This continues to be a misunderstood point. You don't need a "true point guard" on your team if your team already has someone who can fulfill the passing and ball handling role. Lakers were fine with Fisher, because they had Kobe as assuming the role of playmaker and scorer. Celtics won with Rondo, who is a true point guard. Pistons won with Billups playing a "true point guard" role on the team. Rockets won because Hakeem was fulfilling the dual offensive role of playmaker and scorer. If you have a good passer/playmaker on your team, you don't need a traditional PG.
In short, therefore, it can be concluded that there is no single fool-proof way to win, or not win, the hardware.
Very true, but you have to understand that according to many, KD needs a "true PG" because he needs to score even more points despite leading the NBA in scoring the last 2 seasons with "ballhog" WB running the show. Imagine that, leading the NBA in scoring two consecutive seasons with a ballhog PG that doesn't like to pass (despite WB averaging >8 assists/game, 9th in the NBA). WB is definitely holding KD back. To see it, you have to throw out the entire regular season and focus on WB's worst playoff games.
Westbrook is perfectly fine playing the dual role of a passing and scoring PG as long as he can understand one basic, fundamental truth; he is NOT the primary scorer. His primary job is the get the ball to KD in a position for him to score as KD is the undisputed scorer of the team. If KD cannot score or not in a position to get the ball to score, then and ONLY then should Westbrook become a scorer. Westbrook definitely messed up during the playoffs, but with the game on the line and KD content with lobbing up jumpers most of the game, I could definitely see why Westbrook tried to take it into his own hands. I don't think WB is holding KD back, but KD would definitely benefit more from a PG like Nash, Rondo, Lowry, or Kidd who will all look for him first before scoring themselves. That being said, PG's who shoulder both the primary scoring and distribution roles generally will not take their teams to the finals, the exceptions being legendary players like Magic and even Magic usually had Kareem as the scorer and he was the X-factor. Even a top tier PG who can score (Paul, Williams, Nash) when they have a designated scorer on the team.
I htought OKC's issues stemmed from a disconnect between Perk and Westbrook. If that is the case then what is all this other stuff, and why do we care? I care - - if things devolved such that there was a desire to part with Perk and send him where he belongs, back home playing in the Toy Shop. Otherwise, this is all lockout filler malarkey to me.
Couldn't agree with you more. I think kd is a great player, but he has to be setup late in games or when the defense stiffens. So when the defense denies kd, westbrooks is left with the ball trying to make a play. For the life of me I can't understand why harden doesn't play more. When they made the move for perkins and put a non scorer on the floor, they need harden on the floor. A lot of people on this board get this pure pg notion and take it overboard. Westbrook is one of the best guards/players in the nba right now and he's getting better.
im honestly glad perkins is sh!tting on westbrook. westbrook is a great player, but he is also a big ball hogg also. i remember westbrook and durant used to have heated arguments on the basketball court numerous times during the regular season because westbrook wouldn't pass the damned basketball.
You make a good point. Maybe another coach could get Westbrook to make better decisions within a better offensive scheme. Otherwise, I'd say they have the luxury of having several valuable players who Presti can use to improve the team.
OKC had a top 5 offense last year with Sefolosha, Perkins/Green and raw Ibaka. I don't thnk OKC's offense was a problem
True, but their problem was specifically crunch time offense. Predictable and pathetic. Next season, Harden's increased role will solve part of the problem.
Completely agree. But I put that on Scotty BRooks as much as Westbrook. A pick and pop with Westbrook and Durant with a screen on the weak side for Harden shouldn't be that hard to run.
Westbrook is too much of a wildcard on the court. His stock is pretty high right now. I'd be shopping him if I was them. Right now you're not sure if he'll climb the hurdle and become the point guard they need or if he'll continue down a Steve Francis-esque path. Besides, we've learned from the last several NBA champions that you don't need an elite point guard to win. To boot, Westbrook takes the ball out of Durant's hands way too often.
Yeah, it's not like Durant led the league in scoring or anything. OH WAIT. Or that Durant had the ball denied to him and looked absolutely useless and passive for times in the playoffs. Westbrook drew a lot of fouls and basically created all of OKC's offense
Me too. I've been blasting Scott Brooks for over a year. This summer, a lot of basketball writers have stated he has to step it up. But with 3 very good perimeter options, all of whom can attack the rim, OKC shouldn't have late game offensive meltdowns. What Brooks has to do is dump the "KD must take the shot" mentality when teams deny him the ball. He also has to dump the "If not KD, must be WB" mentality. Give Harden the ball at the top of the key when all else is denied (or even as a first option sometimes).
