Official Around the NBA - March Edition!

The stepping out of bounds made me giddy. It was so...much...fun....

 

And that's the difference between someone like Chris Paul and someone like Russ. I remember Paul made some pretty crappy players look halfway decent while he was in New Orleans. Remember Hilton Armstron?

 

Haha. So much fun had to do it twice.

 

As I posted in my Westbrook Least Valuable Player thread, he's on pace to become the first player in league history to have a USG% > 38 and a scoring average < 35. The other two were:

Kobe Bryant - 2005-06:
USG% = 38.74
Scoring Average = 35.4 ppg

Russell Westbrook - 2014-15:
USG% = 38.40
Scoring Average = 27.4 ppg

Michael Jordan - 1986-87:
USG% = 38.29
Scoring Average = 37.1 ppg

At least when Jordan and Kobe were dominating the ball at historic levels, they were putting it in the basket. 27.4 ppg on 38.4 USG% is an incredibly inefficient use of that many possessions. I guess that's why the Thunder are 1-3 during Westbrick's "histroric" run and 2-6 when he shoots 30+ FGA and 2-7 when he scores 38+. Well, that and the fact that he's a HORRIBLE closer who chokes big time with the game on the line.

BNM

 

Thanks for looking that up and posting it. Based on USG%, those were the first three guys I thought of.

BNM

 

Bullshit. That may have been true last year (well, other than a healthy Durant), but OKC's front office recognized their lack of scoring depth and brought in additional offensive players. Enes Kanter (especially) and Mitch McGary are both excellent low post scorers (Kanter sucks on defense, but that's no reason for Westbrick to freeze him out on offense), Anthony Morrow and D.J. Augustin are both better shooters (especially from 3-point range) and more efficient scorers than Westbrick - note: I didn't say they were better players than Westbrick, but they can put the ball in the basket. Serge Ibaka is also a better shooter (again, MUCH better from 3-point range) and more efficient scorer than Westbrick.

I've been watching Westbrick freeze out Durant in the 4th quarter of playoff games since 2010-11. So, it's no surprise Westbrook is freezing out his "lesser" teammates now - and it's costing them wins. Against PHO, Kanter was unstoppable in the low post, but Westbrook froze him out in the 4th quarter. At the start of the 4th quarter last night, with Westbrick on the bench, OKC scored 12 points on 5-6 shooting in 3 minutes. Augustin scored 7 points on 3-4 shooting during that stretch and pushed the lead to 10 points. Westbrick came in with 8 minutes left and took over. He was 2-9 in the quarter and had zero assists. OKC had a critical 4 minute scoring drought that saw Westbrick go 0-5 and CHI cut the lead from 9 points to 1 point.

Westbrook is fully capable of creating easy shots for his teammates, but he chooses not to. Ibaka, Morrow and Augustin are all very good 3-point shooters. Kanter and McGary are very capable low post scorers. Even with Durant out, OKC would be a VERY good team is Westbrook would use his physical gifts to create easy scoring opportunities for his teammates - but he wants to be the hero and with the game on the line, tries (and fails) to do it all himself.

BNM

 

Reggie Miller Says Michael Jordan Once Referred to Himself as 'Black Jesus'

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/...ordan-once-referred-to-himself-as-black-jesus

 

This post is 100% true. Also note that OKC won last Sunday when Westbrook didn't play. The starters scored 68 points that game. In Westbrook's 49 point game, the starters only scored 61. Team is better without him.

 

It was clear at the end of the Bulls game that Westbrook has an ego. They trapped him in the corner and his foot was on the line, even if it wasn't, it would have been a stupid play IMO. You can see how Scott Brooks is so eager to pander to his star players, IE: Westbrick.

Thibs had Gasol, a great passing big, inbound the ball to the open Etwaun Moore, who took an open 3 and drilled it. A smart play. Oklahoma City has great potential, but Brooks and the Westbrook - Durant ego dynamic will hold them back.

 

Boozer is playing solid ball for them though.

 

It's funny. Since he retired. I have never read a former team mate say a kind thing about Michael Jordan. And he always ranks first in biggest jerks in pro sports contests. Guess once your that GREAT you can be that Egotistical.