OsuCavsfan103 wrote:Birdie wrote:
Honestly, I don't think most anyone in the current NBA (yes, even LBJ) could do what Westbrook just did this season. Closet I could think of is Wall but I don't think Wall could rebound like a banshee the way Westbrook does. Westbrook's motor is just on another level and let's not forget, on a bum knee from a few years ago. Just crazy.
And as for your slight dig at Westbrook in not making his teammates better, I mean, I think that's a bit unfair, he did avg 10.4 ast per game, so you can't really say he's not involving his teammates to a degree. Being frank, I watched a few OKC games on League Pass this year and Russ most likely easily could've been around 12-15ast per game if he had guys not brick some great looks or had the shooters LBJ has. The fact OKC is a terrible 3pt shooting team and really doesn't have another creator outside of "maybe" Dipo, the fact he even got 10ast per game is remarkable in it's own instance.
At some point, you can't ding him for being "selfish" when in the end, he's the entire team because that's what Presti put around him unfortunately. And again, let's put this in perspective:
Russell: 81 games played; 2802 minutes played, 31.6PPG 10.7REB 10.4AST 10.2-24.0FGM/A 42.5FG% 34.3 3PT% 84.5FT%
LeBron: 74 games played; 2795 minutes played, 26.4PPG 8.6REB 8.7AST 9.9-18.2FGM/A 54.8FG% 36.3 3PT% 67.4FT%
CLE = 51 wins; OKC = 46 wins
And again, I'll mention, CLE had 2 other All-Stars on the team plus 9 guys who played, including LBJ, who shot 35% or higher (Korver highest at 48.5%) from 3, 5 of those guys shot > than 40%. Russ had 4 guys who shot better than 35% with Abrines topping out at 38.1% of the guys who played and actually jacked up shots. Dipo, McBuckets, Jerami Grant and Alex Abrines. Those 4 hardly instilling fear in the hearts of other teams.
I mean, if you're gonna look at those number and say, damn, Russ isn't the MVP, I don't know man, ya just gotta give props when it's due. Any other ho hum season, LBJ takes it easily but unfortunately, Russ just had a better season and to a degree, you could say Harden too. Some might say Kawhi too but I'm not quite sold on that one but he easily could finish 3rd with LBJ fatigue when it comes to voting.
I don't know why I'm going to these lengths to defend Westbrook as I could care less but you got me on one, lol. LBJ should've been unanimous MVP that one year where that idiot reporter gave his vote to Melo and possibly, LBJ/Kobe should've been MVP's those Nash years' but at this point, I think LBJ is more than happy taking Finals MVPs' and chips as opposed to a regular season accolade. That's all I'm sayin but I don't disagree with where you're coming from and why you feel the way you do. Perfectly understandable. I think as Cavs fans', we take LBJ for granted as well and when he's gone, we're gonna be right back into suckville where no one is gonna want to come play for us again and the universe will spin on...unless it all goes to hell with what's going on currently in this crazy world but I won't digress into that non-sport talk. In the end, LBJ just affirming his beast mode and we need 13 more wins worth of it so I can have another happy panda summer again.
Oh I think LeBron could average a triple double for a season if he really really wanted to.Especially back 5 years or so again when he was 27. He never had to though, he had a good enough team fortunately for him.
Russ did the same thing last playoffs. He shoots his team out of the games. Last year he and KD did it multiple times late in the last 3 games. So far Russ has done it twice already this series, especially last game.
In the game the other night in the first half OKC was rolling, Russ was getting other players involved. Then in half 2, especially in the 4th quarter he goes into chuckmode, he refuses to get his teammates involved anymore, he takes dumb shots without running the offense. LeBron scores in smart ways, he will shoot such high percentages. Russ Jack's 47 shots to get 50 points.
I appreciate what Russ has done, but to men LeBron is still the most valuable in the league. The only reason people aren't saying so is because they are used to his greatness. I mean heck look at yesterday, LeBron almost single-handidly brought us back down huge in the 2nd half, broke the playoff record for biggest comeback. He is once again proving that he was coasting during the regular season, and I can see why. He doesn't get the credit he deserves with that MVP trophy. They need to change the title from MVP instead to "Best regular season", I would be onboard on that. Westbrook to me is not the most valuable, and to me it comes down 100% to his selfish play. I mean it's the same guy who said "My only friend when playing ball is the ball". Like wtf? Does he not have teammates. This is the 2nd year in a row he has been in chuck mode in the NBA playoffs, and I am just not onboard with it.
And yes I would much rather have LeBron win another finals MVP and title... especially if it's against GS
Ironically when I was typing this Max Kellerman on ESPN was agreeing that LeBron is the MVP of the league in reality. We all know he won't get it bc people are too used to his greatness sadly, but he should.
Guess we'll just agree to disagree.
LB is not even close to being the MVP in the league....let him go to Brooklyn and make them a playoff team then he can b MVP...put him on OKC and if he put up the #s Westbrook did for a season name him MVP....he was hot one game when his team was down 25 pts and hit some 3s...he was also on the receiving end of losing a 25 pt lead vs Atl...oh he was coasting during the reg season and that was a reg season game...my bad....I wonder why he embarrassed Thompson during the regular season if he doesnt care or coasts?
