I’ve always thought Russell Westbrook was overrated. In the 2011 Western Conference Finals, the All-Star point guard for the Oklahoma City Thunder is being outed as a fraud. Yeah, he’s a good player — but he’s far from the up-and-coming superstar he’s made out to be. In fact, Russell Westbrook isn’t even really a point guard.
When the ball is in his hands, Russell Westbrook looks to score first, second and third. He doesn’t have very good court vision and struggles to run plays in the half-court offense. Everything about him screams shooting guard.
Russell Westbrook being a fraudulent point guard is especially damning for the Thunder because he takes away touches from Kevin Durant, arguably the best scorer in the world. In all circumstances, Kevin Durant should be the first option. However, with Russell Westbrook running the show, that doesn’t happen as often as it should.
Against the Dallas Mavericks, the world is now beginning to see Russell Westbrook’s overrated play negatively affect the Thunder. In Game 1, he was destroyed by the corpse of Jason Kidd as the Thunder lost. Oklahoma City was able to win Game 2, however the Thunder played the entire fourth quarter with Russell Westbrook on the bench.
In Game 3, as the Thunder were trying to pull out a come from behind win, Russell Westbrook single-handedly thwarted the effort by ball hogging and trying to be a hero. For a stretch late in the fourth, Kevin Durant didn’t touch the basketball as Russell Westbrook either missed shots or turned it over repeatedly.
The Thunder aren’t beating the Mavs and won’t be advancing to the Finals. That, however, shouldn’t be the Thunder’s biggest concern. Their main worry should be that Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant simply can’t co-exist on a long-term basis. Kevin Durant needs to be paired with a true point guard so that he can reach his true potential.
As for Russell Westbrook, he needs to either become a full-time shooting guard or the Thunder need to trade him to a new team.
Russell Westbrook Overrated
Post from: EveryJoe
When the ball is in his hands, Russell Westbrook looks to score first, second and third. He doesn’t have very good court vision and struggles to run plays in the half-court offense. Everything about him screams shooting guard.
Russell Westbrook being a fraudulent point guard is especially damning for the Thunder because he takes away touches from Kevin Durant, arguably the best scorer in the world. In all circumstances, Kevin Durant should be the first option. However, with Russell Westbrook running the show, that doesn’t happen as often as it should.
Against the Dallas Mavericks, the world is now beginning to see Russell Westbrook’s overrated play negatively affect the Thunder. In Game 1, he was destroyed by the corpse of Jason Kidd as the Thunder lost. Oklahoma City was able to win Game 2, however the Thunder played the entire fourth quarter with Russell Westbrook on the bench.
In Game 3, as the Thunder were trying to pull out a come from behind win, Russell Westbrook single-handedly thwarted the effort by ball hogging and trying to be a hero. For a stretch late in the fourth, Kevin Durant didn’t touch the basketball as Russell Westbrook either missed shots or turned it over repeatedly.
The Thunder aren’t beating the Mavs and won’t be advancing to the Finals. That, however, shouldn’t be the Thunder’s biggest concern. Their main worry should be that Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant simply can’t co-exist on a long-term basis. Kevin Durant needs to be paired with a true point guard so that he can reach his true potential.
As for Russell Westbrook, he needs to either become a full-time shooting guard or the Thunder need to trade him to a new team.
Post from: EveryJoe