Comments on: Russell Westbrook: the future at point guard?

By: Kev

Kev — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 02:46:28 +0000

bad comparison – Payton was a pure point guard and (if I remember correctly) led the nation in assists in his last year of school . . .

By: Jefferson Smith

Jefferson Smith — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 02:06:02 +0000

Consider Gary Payton. Of similar size and athleticism to Westbrook, Payton was college player of the year with a 4-year career, and he still had 2 sub-par seasons in the NBA before hitting stride. Westbrook is much younger than Payton. Have patience.

By: Jeff

Jeff — Sun, 29 Mar 2009 14:43:24 +0000

I dont think court vision and awareness can be learned. I think Westbrook can learn to make better decisons with the ball that will lead to him becoming a better point guard. I believe his model should be Tony Parker, who is someone who blows by defenders and gets to the rim as Westbrook can do , but plays under more control when doing it and more often will finish, where as Westbrook does not. Parker also has a mid range game that Westbrook does not at this point , but I think he is more than capable of hitting that pull up mid range jumper that Parker hits all the time.

By: Kev

Kev — Sat, 28 Mar 2009 16:43:29 +0000

I disagree about court vision – it is NOT a gift, it can be learned. It can easily be coached IF the PG is willing, and that’s a big IF in US basketball today. If you are truly a team player, you will have the team game in mind and you can be caoched to always look for the open man. IF you are worried about your individual numbers, you will NEVER have good court vision because you are focused on yourself. This is why 2 on 1 and 3 on 2 breaks are routinely botched in today’s game.

By: Crow

Crow — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 20:48:51 +0000

Livingston is at about 8 pts, 6 assists, 4 rebs, 43 FG% in almost 30 minutes a game. Have to consider that encouraging but probably doesn’t get him more than a training camp invite, chance to prove it.

By: Crow

Crow — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 19:31:55 +0000

Right now- with 2 1/2 yrs age advantage but equal NBA minutes played- Sessions is the better shooter, scorer, passer. Westbrook ahead on 3 pt FG% and rebounds. They are close on getting to line, steals, pts per minute this season and fouls. Sessions better overall PER, defensive PER and net counterpart PER. Westbrook’s 1-1 defense has slipped back to fairly average. The same level of team defensive efficiency when on the court- bad

By: Jax Raging Bile Duct

Jax Raging Bile Duct — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 19:31:53 +0000

Speaking of D-League guys, I wonder how Sean Livingston is doing?

By: Crow

Crow — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 19:17:56 +0000

How much better will Westbrook be long-term than Ramon Sessions? Could easily have had him buying back in to tail of second round 2007 or holding onto one the 2nds they originally had.

By: Crow

Crow — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 18:54:43 +0000

RW might be described as Devin Harris on offense and Rondo on defense.

Wonder is he hangs with or idolized / idolizes Baron Davis.
He is a mixed bag, not exactly what I’d want for a role model but not totally dissing him either.

By: Keith

Keith — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 16:59:28 +0000

I think Dwyane Wade is the wrong example. Wade is the single most important player on his team. He became “the man” from the moment he was drafted (Shaq came along the next year). Westbrook isn’t and shouldn’t be that guy for the Thunder. They’ve already got Durant. I think the real comparison is Tony Parker.

Parker was not considered a steal until his 4th or 5th year in the league. He is now one of the top PGs in the league because he has developed his skills, and more importantly, developed them alongside his teammates. Parker can be “the man” if he has to be. But when Duncan and Ginobli are healthy, they both find themselves taking more shots. Westbrook needs to figure out what Parker figured out. He needs to realize that his teammates can do far more than he can individually. I still wouldn’t say Parker has great court vision actually. But he knows his teammates. He doesn’t have to see Duncan, Ginobli, Bowen, or whoever else wide open on the wing or in the post. He knows, from playing hundreds of games with them, exactly where they’ll be.

Westbrook can be that player. His court sense will never be like Chris Paul, but he can get to know his teammates to such a degree that he doesn’t need it. He can improve his game to the point that he can carry the team for stretches, but he needs to focus first in trying to get his TEAM to play themselves into a position that he doesn’t need to take over.