Russell Westbrook<3

[unleashbaynes]

and yall think tony plays hero ball

[N0 LyF3 ScRuB]

Mainstream fan

[Mr Bones]

I wonder what all star-level players who will be free agents in the next two years thought of Westbrook's 28 shots? Will it make them want to play with him, or will it keep them away? My guess is it's more likely to keep them away.

[spurs10]

I wonder what all star-level players who will be free agents in the next two years thought of Westbrook's 28 shots? Will it make them want to play with him, or will it keep them away? My guess is it's more likely to keep them away.

Yeah he looks like a real team player...

[ElNono]

[daslicer]

Super athletic PG that shoots a ty FG percentage and takes a lot of shots. I have seen this before in the mold of Marbury,Francis,Baron Davis. Granted he's had more playoff success than those guys but just like those guys if he was by himself without Durant I doubt he would be able to do much when it comes to winning.

[Ginobili3]

Kobe just called him a younger version of himself lol

[dabom]

Kobe just called him a younger version of himself lol

But seriously, west is a top 4 talent in the league.

[Ginobili3]

But seriously, west is a top 4 talent in the league.

Agreed. Best player for OKC this year, no doubt

[BillMc]

I'm glad he won it. The bigger his ego gets, the more he becomes a one man show and forgets about Durant, the worse the Thunder will be as a team.

[TVI]

wait, peeps are complaining about 57% shooting? smh

Meh...yea, he had a hot hand, but it was in an exhibition game with zero defense. No one was even trying to slow him down. I think the East squad was a little surprised he was trying so hard.

[ElNono]

Meh...yea, he had a hot hand, but it was in an exhibition game with zero defense. No one was even trying to slow him down. I think the East squad was a little surprised he was trying so hard.

but, but... he stops himself

[Brazil]

Honestly, I have not that an issue on the fact he takes a lot of shots and there is no doubt he is top 4/5 talent of the league right now, his advanced are great, he was running a 28 PER last time I checked.

The way OKC is built he needs to shoot the ball but my main issue is on the 3s. I am not sure why his atrocious 3 pts shooting is never commented. Basically he is the worst 3 pts shooter of the league, .281 with almost 4 attempts per game is horrible. To be fair he is not the worst Batum is worst you can argue on some others but you get the picture.

[313]

Honestly, I have not that an issue on the fact he takes a lot of shots and there is no doubt he is top 4/5 talent of the league right now, his advanced are great, he was running a 28 PER last time I checked.

The way OKC is built he needs to shoot the ball but my main issue is on the 3s. I am not sure why his atrocious 3 pts shooting is never commented. Basically he is the worst 3 pts shooter of the league, .281 with almost 4 attempts per game is horrible. To be fair he is not the worst Batum is worst you can argue on some others but you get the picture.

D. Rose is v close. 29%

[Brazil]

D. Rose is v close. 29%

Very true. I'd say Rose is worst because he takes 5,5 of those per game

but that's Westchimp company right there Rose and Batum... I mean why don't just take one or two 3s per game wide open to keep Defense honest and limit yourself to that ?

[313]

Very true. I'd say Rose is worst because he takes 5,5 of those per game

but that's Westchimp company right there Rose and Batum... I mean why don't just take one or two 3s per game wide open to keep Defense honest and limit yourself to that ?

I would say they're over compensating and not trying to attack the basket at risk of injuring their knees again, but they still attack recklessly so they have no excuse to be shooting that many threes surprised thibs doesn't say anything

[Brazil]

I would say they're over compensating and not trying to attack the basket at risk of injuring their knees again, but they still attack recklessly so they have no excuse to be shooting that many threes surprised thibs doesn't say anything

Except Rose even at his peak was taking 5 per game with a ty %... Considering the IQ of those two (West and Rose) not surprising they chuck from a distance out of their reach both are .30 carreer

[dabom]

If we had westchuuk instead of parker we would win a fourpeet easy.

[TDfan2007]

Westbrook is incredibly talented and a 2-way player, but he does the whole "heroball" thing more than almost anyone in the league, so it's funny to see the TP haters riding his so hard. As Brazil mentioned, his 3FGAs are inexcusable. The dude is not a good shooter from distance and needs to reign it in.

In WB's defense, his team doesn't run much of a system and his team is VERY limited offensively outside of KD. He'd fit best as a SG.

Another note: once his athleticism declines his game will crater much like Rose's.

[ElNono]

Another note: once his athleticism declines his game will crater

I said the same thing and some people said I was being "subtle"...

[ElNono]

Also, Russ has progressed a lot on the defensive side, and I think people don't give him enough credit there.

[TDfan2007]

I said the same thing and some people said I was being "subtle"...

that's probably because at least part of you was being "subtle," but his drop off will probably be worse than Tony's. Just to be clear, I think it's hard to argue that Tony hasn't been living off of his athleticism. His court vision is average, and without his speed he's had a lot of trouble playing the PG position effectively.

Also, Russ has progressed a lot on the defensive side, and I think people don't give him enough credit there.

Absolutely. In 2012 the Thunder had to hide him on Green, but in 2014 he completely locked Tony down. He's also done solid work against Wall and Lillard recently iirc.

[Dex]

Also, Russ has progressed a lot on the defensive side, and I think people don't give him enough credit there.

Probably because he's a nosed little face and he wears stupid clothes.

[MI21]

Probably because he's a nosed little face and he wears stupid clothes.

I've never understood why one man would decide to hate another man because of how he dresses, tbh.

I don't particularly like Westbrook and he is a player than I change my mind about a lot due to a few reasons, but how he dresses isn't one of those criteria.

[Cry Havoc]

Honestly, I have not that an issue on the fact he takes a lot of shots and there is no doubt he is top 4/5 talent of the league right now, his advanced are great, he was running a 28 PER last time I checked.

The way OKC is built he needs to shoot the ball but my main issue is on the 3s. I am not sure why his atrocious 3 pts shooting is never commented. Basically he is the worst 3 pts shooter of the league, .281 with almost 4 attempts per game is horrible. To be fair he is not the worst Batum is worst you can argue on some others but you get the picture.

My issue isn't that he takes a lot of shots, but that he completely removes everyone else from the offense in doing so. Bandy the assist totals about all you want, that's not a true indication of team buy-in. Russ and KD are probably good for 60 points a night in the playoffs. Are they going to get 40 from the rest of their starting cast, given their level of participation in the offense? no. Single cover everyone and shut the rest of the team down, and it's over. Would be a different story if anyone else on the Thunder felt like they could step up and be a force on offense aside from Ibaka's blue moon shooting performances.