The Russell Westbrook Thread (2014/15)

Post #201 » by **bondom34** » Mon Dec 15, 2014 1:26 am

Mutnt wrote:
dfins891 wrote:He's taking much less 3s, 2 less a game than last year. His average distance per shot attempt is much lower than it has been the last couple years.

Yes, I alluded to that. Last year the 3PT attempts were really puzzling, he should never shoot more than 3 threes per game. Also getting to the paint a lot more.

The thing I'm looking for here is if he continues to play like this or is he gonna revert back to his old habits, especially once Durant gets more and more integrated back into the offense.

From what I've seen, he's still taking a hefty amount of in yo face pull up jumpers, he's just nailing a lot of them.

He is, but they're still from spots he hits way more than he does from 3. He's shooting way more in the midrange, where he's maybe one of the best in the league at this point.

dfins891 · Post #202 » by **dfins891** » Mon Dec 15, 2014 1:28 am

bondom34 wrote:Its a mix, I think it is a slight hot start, but his selection is better. He's shooting about half as many 3s as last season, and a lot more at the rim. He's also shooting from his sweet spots in midrange, check the shot location charts from the last 2 seasons.
http://www.basketball-reference.com/pla ... bru01.html

Edit: To add, he's shooting a lot of the pull-up shots from the FT line area that he's awesome on.

He's shooting almost exactly the same %s as he did last year from the mid range(44%) and at the rim (60%), a little higher from 3 on half the attempts. He's just taken a higher % of his shots at the rim so far.

Also to answer you question about O and D rating. The Thunder's offensive rating since the Knicks game is at 107.5 which would be 5th in the league over the whole season and their D rating is 96.2 which would be 2nd over the full season. Thats all according to NBA.com. Obviously against mostly weak competition but still impressive.

Post #203 » by **bondom34** » Mon Dec 15, 2014 1:31 am

dfins891 wrote:
bondom34 wrote:Its a mix, I think it is a slight hot start, but his selection is better. He's shooting about half as many 3s as last season, and a lot more at the rim. He's also shooting from his sweet spots in midrange, check the shot location charts from the last 2 seasons.
http://www.basketball-reference.com/pla ... bru01.html

Edit: To add, he's shooting a lot of the pull-up shots from the FT line area that he's awesome on.

He's shooting almost exactly the same %s as he did last year from the mid range(44%) and at the rim (60%), a little higher from 3 on half the attempts. He's just taken a higher % of his shots at the rim so far.

Also to answer you question about O and D rating. The Thunder's offensive rating since the Knicks game is at 107.5 which would be 5th in the league over the whole season and their D rating is 96.2 which would be 2nd over the full season. Thats all according to NBA.com

Thanks!

SideshowBob · Post #204 » by **SideshowBob** » Mon Dec 15, 2014 3:55 am

PER should be at ~33.33 after tonight

JLei · Post #205 » by **JLei** » Mon Dec 15, 2014 4:46 am

His relentlessness going to the hoop has gotten even more pronounced this year. It's like he's somehow even more physically overwhelming than he used to be. Upping shots in the paint and free throw draw rate dramatically and you just watch these games and dudes have no chance against him.

Young Lebron/ Wade like. This is what it was like watching 05-07 Wade. Just destroy teams off the bounce.

I wasn't joking when I said he might be the best player in the league right now (though Lebron is looking a lot better and more encouraging these past few games).

Greatness · Post #206 » by **Greatness** » Mon Dec 15, 2014 5:21 am

I think he has surpassed Durant, and I never thought I'd say that.

KyletheDingbat · Post #207 » by **KyletheDingbat** » Mon Dec 15, 2014 5:35 am

Westbrook is going to be even better and more explosive in 20 years after his seventh knee surgery.

RSCD3_ · Post #208 » by **RSCD3_** » Mon Dec 15, 2014 5:43 am

KyletheDingbat wrote:Westbrook is going to be even better and more explosive in 20 years after his seventh knee surgery.

The extra surgery was a ploy to inject him with an experimental species hybrid growth hormone

:conspiracy:

Sent from my iPhone using RealGM Forums

SideshowBob · Post #209 » by **SideshowBob** » Mon Dec 15, 2014 6:15 am

This could be one hell of a top heavy year.

Post #210 » by **bondom34** » Mon Dec 15, 2014 6:31 am

2 random game notes, one that was really cool to see, the other just from Daily Thunder but is something I could see Russ saying:

Highlight: Westbrook winning a jump ball against the 7-1 Alex Len.

Maybe my favorite moment this season: As P.J. Tucker was about to throw the ball inbounds, he and Russell Westbrook got hit with double-techs. Tucker dropped the ball and started walking to the other side of the court like he thought there were free throws coming, and Westbrook said, “Now go take the ball out dumbass.”

XTC · Post #211 » by **XTC** » Mon Dec 15, 2014 7:45 am

Westbrook is playing out of this world this year. I'm talking 2006 finals Wade good right now.

dfins891 · Post #212 » by **dfins891** » Mon Dec 15, 2014 8:31 am

He passed Davis in PER after tonight

Post #213 » by **NO-KG-AI** » Mon Dec 15, 2014 8:44 am

Russell isn't the smartest or most skilled player, but he's so explosive and aggressive, and he just plays so angry that good things happen more often than not, and he's so fun to watch.

I hate his clothing choices, but damn is he exciting and effective. Really another guy I missed on as a prospect.

Post #214 » by **bondom34** » Mon Dec 15, 2014 8:52 am

NO-KG-AI wrote:Russell isn't the smartest or most skilled player, but he's so explosive and aggressive, and he just plays so angry that good things happen more often than not, and he's so fun to watch.

I hate his clothing choices, but damn is he exciting and effective. Really another guy I missed on as a prospect.

So many did. He was really hard to figure out, playing out of position and with another scorer.

SunKing · Post #215 » by **SunKing** » Mon Dec 15, 2014 10:20 am

Man, GOATbrook has more activity on the court than the Raps board after a loss.

SunKing · Post #216 » by **SunKing** » Mon Dec 15, 2014 1:22 pm

If he manages to win it, Westbrook will make the Thunder only the second team in NBA history to have teammates that won the league’s highest individual honor in back-to-back seasons.

The feat hasn’t been done since Celtics legends Bob Cousy and Bill Russell did it in 1957 and 1958.

“Oh, that would be amazing, man, because he deserves it,” said Kevin Durant, the reigning MVP.

“A lot of people compare other players and Russ. I don’t know how those dudes do it, but I know he comes to work every single day. He don’t take no (expletive) from nobody and he’s gon be who he is. Some people like it, some people don’t.”

http://newsok.com/oklahoma-city-thunder ... le/5376029

ardee · Post #217 » by **ardee** » Mon Dec 15, 2014 2:37 pm

27/7/7 on 31.5 mpg since he's returned from injury.

Flat out the best player in the league right now, at least the best PG. Curry is great but honestly on current form I have to give it to Westbrook.

His production is also bound to go up. He's averaging such few MPG because OKC's point differential has been +12.3 since his return. As the games get harder and they stop blowing everyone out, he'll play more minutes and have better numbers. That February stretch when KD will likely be back to 2014 form by is going to be insane, those two will unleash holy hell on the league.

JLei · Post #218 » by **JLei** » Mon Dec 15, 2014 3:09 pm

SideshowBob wrote:This could be one hell of a top heavy year.

Yep.

Lebron
Durant
Paul
Westbrook
Curry
Davis
Harden (Man watching a lot more games, his defense has legitimately gotten insanely better. -1.5 to like a 0 or even a small positive type difference)
Dwight (He looks awesome whenever he plays just hasn't played much either).

bigboi · Post #219 » by **bigboi** » Mon Dec 15, 2014 4:00 pm

ardee wrote:27/7/7 on 31.5 mpg since he's returned from injury.

Flat out the best player in the league right now, at least the best PG. Curry is great but honestly on current form I have to give it to Westbrook.

His production is also bound to go up. He's averaging such few MPG because OKC's point differential has been +12.3 since his return. As the games get harder and they stop blowing everyone out, he'll play more minutes and have better numbers. That February stretch when KD will likely be back to 2014 form by is going to be insane, those two will unleash holy hell on the league.

'I agree, dude would easily be MVP right now. I didn't believe it but he might actually be better than KD or at least on his level.

Colbinii · Post #220 » by **Colbinii** » Mon Dec 15, 2014 4:00 pm

JLei wrote:
SideshowBob wrote:This could be one hell of a top heavy year.

Yep.

Lebron
Durant
Paul
Westbrook
Curry
Davis
Harden (Man watching a lot more games, his defense has legitimately gotten insanely better. -1.5 to like a 0 or even a small positive type difference)
Dwight (He looks awesome whenever he plays just hasn't played much either).

Don't forget Cousins and Gasol as well. This is the most top-level talent I have seen in a while in this league.