Russell Westbrick's Half Court Shot

[Embedded]

Impressive - if it had gone in. Problem, there were 18 seconds on the 24 second clock. And it was in the middle of the quarter. And it started our run. I think WITH Westbrick and WITHOUT James Harden OKC is a different team now when they get in trouble. Durant being boastful about being able to get any shot he wants shows he was stung about only getting 13 attempts. Good job Mr. Jackson and Mr. Leonard, you've gotten into his head.

[superjames1992]

LOL!

[timvp]

Has anyone figured out what happened there? It looks like Pop told Neal to intentionally foul. Westbrook heard Pop and then fired away when Neal was reaching out to foul him. Thankfully Neal is slower than Westbrook thought so he got the shot off before Neal fouled

But why was Pop asking for a foul? He'll do that if someone was injured but nobody appeared to be hurt. Was Pop going to do a Hack-a-Perkins and Neal "fouled" the wrong guy? That's the only thing I can think of ...

[Poolboy5623]

Wow I didn't even see this...not sure what I was doing? I saw the spurs break the other way because I remember jack getting missed he didn't get the ball...that seems to happen often.

[Poolboy5623]

Has anyone figured out what happened there? It looks like Pop told Neal to intentionally foul. Westbrook heard Pop and then fired away when Neal was reaching out to foul him. Thankfully Neal is slower than Westbrook thought so he got the shot off before Neal fouled

But why was Pop asking for a foul? He'll do that if someone was injured but nobody appeared to be hurt. Was Pop going to do a Hack-a-Perkins and Neal "fouled" the wrong guy? That's the only thing I can think of ...

Cia pop? Did he know Westbrook would react this way?

[Splits]

I'm still trying to figure it out. I don't think Pop called for a foul, although that's what I thought when I watched it live. I think he wanted Chuck picked up at the 1/2 court line and pressured. Neal was racing to do so, and getting into defensive position when he puts his hands out and realizes Chuck is running too quickly at him, so he pulls his hands back while the shot gets chucked. It was truly bizarre. But I don't think they were calling for a foul. There was no Spur waiting to check in, no injury, and Pop is just kinda standing there, not waving him up or making some kind of intentional foul sign.

[Splits]

But whatever happened, the OKC announcer saying "Neal came up and shoved Westbrook" is not at all accurate. Neal pulls back and the contact is initiated by the Chuck. Though live and with such a weird play, perhaps it was an honest mistake and not homergoggles.

[Trainwreck2100]

But whatever happened, the OKC announcer saying "Neal came up and shoved Westbrook" is not at all accurate. Neal pulls back and the contact is initiated by the Chuck. Though live and with such a weird play, perhaps it was an honest mistake and not homergoggles.

that's usually how the thunder get fouls

[Cry Havoc]

I'm still trying to figure it out. I don't think Pop called for a foul, although that's what I thought when I watched it live. I think he wanted Chuck picked up at the 1/2 court line and pressured. Neal was racing to do so, and getting into defensive position when he puts his hands out and realizes Chuck is running too quickly at him, so he pulls his hands back while the shot gets chucked. It was truly bizarre. But I don't think they were calling for a foul. There was no Spur waiting to check in, no injury, and Pop is just kinda standing there, not waving him up or making some kind of intentional foul sign.

This is exactly what I think happened.

[Dex]

Has anyone figured out what happened there? It looks like Pop told Neal to intentionally foul. Westbrook heard Pop and then fired away when Neal was reaching out to foul him. Thankfully Neal is slower than Westbrook thought so he got the shot off before Neal fouled

But why was Pop asking for a foul? He'll do that if someone was injured but nobody appeared to be hurt. Was Pop going to do a Hack-a-Perkins and Neal "fouled" the wrong guy? That's the only thing I can think of ...

I think Neal was just trying to play up on Westbrook at the half-court line (admittedly too close, but this is Neal's defensive instincts we are talking about here). Between Westbrook's speed and herky-jerky movements, Neal just misjudged and stepped in too close, and Westbrook felt the slight contact and tried to draw the stupidest foul ever (credit this to the Thunder's tendency to expect a foul every time the wind blows).

[pookenstein]

I'm still trying to figure it out. I don't think Pop called for a foul, although that's what I thought when I watched it live. I think he wanted Chuck picked up at the 1/2 court line and pressured. Neal was racing to do so, and getting into defensive position when he puts his hands out and realizes Chuck is running too quickly at him, so he pulls his hands back while the shot gets chucked. It was truly bizarre. But I don't think they were calling for a foul. There was no Spur waiting to check in, no injury, and Pop is just kinda standing there, not waving him up or making some kind of intentional foul sign.

I think that's it. And the sad part about it is thatI was surprised Westbrook didn't get the call.

[Splits]

I think that's it. And the sad part about it is thatI was surprised Westbrook didn't get the call.

I too was surprised at the no call, but even so the refs never give 3 throws on those intentional fouls. So it is an even stupider play by Westchuck, because there is zero upside to his heave.

[timvp]

I'm still trying to figure it out. I don't think Pop called for a foul, although that's what I thought when I watched it live. I think he wanted Chuck picked up at the 1/2 court line and pressured. Neal was racing to do so, and getting into defensive position when he puts his hands out and realizes Chuck is running too quickly at him, so he pulls his hands back while the shot gets chucked. It was truly bizarre. But I don't think they were calling for a foul. There was no Spur waiting to check in, no injury, and Pop is just kinda standing there, not waving him up or making some kind of intentional foul sign.

I coulda sworn Pop did his "foul him" arm hack sign right before Neal ran up to Westbrook. That video doesn't show Pop in time. Maybe someone can find another video.

[crc21209]

Being there and seeing it live just looked like Neal tried to pressure him, got too close, and Westbrook thought he would get the whistle (like always) and jacked it up. Everyone around me kept saying "WTF was that?!?!"

[therealtruth]

Maybe Pop was using reverse psychology. We've gotten a couple of ill advised three's because of opponents thinking/expecting we're going to foul.

[jesterbobman]

Pop was either pressuring or intentionally fouling. I'm pretty sure Westbrook was trying to draw a foul, and thought he would get the call(Or, there was a sufficient probability to get the call). If it's called 50% of the time, you get 3 FTA at 80%(Whatever Westbrooks FT% is), which is a pretty good possesion(EV of 1.2 at a 50% chance). It wasn't called, but it's understandable if that's the thought process is. I don't think Russ was doing the math while playing, but it's always possible.

[KaiRMD1]

Chimp is a in' moron either way

[hater]

you must not have been watching OKC much. Westbrook shoots one of those every few games

[Brazil]

yet some upstairs (looking at you Elnono) consider this dude is a top 5 nba player ... he is nowhere near TP / CP3 even Irving. It is his fourth year in the league and he made 0 real progress of his game, he is the same selfish, inconsistent dude he was when he entered the league. The fact that he refuses to acknowledge who is the alpha male of his team puts him in the category of the overrated idiots of the league. imho fwiw

[NASpurs]

[exstatic]

yet some upstairs (looking at you Elnono) consider this dude is a top 5 nba player ... he is nowhere near TP / CP3 even Irving. It is his fourth year in the league and he made 0 real progress of his game, he is the same selfish, inconsistent dude he was when he entered the league. The fact that he refuses to acknowledge who is the alpha male of his team puts him in the category of the overrated idiots of the league. imho fwiw

Top 5 in talent, bottom 10% in BBIQ.

[Russo21]

Thats one of the most Epic ups i've ever seen. Pure classic.

[ffadicted]

Can I get a gif of this lol

[Seventyniner]

Never gets old

[Brazil]

Top 5 in talent, bottom 10% in BBIQ.

BBIQ is not part of having talent ?