Russell Westbrook is better than Kevin Durant (in his mind)

[goldenarmz97]

[h2][/h2]

[h2]Thunder vet: Westbrook thinks he's better than KD[/h2]
Posted on: May 22, 2011 5:45 pm

Edited on: May 22, 2011 7:08 pm

Score: 199

Log-in to rate:

• Log-in to rate:

Posted by Royce Young

Did you think maybe we were finally done talking about Russell Westbrook? You'd be wrong.

Westbrook responded well to his so-called "benching" in Game 3, putting up 30 points for Oklahoma City that included eight straight points in the fourth quarter to get the Thunder back in the game. In the end, they lost to the Mavericks, but Westbrook bounced back strong.

Controvsery over? Hardly. Via the New York Daily News, one Thunder veteran says that Westbrook has an ego and that's what's interfered:

What undoubtedly fueled Westbrook's fiery response is a sense of entitlement. As one Thunder veteran said, privately, "He thinks he's better than Kevin Durant."
Not only that, but Westbrook has the backing of Thunder GM Sam Presti, who made a name for himself with his drafting of Westbrook with the fourth pick in 2008. Presti's micromanagement behind the scenes has caused some friction between the head of the front office and his coaches, but Brooks didn't pay any attention to that when he saw that Maynor was his best option to even the series.

Who is this mystery vet? Kevin Ollie? Desmond Mason? Robert Swift? Who knows. And who knows why he felt the need to pass along this information either.

But just that line alone -- Westbrook thinks he's better than Durant -- is going to stir the pot. But when you're an All-Star, a second-team All-NBA player that's as confident in yourself as Westbrook, would you really not think you're better than Durant. Not us in the general public here. We all know Durant is better. In terms of Westbrook, is it really so bad to think that? In fact, isn't it probably a good thing?

Everyone is biased about themselves. Other than maybe your mother, your biggest fan is normally you. Westbrook isn't any different. But that line reeks of ego and arrogance, therefore stirring the Westbrook vs. Durant pot a bit more.

And Westbrook has always played with a chip on his shoulder and an absurd amount of emotion. That's who he is and how he's always been. Westbrook probably thinks he's better than not just Durant, but Kobe Bryant, LeBron James and pretty much every player you toss out there. That's how great players think. They believe in themselves to the greatest degree. Kobe thinks he's better than Michael Jordan, even if we all know that it isn't true.

But here's a fun stat: Did you know entering Game 3 Saturday, Westbrook had assisted on 54 of Durant's field goals this postseason? Why is that number significant? Because it leads the NBA not just by a little, but doubles the next closest tandem (27 for Rajon Rondo to Paul Pierce and Jason Kidd to Dirk Nowitzki). It's not like Westbrook keeps the ball away from Durant here people. Durant has led the league in scoring the last two years and leads the playoffs this year with Westbrook as his point guard.

I'm reminded of the playoffs last year where the Thunder pushed the Lakers to six games. Multiple times in that series Westbrook had a wide open dunk of his own on a fast break but decided instead to drop off a pass to Durant trailing behind him. Westbrook put it simply when he was asked about why he did it. He said, "It's my job to get guys going and KD needed to get going." Doesn't sound like a guy too wrapped up in himself, does it?
http://eye-on-basketball....10_on_all_fb_na_txt_0001

 

[goldenarmz97]

[h2][/h2]

[h2]Thunder vet: Westbrook thinks he's better than KD[/h2]
Posted on: May 22, 2011 5:45 pm

Edited on: May 22, 2011 7:08 pm

Score: 199

Log-in to rate:

• Log-in to rate:

Posted by Royce Young

Did you think maybe we were finally done talking about Russell Westbrook? You'd be wrong.

Westbrook responded well to his so-called "benching" in Game 3, putting up 30 points for Oklahoma City that included eight straight points in the fourth quarter to get the Thunder back in the game. In the end, they lost to the Mavericks, but Westbrook bounced back strong.

Controvsery over? Hardly. Via the New York Daily News, one Thunder veteran says that Westbrook has an ego and that's what's interfered:

What undoubtedly fueled Westbrook's fiery response is a sense of entitlement. As one Thunder veteran said, privately, "He thinks he's better than Kevin Durant."
Not only that, but Westbrook has the backing of Thunder GM Sam Presti, who made a name for himself with his drafting of Westbrook with the fourth pick in 2008. Presti's micromanagement behind the scenes has caused some friction between the head of the front office and his coaches, but Brooks didn't pay any attention to that when he saw that Maynor was his best option to even the series.

Who is this mystery vet? Kevin Ollie? Desmond Mason? Robert Swift? Who knows. And who knows why he felt the need to pass along this information either.

But just that line alone -- Westbrook thinks he's better than Durant -- is going to stir the pot. But when you're an All-Star, a second-team All-NBA player that's as confident in yourself as Westbrook, would you really not think you're better than Durant. Not us in the general public here. We all know Durant is better. In terms of Westbrook, is it really so bad to think that? In fact, isn't it probably a good thing?

Everyone is biased about themselves. Other than maybe your mother, your biggest fan is normally you. Westbrook isn't any different. But that line reeks of ego and arrogance, therefore stirring the Westbrook vs. Durant pot a bit more.

And Westbrook has always played with a chip on his shoulder and an absurd amount of emotion. That's who he is and how he's always been. Westbrook probably thinks he's better than not just Durant, but Kobe Bryant, LeBron James and pretty much every player you toss out there. That's how great players think. They believe in themselves to the greatest degree. Kobe thinks he's better than Michael Jordan, even if we all know that it isn't true.

But here's a fun stat: Did you know entering Game 3 Saturday, Westbrook had assisted on 54 of Durant's field goals this postseason? Why is that number significant? Because it leads the NBA not just by a little, but doubles the next closest tandem (27 for Rajon Rondo to Paul Pierce and Jason Kidd to Dirk Nowitzki). It's not like Westbrook keeps the ball away from Durant here people. Durant has led the league in scoring the last two years and leads the playoffs this year with Westbrook as his point guard.

I'm reminded of the playoffs last year where the Thunder pushed the Lakers to six games. Multiple times in that series Westbrook had a wide open dunk of his own on a fast break but decided instead to drop off a pass to Durant trailing behind him. Westbrook put it simply when he was asked about why he did it. He said, "It's my job to get guys going and KD needed to get going." Doesn't sound like a guy too wrapped up in himself, does it?
http://eye-on-basketball....10_on_all_fb_na_txt_0001

 

[i am that dude]

My $@!. NY Daily News with inside info on the OKC Thunder?

But this whole thing is blown up and exaggerated by the media. As the article points out, when KD is open, Russell gets him the ball.

What is unfairly lost in this is how predictable the Thunder's excuse for an offense is, especially in the playoffs where you play the SAME team every other day and therefore they gameplan and study you. But nobody is even talking about Brooks.

Also, we made it 2 seasons and 2 postseasons minus a few games after game 4 of the Denver series. Why did Russell Westbrook all of a sudden start deciding to sabotage KD? Again, just an excuse for the fact it's easy to guard the Thunder because they have no real plays (KD off pin down screens, KD or Russ or JH iso, or pick and roll) and that physical defenders have made it tough for KD to get open so after 12 seconds of waiting for KD to get open enough or to seal his defender behind him (because standing there with your hand up in front of your defender doesn't= open, it's just a turnover waiting to happen), there's now only 6 or so seconds left on the clock and Russ is 30ft away so there's no other option but to go 1 on 1

We would not have made it this far in the postseason or even gotten here without Russ so to keep trying to cut his head off with no regard for the entire situation (KD needs to get open better, SB needs to draw up better plays) again is just tremendously unfair and might cost us our 22 yr old all star guard.

 

[i am that dude]

My $@!. NY Daily News with inside info on the OKC Thunder?

But this whole thing is blown up and exaggerated by the media. As the article points out, when KD is open, Russell gets him the ball.

What is unfairly lost in this is how predictable the Thunder's excuse for an offense is, especially in the playoffs where you play the SAME team every other day and therefore they gameplan and study you. But nobody is even talking about Brooks.

Also, we made it 2 seasons and 2 postseasons minus a few games after game 4 of the Denver series. Why did Russell Westbrook all of a sudden start deciding to sabotage KD? Again, just an excuse for the fact it's easy to guard the Thunder because they have no real plays (KD off pin down screens, KD or Russ or JH iso, or pick and roll) and that physical defenders have made it tough for KD to get open so after 12 seconds of waiting for KD to get open enough or to seal his defender behind him (because standing there with your hand up in front of your defender doesn't= open, it's just a turnover waiting to happen), there's now only 6 or so seconds left on the clock and Russ is 30ft away so there's no other option but to go 1 on 1

We would not have made it this far in the postseason or even gotten here without Russ so to keep trying to cut his head off with no regard for the entire situation (KD needs to get open better, SB needs to draw up better plays) again is just tremendously unfair and might cost us our 22 yr old all star guard.

 

[2o6]

He is......


Kd is one dimensional to me.


























































seriously tho he's not

 

[2o6]

He is......


Kd is one dimensional to me.


























































seriously tho he's not

 

[im not you]

This won't end well.

 

[im not you]

This won't end well.

 

[i am that dude]

BTW, if he does leave, where? We were talking about it at the gym today but let's say all of this talks wears him down too much and he chooses to go somewhere in free agency after next season. Does he go home to LA and get a yr or 2 of seasoning alongside Kobe who will keep him in line? Or what about the other team in LA, or 2 other California teams for that matter? Or what I think would be a sleeper is Minnesota since he and Kevin Love are former teammates and great friends, would be a nice, young roster on he rise.

However, I think it will all blow over since it's the playoffs and if we get eliminated, there will be no need to talk about us anymore.

 

[i am that dude]

BTW, if he does leave, where? We were talking about it at the gym today but let's say all of this talks wears him down too much and he chooses to go somewhere in free agency after next season. Does he go home to LA and get a yr or 2 of seasoning alongside Kobe who will keep him in line? Or what about the other team in LA, or 2 other California teams for that matter? Or what I think would be a sleeper is Minnesota since he and Kevin Love are former teammates and great friends, would be a nice, young roster on he rise.

However, I think it will all blow over since it's the playoffs and if we get eliminated, there will be no need to talk about us anymore.

 

[furrell]

This is about to get real ugly. Its not that he can play but his bad decision making can cost them as it did during the Grizzlies series.

 

[furrell]

This is about to get real ugly. Its not that he can play but his bad decision making can cost them as it did during the Grizzlies series.

 

[big j 33]

Enough already

 

[big j 33]

Enough already

 

[mjdalegend]

RIP to this duo if #($& keeps up

 

[mjdalegend]

RIP to this duo if #($& keeps up

 

[streethoopkilla]

Idk how the Daily News would get news from OK and nowhere else has this been reported

If this is true, this is looking like the Marbury/KG situation from Minny years ago

 

[streethoopkilla]

Idk how the Daily News would get news from OK and nowhere else has this been reported

If this is true, this is looking like the Marbury/KG situation from Minny years ago

 

[crazy dav0]

... they need to handle this !%%% in house ...

everybody need to just relax ...

and refbrook and rose need to stop competing w/ each other for who can take more bad shots

 

[crazy dav0]

... they need to handle this !%%% in house ...

everybody need to just relax ...

and refbrook and rose need to stop competing w/ each other for who can take more bad shots

 

[mzd650]

Poor Westbrook. The most overblown nonsense story in basketball for the past couple weeks. Its like people forgot he was a Western Conference All Star and an All NBA Team player.

 

[mzd650]

Poor Westbrook. The most overblown nonsense story in basketball for the past couple weeks. Its like people forgot he was a Western Conference All Star and an All NBA Team player.

 

[wiseman299]

This just shows how the media has too much power! According to the media they went from being best friends the whole year to worst enemies in one week. smh.

 

[wiseman299]

This just shows how the media has too much power! According to the media they went from being best friends the whole year to worst enemies in one week. smh.

 

[kingjay718]

Originally Posted by streethoopkilla


If this is true, this is looking like the Marbury/KG situation from Minny years ago

This.

Russy's head has gotten big though.  However I think he means well.  He wants to sit at the same table as D. Rose, CP3, Nash, Kidd etc, but he's goin' about it the wrong way.