Great article here about Westbrook by Lowe: http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/...lahoma-city-thunder-nba?ex_cid=espnapi_public A few highlights: Westbrook set 24 ball screens combined in 86 games this season, per Second Spectrum tracking data. Josh Huestis and Terrance Ferguson each set twice that many. Ibaka was hesitant and confused when he received the ball in space in Oklahoma City. (Also: Ibaka developed more as a ball-mover in one year in Toronto than in seven seasons with the Thunder.) He has to have the ball. Defenses don't guard him closely when he doesn't have it. He has shown little aptitude as a cutter. A shaky jumper and a habit of standing still off the ball are often intertwined and compounding: Blah shooters don't draw as much attention moving around, so they decide not to move. Washington Wizards fans are familiar. Problem with Westbrook is not just that he's a ball hog, but that he's not a very good passer despite his assist numbers. As Lowe notes, RW's passes are predictable and rarely, if ever, set someone up to score. The sky is falling in OKC, and it's not looking good. Everyone is scared Melo will opt in, and he probably will. PG seems to want to come back, but he realizes the rut they're in at the moment. RW's train wrecks have to change, but chances are it wont happen. Donovan is likely out. Should make for an interesting offseason.
The only thing I can see PG doing, IF he were to stay in OKC, would be to extend for a short-term contract. He gets to wait for LA to improve, gets to be the good guy while still playing with at least one all-star, and he gets a chance at bird rights.
I understand the ownership was cheap. But their real fear was the luxury tax. His job as a Gm was to recognize the talent and convince the owner that they had to get rid of someone other than harden - in this case ibaka or Perkins. He could have avoided the tax in both instances. Or he should have found another way to avoid the tax. They would have beaten the warriors with harden added to that group.
I describe Russ as an effective passer, without the usual court vision and creativity that we often see in great playmakers. The reason why Westbrook's predictable passing is still effective is because, as Lowe points out, Russ can break down the defense with his sheer athleticism alone, and then make a simple pass at the end to feed Adams or outside shooters. It's not really setting someone up per se, but nonetheless it works, and that's how Russ usually piles up his assists. I don't consider Westbrook as a great floor general such as Nash, Kidd, CP3 etc., but you still have to respect his ability to break down the defense and feed his teammates.
"james harden gets that call" why do these fuccbois stay with james harden name on their breath in a series that had nothing to do with james harden? and james harden probably doesn't get that call in that situation either.
probably something along the lines of "i hate my career... i'm resigning lelz" then he waves at his good friend john Spoiler
Heard NBA Radio say Westbrook was NOT in Harden's tier of NBA players. One of the few times I've heard this. Needs to happen more often as Russy is overrated AF.
they would have at least multiple rings already and counting if they kept harden, kd, ibaka and fielded offers for WB
That look on Arnovitz’s face when Pierce says Carmelo is a “knock down shooter” is funny. Goes to show that being a great former player doesn’t make you a keen basketball analyst.
OKC could end up losing Harden, Durant and Paul George in the last 6 or so years in return for Kevin Martin and Steven Adams OUCH
he is 1 of the dumbest dudes on TV...a lot of his takes are so stupid to the point of borderline trolling
they from Ibaka to Oladipo to PG to nothing in a span of 2 years just to find someone to fit next to WB
ESPN had the audacity to rank statpad Russ 5th and Harden 8th heading into the season...now Harden is about to win MVP and Russ is out in the 1st round again
Not as bad as Stephen Jackson saying OKC needed to play more ISO and that they currently play like GSW with ball movement in his segment defending WB for losing in the 1st rd. How does one person even think that? At least Melo can sometimes hit open shots
Former players are so hit or miss Alot of them have their personal axes to grind or defend other players as if it is an indictment on themselves Rocket River
It's still comical to me that Presti stole players from Morey the past two seasons only to have those moves backfire because the player he decided to keep over Harden makes no one better. Taj Gibson Paul George Carmelo Anthony
