J.A. Adande of ESPN.com writes Westbrook doesn’t fit with OKC: “If the Thunder do want Westbrook, it’s not a given that he wants to be there. He’s told friends he feels Thunder coach Scott Brooks blames him for losses, while the credit for victories goes to Durant. You also don’t hear Westbrook constantly profess his love of playing in a small market the way Durant does. Culture is a big part of the Thunder program. They value fit over talent. One of the reasons they took James Harden over, say, eventual rookie of the year Tyreke Evans in the 2009 draft was because they thought Harden could tolerate a secondary role.”
Perk called out Chris Webber. Kelly Dwyer of Ball Don’t Lie: “Considering that Perkins, more than anything else in his repertoire, is thought of as a superior post defender? That’s a strange, if not inarguable, statement coming from C-Webb. And though we watched NBA TV’s postgame show a time and a half as Wednesday night bled into Thursday morning, we missed the part where Outside the NBA’s James Herbert apparently caught Webber once again criticizing Perkins’ post defense, calling him “overrated.” It seems an odd, forceful bit of analysis from Webber on what is a genuinely well-respected player in Perkins. We always appreciate analysis that goes against the tide, assuming it’s not created just for effect, but to these eyes Webber might be a little off, here.”
Barry Petchesky of Deadpsin on Westbrook-Durant: “Westbrook sees Durant’s five-year extension, and he sees that he’s an RFA next year in a league where good young point guards are never allowed to test the free agency waters. Maybe he dreams about what it would be like to run his own team, in nobody’s shadow. Maybe the Thunder dream about what they could get for him in a trade haul, even though he’s vital to their wildly unbalanced scoring and assist columns. Or maybe nothing will happen, and the Thunder will be a great team who makes a deep playoff run. Doesn’t matter. Even in a shortened season there’s a news hole to fill with real or imagined narrative, and now the dogs have the scent. The Durant/Westbrook dynamic is now the story of OKC’s year, even if it’s a nonstory. Westbrook wants to be a superstar? Let’s see what he does under a superstar’s scrutiny.”
Oklahoma City chanting Russell Westbrook’s name.
Mike Sherman of the Oklahoman on Westbrook’s game: “That play — that chant — didn’t win the game. Durant took care of that. But it definitely accomplished something. Westbrook was Westbrook after that. He went 3-of-4 shooting in the fourth quarter, was aggressively pressuring Jason Kidd and became the force of nature the Thunder needs him to be. His final line wasn’t anything too special: 16 points on 6 of 15 shooting, four assists and seven turnovers. But it was hard to leave the arena without feeling something had turned for Westbrook.”
My piece on last night’s game for ESPN.com. And my piece for CBSSports.com. Busy night.
We’re sick of it, but here’s the Thunder all trying to completely downplay the “altercation.” Which if you watch this video, it doesn’t look like much of an altercation at all. So I can understand why they would be mad about it.
Darnell Mayberry: “The final 3 1/2 minutes tonight could turn Westbrook’s slow start completely around. He desperately needed something like this to happen for him tonight. Through three quarters, Westbrook was clearly not himself. He wasn’t playing with passion. The fire in his belly was absent. He was differing. And he made tons of mistakes, including passing up opportunities, as he tried too hard to play more under control. Only in the final 3 1/2 did we see the real Westbrook.”
Matt Moore of CBSSports.com gave Westbrook an A for last night: “One day removed from a horrid shooting performance in a near-loss and after a brief altercation with Kevin Durant that subsequently became the biggest story in the league for a day, Russell Westbrook brought the Thunder back. He made all the plays late starting wit a dunk and-one off a steal. He hit big shots when he needed to and grabbed a huge offensive rebound off a Durant miss late. It was a terrific job by a player with a lot of pressure on him, and showed why the Thunder believe he and Durant can be special together. Westbrook isn’t the pure point a lot of people think Durant needs. But in terms of scoring point guards, he’s one of the best in the league. His fearlessness and ability to make things happen in key moments should not be overshadowed by a handful of poor shooting nights for the young player. Westbrook is a legitimate star who plays on the same stage, if not level, as Kevin Durant.”
Rob Mahoney of The Two Man Game: “They were there. They took it. Kevin Durant (30 points, 10-16 FG, 11 rebounds, six assists, six turnovers, one steal, two blocks) was just cruel and poised and fantastic enough to take it right back, on a somewhat predictable play that was executed with enough interesting wrinkles to bring about its success. Durant hit a hell of a shot and played a hell of a game, but the Mavericks are starting to look like the Mavericks again, and that in itself is something worth celebrating.”
Dissing RW is just lazy sports commentators jumping on a tabloid story.
We would never be where we are without him, and I am afraid that all of this media BS is getting to him. Well, I want him to stay because he has more than earned it. He is a phenomenal athlete. That is why you always see fans from other teams putting together fantasy trades to get him. If we don't stop this baloney and let Russell know how much he is loved in OKC, he might bolt.
Westbrook is a GREAT player. This all started when Barkely went off on him in the playoffs for taking too many shots. Well, that is what happens when KD is smothered. Russell had been able to take it to the hole at will late in the season (why he was an all star) and that was his second option if he couldn't get it to KD.
Seriously. Does anyone in their right mind want to lose him? All of this tabloid garbage has to be getting to him. I'm going to make it my mission to let him know how much he is appreciated in OKC.
Dwight Howard V Boris Diaw and Byron Mullens just started
Dwight Isnt Trying and he has 6p 4r and a block in 6 minutes
If u did that trade u would have to start harden celtics won title with almost same lineup. Rondo_ rondo harden_allen kd_pierce ibaka_garnett pperk_perk u would have to change minutes to always leave kd and or harden out there doc rivers did it
I don't know which broadcaster said it last night but I've heard it a number of times since the season started already... And that's that okc won't win a championship until they have a better half court offense... Surely that reaches Brooks ear somehow, I mean it doesn't have to be the triangle, can't we have just a couple new sets added to mix things up... I really do like Brooks heart and what he has done
With this team but why not add more ammo to a team who is obviously willing to work and do whatever it takes to win a ship? But hey that could
B a good reason why he is coaching okc and I'm not, I know I would hate somebody critiquing my job who has never coached bball before... Still it bothers me though and I hope he builds on the o
@thunderstruck87 I was watching the nets last night, THE NETS, and I was so jealous of all the movement in their offense. Double screens to free up shooters and cuts had me dreaming.
I believe we all need to realize how important KD is to the THUNDER and no other player really matters. We need to marry ourselves to KD. Without him no matter how good anyone else is they are all expendable. Russ and Aldrich for Rondo is a great move. KD wants to be here have u ever heard russ say that nope. so get rondo who has a really cheap contract for the next four years which fits into our timeline. and rondo is a point guard cant shoot but hits ppl when they r open and gets to rim and finishes without trying to run over everyone.
@banker097 the problem with that is that very rarely is anyone on our team actually open. and a lineup of Rondo, thabo, durant, ibaka, perkins would be hideous offensively. We already complain about spacing enough as it is, and im pretty sure rondo's jumper is as broke as westbrook's.
Brian Schmitz of the Orlando Sentinel: Come on down to Amway Center before we run out of exclamation points! Yes, see us at Rent-a-Dwight! Of course, we take trade-ins!.... The Magic are talking to more teams than the ones on Dwight Howard's wish list. They will listen to anybody who is willing to take a risk and give up a few good men for Howard if he can lead them to the NBA Finals as a temp. It's another reason why they will wait until the March 15 deadline to make a deal for Howard, after he's played 44 games in Orlando. His new team would land him for 22 games, plus the postseason. Far-fetched? Absolutely. Sounds more like a means to put pressure on the teams that Howard has approved (Nets, Mavericks, Lakers). But the Magic think some teams might take a flyer, hoping they can convince Howard to re-sign with them. Would the Heat part with Chris Bosh? Would the Thunder offer some sort of package of Russell Westbrook, Serge Ibaka, Kendrick Perkins and James Harden? Could Chris Paul pressure the Clippers into offering Blake Griffin? Might the Celtics sacrifice Rajon Rondo to rent Howard?
I could imagine sending Russ and Perk, but absolutley would not trade Harden in any mix.
I'm already tired of this Russell vs KD narrative and it's only game four. By the end of the year I'm going to have to watch all the games on mute.
exactly, this whole thing seems to be manufactured by the media and they have noone to hold them accountable. Now Darnell has bought into it and is pouring gas on the fire the national jackasses started last year. I would like to punch some of these people in the throat. Like freakin Adande actually talks to anyone that is close to Westbrook
Kevin's line is just amazing! 30 or 31 points , 11 rebounds, a steal, two blocks, six assists. Dang.
Keep telling yourself that Mahoney. If it hadn't been for Joey Crawford this game is a 15 point blowout in our favor. Some truly one sided officiating.
http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=7404025
this video kinda made me happy. i dont know why so i thought i might share it with yall. LOL
Man it took a long off season for me to forget how much the media can over think things in search of a narrative. I fear the Westbrook-isn't-right-for-the-Thunder prophecy might be a self-fullfilling one thanks to guys like Adande..... and that SUCKS for a great team and great group of guys.
On the Westbrook video, look at the blond kid at about :41. Pure joy!
" .....it doesn’t look like much of an altercation at all." Which is why Darnell should have never called it that in the title of his article to begin with.
@webbula he had to as a journalist. if he didnt then someone else would have. it was going to be a big story regardless of what mayberry wrote (or didnt write) about it.
Trading Westbrook makes sense only if he won't extend.Seeing Russ leave OKC will be so sad.
Royce, how much editing did cbs do to your story? it really doesn't read like something you'd put out, unless you were intentionally trying to appear as unbiased as possible. The "humbled by the alpha dog" part reads like something an editor would throw in to fit your story to the national narrative.
@imb42 Couple people have emailed and asked about that. Here's the best I can explain it: Part of the issue was I was writing three recaps. One or DT, one for CBS and one for ESPN. So trying to write the same angle, but differently three times was tough. I can understand the confusion on the difference. I kind of mentioned that same angle I took on CBS in my DT recap but it was just in the notes part. My point wasn't to trying and throw fuel to the fire with Russ and KD, but explain an explore how that might've felt for Westbrook.
Last night's game is a perfect example of if Westbrook had jealousy issues, you could see why. I mean the first question he got after the game was about how amazing KD is. I could see how that would bother him. I wasn't trying to say it DOES, but more look at how the relationship is a bit awkward sometimes.
Especially with JA Adande's piece about Westbrook supposedly telling friends Brooks blames him for losses and praises KD for wins. Anyway, it was probably just poor writing on my part in not making my CBS angle more clear.
Hope that kind of explains it.
@Royce Young I understand. Hell, when I was in school, just writing the same gamer for two publications was hard enough.
@imb42 Royce...how is durant making the game winning shot like slapping westbrook in the face? Can you explain that one?
@imb42 I was wondering the same thing. He is getting ripped apart in the comment section. Sheesh!
@Bryan_Mathews Those comments are always horrible. I don't ever read them.
@Royce Young@Bryan_Mathews You're right. The cbssports NBA comments are horridly negative to the point of being unreadable. This is the place for the real Thunder opinions, reactions, and insights.
@Royce Young haha yeah i just read the first one and it was pretty scathing. dont worry, im sure its just a bunch of bitter laker fans still recovering from the backhand of The Stern.
Game is on NBATV right now for those that wanna watch again
Guys, you can talk about trading RW all you want, I'm going to talk about KD's ice cold 3 (as a self-acknowledged make-up for his defensive error against Vince). I'm still in awe of it, but I think it's strong evidence that he's continuing to mature into a take-over type of guy who can put a team on his shoulders and win it when it counts.
Also, found a link to a pretty decent breakdown of that last play to free up KD's open trey. Analysis of last night's final play: http://twelvepointsports.blogspot.com/2011/12/anatomy-of-buzzer-beater-durants-winner.html
I sure enjoy reading your stuff royce, and earlier this morning i told my coworker that you never give in to the sensationalism or go digging for controversy, but that CBS story is just the same crap that everyone else gets caught up in. Didn't agree one bit.
Which teams do you think can give Russ all he want,$ and unlimited shots and high usg?His poor performance will make these teams consider whether it is a great decision to give him Max contract
Darnell sure does misspell a lot of words for a journalist. And a lot of those misspellings seem to make it into the paper. Pretty embarrassing for a paper of the Oklahoman's size.
@imb42 I agree. One example was in his "nuggets" last night. He said early on in the game, Russell was differing a lot. I think he meant "deferring." Geez.
THATS WHY I DON'T READ THE NEWSPAPER! BECAUSE ITS GARBAGE! AND THE EDITOR THAT LET IT COME OUT IS GARBAGE!
@imb42 When you keep laying off people like they do, your product is inevitably going to get worse.
quote me if you wish at trade deadline, but i'll walk around shirtless on a snow day for 15 minutes if Russ gets traded, especially for Rondo. It's simply not a sensible move.
The money even doesn't match up for a Westbrook-Rondo swap. The Thunder would have to throw in someone like Aldrich or Cook just to make it work. Its simply not going to happen.
@JimboSlice i'll hang dong outside the oklahoman offices if russ is traded.
Adande wants Russ as a Laker so bad he probably had a raging hard-on while writing his POS article.
I'm watching a replay of KD's game winner and wondering what Harden is doing. KD makes the shot and it looks like Harden's frozen in shock or something. He doesn't move.
Russ seems tough to read. We all know what he says but who knows what he's actually thinking. The line about Brooks blaming him for losses doesn't sound believable from what we know about Brooks. I'm willing to bet his contract staff isn't doing him any favors on the court. There are still a few weeks to get him extended, it'll be interesting to see what happens in the offseason if a deal isn't finished this year.
Brooks doesnt blame Russ for losses, but 95% of all media members and fans do. I think that has gotten to Russ and he's pysched himself out because of it. I remember reading during the playoffs that he's one of those players that really pays attention to whats written about him.
@[censored] I doubt Brooks ever said it, but I bet you that's how Russ feels. I love Russ, but I hope Presti has asked him straight up if he wants to leave or not. I am currently thinking of best trade options. I want youth and scoring rather than say Gasol at the 4. I'm not sure about an even up for Rondo, but what about:
Russ for Marcus Thorton and Jimmerer Fredette/Tyler Honeycutt
Russ for Devin Harris and Favors
...for Brandon Knight And Jerebko I'd Austin Daye
@Lambchop @[censored] I'm convinced you are doing large amounts of hallucinogenic drugs. I am calling a rehab center immediately to organize an intervention.
@yunghawg @JimboSlice @[censored] Thornton was a huge scorer for N.O. as well. He's a 40% 3 pt shooter and Fredette will be. Undoubtedly Russ has more raw talent than either of those guys and the guy that would be replacing him, Maynor. However, it is my belief that the loss of RW's tremendous gifts would be shores up other asects. One of the problems of having RW on our team is when he becomes reluctance to pass, every other player on the floor knows their assignment almost becomes moot. Watch any highlight of when Russ starts to go in hero mode, everyone on the floor stops moving. This does not happen with Maynor on the floor. RW is exponentially more gifted than Maynor ever will be and Maynor most likely will.never make the all-star game, however his style of play is more conducive to actual team pway and ball movement. We have two superb offensive weapons in KD Harden, I do not believe we need a log fg% that can help but try to take the game into his own hands
@Lambchop @JimboSlice@[censored] someone has to score for bad teams..... doesnt mean theyre good....... and uhhh tyler honeycutt? jonas jerebko? jimmer fredette? ill pass
@JimboSlice @[censored] 1) I love Russell Westbrook. The first Thunder apparel I bought was a Russell Westbrook t-shirt. I think he is as times the second most dynamic player in the game behind James. My propositions, regardless of their half-mad appearance, are contingent on two big "ifs": Russ wa,nts to leave - which I think is 50/50 , or he becomes an increasing potential disruption to the chemistry. Perhaps 4 games in is too early to tell, but Russ any audience, but stiill dems resilient to becoming a pass first pg. He's beautiful to watch and electrifies every game, but if he does not become more deferential atrade options must be workshopped. My Sac proposal would exponentiall
y improve our weakspot - perimeter shooting - without losing our defensive players. Harden can easily be the back up pg and thorton averages 20 a game. Then we can use Thabo only in spot duty which he deserves
@Daniel Plainview @[censored] I really hope you're joking on these trades...thornton is undersized, he's a Ben Gordon at best...and jimmer is a shooter who can't play d at all...thatll be the dumbest trade in history , no thanks , smh
@[censored]
" Brooks blaming him for losses doesn't sound believable"
I agree... I can't see that happening. KD would step in and stop that. He knows he needs a great season and he is pushing.
@Darin@[censored] Yeah wasn't Brooks talking about how great Russ's screens for KD were in the Memphis game? I don't see Brooks bad-mouthing him at all.
@[censored] It really could be the one issue that could possibly derail a title run this year, which is pretty lame.