Russell Westbrook Thread

[mcmokken]

If you do not think so, please name ten who you think are better.

Among point guards, Westbrook is currently 7th in assists per game at 7.3.
Also among point guards he is 11th in scoring and 3rd in rebounding.
Yet he is 4th in turnovers, 23rd in FG%, and 20th in steals among PGs.

[slick_watts]

He's creeping up there.. but his shooting is what's killing him.

I'd currently take the following PG's over Russell Westbrook right now (this season, not taking future years into account):

Chris Paul
Steve Nash
Deron Williams
Rajon Rondo
Baron Davis
Tony Parker
Jameer Nelson
Gilbert Arenas
Mo Williams
Devin Harris (not having a good year this year, but I think he's better than Russ currently)

If Russ keeps up his current rate of production I think you could argue him above Harris or Nelson.

Also, depending on how you look at things, you could still take Derrick Rose over Westbrook, and you could make a solid argument for Ray Felton among others.

Russ has to continue taking care of the ball for awhile, and he definitely has got to shoot better from the field. I could see him as top ten by the end of the year if he does that..

[dream_catcher_9]

not yet.....

Russ brings a lot of things to the table, but leadership and bball IQ ain't one of them. I'm really harsh on Westbrook because I am a fan of the more traditional PG. Getting the offense in the plays, making sure the team runs smoothly, and if there is an opening or the team needs a pick me up go aggressive. Russ is too aggressive for my tastes, he lacks leadership qualities, is lazy on defense, and isn't that bright(on the basketball court).

He is definitely improving though his assist/turnover ratio has been pretty great lately, and his ball handling is much much improved. Once his defense doesn't become a liability, runs the team better, and he loses his pouty attitude, I could easily see him as a top 10 PG.

Pgs id rate above him right now off the top of my head....

Rondo
cp3
Nash
Kidd
Rose
Billups
Parker
Williams
Williams
Harris
Davis

I actually think Maynor is a better traditional PG than Russ right now.

[slick_watts]

I forgot Billups and Kidd on my list

[BadWolf]

Harris is definitelly living on past accoplishments, he's been awful this year.
Rose is having a nice run, so he's up there.
Jameer's play is not at an all star level this year.
Jennings? I don't like his play all that much, but you have to consider him.
Tyreke is probably a 2.

[Clangus]

I think he is knocking on the door of teh top 10.

Billups
Rondo
Ellis
Parker
Kidd
Nash
Paul
D Williams
Davis
Harris
I am the opposite to Dreamcatcher. I love his aggression and think his decision making while could improve is certainly quite solid (esp lately) I hope he works on his jumper because once he gets that going he'll have made the leap into that top 10

[Durantist]

No. He isn't a Point Guard. Sorry!

[Durantist]

Another thing, Westbrook reminds me of a lot like Devin Harris. Devin Harris was one of my favorite prospects coming into the NBA. So I followed him throughout his career on the Mavs. But there was a huge weakness to him. He did not fit well with Dirk or the other way around. There were many times where Dirk was easily the answer to beat certain teams but Devin showed time and time again to be unable to deliver the ball to Dirk during crucial moments of games. Its not just giving the ball to him, it was more about giving it to him in the correct position at the correct time. A facilitator is what Harris needed to be. Yes they both had nice stats together but the fact of the matter is that the Star(Dirk) wasn't used to his full potential. I seriously see this in Westbrook and Durant! The problem with Westbrook is that he lacks that certain PG instinct. Westbrook will thrive elsewhere but I will never see him being the sidekick to Durant in the future. I am a huge PAC 10 fan so I watched Westbrook during college. I did not like him then and I do not like him now. I think Presti is grooming Westbrook into a nice TRADE BAIT!!!! hopefully

[Clangus]

Westbrook's last 7 games

17.4 points, 8.9 assists and 7.0 rebounds

[TheOGJabroni]

Great for my fantasy team

[Clangus]

Great for my fantasy team

[wiff]

Those numbers are sweet pretty elite stuff, but what was his assist to turn over ratio?

[BadWolf]

pretty elite to, 9.6 to 2.4, rondoesque
that's last 5

[Nolan]

He's been playing great and he's been cutting down on the turnovers too.

[slick_watts]

Since Dec. 1st, Russ has had an A:TO above 3:1, which is fantastic.

[endlessraine]

Nash
Chris Paul
d. williams
Tony Parker
BIllups
Baron Davis
Rondo
Ellis
Gilbert Arenas
Derek Rose

[NorthCarolina]

Chris Paul
Steve Nash
Deron Williams
Rajon Rondo
Jason Kidd
Russell Westbrook


Elis and PG two different things

[slick_watts]

Russell's numbers for January so far:

19.5 points / 6.3 rebounds / 8.7 assists / 1.5 steals / 2.3 turnovers on 44.9% shooting.

That's quite a line. He had great ball handling numbers in December, too, but only shot 35.7% in December which is obviously bad.

This is about the time last year in Kevin Durant's second season where he really started to turn the corner. Let's see if Russ can continue this type of production.