The Russell Westbrook Thread (2014/15)

KD35Brah · Post #441 » by **KD35Brah** » Wed Dec 24, 2014 5:02 am

PaulieWal wrote:
KD35Brah wrote:Westbrook just loses all train of thought in close 4th quarters. Every time.

IMO it's coaching or lack of and fatigue. His stat splits are opposite when you compare his 1st quarters vs. 4th quarters. His next step on his path to GOATness has to be learning how to pace himself. He still goes full-speed every single minute and he IS 26 with 3 knee surgeries. Yeah, he looks more athletic after every knee surgery but still, dude's gotta learn how to pace himself.

It's 70% Brooks fault. I don't see how you watch how he plays in 4th quarters every year and not reign him in when he loses sense of his emotions.

He was on the bench for a while, fatigue can't be a factor. Just boneheaded shots over and over. He tries to take over instead of just playing his game.

He fouls Lillard then decides to chew out the ref and get a technical all in the same play. That changed the entire game.

Post #442 » by **PaulieWal** » Wed Dec 24, 2014 5:05 am

KD35Brah wrote:
PaulieWal wrote:
KD35Brah wrote:Westbrook just loses all train of thought in close 4th quarters. Every time.

IMO it's coaching or lack of and fatigue. His stat splits are opposite when you compare his 1st quarters vs. 4th quarters. His next step on his path to GOATness has to be learning how to pace himself. He still goes full-speed every single minute and he IS 26 with 3 knee surgeries. Yeah, he looks more athletic after every knee surgery but still, dude's gotta learn how to pace himself.

It's 70% Brooks fault. I don't see how you watch how he plays in 4th quarters every year and not reign him in when he loses sense of his emotions.

He was on the bench for a while, fatigue can't be a factor. Just boneheaded shots over and over. He tries to take over instead of just playing his game.

He fouls Lillard then decides to chew out the ref and get a technical all in the same play. That changed the entire game.

I might even be willing to say that it's 80% Brooks. How do you have nearly 3 secs left on the clock with a tied game and you barely inbound the ball to Russ and have him take a deep contested 3 for the win? I called that **** right after the game was tied lol.

It might be cumulative fatigue. He could be getting rest on the bench but the way he plays he doesn't "coast" at all. When he plays he plays those minutes at full pace, that was my point. He still needs to place himself and save some gas for the 4th quarter.

[tweet]https://twitter.com/SherwoodStrauss/status/546854277553991680[/tweet]

[tweet]https://twitter.com/SherwoodStrauss/status/546851604796669952[/tweet]

Post #443 » by **bondom34** » Wed Dec 24, 2014 5:21 am

Its that sort of stuff that for me I can't even blame Russ for games like tonight. Yeah, for a minute and a half, he was awful, but the stuff said previously by someone about stat padding is wrong to me. He carried them most of the game, but Brooks is getting back on my bad side. The isshy thing is, and I hate to bring it up, that this team could miss the playoffs, or falter early, and KD's ready to leave. KD leaves, Russ leaves too in all likelihood.

Wall34 · Post #444 » by **Wall34** » Wed Dec 24, 2014 5:30 am

OKC isn't a playoff team without KD.

SideshowBob · Post #445 » by **SideshowBob** » Wed Dec 24, 2014 4:15 pm

5 games without Durant, GOATbrook's putting up 34/6/8/2 with 2.8 TOs on 56.4% TS in 33.2 MPG. 40 PER.

Post #446 » by **PaulieWal** » Wed Dec 24, 2014 4:48 pm

SideshowBob wrote:5 games without Durant, GOATbrook's putting up 34/6/8/2 with 2.8 TOs on 56.4% TS in 33.2 MPG. 40 PER.

Thanks. GOATbrook is certainly not dead. I know for OKC fans the injuries and close losses must be frustrating but OKC sometimes you just have those nights in the NBA.

BTW OKC only has two more losses than Suns and NOLA even at this point. I have no doubt that they make the playoffs barring another injury to KD or GOAT.

Wall34 · Post #447 » by **Wall34** » Wed Dec 24, 2014 8:38 pm

SideshowBob wrote:5 games without Durant, GOATbrook's putting up 34/6/8/2 with 2.8 TOs on 56.4% TS in 33.2 MPG. 40 PER.

but that is with a 2-3 record though small sample size all around lol without KD i am sure Spurs win also unless KD plays.

Post #448 » by **bondom34** » Wed Dec 24, 2014 11:53 pm

Wall34 wrote:
SideshowBob wrote:5 games without Durant, GOATbrook's putting up 34/6/8/2 with 2.8 TOs on 56.4% TS in 33.2 MPG. 40 PER.

but that is with a 2-3 record though small sample size all around lol without KD i am sure Spurs win also unless KD plays.

In reality though, the team was designed around 2 guys. You pull one of them, and the design makes no sense. Even last year wasn't sustainable, KD's foot injury showed it in the end. Russ is the only scoring option most times, he knows it, you know it, I know it, everyone knows it. The only other guy on the entire roster who can create is RJ, and he isn't nearly as good an option.

Post #449 » by **PaulieWal** » Thu Dec 25, 2014 12:02 am

bondom34 wrote:
Wall34 wrote:
SideshowBob wrote:5 games without Durant, GOATbrook's putting up 34/6/8/2 with 2.8 TOs on 56.4% TS in 33.2 MPG. 40 PER.

but that is with a 2-3 record though small sample size all around lol without KD i am sure Spurs win also unless KD plays.

In reality though, the team was designed around 2 guys. You pull one of them, and the design makes no sense. Even last year wasn't sustainable, KD's foot injury showed it in the end. Russ is the only scoring option most times, he knows it, you know it, I know it, everyone knows it. The only other guy on the entire roster who can create is RJ, and he isn't nearly as good an option.

Yup, unless you are truly doing it the Spurs way and let me in on you a secret, no other team is, you pull one of the best two players from a team that team and the other star is going to struggle. Sure, some teams are better equipped to handle short-term absences but in the long-run you are not winning anything.

Take Curry off GSW
Harden or Howard off Houston
Gasol off Memphis
LeBron or Love off Cavs

Well you get the idea.

Hell even the Spurs are struggling with no Leonard.

DontH8TheBrody · Post #450 » by **DontH8TheBrody** » Thu Dec 25, 2014 1:04 am

GOAT going to go HAM tomorrow regardless if KD is in or not and carry us to a huge win against the Spurs on Christmas!

Happy Christmas Eve and Merry Christmas all GOATbrook fans! Thunder are fine and so is Russ. Life is good!

Post #451 » by **PaulieWal** » Thu Dec 25, 2014 4:16 pm

KD out today, GOAT is on his own. I am not going to expect a win for OKC, all I want is him to have a good showing and better decision making down the stretch if it's a close game.

Post #452 » by **bondom34** » Thu Dec 25, 2014 4:22 pm

Yeah, don't know how much I'll see given the holiday, and sadly don't expect a W. I'd just like a good showing and maybe someone steps up. PJ III has been bad, Serge meh as well.

Dr Spaceman · Post #453 » by **Dr Spaceman** » Thu Dec 25, 2014 4:27 pm

PaulieWal wrote:KD out today, GOAT is on his own. I am not going to expect a win for OKC, all I want is him to have a good showing and better decision making down the stretch if it's a close game.

Agreed, Although a 40 point triple double would be a great present :wink:

Durant is still out? Are they just being exa extra cautious?

Post #454 » by **PaulieWal** » Thu Dec 25, 2014 4:30 pm

Dr Spaceman wrote:
PaulieWal wrote:KD out today, GOAT is on his own. I am not going to expect a win for OKC, all I want is him to have a good showing and better decision making down the stretch if it's a close game.

Agreed, Although a 40 point triple double would be a great present

Durant is still out? Are they just being exa extra cautious?

The report I read simply said that he's out today. I do hope that they are being cautious and it's not something more serious. You know how most teams like to downplay injuries sometimes.

ardee · Post #455 » by **ardee** » Thu Dec 25, 2014 4:32 pm

Simmons and Lowe called him the alpha-dog of the league right now and close to the best player.

I think it maybe true, he is the guy who right now makes opposing players piss their pants the most (like 2006 Kobe or 2013 LeBron). That's how I would define 'alpha dog'.

Post #456 » by **bondom34** » Thu Dec 25, 2014 4:38 pm

ardee wrote:Simmons and Lowe called him the alpha-dog of the league right now and close to the best player.

I think it maybe true, he is the guy who right now makes opposing players piss their pants the most (like 2006 Kobe or 2013 LeBron). That's how I would define 'alpha dog'.

Yeah, I see some Kobe in him for sure, both good and bad. I swear if he ever goes to the Lakers though....

ardee · Post #457 » by **ardee** » Thu Dec 25, 2014 5:08 pm

bondom34 wrote:
ardee wrote:Simmons and Lowe called him the alpha-dog of the league right now and close to the best player.

I think it maybe true, he is the guy who right now makes opposing players piss their pants the most (like 2006 Kobe or 2013 LeBron). That's how I would define 'alpha dog'.

Yeah, I see some Kobe in him for sure, both good and bad. I swear if he ever goes to the Lakers though....

If he does I'll buy you a drink as consolation for you (and celebration for me), no matter where in the world you are.

KD35Brah · Post #458 » by **KD35Brah** » Thu Dec 25, 2014 5:31 pm

Posted in the wrong thread....

Great article on the 2 faced Russell Westbrook.

http://newsok.com/okc-thunder-the-two-f ... 74/?page=2

Post #459 » by **bondom34** » Thu Dec 25, 2014 10:05 pm

Not a 40 pt triple double but 34/11/5.....Yipeeeeeeee!

Merry Xmas.

The Realist · Post #460 » by **The Realist** » Thu Dec 25, 2014 10:07 pm

I think it's time to change MVP to MWB, Most WestBrook. It would increase the prestige of that award exponentially.