OT: Russell Westbrook , the level he is playing at right now

[lilojmayo]

Interesting to hear the take from Bull's fan perspective. I think we all see the level of which Russell keeps taking his game to. And I haven't seen such a dominate PG in all areas of the game since MVP Derrick Rose.


I love Derrick Rose, and hope he returns to form. but I think there are things Rose could learn from Westbrook. Westbrook incorporates Post game, mid range game, pull game, 3 point game, off dribble 3 point in almost a perfect balance.

Whereas I think Rose has become too ride or die with the 3 pointer and has abandon his repertoire that made him the MVP of the league.

[Rerisen]

Rose isn't even close to being in a position to incorporate new things into his game right now. That should be clear.

His whole career was derailed by 2 major injuries. But before that happened, in 2012, Rose was adding new dimensions to his game. Primarily improving his game managerial skills, when to set the table, when to attack. He was running the Pick and Roll much better, etc.

Before he can actually start adding again he is to gain back all the things that he lost over the long layoff. My guess, based on season to date, it will take him all this year just to get close to the level he used to be at. Then maybe next year he can think about expanding his game.

Russell was just blessed with a unbelievable constitution and ability to bounce back from injury so fast, that he was able to come back and pick right back up where he left off, and continue on his career in an upward trajectory.

Bigger picture, I'm not worried about Westbrook in specific, so much as the entire field of PGs in the NBA that has only gotten more insane from a point of already being strong when Rose was still a superstar. It lessens the advantage the Bulls had with Derrick as a top PG and makes his contract that much more injurious to the team build, till he gets his game fully back on track. Because right now even an 80% Derrick Rose is way behind a whole handful of players at his position.

[Leslie Forman]

I always thought Westbrook was about as good as Rose, and right now he's better than Rose ever was. He won't maintain this ridiculous production, but he's added a lot of nuance to his game that I'm not sure Rose ever will be able to.

[Bandit King]

Rose is playing scared at the moment. Can't even get close to his MVP form.

Westbrook on the other hand is playing like an all-star.

[VolumePoster]

It's not just playing scared.

Rose doesn't have the same quickness, speed, acceleration, or leaping ability. When he goes into the lane he gets stripped, turns it over, or gets blocked. The most we can hope for is a foul or a floater.

He shouldn't be criticized for it, and I believe he has worked very hard at his rehab. It sucks for us and for him. No hate here. But when I watch him I see an above average athlete with marginal point guard and shooting skills, lacking in the lateral movement to competently defend the position.

It may change. Maybe. But if you've watched rose at all this year, lilojmayo, you know the answer to your question. Did you post this to hear how sad we are?

[vvgotgame19]

Derrick could definitely learn a thing or two from Westbrook. Not even on his actual game, but the way he approaches the game. Westbrook is about as passionate, competitive and and engaged as they come. Rose, outside of the Portland game, just doesn't look like he has any fire inside. It's concerning because after the long layoff you'd think he'd feel like he has something to prove. Westbrook is as mentally tough as they come, Rose as fragile as they come. Has there ever been a championship team with such a mentally weak superstar? I can't think of one, and that kind of worries me.

[kodo]

Lilojmayo is back!

It's clear the two knee surgeries and acceptance that he has a fragile body has changed Derrick on a fundamental level. Whereas Rose hit that MVP level faster than WB, Rose has switched to a finesse game and the two don't play a similar game anymore.

The two will probably play very different games from this point. I love WB's fire, reminds me of old Rose.

[RememberLu]

Watching Wetbrook this season has left me amazed. He's had major injuries too just like Derrick but the level of springiness and hops hes maintained through it all is remarkable. He looks like he's on a pogo stick out there.

Really amazing player

[suckfish]

Westbrook has always been amazing to be. Strongest and most athletic PG in history. Complete gamer too. Brings it every night. Tough.

[RSP83]

Injuring your ACL which forces you to miss the whole season and doing all the rehab, only to return the next season and injure the other knee sounds rockbottom to me. I mean, how are you going to go through all that without having patience and being mentally strong? Derrick Rose is carrying the whole city on his shoulder, he got that MAX contract tag to his game, and multi-million dollar shoe deals. How is that for added pressure?

He might or might not return to his MVP form. But, I trust DRose that he will do his best to get this team to win championship. He's proven to be resilient towards adversity. Just remember "Why can't I be the MVP of this league?"

[Rerisen]

I'd take Westbrook over any Western PG head to head and be confident he would either outplay, or at least come up even with them.

Rose at full health was one of the few PGs in the league that could physically play him to a standstill and not be overmatched.

[DanTown8587]

Russell and Derrick to me have similar ability to shoot the ball but Russell this year has definitely cut down on the threes. That and Russell still has a lot of his strength and agility that simply Derrick doesn't have. Not saying Derrick can't be a productive player in this league just that I'm not sure he can be the best player on the floor for seven games of a series with a James, Westbrook, Curry, etc on the floor too.

[Mech Engineer]

Watching Wetbrook this season has left me amazed. He's had major injuries too just like Derrick but the level of springiness and hops hes maintained through it all is remarkable. He looks like he's on a pogo stick out there.

Really amazing player

Westbrook is definitely in a different place mentally compared to Derrick. He always plays hard and not scared of having an injury. But, his injuries were contact injuries and one can reconcile with that compared to a non-contact injury.

Derrick is nowhere close to him right now in stats but the Portland game Derrick or the Cleveland game Derrick is what the Bulls need. You don't want to put all your eggs in a 2011 type Derrick again this year. That is dangerous and will probably hurt team success.

[Rerisen]

Russell and Derrick to me have similar ability to shoot the ball but Russell this year has definitely cut down on the threes. That and Russell still has a lot of his strength and agility that simply Derrick doesn't have.

Russell was always a power driver more than Derrick, but Rose used to make up for it with creativeness around the rim, to produce similar at-rim finishing percentages.

Of course both were unstoppable in transition.

Rose is actually finishing well this year, but his attempts inside are way way down.

[Mech Engineer]

I'd take Westbrook over any Western PG head to head and be confident he would either outplay, or at least come up even with them.

Rose at full health was one of the few PGs in the league that could physically play him to a standstill and not be overmatched.

That I agree. When Russell went bad mentally and took bad shots, that's when OKC lost. Even then, guys like Parker and CP3 didn't have a prayer against Westbrook in a playoff series.

[treis]

Russell was just blessed with a unbelievable constitution and ability to bounce back from injury so fast,

Or better drugs

[SpinninHouse]

Tough to compare the two because they are on such different levels currently. Rose plays like his career could end any second - which is a rational fear. Its tough to add to your game when you are scared to death. Its changed his play on a fundamental level,

Rose needs to stay healthy this year first and foremost. If he stays healthy the confidence will start to return - but he needs some evidence that he can play without getting injured.

I hope Derrick gets back to being in the same conversation with Russ. It would be great for us and awesome for the NBA.

[Mbrahv0528]

It's not just playing scared.

Rose doesn't have the same quickness, speed, acceleration, or leaping ability. When he goes into the lane he gets stripped, turns it over, or gets blocked. The most we can hope for is a foul or a floater.

He shouldn't be criticized for it, and I believe he has worked very hard at his rehab. It sucks for us and for him. No hate here. But when I watch him I see an above average athlete with marginal point guard and shooting skills, lacking in the lateral movement to competently defend the position.

It may change. Maybe. But if you've watched rose at all this year, lilojmayo, you know the answer to your question. Did you post this to hear how sad we are?

Well that's not true at all. He has all of his athleticism, explosiveness and speed still and hasn't lost much if any of what made him so hard to guard. The issue is timing and rust and a hesitancy to test the knee and trusting it fully, nothing else.

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[Shill]

Right now Rose just needs to continue to string together injury-free games.

When he's been aggressive this year, he's looked great. We just haven't seen it with any kind of consistency. Later in the year when he's off the minute count, we'll see if he's found a better balance for his game.

[fleet]

Russel is a live wire mentally as well as physically. His edge is mental as much as anything, he is relentless. He wants to play more than anything else.