11/24 | G19: Denver Nuggets at Oklahoma City Thunder - 7PM CST

[bondom34]

Are those the only two options?

Nope, just saying rather this than the Harden not showing enough effort side

These are the only two options left if youre trying to stick up for Russ after that. Thought Dom might be busy on here defending his boi

Not defending him, said it plenty. Dude sucked. But if you're saying he has flaws no other superstar has sure, other superstars have flaws he doesn't. And don't defend your boi Adams after getting beat by Plumlee and going 0-6 in the first half

[RalphSampsonJr]

Nope, just saying rather this than the Harden not showing enough effort side

These are the only two options left if youre trying to stick up for Russ after that. Thought Dom might be busy on here defending his boi

Not defending him, said it plenty. Dude sucked. But if you're saying he has flaws no other superstar has sure, other superstars have flaws he doesn't. And don't defend your boi Adams after getting beat by Plumlee and going 0-6 in the first half

Haha straight on the defense. Love it

[bondom34]

These are the only two options left if youre trying to stick up for Russ after that. Thought Dom might be busy on here defending his boi

Not defending him, said it plenty. Dude sucked. But if you're saying he has flaws no other superstar has sure, other superstars have flaws he doesn't. And don't defend your boi Adams after getting beat by Plumlee and going 0-6 in the first half

Haha straight on the defense. Love it

Love you too. And Adams is my guy too.

Hate seeing them play like that, but there was good football on and it was a game, it happens Houston lost too to the Cavs, and this was easily the worst Russ game I've seen in a long time. Just was saying I'd rather that flaw he clearly has over some other stars' flaws. I've always rathered errors of commission than errors of omission.

[RalphSampsonJr]

Not defending him, said it plenty. Dude sucked. But if you're saying he has flaws no other superstar has sure, other superstars have flaws he doesn't. And don't defend your boi Adams after getting beat by Plumlee and going 0-6 in the first half

Haha straight on the defense. Love it

Love you too. And Adams is my guy too.

Hate seeing them play like that, but there was good football on and it was a game, it happens Houston lost too to the Cavs, and this was easily the worst Russ game I've seen in a long time. Just was saying I'd rather that flaw he clearly has over some other stars' flaws. I've always rathered errors of commission than errors of omission.

Yea im only giving you ****. I watched the replay and imediately thought there would be some Russ bashing on here. I then thought Dom will be busy keeping the haters in check.

Crap game but hey, hou lost to the cavs and pels lost to the wiz so alot of teams sucked today. Kings even almost beat the dubs!

[bondom34]

Haha straight on the defense. Love it

Love you too. And Adams is my guy too.

Hate seeing them play like that, but there was good football on and it was a game, it happens Houston lost too to the Cavs, and this was easily the worst Russ game I've seen in a long time. Just was saying I'd rather that flaw he clearly has over some other stars' flaws. I've always rathered errors of commission than errors of omission.

Yea im only giving you ****. I watched the replay and imediately thought there would be some Russ bashing on here. I then thought Dom will be busy keeping the haters in check.

Crap game but hey, hou lost to the cavs and pels lost to the wiz so alot of teams sucked today. Kings even almost beat the dubs!

Of all people, was surprised you were "coming at" me

[getrichordie]

This game reminded me of this:

Watch on YouTube

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[Pillendreher]

Ugh, what a frustrating loss. This is why this team needs shooting. The Dallas game all over again. When the other team makes an above average amount of 3s and it's not one of those days where our non-shooters make shots, we simply can't keep up. But again, what on earth is up with this team in general? You can say "why are they taking x 3s in a quarter", but at the same time they really were wide open and reasonably good shots. And I get that our non-shooters miss, but why on earth are Abrines, George and Patterson shooting 33.7 % from 3 so far? It's not like they're pulling up from midcourt or only take contested shots. At some point, this simply HAS to change. How is this even possible? It's like an epidemic hitting the whole roster.

Oh and can we please stop this weird psychoanalyzing of Westbrook after this particular game? This wasn't one of those "Oh, there's a scrub on the other game, I'mma take it to him" games. Not even close. He's just not in shape to play (his style of) basketball at all right now and it's showing. He barely hit the rim on his free throws. He always settles for bad 3s when he doesn't have the legs to drive. He should never take 12 3s in a game and that's completely on him. But this is a physical issue. He should take these next couple of days to regain some conditioning. It's not working right now.

EDIT: They literally went 0-14 from 3 over the span of two full quarters. How is that even possible when roughly 80 % of shots were unguarded?!

[RalphSampsonJr]

Ugh, what a frustrating loss. This is why this team needs shooting. The Dallas game all over again. When the other team makes an above average amount of 3s and it's not one of those days where our non-shooters make shots, we simply can't keep up. But again, what on earth is up with this team in general? You can say "why are they taking x 3s in a quarter", but at the same time they really were wide open and reasonably good shots. And I get that our non-shooters miss, but why on earth are Abrines, George and Patterson shooting 33.7 % from 3 so far? It's not like they're pulling up from midcourt or only take contested shots. At some point, this simply HAS to change. How is this even possible? It's like an epidemic hitting the whole roster.

Oh and can we please stop this weird psychoanalyzing of Westbrook after this particular game? This wasn't one of those "Oh, there's a scrub on the other game, I'mma take it to him" games. Not even close. He's just not in shape to play (his style of) basketball at all right now and it's showing. He barely hit the rim on his free throws. He always settles for bad 3s when he doesn't have the legs to drive. He should never take 12 3s in a game and that's completely on him. But this is a physical issue. He should take these next couple of days to regain some conditioning. It's not working right now.

EDIT: They literally went 0-14 from 3 over the span of two full quarters. How is that even possible when roughly 80 % of shots were unguarded?!

The thing that makes me feel ok about all of the above is the fact that we were almost back in it in the 4th. Cut it to 5 with 2 mins remaining!

Im also liking the fact that the thunder are adjusting at half time. Last season they were great in the first halves then would come out and get dominated in the last 24 mins.

[Pillendreher]

Ugh, what a frustrating loss. This is why this team needs shooting. The Dallas game all over again. When the other team makes an above average amount of 3s and it's not one of those days where our non-shooters make shots, we simply can't keep up. But again, what on earth is up with this team in general? You can say "why are they taking x 3s in a quarter", but at the same time they really were wide open and reasonably good shots. And I get that our non-shooters miss, but why on earth are Abrines, George and Patterson shooting 33.7 % from 3 so far? It's not like they're pulling up from midcourt or only take contested shots. At some point, this simply HAS to change. How is this even possible? It's like an epidemic hitting the whole roster.

Oh and can we please stop this weird psychoanalyzing of Westbrook after this particular game? This wasn't one of those "Oh, there's a scrub on the other game, I'mma take it to him" games. Not even close. He's just not in shape to play (his style of) basketball at all right now and it's showing. He barely hit the rim on his free throws. He always settles for bad 3s when he doesn't have the legs to drive. He should never take 12 3s in a game and that's completely on him. But this is a physical issue. He should take these next couple of days to regain some conditioning. It's not working right now.

EDIT: They literally went 0-14 from 3 over the span of two full quarters. How is that even possible when roughly 80 % of shots were unguarded?!

The thing that makes me feel ok about all of the above is the fact that we were almost back in it in the 4th. Cut it to 5 with 2 mins remaining!

Im also liking the fact that the thunder are adjusting at half time. Last season they were great in the first halves then would come out and get dominated in the last 24 mins.

Yeah their defense got them back in it in the 2nd half. But at some point this team will have to stark making shots consistently. Denver hasn't been all that good this season offensively and they missed two thirds of their wing rotation. Against the better offensive teams, defense alone will not be enough to keep them in games/give them a chance to win.

Look at this: Per stats.nba.com, 111 players have taken at least 50 catch and shoot 3s so far this season. We have one guy in the Top 30 (Schröder), one guy in the top 70 (Grant) and then you get George, Patterson and Abrines not even in the Top 90 (!) in 3P% on catch and shoot 3s. How on earth is that possible? Is our defensive scheme so taxing physically with the deflections forcing and shot contesting that they don't have the energy to make a 3 on the other end? I just don't get this. It feels like Patterson made his last wide open 3 in the blue and wide scrimmage back in September.

[ThunderBolt]

Otto porter head a good game. He can shoot. Just sayin.

[ThunderBolt]

http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/25370262/russell-westbrook-oklahoma-city-thunder-late-night-shooting-session-loss
Get ready for round 2.

[Pillendreher]

http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/25370262/russell-westbrook-oklahoma-city-thunder-late-night-shooting-session-loss
Get ready for round 2.

He needs to get in shape. Right now he's nowhere close to what he was before the ankle injury.

[RalphSampsonJr]

Ugh, what a frustrating loss. This is why this team needs shooting. The Dallas game all over again. When the other team makes an above average amount of 3s and it's not one of those days where our non-shooters make shots, we simply can't keep up. But again, what on earth is up with this team in general? You can say "why are they taking x 3s in a quarter", but at the same time they really were wide open and reasonably good shots. And I get that our non-shooters miss, but why on earth are Abrines, George and Patterson shooting 33.7 % from 3 so far? It's not like they're pulling up from midcourt or only take contested shots. At some point, this simply HAS to change. How is this even possible? It's like an epidemic hitting the whole roster.

Oh and can we please stop this weird psychoanalyzing of Westbrook after this particular game? This wasn't one of those "Oh, there's a scrub on the other game, I'mma take it to him" games. Not even close. He's just not in shape to play (his style of) basketball at all right now and it's showing. He barely hit the rim on his free throws. He always settles for bad 3s when he doesn't have the legs to drive. He should never take 12 3s in a game and that's completely on him. But this is a physical issue. He should take these next couple of days to regain some conditioning. It's not working right now.

EDIT: They literally went 0-14 from 3 over the span of two full quarters. How is that even possible when roughly 80 % of shots were unguarded?!

The thing that makes me feel ok about all of the above is the fact that we were almost back in it in the 4th. Cut it to 5 with 2 mins remaining!

Im also liking the fact that the thunder are adjusting at half time. Last season they were great in the first halves then would come out and get dominated in the last 24 mins.

Yeah their defense got them back in it in the 2nd half. But at some point this team will have to stark making shots consistently. Denver hasn't been all that good this season offensively and they missed two thirds of their wing rotation. Against the better offensive teams, defense alone will not be enough to keep them in games/give them a chance to win.

Look at this: Per stats.nba.com, 111 players have taken at least 50 catch and shoot 3s so far this season. We have one guy in the Top 30 (Schröder), one guy in the top 70 (Grant) and then you get George, Patterson and Abrines not even in the Top 90 (!) in 3P% on catch and shoot 3s. How on earth is that possible? Is our defensive scheme so taxing physically with the deflections forcing and shot contesting that they don't have the energy to make a 3 on the other end? I just don't get this. It feels like Patterson made his last wide open 3 in the blue and wide scrimmage back in September.

yea Patterson needs to eat donuts and stop being in such good shape. His weight cut must of ruined his shooting. If he continues this for another 20 games hes gotta be on the block.

If you had told me at the start of the season that Grant would be one of our most reliable 3pt shooters i woulda thought you were crazy.

[ThunderBolt]

http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/25370262/russell-westbrook-oklahoma-city-thunder-late-night-shooting-session-loss
Get ready for round 2.

He needs to get in shape. Right now he's nowhere close to what he was before the ankle injury.

The shot thing is weird. Everything, including free throws, barely make it to the basket. I’ve played a lot of basketball and when I’m missing shots short i adjust my shot. It doesn’t mean I make it but I realize my tendency and adjust. We saw all of the cupping marks on his shoulder from last year and that’s when the free throw issues started. I’m wondering if that’s part of the issue.

[Pillendreher]

http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/25370262/russell-westbrook-oklahoma-city-thunder-late-night-shooting-session-loss
Get ready for round 2.

He needs to get in shape. Right now he's nowhere close to what he was before the ankle injury.

The shot thing is weird. Everything, including free throws, barely make it to the basket. I’ve played a lot of basketball and when I’m missing shots short i adjust my shot. It doesn’t mean I make it but I realize my tendency and adjust. We saw all of the cupping marks on his shoulder from last year and that’s when the free throw issues started. I’m wondering if that’s part of the issue.

Something must be up physically. Last season he said it was the "rule changes", but I honestly don't buy that. We're 100 games in with that rule change. A simple thing like that should not completely break his shot. He's now at 66.1 % from the ft line over the last two sesaons. And with him taking the most FTs on the team, the team's FT% has tanked as well. With him on the floor, the team's shooting 71.3 % on its free throws over the last two seasons. They made 88 % of their free throws in the 3 games prior to Westbrook's return. In the 4 games since he came back, they've made 64.1 %. And no, Westbrook is not the only one who has missed FTs, but that is still crazy. And it is especially bad in games like this one vs the Nuggets where they can't buy a bucket for most of the game. You can't miss both on open 3s and from the FT line and expect to get away with it offensively. Save for wide open shots directly at the rim, those are the shots that give you the best efficiency.

[Old Man Game]

But dude, regardless of what his environment has been the fact is he's 30 years old. Most 30 year olds I know (actually most 21 year olds as well) can assess data gathered from their own life experiences and use it to guide subsequent behavior. Russ doesn't. He'll play great several games. Then he'll have a game like this.

Hell, if it came out he was schizophrenic would it actually surprise anyone that much? I'd be like, 'wow, it finally makes sense.'

i think it's irresponsible to speculate on the 'why' at least insofar as his mental processes go.

i mean, from russ' perspective hasn't his m.o. worked just fine? got him an mvp, kept george around, got him $200 million and eternal gratitude from okc fans.

i dunno. fact is this is how westbrook is and it's something the team has to deal with. watching it happen in the playoffs last year was the swan song for any hope left in me he would change in this respect.

Irresponsible as it pertains to his mental health? Calling it irresponsible imparts that there'd be something to be ashamed of it it turned out he did have untreated mental illness. There isn't. Would it be irresponsible to speculate about the health of his ankle? Obviously not. Mental health deserves the same respect free of stigma accorded to physical health.

In terms of saying its worked for him, it hasn't so often though. Yes. He's had lots of success. But how many times has he had games like this over the years? Yes. He's reached heights few in the sport reach. AND yet, he's done dumb **** like last night for years which has limited that success. You'd think someone so competitive as he purports to be who only cares about winning could assess that and modify his behavior. which we can do for spurts of games. It's the reverting back to it like an addict falling off the wagon that gets me.

[Old Man Game]

http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/25370262/russell-westbrook-oklahoma-city-thunder-late-night-shooting-session-loss
Get ready for round 2.

He needs to get in shape. Right now he's nowhere close to what he was before the ankle injury.

The shot thing is weird. Everything, including free throws, barely make it to the basket. I’ve played a lot of basketball and when I’m missing shots short i adjust my shot. It doesn’t mean I make it but I realize my tendency and adjust. We saw all of the cupping marks on his shoulder from last year and that’s when the free throw issues started. I’m wondering if that’s part of the issue.

Like a less serious version of the Fultz situation where he's not right physically.

[Old Man Game]

http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/25370262/russell-westbrook-oklahoma-city-thunder-late-night-shooting-session-loss
Get ready for round 2.

He needs to get in shape. Right now he's nowhere close to what he was before the ankle injury.

I notice it most in when he tries to finish around the rim. The explosion just hasn't been quite there like we're used to.

[Pillendreher]

http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/25370262/russell-westbrook-oklahoma-city-thunder-late-night-shooting-session-loss
Get ready for round 2.

He needs to get in shape. Right now he's nowhere close to what he was before the ankle injury.

I notice it most in when he tries to finish around the rim. The explosion just hasn't been quite there like we're used to.

It was there to start the season though. Currently he looks like me when we had a soccer tournament a couple of months ago and I was "forced" to actually run for the first time in I don't even know how long. I had like one or two sprints in me and that was that for the rest of the 15 minute match. The rest of the game I just tried to keep up with what was happening. Had I attempted a shot, I don't know what would have happened

[Old Man Game]

He needs to get in shape. Right now he's nowhere close to what he was before the ankle injury.

I notice it most in when he tries to finish around the rim. The explosion just hasn't been quite there like we're used to.

It was there to start the season though. Currently he looks like me when we had a soccer tournament a couple of months ago and I was "forced" to actually run for the first time in I don't even know how long. I had like one or two sprints in me and that was that for the rest of the 15 minute match. The rest of the game I just tried to keep up with what was happening. Had I attempted a shot, I don't know what would have happened

That's what I'm saying. That loss of explosiveness looks like poor conditioning. Either that or the ankle is worse than they are letting on and he's playing through pain.