It's pretty amazing. That ESPN video about how Russ' defense "didn't disappoint" was truly cringeworthy.
[...] [...] While defenders duck under screens and try to be as loose as possible guarding him in the pick-and-roll, the Thunder have been outscored by 45 points when Westbrook is on the court, a plus/minus that ranks 199th out of 201 players. His decisions have the grace of a cinder block, and he depends on the increasingly predictable diet of pull-up bricks and hopeless summit clashes against Rudy Gobert that go nowhere. In four games, Oklahoma City's offense is averaging a team-low 93.5 points per 100 possessions with Westbrook on the court. In the 44 minutes he's sat on the bench, that number soars up to 128.2! Some of the disparity is due to unsustainable shot making by George (OKC's made exactly half of its threes sans Westbrook), but it's hard not to detect a bit more fluidity and purpose in their attack, too. The Thunder's pace is 10 possessions per 48 minutes faster when Westbrook is in the game, and according to Synergy Sports his turnover rate as a pick-and-roll ball-handler is higher than his field goal percentage. Defense has always been problematic, too, but not quite like this. He's reckless, of course. But Westbrook is showing retreat for maybe the first time ever. It's disturbing. After a disappointing Game 3 loss in which he missed 12 shots and turned it over eight times, Westbrook told reporters he'd shut Rubio down. What follows are three plays that apparently illustrate what it means to shut Rubio down (not shown are several nonsensical fouls that didn't let Westbrook play with any physicality down the stretch): [...] I have a rule that’s tattered with various disclaimers, but it’s still (almost) solid: contract be damned, a player’s ranking can not exceed the draft pick another team would surrender for him in a trade. (For example: Draymond Green should not be considered a top-ten player unless another team is willing to give up a top-ten pick for him.) Run Westbrook through this exercise and it gets very interesting. Do any teams choosing in the top ten of this year's draft give their pick up for him? Probably, but not without blinking hard several times. Going off trail for a second, the more interesting question is "would the Cleveland Cavaliers?" If the answer is yes, how do the Thunder turn down Kevin Love, Kyle Korver, and the Brooklyn Nets pick for Westbrook? The reigning MVP can’t be dealt until September 28th, and there are obvious concerns about how he’d fit beside LeBron James (who may have already checked out). But Westbrook can still provide the occassional Grand-Slam swing Cleveland badly needs, and I, for one, would love to watch that tandem on a revenge tour. Hypotheticals aren't reality, though. The Thunder are still breathing and Westbrook still has at least one more night to remind everyone all over again how valuable and special he is. But as the aging process widens his flaws—and $46.6 million heads into his bank account for the 2022-23 season alone—Westbrook's peak is visibly running out of time. Barring a miracle, George is almost certainly gone. Carmelo Anthony is almost certainly not leaving. Oklahoma City isn't young, has no obvious savior in its pipeline, and won’t be able to clear significant cap space until the franchise player is 31. The bottom line: if Westbrook can’t make it work with George and Adams by his side, then what about him is even all that interesting in the role he currently fills?
After sitting during their huge comeback in game 5, Melo was -19 in a 5-point loss in game 6. In only 26 mins. That was probably 26 mins too long.
Donovan seems to be a weak coach I mean in the sense that he does not stand up to his players Rocket River
Consider this: In KD's final season, OKC played some of the best offense ever seen in the NBA. It was spectacular sometimes. KD was happy and beaming and all things looked well. But WB wasn't happy because he wasn't on top of it all. He started reverting to form and by the end of the season, he was radioactive to KD. So he left for GS. That sequence of events turned last season into the WB revenge/validation tour. It was the most selfish season in NBA history. After KD left, the franchise was at WB's mercy because he had an option coming up. So everything focused on catering to him. Everyone (Billy D included) had to bow the knee to the mighty WB and kiss his ring because he took the franchise hostage. No coach could have stopped that. I'm in the minority that believe Billy D proved himself to be a fine NBA coach his first season but any appearance of authority he had was destroyed when KD left and WB became emperor. No coach or player could have stood up to him these last two seasons. It makes me listening to the ex NBA players in the media dump on Billy D because they don't have the courage to put any of the blame on WB. They are cowards. Don't be surprised if PG rebounds to a career year on his new team next year. If Melo leaves, he will also be much improved. Remember what happened with Oladipo and Sabonis. WB is like a giant tick that sucks all the blood out of his teammates, making them weaker and growing bigger at their expense.
Melo on coming off the bench: “I’m not sacrificing no bench role. That’s out the question.” Westbrook on playing with PG and Melo: “Basketball is the shortest thing in life but friendships and all that go longer than that.” [SportsCenter] Thunder reporter Royce Young: OKC can make good pitch to Paul George
Some of the best basketball form OKC this year came from the No-Allstar bench lineup Billy D rolled out sometimes. Just 5 guys who bought in running his sets. I agree Bill D isn't as bad as everyone makes him out to be. Just more slander to protect Westbrook.
I have grown to dislike WB's playing style but those words of cancer which people described Melo and WB or giant tick that sucks all the blood. Those are vastly exaggerated. He is selfish yes, but that is all he is, he can't kill nobody by being selfish...... I hope people give him less attention, that is what polarizing players want. Or the media surrounding them. Most of us know that his triple doubles are often empty stats, that is all we need to.
I feel bad for Melo. He may be washed, but no one has such a dreadful season without help. Russ absolutely contributed to his trash play. Now, Next year, after he picks up his option, the world will hate him for it. Melo would have come to Houston and Jim and CP would have made it work. I have no doubt. Media would have said Melo was an all time great of course he can play with Jim and CP. If only I could peak into alternate universes to make my point.
DreamS, man, that is just a cop out scenario......what the Rox really need are Donovan Mitchells or guys resembling Ben Simmons. Injection of younger blood. I will always be the advocate for getting younger players. You can only contend for so many years by assembling those older dudes. Getting the right mix. The downside is the contract situation once they get real good, but once that happens, teams should be prepared to shed other contracts.
Oh yeah, I agree. I think Jim and CP can elevate anyone's play. I'm not stanning for Melo, I'm saying that if Melo was a Rocket, I have no doubt he would have had a better season.
Melo's done, and even worse he thinks he is still a great player. His absolute refusal to come off the bench tells me everything I need to know about him. Even with players like Harden and Paul who make their teammates better, he still would have missed open shots, and had poor iso possessions. Even with his reduced offensive workload, he showed no willingness to step up any other part of his game. He was still an awful defensive player that just stood around if he didn't have the ball. He thinks merely taking less shots makes him a team player. He just isn't a winning player, frankly neither is Westbrook. We dodged a major bullet.
Yeah, but nobody was dumb enough in the end to just take Anderson's bloated salaries. I dun think Melo is entirely done but he sure isn't the athlete he once was. You get a spot up shooter, better than Anderson for sure, but still a jump shooter. You are right though, being just a jump shooter means more to H-Tine than somewhere else.
