NBA Games Discussion Thread - Part 3

[FAH1223]

Westbrook with 49, 16, and 10

[tweet]https://twitter.com/SportsCenter/status/573327343017701377[/tweet]

That a typo?

Nope

[tweet]https://twitter.com/ESPNNBA/status/573360484285587456[/tweet]

[FAH1223]

Westbrook with 49, 16, and 10

[tweet]https://twitter.com/SportsCenter/status/573327343017701377[/tweet]

That a typo?

Nope

[tweet]https://twitter.com/ESPNNBA/status/573360484285587456[/tweet]

[FAH1223]

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0MhCsm465IQ[/youtube]

[nate33]

Westbrook with 49, 16, and 10

[tweet]https://twitter.com/SportsCenter/status/573327343017701377[/tweet]

I'm still not buying into the Westbrook hype. He's an extremely good player, probably in the top 10, but I don't consider him to be one of the best 3 or 4 players in the game. I'm looking at the gaudy numbers in his recent 4-game stretch of triple doubles and I note that the team went 2-2, beating Philly and Indy while losing to Phoenix and Portland. I also note that Westbrook's usage rate is an otherworldly 48% during those 4 games, but he was actually a net -7 in on/off differential. What I see is a guy dominating the ball to the possible detriment of his team.

Don't get me wrong. The ability to maintain a usage rate north of 40 while still being reasonably efficient is remarkable, and ranks him among the elite players in the game. But I consider him to be equivalent to Carmelo Anthony or recent Kobe Bryant rather than guys like Lebron, Harden and Curry.

To be fair, some of this may be on Scott Brooks, who apparently doesn't understand how to design an offense other than to give the ball to Westbrook and Durant at let them create.

[Kanyewest]

Westbrook with 49, 16, and 10

[tweet]https://twitter.com/SportsCenter/status/573327343017701377[/tweet]

I'm still not buying into the Westbrook hype. He's an extremely good player, probably in the top 10, but I don't consider him to be one of the best 3 or 4 players in the game. I'm looking at the gaudy numbers in his recent 4-game stretch of triple doubles and I note that the team went 2-2, beating Philly and Indy while losing to Phoenix and Portland. I also note that Westbrook's usage rate is an otherworldly 48% during those 4 games, but he was actually a net -7 in on/off differential. What I see is a guy dominating the ball to the possible detriment of his team.

Don't get me wrong. The ability to maintain a usage rate north of 40 while still being reasonably efficient is remarkable, and ranks him among the elite players in the game. But I consider him to be equivalent to Carmelo Anthony or recent Kobe Bryant rather than guys like Lebron, Harden and Curry.

To be fair, some of this may be on Scott Brooks, who apparently doesn't understand how to design an offense other than to give the ball to Westbrook and Durant at let them create.

Westbrook's triple double against the 76ers was in another threshold than his other ones against the Suns and the Trail Blazers. I agree he has been shooting it too much in those losses

I lean that he's closer (still slightly behind) the LeBron, Curry, and Davis group than the Melo/Kobe(of this year) considering his rebounding numbers which have been 10.5 per game since the all star game.

[TGW]

Another game, another Kings loss. When is that team ever going to get it together?

[FAH1223]

The Hawks beat the Cavs Again

Bulls lose to Pacers

Raptors lose to Hornets

[FAH1223]

Tony Parker looks to be getting back into form. Season-high 32 points vs. the Bulls.

Kawhi Leonard with his 4th straight 20 point game, first time he's done that in his career.

Spurs are only 2 games behind for the 4th seed, which is crazy considering people thought they could miss the playoffs a week ago.

[FAH1223]

[tweet]https://twitter.com/MikePradaSBN/status/574750331655098368[/tweet]

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

Westbrook is better than KD.

Westbrook is IMO the 2014-2015 NBA MVP

http://m.bkref.com/m?p=XXplayersXXwXXwe ... .html&t=16

Westbrook is #1 in scoring, usage, assist percentage, box plus minus, offensive plus minus.

His PER is 30.0. Number 2 behind Davis. Westbrook is also 2nd in steals.

I have never seen a player improve more than Russell Westbrook.

[Ruzious]

Just took a look at that 2010 draft. Sacramento drafted Cousins in the first round, but does anyone remember who they drafted in the second round?

Spoiler:

Hassan Whiteside

Trying to picture having them both on the same team now - that would eat me up if I were a Sacr fan.

[Kanyewest]

Big turnaround about Whiteside's rep after last night game.

[tweet]https://twitter.com/PBPjasonlieser/status/575129925478412288[/tweet]

[Ruzious]

How absurdly great is Anthony Davis? Playing against Milwaukee, Giannis - who is on his way to becoming a special player and has a career game - 29 points on 11-16 shooting, 7-7 from the line, 5 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 steals, 3 blocks. And Davis completely overshadows him - getting 43 points on 17-23 shooting, 9-11 from the line, 10 boards, 6 assists and dominates especially down the stretch.

[Ruzious]

Big turnaround about Whiteside's rep after last night game.

[tweet]https://twitter.com/PBPjasonlieser/status/575129925478412288[/tweet]

If the NBA isn't going to suspend him, maybe Miami needs to nip his anger problem in the bud by suspending him themselves.

[FAH1223]

The Jazz have legit gone from one of the worst defenses in the league to the best, Exum gets a bit of credit there too since his length on the perimeter is really a bytch for PGs to deal with now that he's figuring out how to defend, but Rudy is basically a one man zone and combining that with Favors is just insane!

[TGW]

I wanted Giannis so badly in that draft. He had all the makings of a star.

[TGW]

Imagine Whiteside and Cousins in the same team--refs would be handing techs down like party favors.

[closg00]

Big turnaround about Whiteside's rep after last night game.

[tweet]https://twitter.com/PBPjasonlieser/status/575129925478412288[/tweet]

If the NBA isn't going to suspend him, maybe Miami needs to nip his anger problem in the bud by suspending him themselves.

Unfortunate, this guy is losing money as the season goes on. The Heat are dealing with "it" per subsequent reports.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

Imagine Whiteside and Cousins in the same team--refs would be handing techs down like party favors.

How many techs does Cousins have this season?

[AFM]

Imagine Whiteside and Cousins in the same team--refs would be handing techs down like party favors.

How many techs does Cousins have this season?

9... good for 6th place.

Markieff Morris & GOATbrook leading the way with 13 each