Outsider's Observations of your team

[wiff]

I think Westbrook is closer to 4 years away from getting close to his ceiling. He is having a very good year number wise but he has made some really poor decisions with the ball and shot selection.

Not to say that he won't be a better player in a couple years but I think he still has a lot to learn.

Plus the kid is only 20 playing the most difficult position in the game.

This isn't a knock I just think he is still green.

[ALL HAIL]

As I remember it, Billups began to REALLY turn the corner as floor general in Minnesota while playing as a backup, under the veteran tutelage of Terrell Brandon.

I remember Billups' game really beginning to slow down and his shot selection becoming markedly improved.

The idea of true veteran leadership in the NBA is truly underated. Maybe Westbrook just needs to play behind a real NBA veteran with real game for him to truly pick up the nuances of the game.

I don't have any real suggestions though. Sorry.

[ALL HAIL]

Honestly speaking, I was really surprised to see and hear that Westbrook was rated so high in last year's draft. I am a UCLA fan and saw quite a few games last year. I'm not an expert, but I always thought that Westbrook was going to be a sleeper pick in the middle of the first round.

I saw him as a glue guy who could POTENTIALLY start at either guard. However, it was and still is clear to me that he should be brought along slowly. Give him his minutes, but, as a youngster, give him plenty of competition (preferably veterans) at both guard spots.

[wizkid27]

Honestly speaking, I was really surprised to see and hear that Westbrook was rated so high in last year's draft. I am a UCLA fan and saw quite a few games last year. I'm not an expert, but I always thought that Westbrook was going to be a sleeper pick in the middle of the first round.

I saw him as a glue guy who could POTENTIALLY start at either guard. However, it was and still is clear to me that he should be brought along slowly. Give him his minutes, but, as a youngster, give him plenty of competition (preferably veterans) at both guard spots.

I think that's why many saw him as a reach at #4. The general opinion is that he has been a very solid pick though.

I agree about playing with a vet point guard. And for the first ~25-30 games of the season I argued that that was one of the big reasons we needed to have Earl around. Lately though, I want any point guard we have to play as little like Earl as possible!

[richboy]

Right now Westbrook has no real PG skills. It may take years for him to develop them. I don't think that means he can't be the PG of the future. It just means perhaps the SG of the future needs to have more PG skills.

Westbrook and Derrick Rose have almost identical physical skills. Matter of fact RW has maybe more physical tools. Rose looks so much more like a PG than Westbrook though. If I switched RW with DR the Thunder have at least 10 more wins.

Whats funny though is Westbrook is a better all around player than Rose. If RW puts it together he can be a much better player. Westbrook may win ROY over Rose. Although its unlikely.

Fact is though this team guard play is horrible. Earl Watson is the garbage on this team. IMO he is the worst rotation player in the NBA. Weaver would not make most NBA teams. He really is a D-leaguer. Westbrook is the best of what we have left. Can we win with him? Yes. But I think this team could really use an Andre Miller type next to him.

No question IMO the biggest need for this team in the offseason is guards. The Thunder have the worst group of guards I've ever seen. 1 guy isn't enough. They literally need 2 add 3 or 4 guards.

[KD_Stan]

All I know is, Westbrook has potential, but we have a player in Durant right now that needs a pg that can IMMEDIATELY contribute because KD is an elite player right now. Because of KD we have no time to waste. We need "right now" players around him, not guys that can potentially be adequate in a few years. Every year wasted developing players around KD is a year wasted for this great talent that is just sitting there ready to win right now. If westbrook takes 5-6 years like billups and even becomes better than billups, that's 5-6 years we dont have to waste waiting for him and his pg abilities to come around.

[PerkinsFor3]

All I know is, Westbrook has potential, but we have a player in Durant right now that needs a pg that can IMMEDIATELY contribute because KD is an elite player right now. Because of KD we have no time to waste. We need "right now" players around him, not guys that can potentially be adequate in a few years. Every year wasted developing players around KD is a year wasted for this great talent that is just sitting there ready to win right now. If westbrook takes 5-6 years like billups and even becomes better than billups, that's 5-6 years we dont have to waste waiting for him and his pg abilities to come around.

get out of here. this is the first year durant is really that good. the guy just became old enough to buy a beer and you're talking like he's clifford robinson.

[wizkid27]

get out of here. this is the first year durant is really that good. the guy just became old enough to buy a beer and you're talking like he's clifford robinson.

lol

Definitely... clock's not exactly ticking on Durant and Westbrook doesn't look like anything outside of an extremely talented rookie trying to find/define his role.

[wiff]

Actually Durant can't buy a beer yet.

[PerkinsFor3]

Actually Durant can't buy a beer yet.

my bad, thought he was 31, going by what i read here.

[BernardC]

Actually Durant can't buy a beer yet.

It always amaze me to even think of that.
This kid cant even buy beer but yet putting up ridiculous stat in NBA.