Westbrook wins games we wouldn't have won in the past

The usual haterz crawl out of the woodwork

 

So now we're gonna act like Paul wasn't nailing huge threes, putting on a dribbling show, and shimmying on Curry? OK.

That 65 win team was a buzzsaw that ran into possibly the best dynasty team of all time and took them to 3-2 while healthy. Dunno why we have to bash the past to prop the present.

 

It’s debatable but his turnovers have to be cleaned up. Some of his passes make no sense whatsoever.

 

There's something to this. Westbrook can create his own shot a lot easier than CP3.

Question is whether it will be a good shot

 

if we had 3 MAX contracts, the i'd definitely prefer CP3, who is the perfect complimentary player so far this season. but w/ tilfucck unwilling to spend $1 above the lux tax line then maybe WB gives a higher ceiling. imo odds are we probably don't reach that ceiling, but at least there's a chance

 

I really don’t see what’s so difficult in just acknowledging reality. It really shouldn’t even be a debate.

He has had a handful of great games. He has had a handful of ok games. And the rest have been bad. The last 12 or so games have been better than the first 12 or so games. But in total it hasn’t been great.

We have seen some glimpses of how great he can be, but his consistency is all over the place. In order for the team to maximize its talent he has to have more consistency. There is still plenty of time to improve.

As to the turnovers, you are right. Westbrook has the ball in his hands 2 full minutes less compared to last season in OKC and yet he has the exact same number of turnovers per game. You would hope that number starts to drop.

 

Rockets will win more games than last season and be higher seeded.

 

Agreed. Even though he had an amazing game, he still had 5-8 "bonehead" plays, most of which led to easy buckets at the other end. If he was a rookie, I'd be hopeful, but this is who he is. Allowing him to be a decision maker down the stretch of tight games is a recipe for disaster.

4 to 5 years ago Harden had the same issue with bonehead plays, but it was usually no more than 3 per game. In the last 3 years he has really cleaned them up.

 

the realists

Spoiler: do not click

yeah right

 

CP is more trustworthy with the rock. He's better at probing the defense to get the shot HE wants, which is usually the best one. The problem it took too long to get that shot. WB moving full speed makes the defense have to react quicker which creates more opportunities, which ultimately gives guys more looks. I don't know which is better at this point

 

Having WB next to Harden is good bc its like a change of pace running back... Harden is more plodding and plotting waiting for his opening... and WB is like greased lightning where if the d hesitates the play is already over by the time they react...

I've said for years that we were too predictable - WB changes that...

 

Nah. We'd be down 12 but unable to come back because Paul is washed.

If you still fail to see how bad Paul's contract is for his production, there is no hope.
Russ is an all star who can take over sometimes.
Paul is washed up and averages career low assists, plays no defence anymore and scores less ppg than the backup PG for OKC. For the MLE he would be great. But 40 mill per?? Lol. That is multiple firsts to dump if you care about winning.

 

absolutely. as great as CP3 is/was he wasn't a dynamic offensive force as Russ. Not even close. This is the reason they got westbrook. I have already mentioned his flaws but the man can flat out ball with unmatched energy and at times he looks unstoppable driving to the rim. Players like him are in a rare classification. Once a lifetime type player.

 

Nah. One man doesn't cost a team games. It is what it is. You live and die with your players, your style, your strengths and weaknesses. Like I said his style is ferocious and losing control/turn overs is a part of it. Love it or leave it. Shaq couldn't hit FT, Kobe was a high volume low % shooter, Lebron has turnover issues and major lapses. These guys certainly aren't the causes of their teams losing because they balance it with their greatness and willed teams to victory. It's always totality of several factors that leads to teams losing (bench play, turnovers pts for other team, rebounding, lack of help defense etc)

 

It's interesting though. Give and take I guess. It's such a contrast in styles. A slowed down CP3 deliberate and cerebral pace versus a violent, ferocious, relentless attack of Westbrook. Russ' style is beautiful chaos. Several blobs of paint on canvas large strokes/tiny strokes in multiple colors. It's crazy but somehow works and is genius. CP3 is efficient, precise - an engineer or mathematician if you will. Give and take for both styles. Flaws on both ends and immense dividends as well. But maybe just maybe the Rox cracked the code. What we have seen in the past 6-7 games or so that Russ has been brilliant in catching the ball on the wing from Harden and attacking instantly or decisively taking it to a big in the paint with circus shots. Maybe just maybe the dynamic duo has figured it out and the league needs to watch its back because there is hell to pay when this force is let loose.

 

The beloved Luka turns the ball over a lot too. So does Lebron james. Stop calling it bonehead plays. It is what it is. A turnover. Losing control. Part of the game. Live and die with your players. No turning back. Ride or die. Like I said what they lack they pay in full with their talent and even more when they win. Go Russ! Go Rox!

 

Russ is like a Tasmanian devil on steroids

 

No it's not. Same energy every night. Some off nights and some great nights. Always doing little things (steals, blocks, rebounds) that most guards his size don't or can't do. But hey so does the highly popular Luka Donkey-funny no one talks about him shooting .187 from 3 in several games. Kobe had bad games. I don't understand all the fuss and criticism. The man is a baller. A top tier talent. Stop criticizing and appreciate the beauty of his game. If you don't like his style ok. But don't say he's inconsistent or mediocre. Also if you recall it took Wade and Bron several games to mesh into a dynamic duo.

 

yup fully agree. He had a pretty good game against the bucks and great second game of the season and several good games within the first 10 or so games. Lol I love how people over generalize on here.