Is Durant really by far the best player on the Thunder?

Pretty much agree 100% with your post. Definitely a 1a and 1b type of thing with those two. Westbrook has been outstanding for my fantasy team too

 

Durant is still their best player, I think. Westbrook doesn't get enough credit for the step he took last season. When everyone was slobbering over KD's 25-point game streak, during the last 10 or so of those games Westbrook went to another planet and was actually their best player. At the same time, during the first part of his streak, KD went to a level few players will ever reach for even 2-3 games. He was pumping in about 35 per game and was shooting 50/50/90. It was incredible.

KD has had a slow start to the season while Westbrook hit the ground running. I wouldn't draw any conclusions yet. Last night against Portland was the first time KD looked like himself, yet Westbrook still shined brighter except when KD impaled the Blazers with the 9 straights points in crunch time. I'd wait until mid-December before concluding anything. Westbrook must prove to me he's completely overcome the inconsistency problem. I also don't expect him to continue averaging 24 per game. If he continues finishing at the rim as well as he did last night, maybe so.

I think the World Champions have taken something out of KD. He hinted at this last week. Once he breaks through and gets his second wind, watch out.

On another note, Serge Ibaka is going to eventually be scary. I hope the Thunder consider keeping him in the starting lineup and bringing Jeff Green off the bench when he returns.

 

During this NBA season, Westbrook has by far been the better player. But at Worlds and last year, Durant looked to be the much better player.

Durant had a good game last night, especially down the stretch, it didn't matter who Portland threw at Durant. (Except for that late missed free throw.) Portland doesn't have anyone that can even try to defend Westbrook.

Overall analysis for the season: Westbrook has been the better overall player, Durant is the much much much better scorer, but this year Durant has tried to do too much and it has hurt his scoring.

If Westbrook continues to drive and finish like he did last night, consider the OKC slump over.


Last year Westbrook had stretches of really good games, but would disappear off the face of the planet for others while Durant was consistently putting up big numbers. (Those big numbers weren't always efficient though.)

 

They also have to start playing defense. Looks like not having Ron Adams around to harp at them all the time is a big loss.

Last night aside (and even with Westbrook scoring well), I still consider their offense broken and stale. Their ball-movement is terrible, worst of any team I've seen. The Thunder are lucky to be 5-3 at this point. The good thing for them is their problems are very fixable.

 

Durant was below average in that 1st round series vs the Lakers, if Westbrook didn't do what he did the Thunder would've been swept easily

 

Tough to make that comparison because Durant has Artest/Odom guarding him where Westbrook has Fisher..

Durant is clearly the better player, and his presence makes Westbrook better.

 

I think Westbrook has been the better player, but down the stretch their closer would be durant.

 

He forgets to drive and he's a 6'11 jamal crawford (chucker)

 

And a MAKER. Thats the important part.

 

Durant was a freak during the closing moments of last night's game. The scariest part is he could continue to improve and he will continue dropping those shots for another 8 years if he wanted to.

Unlike the Jordan-est players who rely so much on athletism for a jumpshot, all Durant requires are his long arms and height. These aren't things that will degrade over age, and his shooting form will continue to dominate over the years.

Only a matter of time before Durant drops 60+.

 

Durant is great but he greatly benefits from the refs. Never seen a jump shooter get that many calls.


He is still great and I never buy into the teammates competing for who is #1.

 

Uhh, Kevin Martin?

 

All I know is Scotty Brooks make one hell of a coach, and now I'm questioning if we really won that first championship because of Rudy T...or because of Scott Brooks.

 

He speaks the truth. That's a strong suit of KD's game... he's mastered the art of drawing the foul, a la Kobe and Kevin Martin.

 

yea, westbrook has always been overlooked..although he was asked before about it, and i remember him being very modest and saying he didnt mind it. but he definitely a huge part of the thunder..

 

The people that would ask this question are probably the same ones saying that Gasol is as good or better than Bryant. Basically clueless people. All you have to do is think about who defenses gameplan to stop, and what that frees up for the other players on the team offensively.

 

This. Without Durant, OKC would have struggled, trying to win against the Blazers.

During that run, Durant was like Melo; it only took a split second for him to go from 6 o' clock to 12 o' clock and hit nothing but net. Batum, their best perimeter defender, couldn't do anything.

Westbrook is definitely the second best player on the Thunder, but it is Durant's team, undeniably.

 

haha. glad i didn't have to write that. I was so close.

spot on