[Mr. HookShotParticipant]

Looking at the highlights from yesterday’s games Westbrook showed to be back in the same beast-mode he played last year. His explosiveness is really of the charts, as he sometimes bursts to the rim like wearing a jet-pack. Considering the Spurs mostly used Parker and Mills opposite Westbrook it is now wonder he dominated that game. However, having said that I wonder:

Who can guard Russell Westbrook? Or is he the most unguardable player this mode?

Options:
Kahwi Leonard – Showed last year he can defend anybody, but defended Durant for most of the game. He has long arms, has good defensive instincts but it remains to be seen whether he is fast enough to guard Westbrook.

John Wall – Long, agile defender who plays somewhat similar to Westbrook. He looks faster in the open court, but his first step is not as explosive as Westbrook’s.

Marcus Smart – Big, strong defender who won’t be backed down by Westbrook physical game. Lacks the experience at this moment, but could be one of the premier Westbrook-stoppers the upcoming season.

Patrick Beverley – Grinds out opposing PGs with physical defense, although I wonder whether he matches up physically with Westbrook. Has the intensity to get under Westbrook’s skin, which seems like the only way to get him out of the game.

Eric Bledsoe – Checks the same boxes as Leonard with long arms and defensive instincts, but is a bit more agile than Leonard. Not sure whether he can handle Westbrook’s strength though.

[Stop_basketball_nonsenseParticipant]

 He probably is his own best defender. His shot selection is average & he doesnt always end up having a game like last night and so e bights his shooting percentage is just horrible. If he can find that happy medium then the thunder if durant stays could be a dynasty, but considering how he always plays like a firecracker all the time I do t see him finding that medium any time soon.

[Stop_basketball_nonsenseParticipant]

 He probably is his own best defender. His shot selection is average & he doesnt always end up having a game like last night and so e bights his shooting percentage is just horrible. If he can find that happy medium then the thunder if durant stays could be a dynasty, but considering how he always plays like a firecracker all the time I do t see him finding that medium any time soon.

[SkalAndJamalParticipant]

 Let Russell be Russell dang it!

[SkalAndJamalParticipant]

 Let Russell be Russell dang it!

[T Rex]

 Smart basically outplayed Westbrook last year in OKC, holding him to 8-26 fgs, most of which came in a short burst where I believe Smart was on the bench.

But then the Celtics were down in the last two minutes and had to foul Westbrook on the inbounds pass. Westbrook hit all 8 of those free throws, and ended up with 36 points compared to Smart’s 25 points, so it looked like Westbrook outplayed him.

But Westbrook shot like 29-30% from the field, was forced into 7 turnovers, and finished +7 for the game compared to Smart’s +10.

http://www.nba.com/games/20150318/BOSOKC/gameinfo.html

 

 

 

[T Rex]

 Smart basically outplayed Westbrook last year in OKC, holding him to 8-26 fgs, most of which came in a short burst where I believe Smart was on the bench.

But then the Celtics were down in the last two minutes and had to foul Westbrook on the inbounds pass. Westbrook hit all 8 of those free throws, and ended up with 36 points compared to Smart’s 25 points, so it looked like Westbrook outplayed him.

But Westbrook shot like 29-30% from the field, was forced into 7 turnovers, and finished +7 for the game compared to Smart’s +10.

http://www.nba.com/games/20150318/BOSOKC/gameinfo.html

 

 

 

[Magic JordanParticipant]

 It’s obvious that Marcus Smart is better than Westbrook because he had a better game than him one time… a game in which the Thunder won btw.  A bit hypocritical of you to point to "traditional fantasy basketball box scores" as an indication of Smart outplaying Westbrook.  Not that I would expect anything less than pure retardedness from you.

[T Rex]

 dude said Smart hasn’t arrived yet.

Nobody said Smart was better than Westbrook. Other thread asked who could guard him, and I merely pointed out that Smart basically outplayed him head to head last year in OKC.

And just because Smart is a much better defender, and much more versatile offensively and defensively, doesn’t mean Smart is better than Westbrook yet.

Same goes for Smart already having a better 3 point shooting season than Westbrook has ever had, or is ever likely to have. It doesn’t mean Smart is already better than Westbrook.

And nobody said it.

 

 

 

 

[OhCanada-Participant]

 There might be 10-15 players in the history of the game as versatile as Westbrook and Smart is not one of them.

[OhCanada-Participant]

 There might be 10-15 players in the history of the game as versatile as Westbrook and Smart is not one of them.

[T Rex]

 dude said Smart hasn’t arrived yet.

Nobody said Smart was better than Westbrook. Other thread asked who could guard him, and I merely pointed out that Smart basically outplayed him head to head last year in OKC.

And just because Smart is a much better defender, and much more versatile offensively and defensively, doesn’t mean Smart is better than Westbrook yet.

Same goes for Smart already having a better 3 point shooting season than Westbrook has ever had, or is ever likely to have. It doesn’t mean Smart is already better than Westbrook.

And nobody said it.

 

 

 

 

[Magic JordanParticipant]

 It’s obvious that Marcus Smart is better than Westbrook because he had a better game than him one time… a game in which the Thunder won btw.  A bit hypocritical of you to point to "traditional fantasy basketball box scores" as an indication of Smart outplaying Westbrook.  Not that I would expect anything less than pure retardedness from you.

[NBAjunkie81Participant]

 him, he had to reach down to block the ball halfway down his throat – that was the last time Smart went near the paint – where the men play…

[NBAjunkie81Participant]

 him, he had to reach down to block the ball halfway down his throat – that was the last time Smart went near the paint – where the men play…

[RUDEBOY_Participant]

i thought it was interesting what he said after the game..that coach donavan doesnt want him to change anything..just wants him to be himself..

[RUDEBOY_Participant]

i thought it was interesting what he said after the game..that coach donavan doesnt want him to change anything..just wants him to be himself..

[TheTruth86Participant]

 Tony Allen or Avery Bradley might do a decent job on guarding Russ.

[TheTruth86Participant]

 Tony Allen or Avery Bradley might do a decent job on guarding Russ.

[NBAjunkie81Participant]

 Triple Double year – where avg a Triple / Double… And there was many more possessions back then… But when comparing the ratio of possessions of OKC to Oscar’s Cincy team where he avg 30.8 pts, 11.4 ast & 12.5 reb and Westbrook’s #’s (adjusted for the same amount of possessions) were basically the same… The guy is a Freak athlete & there’s no one player in the League who can guard him – Great Team Defense is the only thing that can overcome & even then he still get’s his #’s… They have 2 all time great’s on one team – it’s crazy that they had 3 & gave 1 away…

[NBAjunkie81Participant]

 Triple Double year – where avg a Triple / Double… And there was many more possessions back then… But when comparing the ratio of possessions of OKC to Oscar’s Cincy team where he avg 30.8 pts, 11.4 ast & 12.5 reb and Westbrook’s #’s (adjusted for the same amount of possessions) were basically the same… The guy is a Freak athlete & there’s no one player in the League who can guard him – Great Team Defense is the only thing that can overcome & even then he still get’s his #’s… They have 2 all time great’s on one team – it’s crazy that they had 3 & gave 1 away…

[JDB12Participant]

 I think Oladipo has the strength, athleticism, physicality, and length to lock him up for awhile.  The problem is that it’s Russell Westbrook.  Eventually he’ll get loose.

[JDB12Participant]

 I think Oladipo has the strength, athleticism, physicality, and length to lock him up for awhile.  The problem is that it’s Russell Westbrook.  Eventually he’ll get loose.

[GrandmamaParticipant]

 He guards himself by taking too many dumb shots, taking on 4 guys while he’s the only one down the court, and by driving recklessly and throwing up contested layups.  It’s his brain that’s his number one defender.

[GrandmamaParticipant]

 He guards himself by taking too many dumb shots, taking on 4 guys while he’s the only one down the court, and by driving recklessly and throwing up contested layups.  It’s his brain that’s his number one defender.

[Rip256]

 Delly. Kept an even better guard to 0-13 in an NBA Final.

[Rip256]

 Delly. Kept an even better guard to 0-13 in an NBA Final.

[PulseGlazerParticipant]

Of those not mentioned, I think George would have the best shot.  A few years ago, it would have been Lebron, but with his bad back, I don’t think he could cover 1s anymore.

[PulseGlazerParticipant]

Of those not mentioned, I think George would have the best shot.  A few years ago, it would have been Lebron, but with his bad back, I don’t think he could cover 1s anymore.

[JDB12Participant]

 Grandmama… Yes, sometimes Russell forces things, but his game is 110% at 110mph for 48 minutes a game.  He can do things with the ball in his hands that no one else in the world can do.  Not to mention, the effort, passion, and fearlessness he plays with is second to none.  I’d rather have him force a few shots and have a few turnovers playing his game than playing conservative and not be the game changer he is.  Also, he has gotten smarter in his decision making and has shown more patients when the time calls for it.  

[JDB12Participant]

 Grandmama… Yes, sometimes Russell forces things, but his game is 110% at 110mph for 48 minutes a game.  He can do things with the ball in his hands that no one else in the world can do.  Not to mention, the effort, passion, and fearlessness he plays with is second to none.  I’d rather have him force a few shots and have a few turnovers playing his game than playing conservative and not be the game changer he is.  Also, he has gotten smarter in his decision making and has shown more patients when the time calls for it.  

[whiteflashParticipant]

 With his speed, strength, hops, handle, mid range game and ridiculous ability to finish, no one can. He’s the gardest cover in the league by a wide margin. Also, does anyone else feel Wall’s speed is overrated? He’s obviously pretty quick, but I can think of a few dude’s who are faster, Westbrook being one of ’em.

[whiteflashParticipant]

 With his speed, strength, hops, handle, mid range game and ridiculous ability to finish, no one can. He’s the gardest cover in the league by a wide margin. Also, does anyone else feel Wall’s speed is overrated? He’s obviously pretty quick, but I can think of a few dude’s who are faster, Westbrook being one of ’em.

[T Rex]

 I’m looking forward to Terry Rozier getting a shot at guarding Westbrook. That’s the biggest part of why Rozier was drafted so high, is because he has ideal physical/athletic tools, and the mentality, to D up guys like Westbrook and especially Kyrie Irving and Wall who play in the East.

 

 

[T Rex]

 I’m looking forward to Terry Rozier getting a shot at guarding Westbrook. That’s the biggest part of why Rozier was drafted so high, is because he has ideal physical/athletic tools, and the mentality, to D up guys like Westbrook and especially Kyrie Irving and Wall who play in the East.

 

 

[FrankStallone]

File this question under "Answered"

 

 

[FrankStallone]

File this question under "Answered"

 

 

[OhCanada-Participant]

 Anybody else notice Russell is averaging 25-ppg, 10-apg and 8-rpg. The guy is unstoppable plain and simple. Even in his worst performance against Boston/Marcus Smart where he shot 5/20 FG. Smart got physical with him disrupting his flow shooting yet he still went 15/17 FT and the reason they lost is because KD was injured and the bench stunk up the building. He is elite and an all time great and I think its not up for argument at this point.

[OhCanada-Participant]

 Anybody else notice Russell is averaging 25-ppg, 10-apg and 8-rpg. The guy is unstoppable plain and simple. Even in his worst performance against Boston/Marcus Smart where he shot 5/20 FG. Smart got physical with him disrupting his flow shooting yet he still went 15/17 FT and the reason they lost is because KD was injured and the bench stunk up the building. He is elite and an all time great and I think its not up for argument at this point.

[Author]

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