Play Along: If Westbrook was told to come off the bench ...

[Eric Bieniemy]

What would happen if Westbrook were benched? How would he react, and would his reaction affect the team negatively?

[Kilroy]

Thing is, it's difficult to justify benching a player who's offensive numbers are as good as Westbrooks... It's not that he can't produce, it's that he's a bad fit...
And the other problem is with AD out, who's the second best player on the team... It's still Westbrook...

He's a terrible fit next to LeBron, and he's a liability on Defense and in the clutch offensively...

So, with AD out, benching Westbrook removes too much talent from our SL to win games... The bench would be better but the cost to the SL would be too great...

When AD comes back... IF he comes back this season... They should definitely discuss it... They won't, but they should...

Long story short, Westbrook won't be traded, he can't be benched, and we're probably stuck with him for the remainder of his contract.

[stan francisco]

What would happen if Westbrook were benched? How would he react, and would his reaction affect the team negatively?

I’m with you 100%. I’ve been waiting for that since day one. Yes, it can be done, not impossible. Biggest question: when will Frank grow the balls to tell him?

Frank should talk to PJ about how he had that talk with Odom. Russ can still be regarded a great player even if coming off the bench. It’s just obvious to the world that he and LBJ won’t ever be a good fit. Do what needs doing Frank!

NBA players say Russ is the best team mate in the world. I believe it, but let’s test it then. Winning cures all.

[Eric Bieniemy]

I'm more interested in predictions. I'm curious how he would react and if the team would be affected by his reaction.

My opinion is that he would pout and speak to the media freely about how he disagrees with the decision. In short, he would become a major distraction.

It would work if Westbrook signed off, but without his approval, I think he goes nuclear.

[stan francisco]

Here’s my two-cent suggestion:

He’s a kid from LA. Kobe loved the way he used to attack the rim. He’s friends with the superfriends on our team but a terrible fit for this roster as he plays exactly the ball dominant guard role we don’t need. LBJ does all of that better. Most of us here have known this since day one. Bye, Russ!

Philly? Knicks? Four team deal? Sure. Just end this stupid wishful thinking kum-ba-ya idea.

LeBron the GM is stuck between a rock and a hard place. He wants his super team but also his super friends. Russ might be a super friend but unless he’s benched while LBJ is on the court he ruins all chances of rings. Russ = no super team. LeBron won’t own that trade of a friend. What would Kobe do? Score 40PPG and 10APG rest of season because he’s pissed. I want to see LeGroin pissed off about it.

So, Pelinka needs to be the bad cop here. Rob needs to tell Rich Paul and LBJ ‘I’m going to trade Russell at the ASB. The experiment didn’t work. Help me out or not, it’s happening.’

They won’t protest. I guarantee it.

[Eric Bieniemy]

Here’s my two-cent suggestion:

He’s a kid from LA. Kobe loved the way he used to attack the rim. He’s friends with the superfriends on our team but a terrible fit for this roster as he plays exactly the ball dominant guard role we don’t need. LBJ does all of that better. Most of us here have known this since day one. Bye, Russ!

Philly? Knicks? Four team deal? Sure. Just end this stupid wishful thinking kum-ba-ya idea.

LeBron the GM is stuck between a rock and a hard place. He wants his super team but also his super friends. Russ might be a super friend but unless he’s benched while LBJ is on the court he ruins all chances of rings. Russ = no super team. LeBron won’t own that trade of a friend. What would Kobe do? Score 40PPG and 10APG rest of season because he’s pissed. I want to see LeGroin pissed off about it.

So, Pelinka needs to be the bad cop here. Rob needs to tell Rich Paul and LBJ ‘I’m going to trade Russell at the ASB. The experiment didn’t work. Help me out or not, it’s happening.’

They won’t protest. I guarantee it.

You intimated that trading Russ is unrealistic then at the end say that Pelinka needs to man up and trade him.

Which one is it?

[stan francisco]

Here’s my two-cent suggestion:

He’s a kid from LA. Kobe loved the way he used to attack the rim. He’s friends with the superfriends on our team but a terrible fit for this roster as he plays exactly the ball dominant guard role we don’t need. LBJ does all of that better. Most of us here have known this since day one. Bye, Russ!

Philly? Knicks? Four team deal? Sure. Just end this stupid wishful thinking kum-ba-ya idea.

LeBron the GM is stuck between a rock and a hard place. He wants his super team but also his super friends. Russ might be a super friend but unless he’s benched while LBJ is on the court he ruins all chances of rings. Russ = no super team. LeBron won’t own that trade of a friend. What would Kobe do? Score 40PPG and 10APG rest of season because he’s pissed. I want to see LeGroin pissed off about it.

So, Pelinka needs to be the bad cop here. Rob needs to tell Rich Paul and LBJ ‘I’m going to trade Russell at the ASB. The experiment didn’t work. Help me out or not, it’s happening.’

They won’t protest. I guarantee it.

You intimated that trading Russ is unrealistic then at the end say that Pelinka needs to man up and trade him.

Which one is it?

I said LBJ the GM is in a pickle. Not me. He gambled based on friendships and lost big.

In my opinion? Russ would never have been here in the first place if I got to decide. Never. He should’ve been traded to a third team before he arrived or we should’ve kept Kuz, Trez, Pope.

[stan francisco]

Here’s my two-cent suggestion:

He’s a kid from LA. Kobe loved the way he used to attack the rim. He’s friends with the superfriends on our team but a terrible fit for this roster as he plays exactly the ball dominant guard role we don’t need. LBJ does all of that better. Most of us here have known this since day one. Bye, Russ!

Philly? Knicks? Four team deal? Sure. Just end this stupid wishful thinking kum-ba-ya idea.

LeBron the GM is stuck between a rock and a hard place. He wants his super team but also his super friends. Russ might be a super friend but unless he’s benched while LBJ is on the court he ruins all chances of rings. Russ = no super team. LeBron won’t own that trade of a friend. What would Kobe do? Score 40PPG and 10APG rest of season because he’s pissed. I want to see LeGroin pissed off about it.

So, Pelinka needs to be the bad cop here. Rob needs to tell Rich Paul and LBJ ‘I’m going to trade Russell at the ASB. The experiment didn’t work. Help me out or not, it’s happening.’

They won’t protest. I guarantee it.

You intimated that trading Russ is unrealistic then at the end say that Pelinka needs to man up and trade him.

Which one is it?

Sorry if I perhaps seemed like I evaded the question. To be clear, trading Russ is not unrealistic in my view. Getting a return worth while is. Plenty of teams would take him on for expirings and picks if on fire sale. That would be to throw away Kuz, Trez, KCP (I thought Russ was essentially that). And even if it is unrealistic it doesn’t mean you shouldn’t try. Pelinka and Frank need to man up and fix LeBron’s mess(!) or we will not win anything this year.

Bottom line: They need to one of two things; trade him or make him sixth man. One of them needs to grow the balls to do his job; what’s best for the team. Rob or Frank. Who’s got a spine?

[danfantastk32]

What would happen if Westbrook were benched? How would he react, and would his reaction affect the team negatively?

"Can I shoot from the bench?"

[chefy]

What would happen if Westbrook were benched? How would he react, and would his reaction affect the team negatively?

"Can I shoot from the bench?"

[SlimShady83]

Flip the topic around and see IF Bron or Davis will come off the bench?

[stan francisco]

Flip the topic around and see IF Bron or Davis will come off the bench?

If they played poorly, sure.

[euphorbus]

Westbrook rode the pine at the end of the loss against Indiana. He was not happy about it, but says "I have accepted everything that has been asked of me and tried to do it to the best of my ability."

If you look at the past eight games, he has had no more than three turnovers per game. That's playing between 25 and 35 minutes per game. I do not see him forcing passes, which accounts for a lot of the improvement.

Where Westbrook has lagged is in shooting percentage. In those eight games, he has shot over 40% only twice, while taking no fewer than 12 shots per game. It would help if he made more of his layups, sure, but I would like to see him operate more as a traditional, pass-first point guard, and cut down on his shot attempts. There are seven guys in the rotation, including Anthony Davis, who have a better FG% than Westbrook.

[bb22]

I think it’s something to be experimented with, but as others have said… he’s just a bad fit.

Rondo was a tough fit next to Lebron, but he ended up shooting fairly well from deep and made some good clutch plays in that championship run. Russ is an even worse fit.

Whether you start him or have him come off the bench, he will be playing next to Lebron (Unless you cut his minutes down to 15 a game or rack up the DNPs).

[Ballerhogger]

The issues is can can’t be first option off the bench … it’s asking melo etc to carry the offense when it comes to shots made . It somtimes works but not enough to make full time thing . Plus Lebron can’t play pg and c at once lol