These 3 players are unique in how they play the game - uber athletic, strong, fast and are relentless driving and finishing at rim. Also all 3 are excellent facilitators/creators. All 3 are below average 3 point shooters. Giannis and Ben Smmons are both over 6'10 while Russ is only 6'3. Play Russ like Bucks and 76ers play their guys. Use him as screener, 5 out lineups, pick and roll, early offense and get players around him that will run as hard, long tenacious defenders and can shoot the 3. https://syndication.bleacherreport....-cornerstone-in-joel-embiids-absence.amp.html
Greece freak 25, Ben 22, both have long way to go, very very promising. they are mature at their age, good captains. russ's hot temper is achille' heel, ez to be used by opp's defensive specialist. As a team captain, his emotion is a double edged sword. But stll we luv russ. Wish he and the beard got more chemistry (the night skies are somber and starless…the true star gone, thats kb24)
3pt shooting in the last 3 seasons Westbrook 30%, 29%, 24%, career 30% Giannis 31%, 26%, 32%, career 29% Simmons career total 2-22 9% Westbrook is trending down. Giannis is trending up. Simmons is trending empty
Giannis is not in this convo. He hits 32% of 5 attempts and improves every single year and is constantly working on his shooting. He has almost doubled his attempts and improved his efficiency 7% over one summer - that is MASSIVE. He will no doubt become a good shooter. As for Simmons, like Westbrook, his stubbornness is pissing away an opportunity for his team. He is making life hard on Embiid. Just like Simmons scores easily when Embiid is out because the post is clear, he should afford that spacing luxury to Embiid. Westbrook is having a good month. It won't be the first time he has a great month. Won't be the last. Doesn't change the reality of his overall performance. His first month is excusable because he wisely takes summers off and barely recovered from injury in time for the season. If you think he's going to replicate his January performance for the rest of the season or the playoffs, you are setting yourself up for disappointment. Overall, he needs to cut out 90% of the mid range and take a few 3's a game from the corner. That would likely make us the best scoring team in NBA history rather than one of the best scoring teams in the NBA. Even if he hits 30-32%. He also must play better defense. Harden seems to legitimately have ADD so being off ball on offense or defense is tough for him and frankly a wasted opportunity for us given how lethal he is with the ball and guarding a player in the post. Westbrook just gambles too much and is stubborn rather than harmonious on switches. We need all the help we can get right now with our trading options being limited. Someone has to have the balls to tell Harden to rest more, tell MDA to chill on PJ and Westbrook to cut the tough guy act when it comes to his own team.
Not buying that at all. Call me when ONE of these guys average a triple double for ONE season, never mind 3 consecutive.
Might be some years down the line but I'd call, just wait up. I prefer winning Conference titles and ships over triple doubles any day.
The team best suited for Westbrook is surely one full of shooters. However GA and BS are pointforwards who often play C. Their teams also have a couple of bigs who can shoot 3s competently. We lack the personell for that.
If you think hard enough, the Lakers have the most to prove and the most to play for this year. All for Bean Bryant. Maybe another year.
The comparison is interesting but production wise I don't put Simmons in Giannis or Westbrook's class. His two and a half seasons are solid. A defensive player. Decent assists 7-8, but pts per game is 16. He can attack the paint, but he's a career 60% ft shooter. Even Giannis had a few years where he's in low 70%. Simmon's good but Max contact good? (170 mil / 5 years); three years in league. (Didn't count 1st year -dnp) People assume he'll maintain or improve but we've seen lot of players fall off due to injuries or whatever. His contract can easily turn into one of those toxic hard to move Klove contracts. The jury is still out on Simmons.
I don’t think Simmons likes to work in the off-season. He’s a professional coaster. Have you seen any improvement in his game?
every single player in the NBA has flaws.............we waste way too much time paying attention to them and not enough time on what a player can do
I hope Russ just runs Giannis ass into the ground next they meet. And I think I was first to call for a 5 out offense!