Take a good look through there. Which one of those names doesn’t belong? Let’s see, by position: PF, PF, C, PF, C, PF, C, PF, C, C, C, PF, C, PF, PG, PF, C, PF, C.
Double-take? That’s right, Russell Westbrook is 16th in the Western Conference in offensive rebounds per game. A point guard - A POINT GUARD – right in the middle of all those names. In fact, he’s 30th in the entire league in offensive rebounds per game. He’s first in point guards by 49 offensive rebounds (Andre Miller is second with 106) and he’s sixth in all the rookies right behind Luc Richard Mbah a Moute (does he have an abbreviation for that mouthful? LRMaM? Can we just call him Mbah?) and right in front of Greg Oden.
Westbrook even had a game earlier this year where he recorded eight offensive boards (some good power forwards never do that in an entire career) and he’s got 11 games where he’s got five or more. (David Lee’s had five or more 17 times, Emeka Okafor 17 times, Pau Gasol 16 times and Paul Millsap 16 times. That’s numbers three, four, five and six in offensive rebounds in the league. And Westbrook, a 6-3 point guard, has 11. Amazing.)
More than anything else, this stat tells the story about Russell Westbrook. He may not make the best decisions. He may turn it over a lot. His jumper may be a work in progress. His court vision may not be there yet. He may the force the issue sometimes. And maybe you think he’s not the answer at point guard. But the guy plays ball. He works, he hustles and he does every stinking thing he’s capable of to help the team win. Say what you will about Russ and his defienciencies (which he has plenty), but the guy is an absolute, all-out ballplayer.
@Kev
I think it had to do with conditioning.
I enjoy RW stats...(just not the FG% & TO ones)
Why was White sent back to the 66ers??
Utah has very little 3 point game and is good to very good but not great on defense. Those points of comparison are easier for the Thunder.
Thunder like Orlando without Howard... and the defensive minded coach and the 3 point game. But I can see your points of similarity Keith.
A stud big does change a lot. I don't think it fixes everything but it would help a lot. As would a vet PG and a proven quality volume outside shooter.
Maybe DJ White can be somewhat lie Carlos Boozer. To be like the Jazz is probably more obtainable for this roster than fully like Orlando. Okur- Kristic and Collison-Milsap are similar. Durant perhaps could become a bit more Kirilenko like. I don't think Green does, though he was advertised that way; but if he could, great. They've got guys who could be Brewer / Miles level. Westbrook isn't Williams but he could move from distant to not as distant. If White and Westbrook don't get to lofty heights then they need to use their free agent money in one or both directions.
@Crow
I think I've found out the main problem with the Thunder using team comparisons. Presti wants to be the Spurs, but are built like the Magic sans Howard. Durant is Hedo, arguably the most important player on the team who does a bit of everything effectively on offense, but is known for being just a so-so defender. Green is Lewis, a SF playing PF who is better off taking the three than playing the post, and who can get pushed around by opposing bigs. Westbrook is Nelson, a guy considered mediocre at the point until he found his shot and role on the team. Thabo/Weaver/Mason are Lee/Pietrus/Reddick, a rotation of players that don't look like starters but who focus on defense to overcome the shortcomings of their backcourt mates.
The missing piece to this team is Howard. We have no one to erase mistakes in the paint, no one that can draw a double team inside, no one who can fight for every rebound available. There is a lot to do on the coaching front, but everyone who loves our young, sky-high-potential team has to realize that the very makeup of this team still has some changing to do.
Also, call me crazy, but if Westbrook can learn to be the defender in the NBA that he was in college, wouldn't he make a fantastic SG? His length makes up for what little height he gives up (he's still around 6'4"), his rebounding prowess is just as effective (perhaps moreso as he wouldn't be expected to be the first guy back on defense), and he no longer has the duties of ball handling and passing that seem to be weaknesses for him.
If Green is scoring first, defensive rebounding second then the center probably has to be offensive rebounding and defense first. Krstic and Collison are decent choices though each is weaker one of these criteria and neither is truly strong on both.
Including everybody allows low minute guys to clutter things but look at guys who play 10+ minutes a game and Howard is 7th. Love is about 10% better per minute but because Howard doesn't for as long as he does he is fairly considered the biggest offensive rebounding force.
If you have Collison and Krstic and DJ White then Green's offensive rebounding is somewhat more acceptable. But if Green is on the court because he is a scorer than an offensive rebounder then he has to be held to a higher standard on eFG% and TS%. He is about average there but good teams #2 scorers are better than average. Most good teams #3, 4 and may be more are better than average shooters. Utah, Houston and Portland go 4-6 deep at least. Thunder go 3 deep if you count Collison and Weaver. Green is 4th in shooting quality and borderline.
10+ minutes
http://www.basketball-reference.com/fc/tiny.cgi?id=aqUX9
Use off reb% and Green is still #197. For a power forward? This is a giveaway that made Westbrook necessary. But this should be seen as a patch job for Presti's choice of Green and choice to use Green at PF.
Durant is #289 on off rebound%. Teams have almost 10 guys each who do better at this. 11th lowest of anyone 6-9 or taller in the league.m Only 3 play 10+ per game- Turkoglu, Peja and Steve Novak.
Per game stats mask the underlying issue.
@Crow
Touche. Good point.
But per minute, Dwight Howard ranks 22nd. And I think everyone would agree he's the best offensive rebounder in the league. Heck, Shavlik Randolph is first. I don't think Jeff Green is a great offensive rebounder by any means, but he does decent work on the glass.
http://www.basketball-reference.com/fc/tiny.cgi?id=3t7go
Per minute. A fair basis of comparison.
I asked a question "is he guarding the backcourt well enough?" Thanks for the assessment.
On Green's offensive rebounding maybe he is top 25 on an espn list amongst those who played enough games but at basketball-reference.com he is 75th on offensive rebounding per game without that restriction and 199th on offensive rebounding per minute. So that means on average NBA teams have about 7 guys who offensive rebound more than Green. Every team.
Maybe I'm not following you Crow, but I don't think Westbrook crashing the boards has hurt our transition defense in the slightest. I don't recall too many teams getting numerous runouts on us.
But your point about Westbrook hitting the glass and having success at the expense of OKC not having other offensive rebounders is a good point. But Collison is top 20 in the West in offensive rebounding and Green is top 25.
But if Westbrook is going for offensive rebounds a lot is he guarding the backcourt well enough? It sorta forces them to play a defender at SG doesn't it with Durant at SF? Making the desire to get a 3 pt shooter at 2 a need harder to fulfill. It would be easier if Durant / Green crashed the offensive glass above average. Durant is clearly light on that. Green is nothing special or below average too. How much is Westbrook's bounty of offensive rebounds is picking up for what these other guys weren't doing? And with Krstic / Collison and later White offensive rebounding is one of their least needs. They need team leadership, defense, and 3 pt shooting far more. Westbrook is a baller but is he filling the role they need him to fill well enough? Offensive rebounding from him is a bonus, but the full story is more complex.
OK, hope you find a ideal logo set someday.
back to the point,I love the hustle and dirty work our players show on court.Nick always do things that stat can't show entirely,his achievements are just like what Scola and Battier do to the Rox, very subtle but substantial works,such as draw charges, hustle for 50-50 balls, wise fouls,etc.
Obviously Westbrook is growing this season.His o rebound is ranked 1st among all guards in NBA, this is amazing...
BTW,the rockets have 3 players on this list,which is terrific...
Xiaoyu Lu :
Why not use a twitter,Royce?
Much quicker and easier to make us thunder fan informed, a lot of basketballers use it as a tool.
I actually have one set up, but I just haven't made it "official" yet. I was trying to get a spiffy little logo to use for it made before I told everyone, but if you must know... www.twitter.com/dailythunder
Why not use a twitter,Royce?
Much quicker and easier to make us thunder fan informed, a lot of basketballers use it as a tool.