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Scott Brooks was on the Dan Patrick Show this morning and talked with guest host Chris Mannix of SI.
Brooks went over a lot of stuff including the NBA Finals, how LeBron needs to be more involved and of course, Russell Westbrook.
One other thing too: Brooks said the Thunder would’ve absolutely beaten the Heat in The Finals. “In five or six games,” he said. I can get behind that.
Here’s the entire interview if you want to listen to it. Here’s the most interesting stuff I thought.Brooks was asked if he’d be concerned as LeBron’s coach with the way he’s playing:
“I would definitely want him to get more opportunities in the fourth quarter. But you have to give Dallas a lot of credit. They’re taking the ball out of his hands. LeBron, he’s not a scorer naturally. He wants to make plays for his teammates. You gotta admire the guy. He’s not a selfish player. The guy’s a playmaker. I think he’s done a great job.”
On if he’d have a talk with LeBron:
“With Kevin [Durant], I’m fortunate enough to coach one of the best players in the league. When he has struggling moments, you pick and choose your spots. When you have good teammates, they’re always going to try to pump him up. ‘Hang in there, come on, let’s go.’ Coach Erik is probably picking those spots.”
On if he’s been in contact much with Russell Westbrook:
“I’m going to meet him this week. I love Russell Westbrook. I love what he does. He was hit pretty hard in this post-season. But without Russell, we’re not in the postseason and we don’t get to the conference finals. Did he play great? No. But he played good enough to get us 55 wins. I love what he’s about. He’s about work, he’s about team. He’s about getting better. But he’s a worker, he’s a great guy to coach.”
On if Westbrook needs to change how he’s playing:
“No, but I think we’ve got to get better. One of the things I told the guys in our exit meetings, we’ve got to be a better passing team We can’t just have one or two guys on the floor passing the ball. Kevin’s going to have to be a better passer. Just on the offensive end, we have to move the ball much better, gotta play on the weakside. we gotta go multiple actions.”
[...] Then, a wild James Harden appeared. Kevin Durant rode into Bricktown on a gilded stallion with nylon reins, followed by Sir Westbrook wielding a golden sword aflame with the light of 1,000 virgin oracles. Scott Brooks presumably walked off the set of a CBS procedural drama to fill Oklahoma City’s tastefully striped-neckwear void and lead this haphazard band of superheroes. Suddenly, this city — and state — that had loved the Hornets in their brief stint with more passion than any foster parent before now had a bouncing bundle of its very own. "Ron Artest is out for seven games? It looks like the Lakers will just have to play it by ear. YEEEEAAAAAHHHHHH." photo: Daily Thunder/AP [...]