The Warriors reportedly think Russell Westbrook plays a style that's easy to guard

[CnG]

You're not connected to reality. Why do you think the Warriors are saying any of this in the first place? It's because of insecurity. They just witnessed Westbrook accomplish something that was long considered impossible in the modern era (a 30/10/10 average) and his team just added Paul George and Carmelo Anthony.

A team that doesn't take that seriously is going to find itself sitting at home watching the NBA Finals on TV.

Steph has given more thought to Ayesha's toes this past summer than Westbrook or any threat he poses.

[Pennebaker]

You're not connected to reality. Why do you think the Warriors are saying any of this in the first place? It's because of insecurity. They just witnessed Westbrook accomplish something that was long considered impossible in the modern era (a 30/10/10 average) and his team just added Paul George and Carmelo Anthony.

A team that doesn't take that seriously is going to find itself sitting at home watching the NBA Finals on TV.

Steph has given more thought to Ayesha's toes this past summer than Westbrook or any threat he poses.

That's good news for Cleveland.

[michaelm]

Reigning MVP 30/10/10 Russell Westbrook has never played against them with Paul George and Carmelo Anthony as teammates. Last season, outside of Russell, OKC was garbage. So that point is irrelevant.

Wow, great point. I wonder if this has been addressed in this thread?

Over the past three seasons (so, since the Warriors became great), Westbrook's stats vs. Golden State:

76-225 shooting: 33.7 FG%
ORTG: 100
99 AST / 55 TOV

The proof is in the pudding. For whatever reason, Russ hasn't done well offensively vs. the Dubs.

I love Westbrook’s aggressive style of play because it benefits the Warriors a lot.

More turnovers and missed shots which fuel and fuel and fuel the Warriors offense.

Warriors were in a transition year last season so I can’t wait to see them play against Westbrook this upcoming season.

Also, hopefully this makes Westbrook more motivated so he can “lick his chops” and shoot more and attack more.

We guarded him well when he had KD next to him as well.

fan of Russ but that's not why. He has played with Kd/Ibaka hell even Kmart. Russ has just never been that efficient. They defended Lebron/Harden/Kawhi/Kd (when he was slashing more) same way. send a extra man if they get past their initial defender. Russ has just never been that good of a finisher at the rim (he makes up for it in volume) and average shooting. teams prefer he takes his pull up mid-range and live with the result.

Probably one of the largest criticism of russ' game has been his efficiency/shot selection.

Russ TS% last season was 55%, a career high. In comparison, 55% is james hardens career low (rookie yr)

Russ is like kobe in that he has superstar impact despite not being incredibly efficient from the floor. GS just has guys who can disrupt on the perimeter and challenge at the rim and they can leave roberson as many has mentioned.

I'm wondering why people are assuming with PG and Melo now on his team Russ will be a lot more efficient vs GS?

The way the Warriors defend Westbrook doesn't change based on these additions. Russ' eFG% was 36% v GS in 14/15 and 15/16, two seasons with Ibaka and KD next to him, he actually shot a lot better last year (42%) with less help.

He is a bad shooter against a team that defends bad shooters EXCELLENTLY. They can dare him to shoot and take inefficient shots or make him try finish inside where the Warriors a mobile rim-protecting big and a bevy of long arms to contest his shot. Also, Russ' finishing stats vs the Warriors are pretty awful if I recall.

It's not saying Russ isn't an amazing player or anything, it's just saying out of the elite players the Warriors gameplan for, Russ does not worry them stylistically compared to someone like KAT, Lebron etc.

Are you aware this is from an NBA insider on the 'feeling' within an organisation?

It's not that deep...

1) It's not bad PR since there isn't a single quote on the matter. Also, this opinion has been evident if you follow any GS v OKC matchups over the past 3 years. The Warriors were ALWAYS concerned with Durant, not Westbrook, even though he had some excellent game vs them.
2) Westbrook needs no more motivation vs GS so this is a moot point, but even if it did motivate him more, Russ playing even more aggressive does nothing but play further into the Warriors' hands.
3) Once again, how can one create noise when no words are spoken?
4) Only time will tell, but why wouldn't the Warriors be confident of managing a player who has only shot 40%+ 3 times out of the last 17 times they've played. Russ has shot 36.9% and averaged 5 TOs vs the Warriors in his 17 meetings over the last 3 seasons, only won 4 of them, and had KD 13/17 times (although 1 time KD left at halftime).

Saying this is the Warriors talking trash is akin to the garbage take when fans say players should 'shut up and stop talking trash' when they're directly asked a question about a topic by a reporter. Nobody came out of nowhere and said 'Russ is easy to defend'.

That guy even quoted you, and you just happened to ignore because you know.. it makes sense.

He's been getting routinely destroyed by them for 3 years running, so they're not wrong.

Looks like I even made this point earlier.

This will get lost because there's too many Russ stans/GSW haters out there that just want to talk out of their ass, but . .

1) The original discussion came from Zach Lowe/Ryan Russillo on Lowe Post. No one said Russ is easy to guard for the average NBA team - the discussion is quite specifically that GSW thinks Russ is easy to guard for THEM

2) GSW is correct. Russ hasn't done jack against them, even when he had KD for 13 of the last 17 matchups or something like t hat

..

You're naive. Any time the Warriors play the Thunder this story is going to be front and center in the media. And in Russell Westbrook's own mind this story is going to be front and center. It's not just "some off handed comment".

The Warriors have put themselves in the position where they have to prove something - shutting down Westbrook is "easy" - that they shouldn't have been tasked to prove if they would've watched their mouths.

That's a distraction.

You're the one that's naive mate, not me. Warriors simply don't consider WB seriously like you do. And Warriors don't have to prove anything vs Westbrook. They've routinely kicked his ass as a team while he's played like **** for 3 straight seasons. What they said of the past is 100% factual. They've had to deal with OKC's deal for two years in a row, they've gotten used to it by now. Also, they're champions. They don't have to prove something to another team or player, it's the other way around.

I was just reading the Sept 25, 2017 copy of Sports Illustrated with Dwight Howard on the cover and on pg. 50 Dwight says:



You're downplaying this as irrelevant and it is simply not ever going to be irrelevant to Russell Westbrook.

I'm not downplaying anything. The truth is they don't care about Westbrook's feelings. I already know players care about others say, I don't need to listen an emotional baby like Dwight to convince me one way or another.


Westbrook can knock them off the playoffs this year, he has the chance to make a point. All of that kind of talk however is hypotheticals between us, and neither really know.

Here's where your argument is fatally flawed:

The Warriors simply don't consider WB seriously like you do...

You're not connected to reality. Why do you think the Warriors are saying any of this in the first place? It's because of insecurity. They just witnessed Westbrook accomplish something that was long considered impossible in the modern era (a 30/10/10 average) and his team just added Paul George and Carmelo Anthony.

A team that doesn't take that seriously is going to find itself sitting at home watching the NBA Finals on TV.

You think GSW should be scared by the combination of Westbrook, George and Anthony. GSW don't, having not been afraid of Westbrook in the past when he had better players than them on his team.

An NBA season is about to commence in which it will pretty much be determined who is correct. Meanwhile GSW as defending champions and winners of the most games ever over 3 consecutive seasons are perhaps hypothesising from a more informed position/position of greater strength than you are.

[CnG]

You're not connected to reality. Why do you think the Warriors are saying any of this in the first place? It's because of insecurity. They just witnessed Westbrook accomplish something that was long considered impossible in the modern era (a 30/10/10 average) and his team just added Paul George and Carmelo Anthony.

A team that doesn't take that seriously is going to find itself sitting at home watching the NBA Finals on TV.

Steph has given more thought to Ayesha's toes this past summer than Westbrook or any threat he poses.

That's good news for Cleveland.

The fact you believe this is insecurity due to the Melo and PG additions shows nothing but your lack of awareness regarding the Warriors.

The Warriors have felt this about Westbrook for YEARS. This isn't a new thing, Marcus Thompson has said all of this before but years ago. To anyone who knows anything about the Warriors and follows them deeper than checking the boxscore, this isn't news.

[Pennebaker]

Wow, great point. I wonder if this has been addressed in this thread?







That guy even quoted you, and you just happened to ignore because you know.. it makes sense.

Looks like I even made this point earlier.





You're the one that's naive mate, not me. Warriors simply don't consider WB seriously like you do. And Warriors don't have to prove anything vs Westbrook. They've routinely kicked his ass as a team while he's played like **** for 3 straight seasons. What they said of the past is 100% factual. They've had to deal with OKC's deal for two years in a row, they've gotten used to it by now. Also, they're champions. They don't have to prove something to another team or player, it's the other way around.

I'm not downplaying anything. The truth is they don't care about Westbrook's feelings. I already know players care about others say, I don't need to listen an emotional baby like Dwight to convince me one way or another.


Westbrook can knock them off the playoffs this year, he has the chance to make a point. All of that kind of talk however is hypotheticals between us, and neither really know.

Here's where your argument is fatally flawed:

The Warriors simply don't consider WB seriously like you do...

You're not connected to reality. Why do you think the Warriors are saying any of this in the first place? It's because of insecurity. They just witnessed Westbrook accomplish something that was long considered impossible in the modern era (a 30/10/10 average) and his team just added Paul George and Carmelo Anthony.

A team that doesn't take that seriously is going to find itself sitting at home watching the NBA Finals on TV.

You think GSW should be scared by the combination of Westbrook, George and Anthony. GSW don't, having not been afraid of Westbrook in the past when he had better players than them on his team.

The Warriors never faced an OKC team led by 30/10/10 Westbrook with help. They've only faced a less motivated Thunder leader in Kevin Durant. And, besides, the Warriors have actually found themselves down 3-1 in a playoff series versus a Westbrook team in recent memory.

And now Westbrook doesn't have an offense-only running mate in KD, he now has PG13 - who is probably the best perimeter defender OKC has had since Gary Payton, and also a very good scorer - and he also has Melo who can pick up a lot of scoring slack that left with Durant.

An NBA season is about to commence in which it will pretty much be determined who is correct. Meanwhile GSW as defending champions and winners of the most games ever over 3 consecutive seasons are perhaps hypothesising from a more informed position/position of greater strength than you are.

But they aren't in an informed position. They're in a biased position. They're going to assume that success is inevitable. But I'm indifferent and I'm not going to make that mistake.

[michaelm]

Here's where your argument is fatally flawed:



You're not connected to reality. Why do you think the Warriors are saying any of this in the first place? It's because of insecurity. They just witnessed Westbrook accomplish something that was long considered impossible in the modern era (a 30/10/10 average) and his team just added Paul George and Carmelo Anthony.

A team that doesn't take that seriously is going to find itself sitting at home watching the NBA Finals on TV.

You think GSW should be scared by the combination of Westbrook, George and Anthony. GSW don't, having not been afraid of Westbrook in the past when he had better players than them on his team.

The Warriors never faced an OKC team led by 30/10/10 Westbrook with help. They've only faced a less motivated Thunder leader in Kevin Durant. And, besides, the Warriors have actually found themselves down 3-1 in a playoff series versus a Westbrook team in recent memory.

And now Westbrook doesn't have an offense-only running mate in KD, he now has PG13 - who is probably the best perimeter defender OKC has had since Gary Payton, and also a very good scorer - and he also has Melo who can pick up a lot of scoring slack that left with Durant.

An NBA season is about to commence in which it will pretty much be determined who is correct. Meanwhile GSW as defending champions and winners of the most games ever over 3 consecutive seasons are perhaps hypothesising from a more informed position/position of greater strength than you are.

But they aren't in an informed position. They're in a biased position. They're going to assume that success is inevitable. But I'm indifferent and I'm not going to make that mistake.

GSW play team ball. Russell doesn't, or hasn't anyway except for about 4 games of a WCF series a couple of years ago.

If Isoball triumphs so be it, but at this point in time I believe GSW have every reason for confidence in their rather successful approach. I would still be fairly confident if OKC had signed LeBron James instead of George or Anthony. Given how OKC, understandably perhaps, have been trash talking GSW for more than a season, I don't see why OKC should be restrained about their own confidence, particularly when actually asked.

[Impuniti]

You're not connected to reality. Why do you think the Warriors are saying any of this in the first place? It's because of insecurity. They just witnessed Westbrook accomplish something that was long considered impossible in the modern era (a 30/10/10 average) and his team just added Paul George and Carmelo Anthony.

A team that doesn't take that seriously is going to find itself sitting at home watching the NBA Finals on TV.

You're right, I'm not connected with reality. Just look at how shook Dray is about everything

“They didn’t stand a f*cking chance,” he says of the Cavs, who lost in five games. “It pissed me off we didn’t sweep them, though.”

“What the f*ck are you talking about?” he says to me. “They are really trying to rethink their whole strategy”—here he bumps a table repeatedly with his hand for emphasis, getting excited—“because teams know they don’t have a f*cking clue.”

"It’s pretty **** sick to see how everybody is just in a **** panic about what to do. You sit back and think, like, these motherf*ckers, they know. They know they don’t stand a chance.”

https://www.gq.com/story/draymond-green-warriors-would-like-a-word/amp

There's a lot more in there where Warrior fans would like him to tone down his ego in particular, but yes.. the Warriors are shook about Westbrook whove they factually b*tch slapped over and over again while he played like trash for 3 years running. Green showing messages so the entire group chat can laugh at a team is definitely a sign of insecurity from a team that went 16-1.

Let me just take Green's prose for a second. What the f*ck are you talking about?




If anything, they are way too confident right now. Maybe it's mostly Green, but I'd like them to not take anything for granted. Saying they might insecure about Westbrook doesn't make a lick of f*cking sense. Especially for a team that puts ego aside to get team wins, which is the complete opposite of that stat padder.

[andrewww]

You think GSW should be scared by the combination of Westbrook, George and Anthony. GSW don't, having not been afraid of Westbrook in the past when he had better players than them on his team.

The Warriors never faced an OKC team led by 30/10/10 Westbrook with help. They've only faced a less motivated Thunder leader in Kevin Durant. And, besides, the Warriors have actually found themselves down 3-1 in a playoff series versus a Westbrook team in recent memory.

And now Westbrook doesn't have an offense-only running mate in KD, he now has PG13 - who is probably the best perimeter defender OKC has had since Gary Payton, and also a very good scorer - and he also has Melo who can pick up a lot of scoring slack that left with Durant.

An NBA season is about to commence in which it will pretty much be determined who is correct. Meanwhile GSW as defending champions and winners of the most games ever over 3 consecutive seasons are perhaps hypothesising from a more informed position/position of greater strength than you are.

But they aren't in an informed position. They're in a biased position. They're going to assume that success is inevitable. But I'm indifferent and I'm not going to make that mistake.

GSW play team ball. Russell doesn't, or hasn't anyway except for about 4 games of a WCF series a couple of years ago.

If Isoball triumphs so be it, but at this point in time I believe GSW have every reason for confidence in their rather successful approach. I would still be fairly confident if OKC had signed LeBron James instead of George or Anthony. Given how OKC, understandably perhaps, have been trash talking GSW for more than a season, I don't see why OKC should be restrained about their own confidence, particularly when actually asked.

Like you said, if OKC is gona trash talk them even they themselves were down last season, then yeah it's fair game for GSW to do so as well (or any team for that matter). May the best team win.

[dr3am]

The stats clearly back up the Warriors statement.


Sent from my iPhone using RealGM Forums

[Manute Lol]

But they aren't in an informed position. They're in a biased position. They're going to assume that success is inevitable. But I'm indifferent and I'm not going to make that mistake.

Indifferent people don't go in for loopy do-it-yourself psychoanalysis or argue ad nauseum about petty nonsense. Sure you're indifferent.