OT - David West looking good on the Warriors this year

[boomershadow]

He's having one of those seasons where you wonder how they still do it so well at their age. Despite there being some drama about the way West and Pacers ended their time together, the type of stuff I'm trying harder to ignore these days, while he was here he was absolutely one of my favorite players to put on the uniform. The toughness on the court, the tenacity, the leadership of his younger teammates, and especially his smarts. Just really one of my favorite players here. I can't help but look at that Warriors team and think it's something of the role he really wanted to play here before The Collapse and the year of Paul being injured.

His rim protection and defensive stats are supposedly very up there this year as well, though I didn't look up any specific numbers. I like keeping track of some of my favorite players from this team even when they move on. West sure seems to be doing better than George Hill at least, both in terms of his production and the environment he's landed in.

West, who is in his 15th season in the league, has improved in nearly every category this season compared to last year.

He’s averaging 6.7 points on an extremely efficient 65.6 percent shooting from the field, 3.4 rebounds and 1.1 blocks a game. It’s a nice uptick from the 4.6 points on 53.6 percent shooting, three rebounds and 0.7 blocks that he averaged last season.

West said that’s due to him feeling more comfortable with the team this time around. And his efficiency is no coincidence. A lot of thought goes into his game at this stage in his career.

Mellisa Rohlin
https://www.mercurynews.com/2017/12/12/david-west-is-still-dunking-and-loving-basketball/

[Jake0890]

Of all the players from the Paul George era of the Pacers, David West has to be my favorite.

His signing as a free agent off his ACL tear was really the start of those teams that would go on to challenge the Heatles, I think. Glad to see he's playing well.

[HurricaneDij25]

I was thrilled when he saved us that $12 million by opting out back in 2015, but he could have handled his exit from the Pacers in a much classier manner.

For me personally, when it comes to my teams a player is either with me or against me, and West made his choice...Therefore, I will not be rooting for him in a different uniform and hope Houston beats Golden State's brains out in the WCF.

[Pacersike]

He could have been a great mentor for Myles Turner even if it was just for 1 year, but he bailed out on us as soon as he noticed that many aspects that made the Pacers great in those years, were going south. David as a starter, Hibbert, lockerroom after Granger was traded.

I can not blame him for that. His personality that makes him go ringchasing, also helped the Pacers win a lot of games and again, it wouldn't have made any difference. Paul George wasn't go to lead us to any final again.

Above all, I have admiration for him. He is one of the few players who show and not only say that winning is more important than money. He was the force behind our ECF Pacers and also with Lance gone and Hibbert sulking, he just hadn't noticed enough force on our roster to take the job over from him, being 34 years old and looking to come off the bench.

He wanted that ring so badly, the pressure might be off his broad shoulders now and that could also explain his great per36 statistics this season.

I wish him the best, but not the Warriors, because I'm rooting for Westbrook (and PG) this time
Not because I don't feel a bit salty about his departure, but because I truly believe the Thunder can beat the Warriors and they would do it without a major free agent joining them. Similar to how the Pacers have to do it.