By now you’ve probably heard that Rajon Rondo was cut/removed his name due to family matters. (Heh, family matters.) And if you’re sharp and on the ball, by Rondo being cut, that means that both Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook are on Team USA’s final 12-man roster that will be competing in Turkey next week.
- Layne Murdoch/NBAE/Getty
Westbrook made an extremely strong case for himself in Team USA’s last two scrimmages, showcasing his hustle, athleticism and knack for heady plays. The indication is, by the way Coach K used him against Spain is that Westbrook will be used as a defensive stopper against the crafty guards from both Spain and Greece.
Most thought the final spot would come down between Stephen Curry and Eric Gordon, with Westbrook possibly getting the axe because the U.S. didn’t likely want to point guards that weren’t great shooters. Rondo, who started every exhibition before getting a DNP against Spain, was thought to be a lock. But honestly, Westbrook just outperformed Rondo. Some saw indifference in Rondo while he was on the floor, while Westbrook was as active and hungry as he always is.
One thing that I think is great about Westbrook’s emergence on Team USA, is that Thunder fans are getting a good look at Russ’s ability next to his peers. When you watch Derrick Rose, Rondo, Chauncey Billups, Curry and Westbrook all rotating in and out, there’s not any dropoff when Russ runs the show. Plus, when you watch a guy like Rose defend and then see Westbrook check the same guy, you can kind of appreciate Westbrook’s defense a bit more as well.
As far as rotations and how much playing time Westbrook will see, I’m guessing not a ton. He’ll like be the third point guard behind Rose and Billups but could be the second option if Billups plays primarily off the ball. Heck, Westbrook has seen a good chunk of time at the 2, so he might be ahead of Curry and Gordon there as well.
In any event, two Thunder players are on the U.S. roster, which will make the World Championships that much more interesting for OKC fans.
You guys keep a commentary for teh game somewhere? Im at work, and my computer wont load teh daily dime
@DSMok1
I'll take it a step further and say that I don't support Morey's plan of a hard cap w/ no other CBA rules such as max contract amount or length.
Morey likes it because, as he put it, fortune favors the prepared. I think Presti would thrive under a system like that, as would Morey and a few other GMs, but your success is completely tied up in how good your GM is.
I prefer some form of safety net for the time when Presti no longer GMs here. He won't be here forever and bad GMs are already plenty empowered to destroy a franchise without even fewer hurdles to jump.
justin :
DSMok1 :I would prefer there to be no cap at all, just a total free market. There would be some revenue sharing because of how TV rights are negotiated. And no draft, just free agency. Just like how I work at my job!I don’t know how well competitive balance would be maintained, though.
It wouldn’t, look at baseball.
Agree with you justin
DSMok1 :I would prefer there to be no cap at all, just a total free market. There would be some revenue sharing because of how TV rights are negotiated. And no draft, just free agency. Just like how I work at my job!
I don’t know how well competitive balance would be maintained, though.
It wouldn't, look at baseball.
I would prefer there to be no cap at all, just a total free market. There would be some revenue sharing because of how TV rights are negotiated. And no draft, just free agency. Just like how I work at my job!
I don't know how well competitive balance would be maintained, though.
@Gavin
I don't know the NHL story beyond what the article said.
If there is a transition period the teams who currently spend very big will maintain some of their advantage awhile longer and others will be deterred from matching them. The existing big spenders may get even more of a short-term advantage.
To set a hard cap at $65-70 million the richest teams have to give up their significant advantage and the cheapest team give up a revenue stream from tax pay-outs and the middle teams would not change that much. Maybe they can fine-tune it and make enough happy but it is far from an easy task.
If there are less dollars floating around. more and more players will probably give more weight to going to the biggest and best teams for the city and the winning.
Ideas such as shorter contracts and less guarantees are mentioned as ways to increase competition. They offer opportunity but the good teams have access to these tools too and are likely to continue to maintain their advantage, reloading quicker.
@shiki
FIBA is really not that many games, and KD would have been in the gym all day even if he wasn't on Team USA. I'm not worried about his minutes or stamina. There is only good to come of this, with KD getting more work on playing with a target on his back, with Russ being demanded to play consistent every game, and with both guys learning to win a team game against unlikely odds.
@Chuck
I don't think Westbrook's ability to get a shot off has ever been an issue for him. To this point, his problem is making the most of those shots. He can get anywhere on the court whenever he wants, he just needs to know what to do when he gets there (set his feet before a jumper, jump to open space under the rim so he gets a better shot, shoot only when there isn't a better shot out there for the team).
@Crow
Do you know what happened with NHL when hard cap was introduced? Was it phased into multiple years?
Anyway, Thunder is in a very flexible situation cap wise, whichever cap space is going to be. Not signing big name free agent (or any free agent) in multiple years contact this summer is a very good decision.
Stray finding- the individual scoring title and the team title don't go together very often. In the last 35 years the only guy not named Michale Jordan to win both in the same year was Shaq once.
My guess is that a hard cap is unlikely.
A harder cap might happen in various ways by adjusting the current budget lines or setting a super tax line.
Any major changes would likely be phased in over 3-5 years like the current rules were to allow teams to prepare and adjust.
I think what was noteworthy was how easily Westbrook got himself open for his shot. Most of the other guards struggled. He will not be intimidated by the stage. I expect to see a lot of different defensive strategies-a lot of pressing and a variety of zones to hide their rebounding weaknesses.
Only thunder have 2 players in team USA.Good news or bad news?
IF coach K uses KD more than 30 mins to play PF,It is tough work for his slim size.He had 40 mins last season,and he will have 40 mins next season.And if your team cannot win champion,KD must play FIBA American champion in 2011 and Olympic 2012.
OOT an article about hardcap of around $ 60 M:
http://www.hoopsworld.com/Story.asp?story_id=17156
Thunder will be a big winner in this situation:
Oklahoma City Thunder
The Thunder may be the new successful model in the NBA under a hard cap. With lots of young players still under their rookie contracts, the Thunder can control costs and keep their team together; at least until they have to sign them to new deals.
We will only have 1 player on non-rookie contract bigger than $ 5M per year, and the player is the franchise player, future MVP and future hall of fame.
I'm not terribly worried about our ability to keep Russell. Winning solves everything. If our team continues to improve and succeed on the court, he won't want to walk away from a good situation- and ownership will pay what they need to pay to keep their good thing going.
I wish Brooks could get the same kind of consistent D from Westbrook that Coach K gets....
ohh and don't tease me about the igiuahappygoluckydolla spelling
Rose, Russ, Kevin, Iguadola, Odom.... It's small, but I think that is their best combo. KD and Russ really play well together, as do KD and Rose. KD also had nice chemistry with Odom and Iggy IMO..... all just based on Spain game.
i think russ is just plain built for international play... rondo wasn't. rondo was just too flashy for it. he has no power and although he's crafty under the rim, he doesn't get there the same way rose and russ do. he has next to no vertical. i'm not that surprised by this. i'm just glad coach k actually went with what he saw and not what people expected. russ, curry and gordon earned this. congrats.
Glad to see Russ made the team. I watched the Spain game, and he really had a nice game. I know he was playing off the ball, but the team always seemed a bit flat and inactive (on both ends) without him on the floor.
Plus, KD and Russ just really worked well together. They had a few REALLY nice defensive series where they nailed their rotations and played some really nice defense, and in transition the two are just awesome.
I expect Russ to really make a statement and gain a lot of attention for this team (but hopefully not his agent).
I hope Russ picks up a lot of stuff from Billups in particular.
this experience will be good for both of them, and hopefully they come into the season strong and having learned some new tricks.
@John-o
Tell this to baseball players... most of them dont get "payed" until they are in their 30's. Club control makes draft picks valuable and a good investment for teams.
Ugh, this is why I dislike the current rookie scale as stated in the CBA. Yes, it makes the Thunder have a super-low payroll, but it also means Russ loses out on millions of dollars due to being locked into some rookie scale contract that he had no representation in when it was negotiated.
I think the team option should only be for 1 year. Teams that draft rookies are basically buying into low-downside risk investments that can skyrocket in value during the years the teams hold that asset. But in this case the Team's "bargain upside" is being eaten completely by the player (value cannot come out of thin air). The is the counterparty even though the young players have nothing to do with the CBA negotiation process.
The rookie scale makes sense to avoid crazy high rookie contracts that ruin the league, but its duration is way too long. A team knows they have a stud rather quickly if they commit to the player... and the current rookie scale facilitates a serious disadvantage for the player in the event the player is good.
justin :The worst thing that might come out of this is that Russ’ price tag will go up.
And I fear that it will, coupled with another Westbrook-esque leap this upcoming season.
If Westbrook continues along this same path, he'll like be a near-max player when he's up for his next contract. Maybe he'll sign an extension ahead of time like Durant. If he doesn't, I could see a team offering a max sheet. Hopefully the lights are bright enough here in OKC for young Russ, he has quite a future ahead of him.
The best thing that might come out of this is that maybe Brooks will be watching and will consider using Russ off the ball more. The worst thing that might come out of this is that Russ' price tag will go up.