The Russell Westbrook Thread (2014/15)

richboy · Post #241 » by **richboy** » Wed Dec 17, 2014 7:08 am

Westbrook is Flash 2.0 right now. His game is 09 DWade all over again. Wade use to play so fast that his teammates didn't even know how to handle it. Westbrook always played at a speed that nobody else was playing. The game has slowed for him though. He still plays fast but he understands what the defense is trying to do. He understands the game more and how to utilize how physical ability. Right now he prime Dwade all over again.

Post #242 » by **PaulieWal** » Wed Dec 17, 2014 7:16 am

^^ I don't think he's at 09 Wade level just yet. His game does remind me a lot of prime Wade but 09 was peak Wade. He's getting there in a hurry though.

KD35Brah · Post #243 » by **KD35Brah** » Wed Dec 17, 2014 7:34 am

Russ was on another planet tonight.

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vVB8wYy7sw4[/youtube]

TwoStarz · Post #244 » by **TwoStarz** » Wed Dec 17, 2014 7:47 am

Russ is becoming my favorite player in the league real fast. Dude just plays so hard all the time. Have to love his competitive nature

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SideshowBob · Post #245 » by **SideshowBob** » Wed Dec 17, 2014 7:55 am

USG% just under 40% so far.

dfins891 · Post #246 » by **dfins891** » Wed Dec 17, 2014 9:08 am

SideshowBob wrote:USG% just under 40% so far.

Think its a little skewed because of the Portland and NYK games without Durant where it was close to 50. nba.com has it at about 35 since Durant returned. Still a little high would like to see it closer to 32-33 but hard to argue with how he's playing right now.

richboy · Post #247 » by **richboy** » Wed Dec 17, 2014 10:15 am

Yeah usage has been dropping. Right now his usage to PER ratio is solid. If his usage finishes around 36 and his PER around 28 that be still very good. That would be superstar like usage and MVP like PER. Can't complain about that. 09 Dwade had a 36 usage and a 30 PER. Obviously Anthony Davis 34 PER on 27 usage is just insane. That is number 2 option like usage but all-time PER. On the flip side Kobe has a 37 usage and a 19 PER. That means Kobe has to act like a superstar just to produce like a solid nba starter borderline all-star.

SunKing · Post #248 » by **SunKing** » Wed Dec 17, 2014 11:33 am

I just watched for the lulz his past draft reports... I don't know if in the last 10 years a player just put to a huge shame draft reports about him. It's like every weakness he was known for he made a specifical point to make them strenght :lol:

You can see why the dude always plays with a chip on his shoulder.

bigboi · Post #249 » by **bigboi** » Wed Dec 17, 2014 12:23 pm

richboy wrote:Westbrook is Flash 2.0 right now. His game is 09 DWade all over again. Wade use to play so fast that his teammates didn't even know how to handle it. Westbrook always played at a speed that nobody else was playing. The game has slowed for him though. He still plays fast but he understands what the defense is trying to do. He understands the game more and how to utilize how physical ability. Right now he prime Dwade all over again.

Relax, don't overrate him. Alpha Russ isn't on Wade's level yet, he's getting there though. This is the first season that I'd put him firmly ahead of MVP Rose though. You're right that the game is becoming slow for him, he's playing with much more control and much smarter even though he's playing fast. He's much more willing pass than before and doesn't take nearly as much of the terrible shots that he took in the past. I just wish Rose never tore that ACL, would've been beautiful to see these two duke it out

lethalizer · Post #250 » by **lethalizer** » Wed Dec 17, 2014 1:26 pm

DISCLAIMER: I thought the other Russell Westbrook thread was still alive and untouched since June, so I posted this there. Won't revise it though, so just ignore the shame-on-you stuff.

This thread needs a revival, no?

The man is tearing it up right now. Lowered the head-scratching decisions to a minimum, has been hanging around the %50 FG mark for a while(which would be incredible for a guy like him), and is basically playing like a man with a shotgun killing off helpless zombies to reach his eventual destination.

I know that was a poor analogy, but anyway, here's some stats:

26.4 PPG(Career best), 6.8 APG, 5.8 RPG, 1.9 SPG on 49.5 shooting(easily a career best, previous high is 45.7 4 years ago), and also 35.5 from three. He cut down on those three-pointers a lot, shooting only 2.8 per game this year as opposed to 4.7 from last year, and that's obviously a great decision.

Looking from the "advanced side" of things:

He currently leads the league in PER with 34.5(?!), has a TS% of 60.1(previous career best is 54.5), and also posting a .326 WS/48 (previous career best is .195).

I know the "regression to the mean" rule, he will probably come down to the earth at some point, but so far he's been having an amazing season, and deserves to be recognized in his own thread.

(Shame on you, RealGM)

Bergmaniac · Post #251 » by **Bergmaniac** » Wed Dec 17, 2014 3:18 pm

It's kind of absurd how easy it's been for him to get to the rim this season. Somehow he looks even more athletic and explosive than in the previous seasons.

And the scary thing for the rest of the league is that his great stats aren't due to an unusual hot shooting streak, his shooting is just slightly above his normal, but mainly his efficiency is due to getting to the rim so consistently, drawing fouls at a very high rate and taking less jump shots.

SideshowBob · Post #252 » by **SideshowBob** » Wed Dec 17, 2014 3:36 pm

lethalizer wrote:The man is tearing it up right now. Lowered the head-scratching decisions to a minimum, has been hanging around the %50 FG mark for a while(which would be incredible for a guy like him), and is basically playing like a man with a shotgun killing off helpless zombies to reach his eventual destination.

I know that was a poor analogy, but anyway, here's some stats

That's great

dfins891 · Post #253 » by **dfins891** » Wed Dec 17, 2014 3:50 pm

lethalizer wrote:I know the "regression to the mean" rule, he will probably come down to the earth at some point, but so far he's been having an amazing season, and deserves to be recognized in his own thread.

I agree that he's almost definitely going to cool off at some point. With that said just looking at the numbers none of it seems too unsustainable. He's shooting right in line with his career numbers from the mid range and at the rim. He's shooting about 3% better from 3 but taking much less so it could just be he's not taking so many bad ones.

The difference for him this season is that he is taking a much higher percent of his shots at the rim than he ever has before, which also accounts for his career high FT rate, and is taking a career low % of his shots from 3-10 feet range where he has always shot very poorly(lack of a floater).

Dr Spaceman · Post #254 » by **Dr Spaceman** » Wed Dec 17, 2014 3:52 pm

lethalizer wrote:I know the "regression to the mean" rule, he will probably come down to the earth at some point, but so far he's been having an amazing season, and deserves to be recognized in his own thread.

Great post. Just want to point out that "regression to the mean" is in no way a rule. It's entirely possible he's just reached a new threshold of play. Don't think he's going to maintain 35 PER, but 30+ is doable, if unlikely.

MisterHibachi · Post #255 » by **MisterHibachi** » Wed Dec 17, 2014 4:39 pm

When was the last time we had two players over 30 PER? 2009 with Wade and LeBron? Davis and Westbrook might sustain this and join some elite company.

SideshowBob · Post #256 » by **SideshowBob** » Wed Dec 17, 2014 4:43 pm

SideshowBob wrote:
SideshowBob wrote:Quick Breakdown of 2015 OKC with SOS/HCA adjustments:
Spoiler:
GOATbrook, Durant OUT (14 G)

-3.6 SRS, -6.4 Offense, -2.5 Defense, -3.8 Net

------------------------------------------------------------

GOATbrook IN (9 G)

+6.4 SRS, +3.3 Offense, -3.5 Defense, +6.7 Net

------------------------------------------------------------

GOATbrook, Durant IN (7 G)

+6.9 SRS, +3.3 Offense, -3.6 Defense, +6.9 Net

------------------------------------------------------------

GOATbrook, Durant OUT (14 G)

-3.6 SRS, -6.4 Offense, -2.5 Defense, -3.8 Net

------------------------------------------------------------

GOATbrook IN (10 G)

+7.3 SRS, +3.4 Offense, -3.9 Defense, +7.3 Net

------------------------------------------------------------

GOATbrook, Durant IN (8 G)

+8.0 SRS, +3.4 Offense, -4.1 Defense, +7.5 Net

------------------------------------------------------------

Dr Spaceman · Post #257 » by **Dr Spaceman** » Wed Dec 17, 2014 4:45 pm

MisterHibachi wrote:When was the last time we had two players over 30 PER? 2009 with Wade and LeBron? Davis and Westbrook might sustain this and join some elite company.

Yes, and it looks like that season was the only time in history it happened as well.

http://bkref.com/tiny/q4mqT

MisterHibachi · Post #258 » by **MisterHibachi** » Wed Dec 17, 2014 4:51 pm

Dr Spaceman wrote:
MisterHibachi wrote:When was the last time we had two players over 30 PER? 2009 with Wade and LeBron? Davis and Westbrook might sustain this and join some elite company.

Yes, and it looks like that season was the only time in history it happened as well.

http://bkref.com/tiny/q4mqT

That's actually a little surprising. But then again, 30 PER is rare. Hope it happens again. Maybe LeBron goes off and joins them, seems unlikely tho. Maybe Durant once he picks it up.

SideshowBob · Post #259 » by **SideshowBob** » Wed Dec 17, 2014 4:54 pm

MisterHibachi wrote:When was the last time we had two players over 30 PER? 2009 with Wade and LeBron? Davis and Westbrook might sustain this and join some elite company.

Why stop at 2? Lebron's been at 31.8 in his last 10 and 38-39 in his last 3. With 60 games to go, I think he can get there.

MisterHibachi · Post #260 » by **MisterHibachi** » Wed Dec 17, 2014 4:59 pm

SideshowBob wrote:
MisterHibachi wrote:When was the last time we had two players over 30 PER? 2009 with Wade and LeBron? Davis and Westbrook might sustain this and join some elite company.

Why stop at 2? Lebron's been at 31.8 in his last 10 and 38-39 in his last 3. With 60 games to go, I think he can get there.

Oh I didn't even realize his PER was that good in recent games. Where do you calculate that? Bbref game logs don't tell PER.

In that case, 3 players (maybe 4 with Durant) with 30+ PER would be nuts.