Russell Westbrook: Unimpressed

[BlazerWookee]

Look I'll give Westbrook his due. He is one of the best PG' s in the league. I admire his motor and his ability to take over games. That said, his selfishness has been and will be his downfall. If he would have got Oladipo more involved, maybe some of his other teammates, then he would have put his team in a place to win. But, he had to play so many minutes, score so many points to make up for his team, which brought little to the table. OKC's chemistry is crap. They are winning as much as they are because Westbrook is putting so many points every night sure, but he's not making his teammates better around him, he's making up for their absence offensively. He's not a good teammate or leader.

I have to give it up to the Blazers. Last night they played almost perfectly. executed team basketball. Our bench played the best they have so far this season. Vonleh was a beast inside. Crabbe played famtasticly and ended with a +15. Meyers Leonard played the best ball I have seen him play this season, maybe any season. He had a +24 ....We played amazing ball. We had a fantastic leader in Lillard. We got CJ going off like crazy and Nurkic fearless with 5 fouls....thats inspiring fucking basketball. Westbrook can have his 58 points I'll take the Blazer team I saw last night.

Execution is always much prettier when you make more than half your shots.

 

[Typhoid Jerry]

Noob here. Been reading posts from all of you for awhile and finally decided I'd jump in.

I hate Westbrook....always have always will. Even when KD was with him and they were doing well I thought he was a cancer to the team with the way he'd hock up horrible shots late in the 4th. If I had to compare what Westbrook is doing to OKC with any other team I'd probably go with the Knicks and what Carmelo has done. Hero ball is so boring to watch.....especially when the hero's team doesn't even make the playoffs.

But as far as last's night game goes, I thought we played a hard game and am so ecstatic we went 3-1 vs. that poor team and that sad excuse for a leader.

 

[noknobs]

I don't think the purpose of this thread is about acknowledging his talent or his gaudy stats, or how good he is in the 4th quarter, it's whether or not the douche should be the MVP.

The average team scores well over a hundred points and well over 20 assists per game. Someone has to get those stats. It stands to reason that if the ball is "always" in a guys hand he'll have some pretty amazing stats.

At the end of the day Westbrook is shooting 42.2% from the field and averaging 5.5 turnovers a game.

He made 21 field goals last night and only one of those was assisted. Let that sink in.

That means there was a whole lot of 1 on 5 going on. Yes he's great at 1-5, maybe the best, but you're never going to convince me that he makes his teammates better or that he doesn't ice them out by hogging the ball.

On the year OKC is 26th in team assists per year. But lets all fawn over Westbrook because he's averaging 10. Durant, Leonard and Harden's teams are all in the top 6, by the way. And of course they're winning, a lot.

He's not my MVP, not by a long shot.

 

[Typhoid Jerry]

Westbrook shouldn't even be in the conversation for MVP.....IMO

 

[andalusian]

The Spurs' defense is 8 points per 100 better when Kawhi is off the court. His presence only impacts the Spurs' net rating by about 1.5 points.

From the Spurs games I have watched I think this is more indicative that barring a Boogie, Kawhi is always guarding the other team's best player and usually rests when that player rests as well. This can be anyone from a PG to a PF - which is pretty amazing.

If you look at advanced metrics like DBPM - The difference between Kawhi and Lebron per 100 possessions is 0.3 - they are basically having the same impact defensively (Lebron is a tiny bit better). This is negated on OBPM where Kawhi is a little better. When you look at WS and WS/48 - Kawhi is having quite a remarkable season and is better than Lebron this year.

Lebron is great - and it is amazing he is so good at this stage of his career, but imho, so far this year, Kawhi is playing better and his team is having a better season despite the fact that the roster is not deeper or really better than the Cavs.

If it was my vote, I would go:

1. Kawhi
2. Lebron
3. Durant
4. Harden
5. Westbrick

 

[Rastapopoulos]

Clowns all of you! This guy is a fucking BEAST on the court! The same that hate on Russ probably are the ones trying to crack on Harden's game at the start of this season! If you've ever played a lick of competitive basketball how can you hate on his game. He's doing things on the NBA court that on few have. I don't give a fuck WHAT the circumstances are! Few have done what he's doing and that's an unarguable fact.
Step out from your mom's basement and give credit where it's due. You don't have to root for him and you can actually root against him and actually hate him, but you can't take away what this kid is accomplishing.

I think the truth lies somewhere in between. Westbrook is certainly incredible - he probably has the highest "motor" of anyone ever. I have described him as a pint-sized LeBron James with less passing skills and I think that's still probably fair, except he just operates at breakneck speed ALL THE TIME. You can't really argue that he's hurting his team because he has a net + while he's on the court. You COULD argue that it's a bad idea for a team to put SO MUCH on one player, but he's the only star they have and they have a seriously flawed team otherwise (kind of plodding bigs, very few good shooters). He's not the most skilled player in the world, that's for sure, but he makes up for a lot with sheer determination, amazing athleticism and just relentlessness. The fact that he has a decent chance of duplicating Oscar Robertson's feat of averaging a triple-double (one of the records, like Wilt's 100, that most people said would never be approached in the modern era) is amazing in itself. I think his rebounding is his most spectacular attribute - he may be a better rebounder-per-inch than even Rodman.

(It shouldn't need noting that his stats are partly a function of the way the team is using him (like Harden's in Houston) but of course that's true of everyone's stats ever.)

 

[BlazerWookee]

Westbrook shouldn't even be in the conversation for MVP.....IMO

Iverson shouldn't have been, but he certainly was...

 

[stampedehero]

Westbrook has a below .500 record for his career (14-16) in games in which he's scored 40+ (7-7 this season). Can that be said about any other "star" player?

Good Intel. A Secret Stat.

 

[Wizard Mentor]

I can't believe there are still blind Russ haters. The guy has improved so much. His maniacal game is still so underrated.

I'm a Russ hater, but I don't think he sucks, I just don't think he's MVP.

If I'm starting a new team and I want fans to get excited, I'd love Russ.

WWPD - What would Popovich do? He'd give Russ free reign for 3 quarters, and bench him in the 4th.

 

[BlazerWookee]

I'm a Russ hater, but I don't think he sucks, I just don't think he's MVP.

If I'm starting a new team and I want fans to get excited, I'd love Russ.

WWPD - What would Popovich do? He'd give Russ free reign for 3 quarters, and bench him in the 4th.

I'm a Russ hater, too, but if Iverson was the MVP, Westbrook should absolutely be the MVP.

 

[andalusian]

I honestly believe that Durant wanted out of OKC because he had to play with Russ. This probably makes him the LVP. He is an amazing player, but if he cost them Durant his value to his team is pretty low.

Per usual, YMMV.

 

[PtldPlatypus]

I'm a Russ hater, too, but if Iverson was the MVP, Westbrook should absolutely be the MVP.

When Iverson was MVP, weren't the Sixers the best team in the East? Not really a valid comparison.

 

[Scalma]

Wanna talk about no supporting cast? Yeah, check out that team iverson carried to the finals in '01. No comparison to what Westbrook has in okc.

 

[Typhoid Jerry]

When Iverson was MVP, weren't the Sixers the best team in the East? Not really a valid comparison.

I think that one of the pre-requisites to being an MVP should definitely be W's>Stats.
When Iverson won the MVP, not only were the 76ers a top team in the East, they also made it to the Finals. I don't see a similar fate for the Thunder under Westbrook.

 

[Troy.Ave]

Clowns all of you! This guy is a fucking BEAST on the court! The same that hate on Russ probably are the ones trying to crack on Harden's game at the start of this season! If you've ever played a lick of competitive basketball how can you hate on his game. He's doing things on the NBA court that on few have. I don't give a fuck WHAT the circumstances are! Few have done what he's doing and that's an unarguable fact.
Step out from your mom's basement and give credit where it's due. You don't have to root for him and you can actually root against him and actually hate him, but you can't take away what this kid is accomplishing.

Thanks HCP these Westbrook haters are clowns.

They would be all over Dame's dick if he was doing the same thing. Westbrook is amazing and what he's doing will never be done again. They should atleast appreciate his freaking effort and mentality he possesses.

 

[BlazerDuckSeahawkFan94]

Wanna talk about no supporting cast? Yeah, check out that team iverson carried to the finals in '01. No comparison to what Westbrook has in okc.

Westbrook really does have a solid squad, they should be a defensive juggernaut honestly.

 

[Strenuus]

Thanks HCP these Westbrook haters are clowns.

They would be all over Dame's dick if he was doing the same thing. Westbrook is amazing and what he's doing will never be done again. They should atleast appreciate his freaking effort and mentality he possesses.

lol. To be fair, if Dame was doing what Westbrook is doing, people would call for his head because of not being the ultimate team player. Otherwise, its double standards and hypocrisy... So, lets not go quite to the assuming train just yet. It was a good effort, though.

 

[BoomChakaLaka]

Clowns all of you! This guy is a fucking BEAST on the court! The same that hate on Russ probably are the ones trying to crack on Harden's game at the start of this season! If you've ever played a lick of competitive basketball how can you hate on his game. He's doing things on the NBA court that on few have. I don't give a fuck WHAT the circumstances are! Few have done what he's doing and that's an unarguable fact.
Step out from your mom's basement and give credit where it's due. You don't have to root for him and you can actually root against him and actually hate him, but you can't take away what this kid is accomplishing.

 

[blue9]

The ONLY weakness in Westbrook's game is...his coach. If he had a coach who held him accountable, he'd be the only player that could give LBJ some competition as best/most dominant player in the game.

 

[Cippy91]

Thanks HCP these Westbrook haters are clowns.

They would be all over Dame's dick if he was doing the same thing. Westbrook is amazing and what he's doing will never be done again. They should atleast appreciate his freaking effort and mentality he possesses.

lol. People get annoyed at Dame if he takes 2 shots in a game that result in bricks and poor shot selection. The past week I saw Russ throw up plenty of bricks on terrible shot selection. So no, I doubt people here would be all over Dame. Russ is a great player, most explosive I have seen. Endless motor. Fact is the offense he is in is designed for padded stats. There is just no reason to be putting up that many shots, it's losing his team games. Last night he was pretty efficient actually I give him that. Still had 16 free throws, quite a bit of those due to the favoritism he gets. I mean whatever, I personally believe somebody like Kawhi deserves some attention. efficient, does it on both ends of the floor. That's an MVP right there

 

[Troy.Ave]

I personally believe Lebron should be the MVP

 

[KingSpeed]

Lillard beat Westbrook 3-1 in the season series.

 

[GrandpaBlaze]

Lillard beat Westbrook 3-1 in the season series.

So did Pat C. Connaughton for MVP!

Don't buy into the player A vs player B hype the networks advertise, it is about the team. Lillard didn't beat Westbrook 3-1, the Blazers beat the Thunder 3-1.

The Blazers are more than Lillard and the Thunder should be more than Westbrook.

 

[BLAZINGGIANTS]

I HATE Westbrook. I absolutely hate him and have always been weary of his "me" attitude and his total disregard on the court for his teammates. I've never felt stronger about that about any player, aside from Harden and maybe Kobe. On and off the court, he acts like a complete douchebag. I've always thought he was super-overrated and a ball hog.

That being said, I've been incredibly impressed by him this year. Him signing an extension with OKC was the start of him turning my opinion around. He's still a douche. He's still a ball hog. He's still about himself (mostly). But dude is a baller and I can respect him and what he brings to the game.

But yeah, the team beating the Westbrooks last night felt great.

 

[Jade Falcon]

Kobe's ball hogging hurt his team more than it helped.

Dude, it got him 5 championships. If Dame gets us 5 championships, then he can fucking SWALLOW the ball for all I care.

I think Russ is an amazing player. Generational talent.

But man, that dude is an asshole. Strait up.

 

[Strenuus]

So did Pat C. Connaughton for MVP!

Don't buy into the player A vs player B hype the networks advertise, it is about the team. Lillard didn't beat Westbrook 3-1, the Blazers beat the Thunder 3-1.

The Blazers are more than Lillard and the Thunder should be more than Westbrook.

Truth. There's no debating this.

 

[BLAZINGGIANTS]

If Dame gets us 5 championships, then he can fucking SWALLOW the ball for all I care.

#damiandoesdallas

 

[Stevenson]

Clowns all of you! ... Step out from your mom's basement and give credit where it's due.

"He's a one-man show who treats his teammates like stage props." And that's one of the nicer things he says.

I guess Bill Simmons needs to go back to his mom's basement too, eh?

 

[THE HCP]

"He's a one-man show who treats his teammates like stage props." And that's one of the nicer things he says.

I guess Bill Simmons needs to go back to his mom's basement too, eh?

You are actually using Bill Simmons opinion on something to give your take credibility?

 

[THE HCP]

"He's a one-man show who treats his teammates like stage props." And that's one of the nicer things he says.

I guess Bill Simmons needs to go back to his mom's basement too, eh?

And the topic of this thread wasn't if he was a nice guy or great person or teammate was it? I didn't think that was what we were discussing.