Russell Westbrook from UCLA

[GMJ]

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<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>Strengths:

• Freakish athleticism
• Excellent first step/Amazing leaper
• Wingspan
• Huge hands
• Phenomenal in transition
• Outstanding defender
• Can guard 1 or 2-spot
• Understands role/Team player
• Executes offensively
• Strong intangibles/Work ethic
• Brings great energy
• Late bloomer/Huge upside

Weaknesses:

• Not a true point guard
• Undersized for SG position
• Struggles in half-court
• Average ball-handler
• Average shooter
• Ability to create own shot
• Mid-range game
• A starter at PG or SG?
• Needs time to develop</div>

Draft Express

This is the guy I want at 10. Defensive minded shooting guard (back up PG if Marcus is traded?), who can hit the midrange jumper and attack the basket in the half-court, but who excells in the transition game. He'd be perfect for us.

Also he's pretty athletic:
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I love the emotion, and killer-instinct.

 

[NattaNerNuttaMan]

I don't want that to happen.

only cuz I want Minny to make a move into the mid round and get him, if Minny is dumb and drafts Lopez at #3


I like Westbrook as well...I think he'll be a good player for a long time

 

[Shapecity]

I watch a lot of Pac-10 basketball and I don't see why Westbrook is getting all this sudden hype. He had two monster dunks last year and all of a sudden he's a top 10 lottery pick?

"Needs time to develop" is spot on under weaknesses.

 

[NattaNerNuttaMan]

it's not for the dunking....it's his defense and ability to play PG...with his defensive abilities & length...and the way that teams are starting to shift more towards PG's...someone who has the ability to lock down a PG should count for alot

 

[pegs]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (NattaNerNuttaMan @ May 24 2008, 12:43 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>it's not for the dunking....it's his defense and ability to play PG...with his defensive abilities & length...and the way that teams are starting to shift more towards PG's...someone who has the ability to lock down a PG should count for alot</div>

So, he's like Kyle Lowry, who was picked with the 24th pick in a relatively weak draft (2006)?

 

[NattaNerNuttaMan]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (pegs @ May 24 2008, 11:44 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (NattaNerNuttaMan @ May 24 2008, 12:43 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>it's not for the dunking....it's his defense and ability to play PG...with his defensive abilities & length...and the way that teams are starting to shift more towards PG's...someone who has the ability to lock down a PG should count for alot</div>

So, he's like Kyle Lowry, who was picked with the 24th pick in a relatively weak draft (2006)?
</div>


well lets see Lowrey is 6'0"/175lbs while Westbrook is 6'4"/189 lbs. hmmmm...there is a size difference there....and are you saying that in hindsight Lowery would be picked 24th now? I don't think so...he'd be going in mid to late lottery as well

 

[User01]

ZI don't want him. ZI don't think he'll be more than a defensive minded backup combo guard.

 

[NattaNerNuttaMan]

I'd take em

 

[ghoti]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (pegs @ May 24 2008, 12:44 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (NattaNerNuttaMan @ May 24 2008, 12:43 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>it's not for the dunking....it's his defense and ability to play PG...with his defensive abilities & length...and the way that teams are starting to shift more towards PG's...someone who has the ability to lock down a PG should count for alot</div>

So, he's like Kyle Lowry, who was picked with the 24th pick in a relatively weak draft (2006)?
</div>

Well, sorta.

Both are absolute bulldogs and hard-nosed competitors. Both are tireless defenders. They have somewhat similar offensive games.

Lowry is more of a PG and a much better ballhandler.

Westbrook has a MUCH better body. Better length, better athleticism, and a ton more potential than Lowry had coming out of college.

Westbrook is an easy guy to root for. At the very least, he fills the Nets' biggest weakness - they are too nice and everyone is too laid back and relaxed. They need to bring in crazy competitors like this guy.

I'm on the fence about this. His size and lack of shooting worries me for such a high pick. He'd help right away, but I don't know how good he'll be long term.

 

[NattaNerNuttaMan]

I here ya on that...not to mention that you wouldn't have to trade M. Williams since Westbrook could swing between the two guard spots to cover whichever oppenent guard is giving them fits during the game

 

[pegs]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (ghoti @ May 24 2008, 01:01 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (pegs @ May 24 2008, 12:44 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (NattaNerNuttaMan @ May 24 2008, 12:43 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>it's not for the dunking....it's his defense and ability to play PG...with his defensive abilities & length...and the way that teams are starting to shift more towards PG's...someone who has the ability to lock down a PG should count for alot</div>

So, he's like Kyle Lowry, who was picked with the 24th pick in a relatively weak draft (2006)?
</div>

Well, sorta.

Both are absolute bulldogs and hard-nosed competitors. Both are tireless defenders. They have somewhat similar offensive games.

Lowry is more of a PG and a much better ballhandler.

Westbrook has a MUCH better body. Better length, better athleticism, and a ton more potential than Lowry had coming out of college.

Westbrook is an easy guy to root for. At the very least, he fills the Nets' biggest weakness - they are too nice and everyone is too laid back and relaxed. They need to bring in crazy competitors like this guy.

I'm on the fence about this. His size and lack of shooting worries me for such a high pick. He'd help right away, but I don't know how good he'll be long term.
</div>

I can understand why you're on the fence about this - he doesn't really seem like a lottery pick at all. At most, 15th pick...

 

[NattaNerNuttaMan]

Yeah...that's where I pictured him at first. i wanted Minny to trade thier 2nd rounders (and maybe Boston's 1st rounder next year) for Pheonix's #15 to pick up Westbrook, if they got B.Lopez at #3

But I'm with you guys, he's a stretch at #10

 

[ghoti]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (pegs @ May 24 2008, 01:18 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (ghoti @ May 24 2008, 01:01 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (pegs @ May 24 2008, 12:44 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (NattaNerNuttaMan @ May 24 2008, 12:43 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>it's not for the dunking....it's his defense and ability to play PG...with his defensive abilities & length...and the way that teams are starting to shift more towards PG's...someone who has the ability to lock down a PG should count for alot</div>

So, he's like Kyle Lowry, who was picked with the 24th pick in a relatively weak draft (2006)?
</div>

Well, sorta.

Both are absolute bulldogs and hard-nosed competitors. Both are tireless defenders. They have somewhat similar offensive games.

Lowry is more of a PG and a much better ballhandler.

Westbrook has a MUCH better body. Better length, better athleticism, and a ton more potential than Lowry had coming out of college.

Westbrook is an easy guy to root for. At the very least, he fills the Nets' biggest weakness - they are too nice and everyone is too laid back and relaxed. They need to bring in crazy competitors like this guy.

I'm on the fence about this. His size and lack of shooting worries me for such a high pick. He'd help right away, but I don't know how good he'll be long term.
</div>

I can understand why you're on the fence about this - he doesn't really seem like a lottery pick at all. At most, 15th pick...

</div>

This isn't really a strong draft, though.

This guy is a very exciting player who is guaranteed to play and help somebody - and he is far from a finished product, which makes him an attractive pick.

I think late lottery to mid-first is exactly right for Westbrook, but I'm not sure if he's really what the Nets need at #10.

 

[NattaNerNuttaMan]

yeah, they could trade down a little and still probably get a Augustin or M. Chalmers as a backup PG between the 15-21 slots

 

[Astral]

Watching him a little and reading his description, he sounds like a young RJ.
Great in transition, great defender, great athlete, good energy..... yet he's a poor shooter, ball handler, can't create his own shot, occasionally sloppy passer...

RJ was successful because he had good size and he played SF, a position that doesn't require being a good shooter and ball handler - even though RJ still gets consistently bashed for his ball handling.
I don't see Westbrook being very successful. Unlike RJ, he's severely undersized and is poorly suited for his natural position, SG because he can't create a shot and is too short, and can't play PG because he lacks the PG instincts.

I have no idea why DraftExpress has him as Leandro Barbosa as a best case scenario. Barbosa can dribble and shoot. Westbrook is more of a Jacque Vaugn at this stage.

 

[NattaNerNuttaMan]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Astral @ May 24 2008, 12:33 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Watching him a little and reading his description, he sounds like a young RJ.
Great in transition, great defender, great athlete, good energy..... yet he's a poor shooter, ball handler, can't create his own shot, occasionally sloppy passer...

RJ was successful because he had good size and he played SF, a position that doesn't require being a good shooter and ball handler - even though RJ still gets consistently bashed for his ball handling.
I don't see Westbrook being very successful. Unlike RJ, he's severely undersized and is poorly suited for his natural position, SG because he can't create a shot and is too short, and can't play PG because he lacks the PG instincts.

I have no idea why DraftExpress has him as Leandro Barbosa as a best case scenario. Barbosa can dribble and shoot. Westbrook is more of a Jacque Vaugn at this stage.</div>

Uh...a Jacque Vaughn with a 7'6" wingspan?

 

[Astral]

Uhm. Do you mind posting a link that says he has 7'6" wingspan? Because he doesn't.

 

[NattaNerNuttaMan]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Astral @ May 24 2008, 12:57 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Uhm. Do you mind posting a link that says he has 7'6" wingspan? Because he doesn't.</div>


My apoligies...His name was mashing into an article with MGee...my bad...I can admit when I'm wrong....sowwy!!!! lol

 

[ghoti]

Russell Westbrook is absolutely nothing like RJ or Jacque Vaughn.

 

[GMJ]

So at the very least he can come in and be a perimeter player with an impact on the defensive end, who can earn baskets with our Devin Harris-lead transition game. Similarly to how Boone can score bunches in our pick-and-roll plays.

Down the line he can improve his jumper, which in my opinion is a skill more easily gained than anything else this kid possesses (defense, athleticism, determination, etc).

Who doesn't want that?

 

[ghoti]

Lawrence Frank would love this guy. That's a factor management needs to start considering as well.

 

[kdub]

Sounds like Rajon Rondo, but with passion and less court vision.

Or, someone who should get picked in the 20s in a good draft, but can still definitely help out a team in the right situation.

 

[Kid Chocolate]

Love Westbrook. He's a game-changer.

 

[Kid Chocolate]

Also, Russell Westbrook was the Pac-10 Defensive Player of the Year in 2008.