Does Russ look like a “square peg in a round hole” to you?

Agree with ch44.

 

Nah, I will watch the Rox and enjoy the regular season, and hope they can figure it out in the playoffs.

DD

 

But those triple doubles........



DD

 

Maybe. But with James running the show, we don't need 'centerpiece' Russ.
We just need 'Robin'

 

If you lose you will probably have negative plus minus because of how plus minus works. If he was negative +/- for total career playoffs that would different. He has had success before just not as a number 1 guy.
He is on a new team now with Harden instead of George, it is a different situation.
He has heart and passion which was missing from our team last year in the playoffs.

He can play better and probably will but it is too early for sweeping playoff judgments.
He has yet to shoot us out of any games so far which I was worried about from watching him on OKC.
I am optimistic!

 

Russ doesn't need to make space for Harden obviously. Harden can score regardless. It's if Russ can make something happen when they inevitably double and trouble team Harden to get the ball out of his hands. Can Russ get to the rack when Harden is doubled near midcourt?

 

Westbrook actually stinks on defense. Him shooting badly is not the same because he’s a one-way player.

 

True, Harden can score easily even through double teams. What makes you think Russ will get to the rack off the pass though? He's more than likely to take the three. In the past three playoffs Russ has taken 7.8 threes per game and shot 31.2%. Last year, Portland left him wide open on purpose. You can't drive in that situation so he kept shooting. In his first playoffs with us CP3 took 6.6 threes per game and shot 37.4%. The percentages don't look that much higher but it makes a huge difference.

Teams will likely force the ball out of Harden's hands and push the shot attempts over towards Westbrook. Russ is historically very inefficient even with KD being the main scorer. Even in total decline last year, CP3 was much more efficient than Westbrook has ever been. Harden is incredible passer and commands a lot of attention, but a 12 game sample shows that he hasn't been able to improve Westbrook's scoring efficiency. I believe that will be an issue, especially against the best teams in the league. He will go through some horrible cold stretches. We just need to overcome.

 

If Russ were shooting better, nobody would have a complaint.

Hopefully, once he feels more comfortable with the system and his teammates, some of those shots will fall. Maybe not, though. It's not like he's every been a great shooter.

 

big upgrade over Paul is all i care. definitely the right trade

 

Westbrook goes for the dunk! We win!

...Oh wait, they've brought a man over to stop the dunk! Westbrook passes to PJ in the corner who shoots 50% from there. He shoots, we win!

...Oh wait, they've send another defender to PJ. He swings it over to Danuel House who goes to shoot. The defense recovers, House lobs it to Capela for the dunk... he DUNKS! We win!!!

You said that as if there's no way to beat a double team... yeah, okay DaDakota... whatever you say. Keep up that positive attitude!

 

Wb cant attack the rim or set up his teammates?

 

Nope , I think he's adjusting quite well .... He does what I thought he'd do and more.

I knew he would help the pace and transition game .....but he's also had a huge impact in rebounding - that aint stat padding , no "stealing rebounds" , he goes and gets them.

And you cant discount the intensity that guy plays with .... 110% 110% of the time.


Its a long season and we're just 14 games in and have a winning percentage of .786. For comparisons sake , 65-17 is .792.

Over the last 8 games they are #2 in defensive rating and #2 in scoring. (#1 in scoring for the season , #14 in D-rating)

They keep that up .... you can make your finals reservations.

 

Still not sold on him yet. Maybe with all the nerds and stats that run this team maybe a wildcard is what we need.

 

Hoping that he realizes how great he is at attacking the basket and how dynamic that makes our offense. Russ and Harden are really good complements of one another, especially in this system. Harden getting everyone to fall asleep on his dribbling and shot attempt and Russ exploding 94 feet for a fastbreak layup off a deadball. If MDA and those 2 players can find a method to the madness, we can win it. Regardless, a lot will ride on our role players to consistently find success creating on their own.

 

If they double Harden too far from the basket (which you almost have to do in order to offset his ability to hit deep threes) it leaves Westbrook with a 4 on 3. I am giddy to watch him carve up any defense that dares to double Harden. That's what Portland tried to do and it led to the Rockets best game of the season.

 

he looks like donatello

 

You mean CP3 WAS clearly better five years ago. Or do you mean CP3 right now is better than RWB?