Tougher competition at the point though, I'd say 80% of teams have point guards that are better than their shooting guards (worse defenders usually though because of their offensive talent for a lot), but at the same time, Westbrook missed a lot of the season. You probably need to baseline it to opponent's normal PER vs against Westbrook PER (I'd imagine Dwight and Ibaka cause somewhat similar effects).
Not interesting in the way you seem to think. 18 SGs had a PER above 15.0 31 PGs had a PER above 15.0
WB played v. Memphis D, an elite defensive team. Even Kevin Durant dropped off like crazy that series. Harden played v. a bum defense. It was shocking any star player would struggle v. a Blazers D.
Shouldn't even be debatable at this point. Not giving up on Harden but Russell the better player between the two.
If WB really takes into account his efficiency this offseason going into the next, he could challenge Durant as the 2nd best player in the world. His efficiency is what holding him back right now, because his overall game/package is just insane + the lights out intensity/effort.
Memphis' defense was keyed to Durant, Westbrook was just playing ****. There isn't some drastic difference where if you're copping double and triple teams that even from a below average defense that you're somehow getting less pressure than an elite defensive team keyed to another player, and even then Durant and Harden were having similar issues, ie missing shots they usually make but those issues always tend to return to the mean given enough games. Westbrook is inconsistent, the last 2 games of the nba finals are who he is, he played like MJ in game 4, then Westbricked them out of game 5, just like he Westbricked them out of game 2 of this series and then game 4 was this.
LOL. You are aware they had Tony Allen on WB at times too right? And Conley is a very very good defender.
Need to check your stats again. Keep taking notes for Harden bro. Top 5 win shares per basketball reference in the playoffs (haven't updated yet past few games) 1) Lebron 2) Durant 3) Westbrook Here are more eyepoppping #s for WB in the playoffs: #1 in usage rating (by far) #2 in FA attempts #2 in FT attempts #2 in offensive rebounds #5 in total rebounds #1 in total assists #3 in steals #3 in total points #4 in PER (high PER is higher than Durant!) Dude is a beast. My only nitpick of WB is just curb those "bad" shots.
And? You somehow think a few minutes from Allen and Conley is somehow more pressure than constant doubles from even below average defenders? They were trapping Durant, Westbrook they weren't, you can't trap 2 players constantly unless the rest of the team is as much threat as the supporting cast of the JVG Rockets.
(playoffs) Not since Harden went to Houston. Harden's worst win share per 48 and two of WB's top three seasons. http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/h/hardeja01.html http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/w/westbru01.html
You really want to nitpick games like that? You want me to name names of all the greats who have a great playoff game and then have a bad shooting game the next? Look WB obviously has his weaknesses. Nobody is denying that. Nobody. But I"m talking about the overall PACKAGE. He's not an elite scorer like Durant or Melo. He's not an elite passer like Paul. He takes at least 2-3 bad shots a game. He gets out of control at times. And I can go on. But when you put his overall game together: the guy is a beast period. He scores, rebounds, passes, defends, hustles, steals, 200% energy...
I think people truly forgot WB was INJURED this season, and was recovering (and getting injured again) in half of the games. Don't judge him by his regular season. He barely cracked 30 minutes.
