Is Russell Westbrook declining?

Post #1 » by **ThunderBolt** » Thu Dec 13, 2018 3:29 am

I think this topic deserves its own thread. Discuss.

alessandrux · Post #2 » by **alessandrux** » Thu Dec 13, 2018 3:49 am

He probably is, but please let's not jump to conclusions too fast.
He was really bad tonight, but the last 5 minutes are giving me hope. He still has incredilble athleticism. I don't know why he doesn't play like that, which I assume is his usual self, always. Not fit? Sick?

I think he will get back into it, the question is,for me, if he will be able to be fit during the playoffs.

Post #3 » by **bondom34** » Thu Dec 13, 2018 4:01 am

Pretty much agree with the above. He started the season late, so I've been waiting. He looks slow and a little tentative but he's also playing mostly smarter. So on one hand I'm seeing the negative but the other a few positives. He's clearly not himself the last 2 games, but missed 2 chunks of time, and not counting his first 2 games of the season and the most recent 2 he's averaged pretty much his career TS with a better than normal assist:TO. I really do think his approach has changed as well as decision making for the most part too.

Osirus89 · Post #4 » by **Osirus89** » Thu Dec 13, 2018 4:11 am

I dont think he is just yet.
The biggest evidence of this is that he played differently before he hurt his ankle. Ever since then he has seemed a little out of sorts.
His speed and jumping ability haven't gone down at all. It's his driving frequency and free throws. The free throws seem like a mental block sort of thing. The driving frequency probably stems back to the free throws. Can't drive and draw fouls as much if you aren't confident at the line.

I feel like once the FT thing is corrected, the rest will follow.

Pillendreher · Post #5 » by **Pillendreher** » Thu Dec 13, 2018 6:17 am

I don't think he is. Unless this one ankle injury took multiple years off his body. I would like to know what the hell is up with him. Being out two weeks or so should not turn a guy that was destroying teams with his drives to start the season into Andre Miller.

anthony00 · Post #6 » by **anthony00** » Thu Dec 13, 2018 6:22 am

Read on Twitter

getrichordie · Post #7 » by **getrichordie** » Thu Dec 13, 2018 6:49 am

Westbrook has played a total of 26,271 minutes.

Through his first 10 seasons, Westbrook has played exactly 25,700 minutes.

The only other guards who have played that many minutes in their first 10 years (since 2000):

Joe Johnson (2002-2011)
Andre Iguodala (2005-2014)
Andre Miller (2001-2009)
Jason Richardson (2002-2011)

...

Chris Paul, Jason Terry, and Deron Williams also played 25,000 minutes during their first 10 seasons.

...

Also, amongst all players with 25, 000+ minutes played since 2000, Westbrook has had the second highest USG% (32.7) in the league; only behind Kobe Bryant (32.9).

Since 1990? Westbrook is #1.
Since 1980? Westbrook #2, Jordan #1.

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Post #8 » by **ThunderBolt** » Thu Dec 13, 2018 11:48 am

The free throw shooting started last year and continues to get worse. I know his routine got messed up but there is no reason for it to send him in to a slow tailspin.

Pillendreher · Post #9 » by **Pillendreher** » Thu Dec 13, 2018 12:21 pm

ThunderBolt wrote:The free throw shooting started last year and continues to get worse. I know his routI’ve got messed up but there is no reason for it to send him in to a slow tailspin.

Honestly: That's just a cop out. It's been more than 100 games. He's not a child. Adjust.

Post #10 » by **ThunderBolt** » Thu Dec 13, 2018 12:29 pm

Pillendreher wrote:
ThunderBolt wrote:The free throw shooting started last year and continues to get worse. I know his routI’ve got messed up but there is no reason for it to send him in to a slow tailspin.
Honestly: That's just a cop out. It's been more than 100 games. He's not a child. Adjust.

I agree but why is this happening? He isn’t jumping to shoot free throws so knees shouldn’t be an issue. Free throw shooting would be one of the last things to go. I’m wondering if his confidence has just been in a slow tailspin last year. He’s shooting continues to get worse. Even this year before the injury his shot was broken. He was able to get to the rim and most were glad to see him doing that. Maybe that’s not just his best shot but the only one he has confidence he can make.

Balkman32 · Post #11 » by **Balkman32** » Thu Dec 13, 2018 1:26 pm

I don't think that's a fair statement right now. The past two seasons will probably end up being his best stats wise.

But, he is completely changing his game, and he is sacrificing for the team. Give it some time. If his shooting is this woeful in March then we can really have this conversation.

spearsy23 · Post #12 » by **spearsy23** » Thu Dec 13, 2018 4:37 pm

ThunderBolt wrote:The free throw shooting started last year and continues to get worse. I know his routine got messed up but there is no reason for it to send him in to a slow tailspin.

There's something wrong conditioning wise, his jumper and free throws are all short. it may be the illness Horne hinted at for the last two games, but it's been an issue all season.

As far as decline, yes. But I don't buy that as the reason he's struggling right now.

Mattv · Post #13 » by **Mattv** » Thu Dec 13, 2018 5:44 pm

spearsy23 wrote:
ThunderBolt wrote:The free throw shooting started last year and continues to get worse. I know his routine got messed up but there is no reason for it to send him in to a slow tailspin.

There's something wrong conditioning wise, his jumper and free throws are all short. it may be the illness Horne hinted at for the last two games, but it's been an issue all season.

As far as decline, yes. But I don't buy that as the reason he's struggling right now.

It looks like to me his knee is still messed up it look like it semi gave out on him 2 that i saw in the last few min.

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Post #14 » by **ThunderBolt** » Thu Dec 13, 2018 5:45 pm

Wetsbrooks free throw shooting has been declining since last season. This isn’t a knee or conditioning issue.

spearsy23 · Post #15 » by **spearsy23** » Thu Dec 13, 2018 5:57 pm

ThunderBolt wrote:Wetsbrooks free throw shooting has been declining since last season. This isn’t a knee or conditioning issue.

It's down 13% from last year, that's not just steady decline.

Post #16 » by **ThunderBolt** » Thu Dec 13, 2018 6:01 pm

spearsy23 wrote:
ThunderBolt wrote:Wetsbrooks free throw shooting has been declining since last season. This isn’t a knee or conditioning issue.

It's down 13% from last year, that's not just steady decline.

It dropped 11% the year before that. It might not be a steady decline but it’s not a matter of not getting his conditioning back for two years.

spearsy23 · Post #17 » by **spearsy23** » Thu Dec 13, 2018 6:11 pm

ThunderBolt wrote:
spearsy23 wrote:
ThunderBolt wrote:Wetsbrooks free throw shooting has been declining since last season. This isn’t a knee or conditioning issue.

It's down 13% from last year, that's not just steady decline.

It dropped 11% the year before that. It might not be a steady decline but it’s not a matter of not getting his conditioning back for two years.

Last year his misses were all over the place, this year he's short on everything, even a lot of makes. Clearly his shooting has gotten worse, but there's separation between where it's at and what his actual percentages are.

getrichordie · Post #18 » by **getrichordie** » Thu Dec 13, 2018 6:43 pm

Never forget.

https://youtu.be/A4htEvURGco

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Thundershock88 · Post #19 » by **Thundershock88** » Thu Dec 13, 2018 7:08 pm

With his knee injuries, and his style of play, it's hard to imagine he's not declining. The guy is like a running back. He takes a lot of contact. Father time is undefeated, and his body can only hold up for so long. As for his shot, I would have to think the knees have something to do with it. He hasn't been the same since that first operation after his MVP year.

Patches Perry · Post #20 » by **Patches Perry** » Thu Dec 13, 2018 7:26 pm

Yes, but decline is a tough thing to recognize from point A to point B to point C, because it's very slow and a player like Westbrook can recapture athletic brilliance on particular plays that make you think he hasn't lost a step. I do think injuries and rhythm are factors too, which maybe makes it seem more pronounced. The more disappointing thing to me is that I assumed with athletic decline, his shot would improve a little bit, but it's dropped off a cliff. If his shot doesn't improve as his athletic decline becomes more prominent, he is going to be really bad.

Is Russel Westbrook declining?