Westbrook shoots 25 pts with 27 shots, and durant only shot 13 times

[Moranis]

The thing about Russell Westbrook is that he's just not a smart basketball player.  He relies more on his athleticism to play the game than his understanding of the game. One a game to game basis, it wouldn't surprise me to him see explode for 40+ pts, but I can say the same if he jacks up 25 shot attempts and has 7 or 8 turnovers.

Its not even about him taking less shots, just better ones. It doesn't take a lot for him to get caught up in a game of one-up with an opposing player and stop effectively running the offense. Is it on Durant to reel him in at that point? Maybe. But let's not pretend that Russell doesn't have his own history of throwing tantrums and pouting on the sidelines.

And yes, I do agree with some that Kevin Durant could stand to be assertive, but we were all saying similar things about LeBron a few years ago.

The criticism of Lebron and Durant is not the same because they have different style of games.  People wanted Lebron to be less a facilitator and more of a scorer, and while I always thought it was fooey, you could at least understand it since the Cavs offense ran through Lebron.  Durant is not the facilitator of that team and he never will be.  It isn't his style of play.  His game is much more like Kobe's and he needs to have a lot more of Kobe's mentality in him.  He doesn't have to go crazy selfish like Kobe does a lot, but he does need to be more aggressive like Kobe is.

[Moranis]

On one hand, it's easy to buy into a narrative that Westbrook is this turnover-prone one dimensional chucker. On the other, he has improved his turnover rate every year...He's taking less shots than last year, averaging a career high in free throws...and in win shares/48....and his assist percentage is by far a career high.

exactly. A Durant problem, not a Westbrook problem.

[CelticConcourse]

On one hand, it's easy to buy into a narrative that Westbrook is this turnover-prone one dimensional chucker. On the other, he has improved his turnover rate every year...He's taking less shots than last year, averaging a career high in free throws...and in win shares/48....and his assist percentage is by far a career high.

exactly. A Durant problem, not a Westbrook problem.

Why is this a problem for either? It works. -.- everything's a problem, isn't it...

[RJ87]

The thing about Russell Westbrook is that he's just. ot a smart basketball player.  He relies more on his athleticism to play the game than his understanding of the game. One a game to game basis, it wouldn't surprise me to him see explode for 40+ pts, but I can say the same if he jacks up 25 shot attempts and has 7 or 8 turnovers.

Its not even about him taking less shots, just better ones. It doesn't take a lot for him to get caught up in a game of one-up with an opposing player and stop effectively running the offense. Is it on Durant to reel him in at that point? Maybe. But let's not pretend that Russell doesn't have his own history of throwing tantrums and pouting on the sidelines.

And yes, I do agree with some that Kevin Durant could stand to be assertive, but we were all saying similar things about LeBron a few years ago.

The criticism of Lebron and Durant is not the same because they have different style of games.  People wanted Lebron to be less a facilitator and more of a scorer, and while I always thought it was fooey, you could at least understand it since the Cavs offense ran through Lebron.  Durant is not the facilitator of that team and he never will be.  It isn't his style of play.  His game is much more like Kobe's and he needs to have a lot more of Kobe's mentality in him.  He doesn't have to go crazy selfish like Kobe does a lot, but he does need to be more aggressive like Kobe is.

I disagree with the Kobe comparison - true, Kevin isn't the fascilitator LeBron is but its clear OKC is trying to develop that aspect of his game and he's more willing to develop that part of his game than Kobe seems to be. My main point in the comparison with LBJ and Kevin was that at one point people questioned LeBron's killer instinct. It really ramped after they lost in the Finals to Dallas - there were questions as to why he didn't have that killer instinct like Jordan or Kobe or even Dwade. Now it Kevin turn to deal with that criticism.

[soap07]

Westbrook is the quarterback of the best offense in the league - and of the best point guards in the league. He has an elite PER and is an elite rebounder for his position. Whatever he's doing, it has worked fine in OKC - at least offensively.

[Clench123]

Imagine if Durant has Rondo...

Westbrook makes me appreciate Rondo more and made me realize what a great pointguard we have.

[CelticsFan9]

Imagine if Durant has Rondo...

Westbrook makes me appreciate Rondo more and made me realize what a great pointguard we have.

I'm a firm believer that if Durant played with Rondo, he would average 35+ points per game.

[Lucky17]

Imagine if Durant has Rondo...

Westbrook makes me appreciate Rondo more and made me realize what a great pointguard we have.

I'm a firm believer that if Durant played with Rondo, he would average 35+ points per game.

Gosh, if Durant played with Andre Miller or Kirk Hinrich at PG, he'd probably average 35+ points per game.

[timobusa]

He relies on his athleticism, once father time hits, you're gone.

And look where Dwyane Wade is.....

Wade is actually skilled not just athletic. And right now, even if he's lost some of his athleticism, he's still is pretty good.
Look at Ricky Davis, Desmond Mason, Tracy Mcgrady, Steve Francis.... Well you're probably to young to know them..

[kozlodoev]

He relies on his athleticism, once father time hits, you're gone.

And look where Dwyane Wade is.....

Wade is actually skilled not just athletic. And right now, even if he's lost some of his athleticism, he's still is pretty good.
Look at Ricky Davis, Desmond Mason, Tracy Mcgrady, Steve Francis.... Well you're probably to young to know them..

Um, Mason, McGrady, and Francis all had their careers cut short because of injuries. Little to do with age.

McGrady, for that matter, is considerably more skilled than Wade in most facets of the game, and had a successful stint as a backup PG before his career ended.

Maybe it's worth to construct a better argument because you chastise other posters without good reason?

[timobusa]

He relies on his athleticism, once father time hits, you're gone.

And look where Dwyane Wade is.....

Wade is actually skilled not just athletic. And right now, even if he's lost some of his athleticism, he's still is pretty good.
Look at Ricky Davis, Desmond Mason, Tracy Mcgrady, Steve Francis.... Well you're probably to young to know them..

Um, Mason, McGrady, and Francis all had their careers cut short because of injuries. Little to do with age.

McGrady, for that matter, is considerably more skilled than Wade in most facets of the game, and had a successful stint as a backup PG before his career ended.

Maybe it's worth to construct a better argument because you chastise other posters without good reason?

You didn't think age had something to do with them not recovering from their injuries?
Those players I've mentioned relied on Athleticism more than skill. Except maybe T-mac.
But you get the point.

[Moranis]

The thing about Russell Westbrook is that he's just. ot a smart basketball player.  He relies more on his athleticism to play the game than his understanding of the game. One a game to game basis, it wouldn't surprise me to him see explode for 40+ pts, but I can say the same if he jacks up 25 shot attempts and has 7 or 8 turnovers.

Its not even about him taking less shots, just better ones. It doesn't take a lot for him to get caught up in a game of one-up with an opposing player and stop effectively running the offense. Is it on Durant to reel him in at that point? Maybe. But let's not pretend that Russell doesn't have his own history of throwing tantrums and pouting on the sidelines.

And yes, I do agree with some that Kevin Durant could stand to be assertive, but we were all saying similar things about LeBron a few years ago.

The criticism of Lebron and Durant is not the same because they have different style of games.  People wanted Lebron to be less a facilitator and more of a scorer, and while I always thought it was fooey, you could at least understand it since the Cavs offense ran through Lebron.  Durant is not the facilitator of that team and he never will be.  It isn't his style of play.  His game is much more like Kobe's and he needs to have a lot more of Kobe's mentality in him.  He doesn't have to go crazy selfish like Kobe does a lot, but he does need to be more aggressive like Kobe is.

I disagree with the Kobe comparison - true, Kevin isn't the fascilitator LeBron is but its clear OKC is trying to develop that aspect of his game and he's more willing to develop that part of his game than Kobe seems to be. My main point in the comparison with LBJ and Kevin was that at one point people questioned LeBron's killer instinct. It really ramped after they lost in the Finals to Dallas - there were questions as to why he didn't have that killer instinct like Jordan or Kobe or even Dwade. Now it Kevin turn to deal with that criticism.

Durant is in the midst of his career best APG at 4.7.  Kobe Bryant has matched or exceeded that number in 12 of his 17 seasons.  Durant is simply a taller Kobe without the aggressiveness.

[mgent]

That's just what happens when you don't have a real PG.  Scoring PGs are the only players that can bring the ball down the court and then shoot without any other teammates touching the ball.  If Westbrook thinks he has anything close to an open shot he's always going to shoot it.

[RJ87]

The thing about Russell Westbrook is that he's just. ot a smart basketball player.  He relies more on his athleticism to play the game than his understanding of the game. One a game to game basis, it wouldn't surprise me to him see explode for 40+ pts, but I can say the same if he jacks up 25 shot attempts and has 7 or 8 turnovers.

Its not even about him taking less shots, just better ones. It doesn't take a lot for him to get caught up in a game of one-up with an opposing player and stop effectively running the offense. Is it on Durant to reel him in at that point? Maybe. But let's not pretend that Russell doesn't have his own history of throwing tantrums and pouting on the sidelines.

And yes, I do agree with some that Kevin Durant could stand to be assertive, but we were all saying similar things about LeBron a few years ago.

The criticism of Lebron and Durant is not the same because they have different style of games.  People wanted Lebron to be less a facilitator and more of a scorer, and while I always thought it was fooey, you could at least understand it since the Cavs offense ran through Lebron.  Durant is not the facilitator of that team and he never will be.  It isn't his style of play.  His game is much more like Kobe's and he needs to have a lot more of Kobe's mentality in him.  He doesn't have to go crazy selfish like Kobe does a lot, but he does need to be more aggressive like Kobe is.

I disagree with the Kobe comparison - true, Kevin isn't the fascilitator LeBron is but its clear OKC is trying to develop that aspect of his game and he's more willing to develop that part of his game than Kobe seems to be. My main point in the comparison with LBJ and Kevin was that at one point people questioned LeBron's killer instinct. It really ramped after they lost in the Finals to Dallas - there were questions as to why he didn't have that killer instinct like Jordan or Kobe or even Dwade. Now it Kevin turn to deal with that criticism.

Durant is in the midst of his career best APG at 4.7.  Kobe Bryant has matched or exceeded that number in 12 of his 17 seasons.  Durant is simply a taller Kobe without the aggressiveness.

I think you're over simplifying to try to make the Kobe Bryant / Kevin Durant comparison work. Kevin leads OKC in scoring as well as being tied as their leader in rebounding and clearly OKC thinks he can grow as a facilitator and become a very well rounded player. For some players, aggression isnt inherent, they have to work on it. I see no reason why Kevin can't.

If you want a Kobe Bryant comparison, I'll give you one. Like Russell Westbrook, Kobe in his younger years could explode by defenders at will. But Kobe also has a high BBIQ and fundamentals, and as his athleticism has waned, he's been able to redefine his game. If Russell had to do the same, I'm not sure he could pull it off. I'm not saying Russell is a bad player, clearly he's not. But he's a bit overrated in my opinion. I think OKC would've just as good or better with a Durant/Harden tandem instead of a Durant/Westbrook tandem.

[pearljammer10]

This also happened last night...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XGkDUTeOfd0&feature=youtu.be

This might be the funniest thing Ive seen all year. Is that Russel Westbrook or Javalee McGee out there? Im beginning to think the two are somehow related.