he's a bad guy.

Durant has a massive usage rate already, there's not much more Russell can do to fix that.

 

[jlprk]

Probably doesn't need its own thread, saw this from Stein:

It deserves its own thread.

 

[B-Roy]

Well no, since Westbrook and Derrick Rose are essentially the same player. So Russell would be just fine in Chicago.

People have created this double standard where Rose is allowed to ballhog and he doesn't get called out on it, Westbrook plays at the same level and handles the ball better than Durant, and all of a sudden he's a bad guy.

Durant has a massive usage rate already, there's not much more Russell can do to fix that.

+1

Westbrook is being made out to be some sort of bad guy. It's all the media's fault.

 

[magnifier661]

Well no, since Westbrook and Derrick Rose are essentially the same player. So Russell would be just fine in Chicago.

People have created this double standard where Rose is allowed to ballhog and he doesn't get called out on it, Westbrook plays at the same level and handles the ball better than Durant, and all of a sudden he's a bad guy.

Durant has a massive usage rate already, there's not much more Russell can do to fix that.

Rose doesn't have the best player in basketball on his team. Much different scenario IMO. If Westbrook was somewhere else, he becomes the #1 option and his ball hogging ways would be accepted. The difference is Durant is a better player, scorer, and star than Westbrook. There is something wrong if Westbrook was getting 5 more shots a game than Durant. KNOW YOUR ROLE!!!!

[video=youtube;FlYRJOW-JD4]

 

[huevonkiller]

Rose doesn't have the best player in basketball on his team. Much different scenario IMO. If Westbrook was somewhere else, he becomes the #1 option and his ball hogging ways would be accepted. The difference is Durant is a better player, scorer, and star than Westbrook. There is something wrong if Westbrook was getting 5 more shots a game than Durant. KNOW YOUR ROLE!!!!

[video=youtube;FlYRJOW-JD4]

But Durant is getting his touches so the criticism is overblown.

If the Thunder want to go anywhere Westbrook has to develop.

 

[magnifier661]

But Durant is getting his touches so the criticism is overblown.

If the Thunder want to go anywhere Westbrook has to develop.

2011-12: Kevin Durant FGA/M: 43-75 ::::::::: Russel Westbrook FGA/M: 22-66

It maybe overblown, but Durant is a career 46% shooter and Westbrook is a career 41%. He needs to give the damn ball to Durant more.

 

[huevonkiller]

2011-12: Kevin Durant FGA/M: 43-75 ::::::::: Russel Westbrook FGA/M: 22-66

It maybe overblown, but Durant is a career 46% shooter and Westbrook is a career 41%. He needs to give the damn ball to Durant more.

We just started the year don't worry. Westbrook will get much better, KD will get a little worse but still be good.

 

[Boob-No-More]

Well no, since Westbrook and Derrick Rose are essentially the same player. So Russell would be just fine in Chicago.

People have created this double standard where Rose is allowed to ballhog and he doesn't get called out on it, Westbrook plays at the same level and handles the ball better than Durant, and all of a sudden he's a bad guy.

Durant has a massive usage rate already, there's not much more Russell can do to fix that.

Unfortunately, the facts don't support your conclusions.

First, the Rose comparison is a red herring. Different players, different teams, different systems. On the Bulls, Rose is CLEARLY their best option on offense. He is their primary scorer. No one else on that team is capable of being the number one scoring option on a championship contender. With Rose as their primary scoring option they had the best regular season record and made it to the NBA finals. Luol Deng was the Bulls second leading scorer and had a PER of 15.5. Do you really think the Bulls would be a better team if Derrick Rose deferred to Luol Deng more often? In OKC, Westbrook is paired with the number one scoring option in the entire NBA, the Westbrook has a higher usage rate than Durant.

As you can see from my original quote, I was specifically referring to the way Westbrook froze out Durant during the 4th quarter of several playoff games last season. Westbrook also had a higher usage rate during the regular season (31.6%) than the league's leading scorer (30.6%), but the difference wasn't as glaring as it was during the playoffs. Here's a few key stats from last year's playoffs:

Kevin Durant:
PER = 24.1
TS% = 0.582
USG% = 29.0
WS/48 = 0.217

Russell Westbrook:
PER = 19.6
TS% = 0.499
USG% = 34.4
WS/48 = 0.084

From these numbers, it is extremely obvious that Durant was a MUCH more effective scoring option than Westbrook during the playoffs. Westbrook was calling his own number WAY too often. And these numbers are totals for all playoff games. I'd LOVE to see the numbers just for the 4th quarters of close games. Those are the situations where Westbrook completely froze out Durant and cost his team the game on multiple occasions.

Heck statistically, Westbrook wasn't even OKC's second best scoring option during last year's playoffs. James Harden was a far more efficient scorer than Westbrook, but with Westbrook dominating the ball, Harden didn't get nearly as many touches.

James Harden:
PER = 19.1
TS% = 0.634
USG% = 17.1
WS/48 = 0.193

I'm not claiming Harden is a better player than Westbrook, but he is a much more efficient scorer. A very big part of Westbrook's job as PG is to distribute the ball to his more efficient scoring teammates. With the two time NBA scoring champion and an efficient scorer like Harden on his team, there is no way Westbrook should have the highest usage rate on his team - and a ridiculously high one during the playoffs. It was almost like the whole 2nd team All-NBA selection thing went to his head. He was already a bit of a ball hog before that, but after that, it was like he suddenly thought he was "the man" and Kevin Durant was an afterthought. Don't believe me? Go back and look at the game logs for the 4th quarters of the playoff games the Thunder lost last season and see how many more shots Westbrook took than Durant, and the long stretches where Durant didn't get a single FGA. Westbrook was a total ball hog with the games on the line.

He needs to come to grips with the fact that as long as him and Durant are both in OKC, he will be at best, Robin to Durant's Batman. If he keeps shooting as poorly as he is, he may very well be demoted to Alfred to Harden's Robin.

BNM

 

[Pinwheel1]

"Fesenko no longer in Warriors' plans"

He would not be a bad option if you wanted to add size. 7'1" 290. Plays a bit out of control IMO, but he not that bad..............

 

[Mediocre Man]

"Fesenko no longer in Warriors' plans"

He would not be a bad option if you wanted to add size. 7'1" 290. Plays a bit out of control IMO, but he not that bad..............

Size would be welcomed on this team

 

[MickZagger]

"Fesenko no longer in Warriors' plans"

He would not be a bad option if you wanted to add size. 7'1" 290. Plays a bit out of control IMO, but he not that bad..............

I'd take Fesenko for spot minutes.

 

[Boob-No-More]

Size would be welcomed on this team

The guy flat out sucks. He had a PER = 5.3 last season. But, he could still end up as a Blazer. I call it the Harvey Grant effect. Fesenko has had some of his best NBA games against the Blazers. And by best NBA games, I mean 8 PTS/6 REB, 7 PTS/6 REB and 9 PTS/3 REB.

BNM

 

[MickZagger]

He's a big body, he's relatively young and bigs are late bloomers. I'd take him for cheap at the end of my bench in emergency situations.

 

[Pinwheel1]

The guy flat out sucks. He had a PER = 5.3 last season. But, he could still end up as a Blazer. I call it the Harvey Grant effect. Fesenko has had some of his best NBA games against the Blazers. And by best NBA games, I mean 8 PTS/6 REB, 7 PTS/6 REB and 9 PTS/3 REB.

BNM

You are probbaly right or someone would have grabbed him by now. But he has looked decent against us....

 

[Draco]

The guy flat out sucks. He had a PER = 5.3 last season. But, he could still end up as a Blazer. I call it the Harvey Grant effect. Fesenko has had some of his best NBA games against the Blazers. And by best NBA games, I mean 8 PTS/6 REB, 7 PTS/6 REB and 9 PTS/3 REB.

BNM

Fesenko is a defensive mastermind. Seriously, go look at his advanced defensive stats, they are some of the best in the NBA. His offense is horrible, but he would be a far better option then Chris Johnson and give us the option of a different look from Kurt Thomas or Craig Smith. Right now when Camby is leaving the game teams are scoring in bunches against us.

 

[huevonkiller]

Unfortunately, the facts don't support your conclusions.

But they do, statistically.

First, the Rose comparison is a red herring. Different players, different teams, different systems. On the Bulls, Rose is CLEARLY their best option on offense. He is their primary scorer. No one else on that team is capable of being the number one scoring option on a championship contender. With Rose as their primary scoring option they had the best regular season record and made it to the NBA finals. Luol Deng was the Bulls second leading scorer and had a PER of 15.5. Do you really think the Bulls would be a better team if Derrick Rose deferred to Luol Deng more often? In OKC, Westbrook is paired with the number one scoring option in the entire NBA, the Westbrook has a higher usage rate than Durant.

You're complaining about a minor discrepancy in usage rate. From 29.3 usage in 2010 to a 27.8 usage rate 2011. All this screamin' and hollerin' is greatly exaggerated.

As you can see from my original quote, I was specifically referring to the way Westbrook froze out Durant during the 4th quarter of several playoff games last season. Westbrook also had a higher usage rate during the regular season (31.6%) than the league's leading scorer (30.6%), but the difference wasn't as glaring as it was during the playoffs. Here's a few key stats from last year's playoffs:

Kevin Durant:
PER = 24.1
TS% = 0.582
USG% = 29.0
WS/48 = 0.217

Russell Westbrook:
PER = 19.6
TS% = 0.499
USG% = 34.4
WS/48 = 0.084

From these numbers, it is extremely obvious that Durant was a MUCH more effective scoring option than Westbrook during the playoffs. Westbrook was calling his own number WAY too often. And these numbers are totals for all playoff games. I'd LOVE to see the numbers just for the 4th quarters of close games. Those are the situations where Westbrook completely froze out Durant and cost his team the game on multiple occasions.

Heck statistically, Westbrook wasn't even OKC's second best scoring option during last year's playoffs. James Harden was a far more efficient scorer than Westbrook, but with Westbrook dominating the ball, Harden didn't get nearly as many touches.

James Harden:
PER = 19.1
TS% = 0.634
USG% = 17.1
WS/48 = 0.193

What evidence do you have that this sample size is more appropriate?

From the 2010 sample size, I want Westbrook dominating the ball.

http://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/OKC/2010.html

I'm not claiming Harden is a better player than Westbrook, but he is a much more efficient scorer. A very big part of Westbrook's job as PG is to distribute the ball to his more efficient scoring teammates. With the two time NBA scoring champion and an efficient scorer like Harden on his team, there is no way Westbrook should have the highest usage rate on his team - and a ridiculously high one during the playoffs. It was almost like the whole 2nd team All-NBA selection thing went to his head. He was already a bit of a ball hog before that, but after that, it was like he suddenly thought he was "the man" and Kevin Durant was an afterthought. Don't believe me? Go back and look at the game logs for the 4th quarters of the playoff games the Thunder lost last season and see how many more shots Westbrook took than Durant, and the long stretches where Durant didn't get a single FGA. Westbrook was a total ball hog with the games on the line.

He needs to come to grips with the fact that as long as him and Durant are both in OKC, he will be at best, Robin to Durant's Batman. If he keeps shooting as poorly as he is, he may very well be demoted to Alfred to Harden's Robin.

BNM

What Westbrook did was take possessions away from Harden, Ibaka, etc. Which makes perfect sense, especially if Westbrook continues to improve in the future.

And he is a much better ball handler than Durant, combine all of that and it makes the Rose comparison perfect actually.

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

Westbrook is the new type of PG that I loathe: Score first, score second, look to pass.

Imagine how dangerous OKC could have been had they traded Westbrook for CP3.

 

[crowTrobot]

rubio >> ridnour

 

[MickZagger]

Rubio is electric. He see's the pass that no one else see's. I'm starting to become a believer after always being skeptic.

 

[Mediocre Man]

Rubio is electric. He see's the pass that no one else see's. I'm starting to become a believer after always being skeptic.

I take it he is having a good game?

 

[MickZagger]

I take it he is having a good game?

I've watched him play all 3 games. He's been impressive for a rookie. Maybe the most impressive rookie.

 

[crowTrobot]

I've watched him play all 3 games. He's been impressive for a rookie. Maybe the most impressive rookie.

that would be kemba walker

EDIT or it was until he just went 1-9 tonight. was great for first 2 games.

 

[MickZagger]

Love is going to work against Bosh. He's unstoppable right now.

 

[3RA1N1AC]

watchin it, i tuned in to catch a lil rubio

 

[MickZagger]

watchin it, i tuned in to catch a lil rubio

Got your priorities straight, playa