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Here are the real Cold Hard Facts on Russell Westbrick

Discussion in 'NBA Dish' started by Tha_Dude, Apr 26, 2017.

  1. Tha_Dude

    Tha_Dude Contributing Member

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    Game 1 - 4th Qtr - 0-2 FG
    Game 2 - 4th Qtr - 4-18 FG
    Game 3 - 4th Qtr - 3-7 FG
    Game 4 - 4th Qtr - 5-11 FG
    Game 5 - 4th Qtr - 2-11 FG

    Westbrick shot 29% in the 4th quarter for the series in which most of the games were competitive except for game 1.

    But, but, Russell has no help right? Well, here's how his so called weak supporting cast fared for the series. These are the guys who logged the most minutes in the series.

    Andre Roberson - 23/39 FG - 59%
    Victor Oladipo - 17/44 FG - 39%
    Steven Adams - 15/24 FG - 63%
    Taj Gibson - 17/28 FG - 61%
    Jerami Grant - 15/23 FG - 65%
    Alex Abrines - 4/12 FG - 33%
    Doug McDermott - 9/17 FG - 53%
    Enes Kanter - 10/24 FG - 42%

    Total for supporting cast - 110/211 FG - 52% shooting.

    Westbrick for the series - 59/152 FG - 39% shooting.

    As you can clearly see here, Westbrick attempted 3/4's of the total number of field goals that his entire supporting cast did for the series. His team was also shooting the ball much more efficiently than he was for most of the series. I don't know how any reasonable person could argue that not spreading the ball around was the right strategy for the Thunder in this series, yet that is all you will hear about from TNT/BSPN as they attempt to deflect their own guilt for supporting this ass clown as MVP. Game 3 was a perfect example of this as Russell tried to be more balanced in this game and the Thunder ended up winning, albeit in a nail biter but he was able to keep his teammates engaged while still making a few shots as he needed to.

    The real Russell Westbrick always shows his face in the end, though -- And he tends to chuck his teams out of games more often than not with no regard for the 4 other dudes who are on the court with him. Hence, why Durant left and why the Thunder will likely have a hard time landing any serious FA's in the future.
     
    #1 Tha_Dude, Apr 26, 2017
    Last edited: Apr 26, 2017
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  2. arno_ed

    arno_ed Contributing Member

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    Good post.

    On top of this the best of his support cast are more important as defensive players. Westbrook is the worst defensive player from their starting line up. That is also one of the things I hate when people say he has no help. Adams, Gibson, Roberson are a great help on the defensive end, no matter if they are scoring.
     
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  3. Tha_Dude

    Tha_Dude Contributing Member

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    They also rebound all of his bricks and they do it quite well.
     
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  4. Beardaholic13

    Beardaholic13 Member

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    Game.Set.Match.
    We all know who the real MVP of the 2017 season is but wins and effeciency does not matter anymore....it mattered in 2015 but its all good that award is pointless anyways.
     
  5. Rokman

    Rokman Member

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    It's pretty obvious that the media picks it's MVP at the beginning of the season and then looks for reasons to defend that choice. These guys will make any argument even if they contradict themselves to make it appear that they are right. Well, in the words of Zoolander, "You aren't!"
     
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  6. Os Trigonum

    Os Trigonum Contributing Member
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    I don't understand, why is this in the DISH?? :p
     
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  7. Torn n Frayed

    Torn n Frayed Member

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  8. Tha_Dude

    Tha_Dude Contributing Member

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    Well, it's all just a media conspiracy. See? ;)
     
  9. A_3PO

    A_3PO Member

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    Like I said in another thread, WB should have shot less when on the floor. Doing so would have made their offense more efficient, probably helped them be more comfortable when he rested and allowed him more rest so 4th quarter fatigue would not have been such a huge factor. That, by itself, could have been the difference in the series.
     
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  10. FTW Rockets FTW

    FTW Rockets FTW Contributing Member

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    28/19/70 shooting numbers for Rusty Westy in the 4th in this series.

    38% from the floor and 26% from 3 for the entire series.

    TS% from the other OKC guys

    McDermott: 73%
    Grant: 69%
    Gibson: 63%
    Adams: 59%
    Russ: 49%
     
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  11. superfob

    superfob Mommy WOW! I'm a Big Kid now.

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    The odd thing is, most ball dominant superstar players save their best stuff for the 4th instead of blowing their wads early. I guess stat chasing triple doubles makes it hard to break out of that habit when your battling the game clock, not the other team.
     
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  12. pirc1

    pirc1 Contributing Member

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    Russell is well suited to be the second option, but even when Durant was there, he is often playing the hero ball and chucking left and right towards the end of the game. You don't see Green chucking away at the end of the games. I think that is one big reason why Durant left OKC.
     
  13. durvasa

    durvasa Contributing Member

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    More facts:

    Offensive and Defensive ratings for Thunder with and without Westbrook:

    with Russ:
    110.8 vs 107.3
    (4th+OT) 96.8 vs 123.4

    without Russ:
    86.8 vs 149.5

    Offensive and Defensive ratings for Rockets with and without Harden:

    with Harden:
    108.9 vs 104.7
    (4th+OT) 121.2 vs 82.7

    without Harden:
    137.0 vs 112.0

    The inability for the Thunder to defend when both Westbrook and Harden are off the floor sticks out from those numbers.
     
  14. Ziggy

    Ziggy QUEEN ANON

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    I agree with the premise 100%. But those stats in that context are too harsh. It's a lie. There isn't a reality where Taj Gibson and Doug McDermott average 20 and beat the Rockets.
     
  15. CDrex

    CDrex Contributing Member

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    It's true. But at the same time, we whooped them. Let's move on and whoop someone else instead of endlessly litigating the accomplishments of a guy who only won one more playoff game this year than the 76ers. He's beneath all the venom we're spending on him now.
     
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  16. FLASH21

    FLASH21 Heart O' Champs

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    Lil Westbrick will be gone soon too with that player option he has coming up.

    The Lakers will land Paul George and God forbid he will entice Westbrook to follow him to La La land as well.
     
  17. Easy

    Easy Boban Only Fan
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    To be fair, the teammates have such high efficiency because Westbrook takes so much defensive attention. You can't expect them to shoot this high percentage without Westbrook on the floor. Besides, the point differential is huge for them with and without Westbrook.

    That said, it is quite obvious that Westbrook needs to involve his teammates on offense to make the whole team more efficient. A ball dominant guy without a good offensive system tends to lull the other 4 guys into passivity. They just stand around and watch him do his things. And when the guy sits, they don't know how to play. We saw how it happened with McGrady under JVG and Harden under McHale.

    Westbrook going hero mode in the 4th quarter is one of the main reasons they lost this series in 5 games. Last night when Westbrook went off in the 3rd, I thought it actually would go well for us because it would encourage him to play the one man game in the 4th (not that he needed a lot of encouragement).
     
  18. Andy Sheets

    Andy Sheets Contributing Member

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    But but but didn't you hear the announcers last night? Super Russ was so tired from having to carry his detestable worthless teammates all season long that he just couldn't bear it anymore. Like John Henry his mighty heart was willing but his superb yet nonetheless mortal body failed him. The man is a folk hero! People shall name their first-born children after him and sing songs of his greatness from now until Revelation!
     
  19. B-Bob

    B-Bob "94-year-old self-described dreamer"

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    To me, his stats look increasingly like a taller, stronger version of Allen Iverson, who was also "fun to watch" and also never won a 'ship. He had a career 40% and 26.5 FGA in the playoffs.

    Similar defiant media appearances, too. Though I think Iverson was much smarter than Russ, TBH.
     
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  20. Mr. Space City

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    this is why i said in another thread, that the fact that people are trying to create a narrative that games are being won / lost in small stretches at the end of the 3rd quarter (when westbrook got most of his rest) is laughable.

    he was an absolute train wreck in the 4th.

    when he's moving the ball around and picking his spots the thunder were simply a better team than the rockets. their starting lineup dominated our starting lineup which is why we were always him a hole in the 1st quarter.

    someone showed a stat that as the game progresses westbrook's shot attempts go up and his assist go down (along with his efficiency), especially in the 4th quarter.

    when the game was on the line he lost his team the game repeatedly..

    he's an EXCELLENT player but his ego is his strength and his weakness.
     

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