This is the kind of dumb two-bit amateur psychology cliche that littered sports analysis for decades. Probably not.
I think both KD and RW did well enough in the finals. It was really JH who didn't show and probably the biggest reason they lost.
He took 31 shots last night. He is 0-14 in overtime this series and the MVP of the league is now a "Decoy". Any Questions?
I'm lovin' it... I can't wait till Durant comes back to Texas and plays with his best friend, James Harden.
Given that KD's not shooting well, a lot is put on Westbrook's shoulders given the lack of a 3rd option. He didn't shoot well last night, but he did have 10+ assists - so his driving is creating opportunities for teammates. It would be one thing if Durant was shooting lights out, but he's been nearly as bad the last 3 games (10-24, 5-21, 10-27). 20+ shots a game is not a decoy. Despite a slower game pace, Durant is averaging 4 more shots in this series than he did in the regular season (25 vs 21). Westbrook's shots are coming at the expense of the random scrubs on the team rather than Durant.
What has the MVP of the league done this series. Oh yeah it is also Westbrook fault KD is struggling.
Guys, I may be wrong as I've been wrong before but I've been watching the NBA for about 20 years now and your point guard should not be taking 31 shots in my opinion. That just doesn't usually end well especially when you have a superstar shooting guard MVP. Granted, Durant isn't shooting well but he hasn't been shooting well since Westbrook came back from injury. When Durant went on that insane streak of 40+ point games in a row with Westbrook out the Thunder were actually winning those games. It's very possible that Durant is having trouble getting into a rythym with his PG jacking up shots and stopping the flow of the offense. Like I said, I may be wrong but I think there would be a benefit to OKC if Westbrook would continue getting those 10+ assists but do more to set up the other guys and run the offense the way a PG is supposed to and defer to Durant in crunch time.
You have to look at the coach and his offensive schemes and realize its just not conducive for the team they have to continue to try forcing a round peg in a sqaure. He does nothing to get those guys looks any other way and completely under utilizes the rest of the team. The only other guy free to take whatever shot he wants is Derek Fisher.. and he's almost 40 years old.
Why are there so many Westbrook defenders here? The Thunder are down 3-2 to a 7 seed, they have an MVP scoring machine who referred to himself as a "Decory" last night, He's 0-14 in overtime this series and he took 31 shots last night and he's the team's POINT GUARD! If Bev or Lin did this you guys would be outraged.
Harden thinks he's an alpha male, doesn't have alpha male abilities....when that happens, you get slaughtered in battle
Durant is averaging 25 shots. So you want him to average 35 shots? If you actually watch the games, AT LEAST 7-8 shots of WB per game come near the at of the shot clock when Durant can't get open. WB would dribble and waste like 10 seconds waiting for Durant to get free. When he can't WB has to go. Is that his fault or Durant? Look, WB can play MUCH MUCH better. He's shooting 35% in this series, which is pathetic considering his high usage. But WB is doing other things for the team. Durant needs to bring his A game.
KD's body just isn't built for physical playoff contact. If you can crowd him on his jump shot and beat him up when he drives, you can really throw him off...The difference is lebron's physique can stand up to punishing playoff defense, allowing him to drive the ball over and over and get high quality shots
let's get real Bev and Lin don't have the scoring ability of WB so you can't even compare. what I was a little moreconfused about is why they didn't run any [plays for R Jackson last night. He killed memphis the game before. When you have 3 players you gotta guard it makes players get open easier. This is when Hero ball comes in and messes teh team up and maybe the coach placed too much into Westbrick and Durant. Together they built Brick Mansions
That's the biggest problem IMO. Westbrook is dribble dribble dribble and either take the shot or *wait* for Durant to get open. If he were actually running a play and moving the ball around to other teammates and go inside out then Durant wouldn't struggle to get open so much. OKC is easy to defend with Westbrook in there.
They need a veteran point guard to play alongside Westbrook to run the offense. I love Westbrook but he has been taking too many bad shots and is not using dribble penetration to set up other players to score. KD is also not moving the basketball and getting better position on Allen. Allen should not be able to guard him. This first round has exposed a lot of teams. OKC has been exposed for their inability to run an offense and get high percentage shots. Of all the teams in the West, the Clippers look like the best.
Umm.. the play is for Durant to iso. The other players on the other side is to space the floor. Durant can't even get freaking open and you're blaming WB here. Wow, this is just dumb. the entire offense revolves pretty much around Durant getting open.
He didn't refer to himself as a decoy last night - he referred to himself as a decoy on some plays during short period. That's true for all players in the history of the league. Not every play is going to be run for Kevin Durant, and the ones that aren't, he's going to be a decoy. There's nothing wrong with that, especially when that scoring machine is shooting the ball like crap for the last 3 games. He had 13 assists. It's pretty clear Westbrook was doing a lot of playmaking.
