Kevin Pelton for ESPN Insider on NOLA trading CP3 for Westbrook : “In front of a TV audience that had seen relatively little of Oklahoma City throughout the season, Westbrook was the scapegoat for the Thunder’s inability to construct an effective late-game offense. Westbrook deserved some of the blame; he lacks the kind of court vision to find teammates when they slip open for a split second, which is part of what makes Paul so special. Westbrook also has a tendency to overdribble when the play breaks down, trusting his own ability more than that of his teammates. Still, Westbrook can only run the plays called from the sideline, and Oklahoma City’s half-court playbook is limited. When defenses took Kevin Durant away with physical defense, Westbrook creating on the fly was often the only alternative. Additionally, the Thunder were victims of their own success. Oklahoma City’s problems were only revealed because the Thunder made an impressive run to the Western Conference finals — further in the postseason than Paul, for one, has ever advanced.”
Rob Mahoney of PBT with thoughts on it: “There’s nothing wrong with wanting Westbrook to be the best player he can possibly be, but turning each of his faults into a crusade against his game is foolish. He does, as Pelton notes, lack the court vision of players like Paul. He’s not an elite playmaker, even though his physical gifts enable him to create dribble penetration in ways few other players can. His decision making, too, isn’t perfect, and neither is his jumper. Yet all of these are detractions from the whole of Westbrook’s game rather than the other way around; he’s a player who pushed his team to the Conference Finals, not one who cost them a trip to take a step further. He did what he could under the circumstances, and though Westbrook’s playoff showing wasn’t without its own faults, it’s unfair that only he — and not Durant, or Scott Brooks, or any other member of the Thunder — should be defined by them.”
The trade Westbrook stuff isn’t new. Here are some of my thoughts on it from a couple months ago. More coming today, maybe.
Matt Moore of CBSSports.com continuing on with the top 100 players where Ibaka checks in 63rd: “Oh, Iblocka. One of the most divisive players in the league. Everyone loves his energy. Some people trust his jumper. Some people think he’s impetuous and gets caught with his head spinning. Ibaka is going to improve and will be a force to reckon with. But for all his defensive stewardship, the Memphis series exposed that a crafty offensive post player can put him into a tizzy, while his offensive reportoire still needs work. Ibaka had one of the lowest variances in scores in the back half of our list. We all know he’s pretty good, we just know he’s not top fifty. Not yet.”
KD changed his Twitter picture to show off his tats. He ain’t hiding anything people.
Terrific find by Zach Harper of DDL — Thunder assistant Mark Bryant’s excellent old team picture.
Reggie Jackson is figuring out how to get by in the lockout: “While most veteran players aren’t receiving paychecks, they at least have—or should have—some money saved. However, Jackson, the 24th player taken in the draft, has yet to receive his first pro check at all. Instead of signing his rookie contract last month, Jackson was forced to take out a loan. He tells the Oklahoman that it’s a small amount that only keeps him afloat. “I’m trying to pay back as little as I can and just get through the times right now,” Jackson said.”
Berry Tramel says the NBA might be better off starting late: “Maybe you’d have to go with an earlier calendar in certain Olympic years. Maybe franchises would like the conflict; sort of an excuse to keep stars from playing all year long. Either way, the later calendar start is the way to go for the NBA. Starting with this coming season, should a late settlement arrive and prove Billy Hunter wrong.”
Remember: Mailbag this week. Email me if you’ve got something (dailythunder at gmail dot com)
I am skeptical of both those things. New Orleans going all out on spending and Westbrook and his agent being gun-shy about his worth and prospects. Moreso the latter, even if it may be proven wrong.
I kinda doubt Westbrook and his agent agree to an extension with the Hornets unless they offer the full max and fear that no contender will.
If no extension deal is struck with Westbrook, I suspect some teams will begin trying to make unsolicited offers and it certainly will be a major media story all season. Unless it comes to that I don't really want to focus too much on it.
Presti would shut them off initially but he "might" secretly re-open them at the trade deadline if certain things don't happen with Westbrook and the team as a whole or do happen with the other PGs and the team when they are on the court. Very unlikely, but not totally impossible. More likely they'd consider a sign 'n trade after another round of negotiations, if they failed.
Not sure how high teams will bid for Westbrook if given the chance. Unless he agrees to sign an extension with that team I wouldn't bid nearly as high. Paul would only be worth considering at the deadline if healthy and if willing to sign an extension as part of the deal.
@ Lefty
Would it help if I admit that Westbrook is better for our current offense than CP3? CP3's value increases the more options he has around him. Minus Harden (current offense), Wesbtrook makes more sense. Plus Harden (future offense - or at least it better be), CP3 makes more sense.
@ Keith
Whatever, hater.
;)
Serge's first game with Spanish national team starts at 3.30 Eastern.
Stream (probably):
http://www.soccertvlive.net/watch/77722/1/watch-spain-vs-france.html
The Russ vs CP3 argument always tends to disregard the important things. It's not about who is the better shooter, who is the better athlete, who is less likely to miss 5 games per year.
James Harden - Kevin Durant - Serge Ibaka - Kendrick Perkins
Which player forms a better team alongside those 4, that is the question that would need answering.
And looking at it that way, the answer is probably CP3. Westbrook makes teammates better by drawing defensive attention, CP3 makes teammates better by getting them the ball where they like it and managing the flow of the offense. Westbrook is a fantastic PG for a team that needs someone to be the offense, CP3 is the ultimate PG for a team that needs someone to distribute the offense.
Westbrook would shine on a team like Chicago or Orlando, teams that need someone to take over and shoulder the load for mediocre teammates. Chris Paul makes much more sense on a team with multiple strong scoring options and teammates prone to inconsistency. Westbrook does not adapt well to in-game situations, which means he is either all good or all bad from game to game. The all-good can win you a game, but the all-bad will lose one just as easily. The Thunder would be better with more consistency, more adaptability, and less singular ownership of the scoring load (right now it is just KD or Russ, never both, and rarely others).
I like Paul and all, but I'll take my chances with RW going forward because (1) he's already a top-5 PG, (2) he keeps getting better, (3) he may be the healthiest player in the NBA, (4) his attitude is a good fit in OKC, (5) why mess with what is already outstanding team chemistry?, (6) championships won with long-held players are a little sweeter than those won with free agent trades, and (7) Ozarka isn't going to sell itself.
let me start off by saying I like Kevin Durant. Kevin Durant reminds me a lot of Tiger Woods pre car accident. Tiger was considered by almost everyone as being the darling of the media. He always said the right things and conducted himself in a professional manner. KD is the same way. He clearly knows how to be seen n a positive light. The location of his tattoos are obviously PR related(with some consideration to it being Momma related). I dont think its a bad thing either, but to say he just wanted tattoos in his mid section is ignorant. it is also ignorant to say now that KD isnt hiding anything. Sure he put a picture of his tats on twitter. But do I need to remind you that this was after the whole picture debacle and everyone who cares has already seen them. I dont even have a problem with it; its a good PR move. But praising him for doing it? Listen, I dont think Kevin Durant is Tiger Woods. But I also dont want readers to be blinded by good PR. The truth is we will only know so much about KD and most of what we learn is going to be what he wants us to know.
Definitely, especially since Paul is injury prone. Every team could use a great backup
the hornets would rather have maynor
Maybe not as much as he used to. CP3 can still get his. I seen him go off on Orlando
I know Russ is not perfect.But he is brave to do something when the team are in trouble.Cp3 cannot do it.At least in our games against Hornets he didn't do it.