[aamir543Participant]

enough of this "trade russell westbrook" talk. Do you guys even know what you are talking about? He is a borderline franchise point guard, and only 22! He averaged 22 and 8 while being a second option! I would want this kid to run my team any day. Now I do agree he Has a terrible IQ, and shoots a bit too much, but he has the talent, he just needs more polishing. He needs to go to "John Stockton School for Point Guards", not "Stephon Marbury school for point guards who shoot 30 shots on an off day even when they have a superstar on their team." But I think he will come along, so stop this nonsense, I would take him over Rondo personally. (Not a knock on Rondo, he is a great player.) 

[BKKnicksfanParticipant]

Like I said before, he’s a type A personality, while Durant is a type B. He will always do what he wants because Durant is a quiet leader. Thus, I think you have to CONSIDER moving him.

[kngojcParticipant]

 What about Derrick Rose? He’s a pretty quiet leader. He just lets his play do the talking for him. Russell Westbrook is thinking he’s a better player than he actually is and that is getting him in trouble. Durant needs to step up and be more vocal and Westbrook needs to get some schooling from a PG coach this offseason. If Russell can make the change to a pass first PG rather than his dominating style that he plays where he just wants the ball, the Thunder could be something better. The biggest difference in my eyes between Russell Westbrook and Derrick Rose (an MVP) is that Rose knows what his shots are, he knows his limitations, and he also is very team oriented in that he just wants to win more than anything else. Westbrook doesn’t know what his particular shots are or what his limitations are simply because he’s such an athletic freak. But what it comes down to is Westbrook needs to take a look at the team and get a check on his ego and realize that he isn’t the best player on the floor at any given time and that he needs to defer to the player that can put his team into position to win.

[Cardinal_FanParticipant]

 Im sorry i dont know if im takin Westbrook over Rondo. Rondo may not score but he is just as good as a defender an while he may not score as much i guarantee you he would make scoring easier for Durant setting him up while also getting the other guys such as Ibaka, Perkins, Thabo, an Harden good looks in the spots they most feel comfortbale on the floor, which would make up for his own lack of scoring. But most of all in crunch time theres no question hes gonna get Durant the ball.

[BKKnicksfanParticipant]

What about Derrick Rose? He’s a pretty quiet leader. He just lets his play do the talking for him.

A) Rose is the best player on his team

B) Name any player on Chicago who’s anywhere near talented to Rose as Westbrook is to Durant?

[CalipariParticipant]

First of all, whether Westbrook should be with the Thunder long-term isn’t even relevant right now. Despite the fact that his excessive shot attempts and turnovers are costing OKC games, their offense would tumble without him. Him and Durant combined make up a greater percentage of the OKC offense than Lebron and Wade do in Miami. For a 22 year old point guard who was considered a combo guard with some defensive prowess coming out of the draft, 22 and 8 is pretty damn good at the age of 22. Also, him and Rose might be alike physically, but Rose is on a different level. However, this doesn’t hurt the Thunder, because Westbrook has the two time defending scoring champ on the wing. Further coaching will aid his development, as will a slice of humble pie here and there. For us to think that Webstrook isn’t hearing this in his ear from those closest is absurd. Durant is quiet and humble, but he sure as hell isn’t going to let Westbrook run around putting up 30 shots. Things will work out, with Ibaka’s continued development (offensively especially), this team will win multiple championships over the next decade.

[Cardinal_FanParticipant]

 Westbrook obviously thinks he’s Rose. Westbrook cant finish in traffic like Rose and his perimeter shot has not developed like Rose’s has. Also even tho Rose scores alot its because he has to, im sure if he had a wing player that could create he would have no problem setting him up or being able to save himself on some offensive possesions, and he has to force the issue more becuz Boozer is playin horrible in the playoffs. Westbrook has a very solid team while also having the lxuxry of sharing the court with one of the best scorers in the league. Imo if he played more off of Durant he would make scoring for himself alot easier.

[CalipariParticipant]

Westbrook’s problems are not so much basketball-related as they are mental. He has to further develop a basketball IQ, harness the power he shows in driving to the rim, and get aspirations to be Rose out of the way. He is much more fortunate than Rose, in that he has Durant by his side, and he can run the break with Ibaka rather than Boozer. Brooks surely must get some of the blame, because this team has all the talent of a 60 win Bulls team, without similar results.

[BKKnicksfanParticipant]

Westbrook’s problems are not so much basketball-related as they are mental. He has to further develop a basketball IQ

 

Just a thought: How do you develop a basketball IQ?

[651TwolvesParticipant]

 He’s only 22, and you can definitely see that he has a lot of maturing yet to do. He has to realize that this is the postseason, where every posession matters and opposing defenses are playing 100% every time, unlike the regular season where he got the confidence to play his aggressive, shoot first style that he’s currently playing. His basketball IQ will develp with more experience running a team. Once he figures out that his number one job is to distribute the ball and make his team better vs trying to be the #1 scoring option, the team will run smoother and we will stop questioning his decision making. 

The idea of trading him is foolish. Him and Durant have the chance to be a really special duo and they are two players that any other team would love to build around.

[kobyzParticipant]

i agree that he would be fine, he still young and just need to learn and to improve but you can’t ignore his great attributes.

but i must to admit that Westbrook for Gasol trade make some sense, Tunder has weakness with offensive inside present, and will get top big man in that department, maybe it will make them more suitable for a title.

as for the Lakers, they already have one premier big man in Bynum so it may be right for them to adress the point position and to get great young talent next to Bynum for the future and also to be better right now as Westbrook will make easier life for Kobe and Odom could fill nicly Pau job!

[CalipariParticipant]

BKKnicks Fan, obviously an additional explanation is required. In reference to the development of Westbrook’s basketball IQ, I portrayed an increased concentration of Westbrook’s overall maturity and poise. The idea of a basketball IQ is only a specific term, that in this case is in relation to a broader makeup. Westbrook is among the league’s most physically gifted players. At UCLA he was not even a primary option, and was best known for his defense. Unlike Rose, Westbrook does not possess a plethora of point guard experience. Having been in the NBA for just 3 years, Westbrook has yet to fully grasp the concept of not just playing basketball at the point guard position, but serving as a leader, sparkplug, and intelligent member of a systematic approach to team baksetball. Basketball IQ encompasses all of these aspects and more, and I’m sure we can agree that Westbrook is far from lacking in terms of overall talent, but has yet to grasp and fully understand the mental side to the game. In referencing his basketball IQ I was only simplifying this elucidation into a more compact term.

[IndianaBasketballParticipant]

Westbrook reminds me of one of those guys at the gym that make you want to steal the ball from your own teammate just to get the ball out of his hands…

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