Russell Westbrook is the New Kobe Bryant

Post #1 » by **milesfides** » Mon Apr 10, 2017 6:54 pm

Brodie is the new Bean.

Kobe Bryant in his prime was a force. The onslaughts would keep coming. Whether it was an airball or swish, dunk or shot blocked, pass or turnover.

That's Russell Westbrook. Forget the shooting percentage. He puts so much stress on the other team, and that fierceness, that singular force of will, has become this psychological edge that guys like Lebron and KD never really had.

It's beast mode, all the time. When Kobe averaged 50 for like a month, when he would steamroll teams all by himself. Russell Westbrook is living out the 24/7/365 Mamba mentality when stars are sitting games to rest.

Naysayers of course point out the Thunder's lack of wins, just like with Kobe's Lakers post-Shaq, pre-Gasol.

But this has nothing to do with wins or team basketball, of course.

Because it's absolutely fascinating to watch. It transcends sports. There's something mythological to it, and Russell Westbrook is really resurrecting hero ball, all by himself.

You will bow down to his greatness. He gives you no choice.

There's a reason why opponents can't help but crown him the MVP. There's a reason why opposing fans can't help but reluctantly cheer in shock and awe.

He's captured their imagination. He's captured ours. It has nothing to do with basketball and everything to do with the Colosseum, the darkened theater, the stories of old whispered around a fire, paintings of immortal deeds on cave walls.

We are all familiar with this archetype swimming in our common consciousness: the lone hero, battling against all odds, doing it his way.

It's supposed to be the wrong way. But why not.

jmnvcavs · Post #2 » by **jmnvcavs** » Mon Apr 10, 2017 7:11 pm

Nah Russ is Russ

Black Jack · Post #3 » by **Black Jack** » Mon Apr 10, 2017 7:13 pm

Thread title fixed

andrewww · Post #4 » by **andrewww** » Mon Apr 10, 2017 7:13 pm

milesfides wrote:Brodie is the new Bean.

Kobe Bryant in his prime was a force. The onslaughts would keep coming. Whether it was an airball or swish, dunk or shot blocked, pass or turnover.

That's Russell Westbrook. Forget the shooting percentage. He puts so much stress on the other team, and that fierceness, that singular force of will, has become this psychological edge that guys like Lebron and KD never really had.

It's beast mode, all the time. When Kobe averaged 50 for like a month, when he would steamroll teams all by himself. Russell Westbrook is living out the 24/7/365 Mamba mentality when stars are sitting games to rest.

Naysayers of course point out the Thunder's lack of wins, just like with Kobe's Lakers post-Shaq, pre-Gasol.

But this has nothing to do with wins or team basketball, of course.

Because it's absolutely fascinating to watch. It transcends sports. There's something mythological to it, and Russell Westbrook is really resurrecting hero ball, all by himself.

You will bow down to his greatness. He gives you no choice.

There's a reason why opponents can't help but crown him the MVP. There's a reason why opposing fans can't help but reluctantly cheer in shock and awe.

He's captured their imagination. He's captured ours. It has nothing to do with basketball and everything to do with the Colosseum, the darkened theater, the stories of old whispered around a fire, paintings of immortal deeds on cave walls.

We are all familiar with this archetype swimming in our common consciousness: the lone hero, battling against all odds, doing it his way.

It's supposed to be the wrong way. But why not.

Only difference is the media likes WB and why he will probably win MVP despite his team's record.

MartinToVaught · Post #5 » by **MartinToVaught** » Mon Apr 10, 2017 7:20 pm

Poor comparison. Even Kobe's worst teams in his prime had at least one other player on them who was better than anyone Westbrook has this year. And the best they could do was 45 wins in 2005-06. The Thunder have won 46 already with two games left to go, both against non-playoff teams. Westbrook is easily more impressive.

andrewww · Post #6 » by **andrewww** » Mon Apr 10, 2017 7:31 pm

MartinToVaught wrote:Poor comparison. Even Kobe's worst teams in his prime had at least one other player on them who was better than anyone Westbrook has this year. And the best they could do was 45 wins in 2005-06. The Thunder have won 46 already with two games left to go, both against non-playoff teams. Westbrook is easily more impressive.

You couldn't be more wrong. Was Odom (who was never much of a scorer) without questions better than any of Oladipo/Adams/Kanter? Absolutely inaccurate.

Does Westbrook have two players as terrible as Kwame Brown or Smush Parker in the starting lineup? Didnt think so.

RCM88x · Post #7 » by **RCM88x** » Mon Apr 10, 2017 7:34 pm

He's probably just had a better season than Kobe ever had so...

But honestly, if anything he's a new type of player, his game doesn't remind me of Kobe or anyone at all and I think that's great.

Post #8 » by **Dirk** » Mon Apr 10, 2017 7:34 pm

MartinToVaught wrote:Poor comparison. Even Kobe's worst teams in his prime had at least one other player on them who was better than anyone Westbrook has this year. And the best they could do was 45 wins in 2005-06. The Thunder have won 46 already with two games left to go, both against non-playoff teams. Westbrook is easily more impressive.

Lamar Odom, Smush Parker, Chris Mihm, Kwane Brown vs Adams, Oladipo, Kanter, Robertson

Everyone would pick the latter.

ShazamDaShiznt · Post #9 » by **ShazamDaShiznt** » Mon Apr 10, 2017 7:37 pm

MartinToVaught wrote:Poor comparison. Even Kobe's worst teams in his prime had at least one other player on them who was better than anyone Westbrook has this year. And the best they could do was 45 wins in 2005-06. The Thunder have won 46 already with two games left to go, both against non-playoff teams. Westbrook is easily more impressive.

ahh I am not sure. I mean yeah Odom was better than any westbrook's teammate of this squad

but kobe had to play with smush parker who was useless and kwame brown who could play some defense but he was completely non factor on offense

then kobe played with chris mihm...ughh who?

Basically it was kobe, lamar annnd garbage

kanter/adams/oladipo are all serviceable players

kobe in 2004-2005 however had a better squad, I dont know how that team didnt make it to playoffs because he had odom and butler over there

seanbig · Post #10 » by **seanbig** » Mon Apr 10, 2017 7:37 pm

no demar derozan is the new kobe debryant

russell westbrook is like derrick rose mvp year on steroids or on god-mode

BadWolf · Post #11 » by **BadWolf** » Mon Apr 10, 2017 7:38 pm

andrewww wrote:
You couldn't be more wrong. Was Odom (who was never much of a scorer) without questions better than any of Oladipo/Adams/Kanter? Absolutely inaccurate.

Does Westbrook have two players as terrible as Kwame Brown or Smush Parker in the starting lineup? Didnt think so.

Let me introduce you to Roberson, Andre and Sabonis, Domas.
Odom was better overall for sure, but I'm to lazy to look at that particular year.

Post #12 » by **milesfides** » Mon Apr 10, 2017 7:48 pm

Has little to do with similarity of game. Or their teammates. Or wins and losses.

Appeal to imagination as relentless force of individual will?

Yes. Absolutely the same. Pure, unapologetic, no conscience hero ball.

ALL HAIL · Post #13 » by **ALL HAIL** » Mon Apr 10, 2017 7:51 pm

Black Jack wrote:Thread title fixed

To be fair, Kobe was more or less a 6'7 Iverson.

WIN · Post #14 » by **WIN** » Mon Apr 10, 2017 7:53 pm

Really does remind of Kobe in terms of mentality. Dude is a force of his own. It's hero ball sure, but that takes nothing away from what he's doing IMO, dude's a monster.

Mr Burns · Post #15 » by **Mr Burns** » Mon Apr 10, 2017 8:06 pm

ShazamDaShiznt wrote:
MartinToVaught wrote:Poor comparison. Even Kobe's worst teams in his prime had at least one other player on them who was better than anyone Westbrook has this year. And the best they could do was 45 wins in 2005-06. The Thunder have won 46 already with two games left to go, both against non-playoff teams. Westbrook is easily more impressive.

ahh I am not sure. I mean yeah Odom was better than any westbrook's teammate of this squad

but kobe had to play with smush parker who was useless and kwame brown who could play some defense but he was completely non factor on offense

then kobe played with chris mihm...ughh who?

Basically it was kobe, lamar annnd garbage

kanter/adams/oladipo are all serviceable players

kobe in 2004-2005 however had a better squad, I dont know how that team didnt make it to playoffs because he had odom and butler over there

Kobe played 66 games that year because of an injury and odom played 64 games that year because of injury

Mr Burns · Post #16 » by **Mr Burns** » Mon Apr 10, 2017 8:09 pm

BadWolf wrote:
andrewww wrote:
You couldn't be more wrong. Was Odom (who was never much of a scorer) without questions better than any of Oladipo/Adams/Kanter? Absolutely inaccurate.

Does Westbrook have two players as terrible as Kwame Brown or Smush Parker in the starting lineup? Didnt think so.

Let me introduce you to Roberson, Andre and Sabonis, Domas.
Odom was better overall for sure, but I'm to lazy to look at that particular year.

Bruh I take it you never watched Smush Parker play basketball? that guy shouldn't have even been on an NBA court at that time. AS for KWAME BROWNNNN???

Watch on YouTube

wutevahung · Post #17 » by **wutevahung** » Mon Apr 10, 2017 8:12 pm

WIN wrote:Really does remind of Kobe in terms of mentality. Dude is a force of his own. It's hero ball sure, but that takes nothing away from what he's doing IMO, dude's a monster.

I agree. It is a great comparison, not in terms of style, but in their mental approach.

Kobe's opponents often said that Kobe's will to destroy his opponent is one of his most outstanding traits. He would run at you, run through you, and run over you if he senses weakness. If he doesn't, he will keep doing it until the wall cracks for better or worse, and that is the same mentality I see in Westbrook.

Their polarizing styles may turn some people off, but you just have to respect what they can will themselves to do on a daily basis.

Ballerhogger · Post #18 » by **Ballerhogger** » Mon Apr 10, 2017 8:13 pm

Please please pretty please OKC? Sugar on top?!

Roscoe Sheed · Post #19 » by **Roscoe Sheed** » Mon Apr 10, 2017 8:15 pm

andrewww wrote:
MartinToVaught wrote:Poor comparison. Even Kobe's worst teams in his prime had at least one other player on them who was better than anyone Westbrook has this year. And the best they could do was 45 wins in 2005-06. The Thunder have won 46 already with two games left to go, both against non-playoff teams. Westbrook is easily more impressive.

You couldn't be more wrong. Was Odom (who was never much of a scorer) without questions better than any of Oladipo/Adams/Kanter? Absolutely inaccurate.

Does Westbrook have two players as terrible as Kwame Brown or Smush Parker in the starting lineup? Didnt think so.

Odom was a very good player in his prime. Very multidimensional player. Remember how the lakers seemed to not miss a beat or even be better when Bynum would get injured?

Roscoe Sheed · Post #20 » by **Roscoe Sheed** » Mon Apr 10, 2017 8:18 pm

Mr Burns wrote:
BadWolf wrote:
andrewww wrote:
You couldn't be more wrong. Was Odom (who was never much of a scorer) without questions better than any of Oladipo/Adams/Kanter? Absolutely inaccurate.

Does Westbrook have two players as terrible as Kwame Brown or Smush Parker in the starting lineup? Didnt think so.

Let me introduce you to Roberson, Andre and Sabonis, Domas.
Odom was better overall for sure, but I'm to lazy to look at that particular year.

Bruh I take it you never watched Smush Parker play basketball? that guy shouldn't have even been on an NBA court at that time. AS for KWAME BROWNNNN???

Watch on YouTube

Smush Parker wasn't as bad as some people make him out to be. He was a decent shooter and was a passable defender with size and athleticism. True he was a subpar starter in the NBA but he was definitely serviceable for a few seasons