Comments on: Monday Bolts – 7.27.09

By: Crow

Crow — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 22:45:43 +0000

Simmons’ Presti tweets were pretty weak.
There are better ones possible but I think I’ll pass.

By: Duncan

Duncan — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 21:30:20 +0000

I refuse to acknowledge the Sports Gals columns until he recognizes that Oklahoma City has a basketball team.

By: clark

clark — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 19:43:13 +0000

@Big G Great post. I agree with everything you said. Russel can make plays for himself more than maybe any other point guard in the league. He can do it with offensive boards explosive drives and on rare occasion the jump shot. What we all hope is that he becomes consistent in his ability to decide between plays for himself or a play for someone else. Once the game slows down for him this decision will be easier, and RW0 will be a great point guard, just not a traditional 5 shots, a couple rebounds,and 10 assist point guard.

By: Big G

Big G — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 19:26:37 +0000

This is the deal about us being down on Westbrook’s decision making is we want him to be a Chris Paul and he is not and will never be. I was not a fan when the Hornet were here so I do not have this bromance with Paul.Don’t get me wrong he is the best point in the league,but he has not won a title or even been to a finals. An I believe if something doesn’t happen dramatic to his team he will not in the foreseeable future. Actually most teams that have won it all in the last 20 years did not have pure 10 assist point guard.So look at what article was actually about the 10 guys who’s stock rose and he did say he made the most plays for him self and others. That is what I think is going to be his calling card is he make plays not normal point guard all the time but plays. So lets keep his game in prospective not in the light of Christ Paul. Yes Paul can do a lot of things can’t but don’t forget Jet00 can do something Paul could never do.

By: Brian

Brian — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 19:03:16 +0000

@Keith
This year’s draft sucked. After Griffin all the other players were suspect. MEM could of drafted Rubio but they already had Conley and they definitely did not need a another combo guard in Tyreke Evans because they already had OJ Mayo. Who else could of they taken????

By: tbird26p

tbird26p — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 19:01:29 +0000

Collison is a funny guy. I kinda like him now.

By: Keith

Keith — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 18:59:42 +0000

@DSMok1 I think the trade makes a lot of sense. Chucky and Wilkins were never going to see the floor. Thomas is still an expiring contract (and a bigger one which works better in future cap saving trades), he backs up a position of need, and the two for one trade opens up another roster spot for a young player. We may very well be talking about how great of a trade this was when it lands us something better later or a young big starts making his mark when he would have otherwise been relegated to the D-league.

By: DSMok1

DSMok1 — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 18:45:54 +0000

Well, he could play, back in 06/07, but sure didn’t do much last year.

By: DSMok1

DSMok1 — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 18:44:22 +0000

jk : Darnell Mayberry twitter — Etan Thomas and picks to OKC for Chucky and Damien Wilkins. Nice deal–Thomas can actually play and gives us more hard-nosed front court depth.

Etan Thomas can't really play... He's just a space clogger/ bench sitter. I wonder what the picks are...

By: Jax Raging Bile Duct

Jax Raging Bile Duct — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 18:30:43 +0000

@J.G.

I think part of my opinion is formed from a new philosophy of mine, developed from a rather existential beginning; in that Russell is here, he’s really here, get used to it.

See, there are a few of us who follow the Thunder because we were basketball purists in the first place, but now have a team to call our own. Now granted, I don’t know everything about basketball and I’ve learned TONS reading this blog. I’ve learned more about the business side of things, and the various pros and cons of different approaches to stats and data. But still yet, I loved the game and felt like I had a good grasp on what good basketball is all about. I think a few of us are in that same boat.

As a result, we appreciate the guys who fit the mold. In my mind, you just simply cannot beat CP3 as a true point guard. Court vision, superb ball handling skills, knowing an offense as a 6th sense, anticipation, eyes in the back of your head, only takes a shot if the shot clock is next to zero type of ball player. Double dribbled, traveling, carrying… these things belong to Centers and High Schoolers.

But here I am, conflicted in my approach. Russell exists, therefore I… err… conclusion suspended until further notice. I see his pros, and thus, I can’t dismiss him. I see his cons, and thus, I can’t accept him. He’s the most polarizing figure on the Thunder team. If he were a watchman, he’d be Comedian. If he starred in Apocalypse Now, he’d be Marlon Brando. He’s the guy who doesn’t fit the mold, and some people appreciate it, and other people don’t. Everyone talks about him, but he’s the subject of talk because of this dichotomy. Everyone wants to know what is next for Russell Westbrook.

I still go back to Shoals, and his Z graph. There is success in that picture. The picture doesn’t look like the other PG pictures. Russell’s is different, and no one knows what to make of it.

The picture works.
Yeah, but it’s different.
Well yeah, but it works.
Okay, but the other pictures work, and they’re all the same.
Well maybe it doesn’t have to look the same to work.
True, but maybe it’s really something else instead.
Or maybe it is what it is and it works like that.
Or it’s something else and would work better there.
Or maybe it wouldn’t work at all there, but only here.

and on, and on, and on…

So I gave it up, and I hung my hat on his improved decision making. If he can do it, we can put all this to rest. Maybe that’s because I’m an optimist, or just a simple pragmatic awaiting further review.