Have to agree with this. Well at least until they can get rid of Westbrook. His game and Durant's game just don't gel. Both are ball hogs and want to score. It is obvious neither is gonna step down in roles, but it will never work until one does or one is gone, Westbrook. Reminds me a lot when LeBron went to Miami. The first year they were good but had a TON of issues because both LeBron and Wade wanted to lead the team and have the ball. Eventually Wade surrendered those rights and I would say it ended pretty well for them. Problem is, Westbrook will never do that.
KD and Westbrook deserve a better coach than Scott Brooks.. OKC will win a series or two and run into the same problems they have had over the past three years. They need a new coaching staff, and offensive system.
Yeah I think that is is correct, I believe having both guys on the same team actually limits their potential. When Westbrook was hurt last season, Durant put himself into the MVP race lead, the Thunder won a lot to, and were playing the best basketball they had all season.
Yes, and unlike Brooks Spoelstra revamped , his offensive system. The Thunder play way too much "hero ball".
I don't think it's that. Yes, coaching is a problem, but I think it falls on the games of both Westbrook and Durant. They are just not made to play on the same team.
But that was minor compared to the impact it made when Wade stepped down. You can have the best offensive system in the game. If both of your guys are hogging the ball, you will never win a championship. When Westbrook is taking more or the same number of shots as Durant, there's a problem.
I don't agree with this. Had the Heat lost to the Celtics in game 7 of the ECF in 2012, KD and Westbrook would have a ring today. I don't think OKC's offense generates efficient shots for role players, and for KD and Westbrook. Now, KD and Westbrook can overcome Scott Brook's flaws, because they are superstars, but in order to win a title you need efficent play from your bench. Look at the Warriors for example, last season with Mark Jackson they ran a stagnant offense, that focused on isolations in the posts and on the peremiter, instead of creative, team oriented basketball. This year? Kerr has came in and completely revamped their system , and is running the triangle, a smoother efficent offense. And because of they very well may be winning a championship this season.
New Player Note Thu, Dec 11 Russell Westbrook was everywhere against the Cavs on Thursday with 26 points, seven rebounds, eight assists and one steal in 36 minutes. Advice: He is co-existing just fine with Kevin Durant and is still posting a usage rate of 35.9 in his last five games since Durant debuted, which is only a shade below where he was before. Westbrook is the only player to have a usage rate greater than 30 and an assist percentage over 40 -- he's at 37.3 and 44.6, respectively. No player in the NBA is the offensive weapon that Westbrook is and he'll have elite fantasy value as long as he's healthy. (Rotoworld.com)
Yeah I agree with the Warrior statement. I remember watching before the season about how a few minor changes, would change everything, and it clearly has:
Only Westbrook has been better quite easily so far. It's very early, and I'm sure KD is just getting back into his rhythm, but Westbrook is an elite player in the NBA. You guys are making it sound like they're bitter enemies. Westbrook has played better thus far, and thus has been leading the team. I'm sure once KD is fully healthy, it will even out again. The bottom line is that as long as 1 of them are healthy, the team just wins. With the depth the team has now, this is the year, if there ever was one. The role players, at least imo, are finally set.
Anybody play fantasy basketball? My 1st year I had 1 team. Last year I had 2. Now I have 3 teams this year. I think 3 is too much. I'm already kind of regretting it. It's not like football where you just set your teams in 1 sitting, and then do it again next week. Every day you have to set your next day lineup, and it gets in the way of real life sometimes. I've got my Mystery Team III, In-Active All-Stars, and Apple City Lightning. 2 of those leagues are very large rosters, and 1 has no limit for games. So it's constant research, and attention. BTW, Apple City Lightning? Best name ever. I live in APPLEton. The Apple part could mean New York too, my football team. My high school team was the Lightning, which is also in my fantasy team name because it's similar to the Thunder. Anyway, any new names you guys are finding? I loved going with Mo Williams, and Tony Wroten at first, but now I'm riding the Rasual Butler, and Robert Covington waves.
U must not watch okc games ever because they gel just fine together. They are one of the most dynamic duo's ever. EVER. Check the numbers. With better COACHING OKC would be just fine, the roster is championship ready mainly bc of Russ & KD.
and this is why i am saying we will get ours THIS year. This is the best thunder team as a whole we've had. With Westbrook and KD now in their prime and Ibaka just a year or so removed from that..we have a dominant core. Reggie Jackson is BALLIN this year doing much of what Harden did for us off the bench, Morrow is a sharp shooter, Lamb can score when he's in a groove, plus Perkins and Collison is a great back-up PF-C combo. If Scott Brooks can utilize this and we keep this intense 4th ranked defense going we'll be very difficult to stop come post-season
Yeah they were saying that, meanwhile on NBATV they were talking about how well they play together LOL. Now I don't watch NBATV very often, so I don't know how credible they are, but it's just funny how extremely conflicting the comments are between the haters, and the analysts.
People still think this is the 2011 Thunder where westbrook was clearly doing wayyyyy too much and being just as reckless as possible. That westbrook held KD back yes. But he's improved sooo much and plays so much smarter now compared to then. He averages 25 points 7 assist and 5 boards over his career. His player efficiency rating has been NUTS going back to when he first got hurt vs Houston. That season he evolved into a top player in this league. People say KD played better when westbrook was hurt... uhh... NOT in the PLAYOFFS he played like GARBAGE without westbrook...and he looked SAD! We clearly CANT win a chip without west. He brings that non stop energy that no other player possesses, and that's why we wont be stopped this year.
lol...our playoffs started early and every regular season game is very meaningful for us. So i will, as we roll into the playoffs, and whoop all these teams you claim are better. BC besides San Antonio we've owned all those teams (and we whooped them too but regular season don't matter to some people). And we're 1-1 with them in the WCF so to me we're either the 1st or 2nd best in the west until proven other wise. People say "oh yall didn't pick anybody up or make any moves" Well i say "If it aint broke don't fix it". Spurs ran with it, we will too. Sam Presti for that ass. Both of the teams he built run the west faithfully and it will continue.
