Russell Westbrook is showing you what Kevin Durant had to put up with for 8 years.

jpengland · Post #141 » by **jpengland** » Sat Dec 25, 2021 7:25 pm

This is where I think people misunderstand the KD to the Warriors narrative.

If you've been playing with Westbrook, the prospect of a system and culture like the warriors must seem like a dream

The4thHorseman · Post #142 » by **The4thHorseman** » Sat Dec 25, 2021 8:34 pm

Poor KD, he had to play 5 seasons with a 5x All-NBA guard. How could he be so unlucky???

:roll:

TaylorTRoom · Post #143 » by **TaylorTRoom** » Sun Dec 26, 2021 3:56 am

There are two NBA seasons- the regular season and the playoffs. Westbrook’s strengths (intensity) are made for the regular season. His weaknesses (poor awareness) cripple him in the playoffs.

AmIWrongDude · Post #144 » by **AmIWrongDude** » Sun Dec 26, 2021 4:05 am

No. Westbrook definitely doesn't miss that dunk in his OKC years. That was sad.

Lockdown504090 · Post #145 » by **Lockdown504090** » Sun Dec 26, 2021 4:09 am

AmIWrongDude wrote:No. Westbrook definitely doesn't miss that dunk in his OKC years. That was sad.

great, so hes 5-20 with the same trash defense. yay.

AmIWrongDude · Post #146 » by **AmIWrongDude** » Sun Dec 26, 2021 4:11 am

Lockdown504090 wrote:
AmIWrongDude wrote:No. Westbrook definitely doesn't miss that dunk in his OKC years. That was sad.

great, so hes 5-20 with the same trash defense. yay.

You really think this is the same Westbrook as MVP Westbrook?

Marvin Martian · Post #147 » by **Marvin Martian** » Sun Dec 26, 2021 4:12 am

Westbrook was much better when he was in OKC with KD. He actually had a mid range pullup that had to be respected.

Joshuan3 · Post #148 » by **Joshuan3** » Sun Dec 26, 2021 4:15 am

thebigbird wrote:Comparing Westbrook from 5+ years ago to present day Westbrook is so incredibly disingenuous.

This.

Optms · Post #149 » by **Optms** » Sun Dec 26, 2021 4:15 am

I don't care if KD played with scrubs in OKC (He didn't), that didn't justify him going to join the team that just fathered him. Spineless move. He and Kyrie belong together.

OfficialRef · Post #150 » by **OfficialRef** » Sun Dec 26, 2021 4:16 am

It just goes to show you need a specialized team around Westbrook. In OKC, the team revolved around him and let him dictate the offense over Durant.

marthafokker · Post #151 » by **marthafokker** » Sun Dec 26, 2021 4:22 am

LeBron wished he is playing with JR Smith instead.

lakerz12 · Post #152 » by **lakerz12** » Sun Dec 26, 2021 4:25 am

AmIWrongDude wrote:
Lockdown504090 wrote:
AmIWrongDude wrote:No. Westbrook definitely doesn't miss that dunk in his OKC years. That was sad.

great, so hes 5-20 with the same trash defense. yay.

You really think this is the same Westbrook as MVP Westbrook?

No one said that.

Peregrine01 · Post #153 » by **Peregrine01** » Sun Dec 26, 2021 4:27 am

Westbrook, for all his faults, was a top 10 player for a few seasons when he played with KD in OKC and was certainly a far better player than he is now.

AmIWrongDude · Post #154 » by **AmIWrongDude** » Sun Dec 26, 2021 4:30 am

lakerz12 wrote:
AmIWrongDude wrote:
Lockdown504090 wrote:great, so hes 5-20 with the same trash defense. yay.

You really think this is the same Westbrook as MVP Westbrook?

No one said that.

So what is the point here then? Me saying he wouldn't have missed the dunk was my way of saying he's clearly not the same player anymore. It's not about that specific play and whether he would be 4/20 or 5/20.

Lockdown504090 · Post #155 » by **Lockdown504090** » Sun Dec 26, 2021 4:39 am

AmIWrongDude wrote:
lakerz12 wrote:
AmIWrongDude wrote:You really think this is the same Westbrook as MVP Westbrook?

No one said that.

So what is the point here then? Me saying he wouldn't have missed the dunk was my way of saying he's clearly not the same player anymore. It's not about that specific play and whether he would be 4/20 or 5/20.

true, but its about the decision making lack of shooting, finishing around the rim(which hes always been not good at) and trash defense.

Goomba3666 · Post #156 » by **Goomba3666** » Sun Dec 26, 2021 4:41 am

Maybe he "looked better" back then because Kevin Durant makes everyone look better. Kevin Durant's game maximizes players' best abilities.

Westbrook may not be the same player, but he definitely wasn't averaging triple doubles with KD. Lebron is getting that version of Westbrook.

picc · Post #157 » by **picc** » Sun Dec 26, 2021 4:45 am

Russell Westbrook was the best player on both of their WCF runs. So no.

AmIWrongDude · Post #158 » by **AmIWrongDude** » Sun Dec 26, 2021 5:16 am

Goomba3666 wrote:Maybe he "looked better" back then because Kevin Durant makes everyone look better. Kevin Durant's game maximizes players' best abilities.

Westbrook may not be the same player, but he definitely wasn't averaging triple doubles with KD. Lebron is getting that version of Westbrook.

He was pretty clearly a better and more explosive player then. Westbrook's game is the exact skillset that doesn't age well so it's not surprising. I do think he was overrated compared to his stats even when playing with KD tho.

Cubbies2120 · Post #159 » by **Cubbies2120** » Sun Dec 26, 2021 5:16 am

picc wrote:Russell Westbrook was the best player on both of their WCF runs. So no.

Ok

G35 · Post #160 » by **G35** » Sun Dec 26, 2021 6:34 am

Danny1616 wrote:Westbrook is one of those guys who is both overrated and underrated at the same time.

His haters make him out to be a scrub and forgot how good he actually was in his prime.

He's a very talented player with incredible athleticism who has serious flaws in his game and is getting old.

The problem with that analysis is that WB looks great against the poor defensive and lower level teams, but as soon as you go up against quality teams and get into the playoffs you notice something:

Poor basketball IQ is worse than poor athleticism

Good defenses can shut down great athletes, but a smart player can make a defense move to where he wants it to. WB has none of that, he wants to overpower a defense and he's not Shaq or Lebron. He can't overpower teams. Your primary ballhandler cannot be your worst decision maker......