Russel Westbrook is as important as Kevin Durant to OKC

IMO, the Thunder don't have enough experience to compete for a championship. They are just too young, even if they got Marc Gasol or a seasoned big man.

You definitely don't remember the playoffs correctly. Green was HORRIBLE!!! The fact he didn't improve last season already put him on the "hot seat" with fans, but his playoff choke-job against the Lakers is why so many are down on him. He played like a nervous kitten, never got rid of the jitters and defended even poorer than during the regular season. (I still say Scott Brooks stubbornly sticking with Jeff Green in game 2 cost the Thunder the game). To top it off, he had a golden chance to make Team USA this summer but he played nervous and jittery just like in the playoffs.

I don't think other teams covet Jeff Green that much. Everyone has seen how he's gone from #2 behind KD to #3 behind KD & Westbrook. Looks like he'll slip again to #4 behind the big 2 and Ibaka. Green has limitations. He gets demolished by decent PFs and get burnt to a crisp guarding smaller players. I'll assume you completely forgot about Ibaka when saying Green would be the 3rd most coveted player on their team. By season's end, he might slip further.

 

I think both need of each other.
they are 1a and 1b.

durant is more a closer player than westbrook, they played bad the 4th quarter, if they had durant they would have won by a bigger margin.

 

The Thunder/Bucks contest tonight was a total disgrace to the game of basketball. The only reason the Thunder won was because of James Harden's eruption from downtown. Otherwise, the Thunder were just plain awful. Westbrook couldn't hit the side of a barn. Fortunately for them, the Bucks are struggling mightily. Neither team deserved to win.

 

so the only reason they won is because someone on their team stepped up and made shots ? is that supposed to be a bad thing ? how is that different from any other game ? would be nice if someone on the rockets could do that from time to time.

anyway... thunder 9-4. everyone keeps talking about how bad they are playing and yet they have the same record as the celtics. they have not been fully healthy all season, have not defended as well as last year and are STILL 9-4. there is much potential here.

 

The Bucks game was disgraceful on both sides except for Harden's going 6/8 from long range. Hardin also went 0-5 when he wasn't spotting up. I realize an ugly win counts the same as any other win.

Another comment: Collison's immediate impact on the Thunder's defense has surprised me. They need to re-sign him next summer.

 

I disagree, Brooks is maximizing that team's potential. Look at how some of the players have improved from season to season. They're very good defensively.

If you want to talk about an overrated coach, take this same and give them to Larry Brown, Pat Riley, or Phil Jackson. I bet with either one this team does not end up being that much better.

 

So far, this season they have been very bad defensively. Joke status. Maybe Collison coming back will be the tonic that solves the problem.

I'll keep an open mind on Brooks but he leaves me scratching my head sometimes. His coming decision on the starting lineup will be telling. He is VERY close to Jeff Green. Let's see if he can be objective and keep Ibaka in the starting lineup and use Green as a spark off the bench.

 

russell westbrook with a career high 43 points (w/ 8 rebounds, 8 assist, and 3 steals) in a win over the pacers (durrant: 9/26)

 

Tonight's game will give more ammo here. Westbrook chewed up and spit out both Darren Collison and TJ Ford. The Pacers didn't know what to do with him and the key was Westbrook realized that. The 3 main steps he's taken so far this year is (1) deciding without hesitation to dominate teams that can't guard him, (2) becoming an incredible facilitator when he sets his mind to it and (3) going from a decent FT shooter to a great one.

He was like a bludgeon tonight. This was a game the Thunder were ready to lose and but Westbrook single-handedly carried the them for several minutes late in the game until he got too tired. He had an offensive rebound putback and-one that blew Quinn Buckner's mind. It makes me laugh that people still don't know what a good offensive rebounder he is.

The Thunder have a lot of things to work through and haven't impressed me this season (despite being 11-5). Maybe it's just going to take some time.

 

so far, westbrook has been the overall better player than durant and he is the one who is carrying the team, not durant.

PS - durant has not shown any improvements in his game this year. i've always thought he's a better version of carmelo. pure scorer

 

They have both of them so it really doesn't matter who is better.

 

Westbrook is what Francis was suppose to be.

 

he relies on the jumper WAY too much. they went in last year, but not so far this year.

 

Durant has been way too reliant on his jumper this year and seems hell-bent on shooting himself out of the slump. Maybe he was worn down by playoff time last year so he's taking it a little easier. Whatever it is, I expect him to bounce back but it doesn't look like he's getting close to 50% this year.

 

Westbrook might be the 3rd best PG in the NBA.

 

he's def top 5 imo

1. D-Will
2. CP3

^ those are interchangeable

3. Rose
4. Westbrook

^ those are interchangeable

5. Rondo

 

I agree with you on interchangeable. It seems to me it just depends on the week.

 

He probably want the MIP award