This topic contains 13 replies, has 11 voices, and was last updated by AvatarAvatar Winning_Time 11 years, 11 months ago.

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  • #38233
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    Maniac Maciej
    Participant

    If you’re starting a team today, who do you want? 

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  • #658300
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    mikeyvthedon
    Participant

    Definitely tough, there are a lot of factors to consider. Many people will probably go with Love as the obvious choice as he is putting up insane numbers and carrying a team right now. That team has had trouble maintaining a winning record, but his supporting cast is surely not ideal. With Westbrook, he has always kind of been the second banana. None the less, he is explosive and is putting up insane numbers of his own.

    While I do not know if he could carry a team as well as Kevin has been, I would go with Russell Westbrook. I feel he plays both ends of the floor and while people tend to think he is a less than ideal PG, I think he could play and defend either guard spot. Love brings his incredibly rebounding prowess, plus an ability to stretch the floor, but I have my concerns with his future.

    Injuries are incredibly difficult to predict, but to me, Kevin has always been a ticking time bomb. He had knee issues dating back to HS and I am surprised he has been as durable as he has in the NBA. His conditioning has been incredible and I commend him on that, but I am incredibly weary about him keeping the pace he is going at. These things accumulate over time and if anything the fact that he has taken on so much of the offensive burden could be a potential killer. He needs help, and fast, or I could see things catching up.

    I do not know if Russell has those same concerns with durability and he certainly plays a pretty rough style that accumulates its own share of wear and tear. But, I personally feel he is a more complete player on both ends of the floor and has been imperative to the Thunder’s early success. His athleticism will fade with time, but his mentality and aggression will not. That is why if I had to pick either Love or Westbrook to start a team around, I go with Russ.

    By the way, for those who just negged Maniac Maciej, I do not necessarily blame you. I dislike these who would you take topics as much as anyone, especially when no opinion of there own is given. Also, I am guessing most would take Love in a landslide. But, however ridiculous as this hypothetical may be as none of us are starting a team around either of them, I think it is actually a pretty interesting debate between two players who may have pretty similar value on the grand scale of the NBA. I say, +1 Maniac, but next time maybe chime in your two cents.

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  • #658306
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    mgreener_34
    Participant

     I would go with Westbrook, but would play him at the SG spot like Miami does with Wade. I like what Westbrook can do, and the fact that he’s gotten better every year is a big plus for me. Love is a great player who does it all, but not what I would look for in my big man to build around. In the NBA teams can win with a Kendrick Perkins in the line up, but it’s kind of hard to win with Derrick Fisher there (Lakers get the exception, Kobe makes up for fishers lack of game). It would be easier to build around Westbrook in my mind 

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  • #658312
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    Maniac Maciej
    Participant

    I’d take Westbrook every day.

    I prefer Westbrook’s strength: getting to the basket at will, over Love’s strengths: rebounding/outside shooting. I think what Westbrook brings to the table is harder to find than what Love brings to the table.

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  • #658324
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    avavalis
    Participant

    I’d take westbrook ten times out of ten

     

    I think people overlook Westbrooks ability to run a team on his own because of KD’s presence..but last year when KD was off Russel destroyed every opposition  avg. close to 30-6-9 plus the wins.. i believe that if RW is given the opportunity to be the MAN in a team he will surprise many…KLove is of course a great player but this combination of speed,athleticism,scoring prowess,lockdown defense plus an outstanding motor is almost unique

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  • #658321
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    Nbanflguy
    Participant

    This is really tough. It really depends on what you are looking for in a star.

    I am choosing Kevin Love because he is more of a leader. Westbrook has shown signs of immaturity and i dont know if he is really a leader right now. Kevin is also more consistant. He gets at least 20 and 10 almost every single game. Westbrook most of the time has good games, but he is prone to a terrible game every now and then. There really is no right or wrong answer, but I am going with Love.

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  • #658331
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    FastAndFurious
    Participant

     Gimme Westbrook, his speed,strength,quickness and explosiveness is out of this world, only one person can match him and that’s D.Rose, and I don’t think D.Rose is more explosive than Rose.

    Either way it goes the athletic ability Russell has is rare, very rare, probably never seen before.

    Russ can pass the ball when he wants, he averages 7.0 assist for his career, so him not being able to run a team wouldn’t concern me, even tho I would let him play his game and trust that he just makes the right decision sometimes.

    But a player like that, you can’t hold him back, you have to let him make his mistakes because his good far outweighs his bad.

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  • #658336
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    lolyouth
    Participant

    Please hear my argument before all the Westbrook lovers neg.

    By the numbers:

    K-Love: 26ppg, 13.3rpg, 2apg, .372 3pt%

    Westbrook: 24.2ppg, 4.6rpg, 5.4apg, .328 3pt%

    Both are phenomenal All-NBA players that any team would be lucky to have. However, how many point guards would you rather have than Westbrook? CP3, D-rose, D-Will, Rondo. How many PF’s would you take above Love? Only Griffin and Nowitzki enter the conversation, and neither match his skill level (currently).

    I agree with Nbanflguy, K-Love is more of a leader. His stats are better. K-Love is the best at his position in the game, Westbrook is 4th at BEST. I know Russell’s a hybrid in the mold of a D-Rose but a starting NBA point guard should get more than 5.4apg. He’s more of a SG to me. Love is a better shooter and long distance shooter than Russell, a guard.

    Anyways K-Love is the better player, definitely not as flashy or exciting as Westbrook, but the better player nonetheless.

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  • #658346
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    Johnny Chill

    Thats a hard one, but I would go with Love, because a Elite PF is harder to find, than a Elite PG.

    Right now Love is probably in the top 3 at his position. Westbrook is not in the top 3 at his position, he is around 4-6 of PGs.

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  • #658351
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    Ghost01
    Participant

    I would go with Westbrook, only because the way he can take a game over with his athletisicm. K Love has been unbelievable these last two years, but what is this guy’s go to move when he needs a bucket?

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  • #658356
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    Hadzialijagic
    Participant

     People dont mention that Russell Westbrook as a point guard has a higher FG% then Love as a power forward.

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  • #658365
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    river09
    Participant

     Considering Love just got a concussion.. I would take Westbrook considering Love is in doubt for the rest of the season.. 

    But overall I’d take a healthy Love over Westbrook. Both of them are only going to get better over the next 7-8 years so there is really no decision to make here, you get a choice between two guys who you know will be stars in the league for almost the rest of their careers. Overall though I just like Love’s game more, his better range, ability to score from anywhere on the court, and this year his newfound ability to create his own shot which is only going to get better.. Also I’ve always preferred pass first PG’s, I feel they help the team more in the long run and Westbrook is not a pass first PG in any way, he is electric though…

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  • #658372
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    Winning_Time
    Participant

     This isn’t too tough for me, I would definitely go with Kevin Love. In the thin big man state of the NBA right now, I’d want the upper hand. I would rather have Kevin Love’s rebounding ability, ultra consistency, and grit in the playoffs as opposed to Westbrook’s atheleticisim, streaky jumpshot, and sometimes ego driven game if i’m being honest. Don’t get me wrong, Westbrook is really good, I just think he sometimes limits other stars like Kevin Durant EARLIER in the season and I would rather have Klove and KD than Westbrook and KD in my opinion

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  • #658373
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    Winning_Time
    Participant

     This isn’t too tough for me, I would definitely go with Kevin Love. In the thin big man state of the NBA right now, I’d want the upper hand. I would rather have Kevin Love’s rebounding ability, ultra consistency, and grit in the playoffs as opposed to Westbrook’s atheleticisim, streaky jumpshot, and sometimes ego driven game if i’m being honest. Don’t get me wrong, Westbrook is really good, I just think he sometimes limits other stars like Kevin Durant EARLIER in the season and I would rather have Klove and KD than Westbrook and KD in my opinion

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