Russell Westbrook: Erik Spoelstra on the evolution of a great player
Russell Westbrook has cut his turnovers almost in half in the postseason. Photo by Steve Sisney, The Oklahoman.
Driving back from San Antonio after Game 4 in San Antonio two weeks, we heard a local sports-talk segment in which one of the regulars asserted two things had to happen if the Thunder didn’t emerge from a 2-0 series hole:
1) Oklahoma City would need to seriously consider a coaching change.
2) The Thunder would need to make James Harden its point guard.
Five straight victories later, the Thunder leads the Heat 1-0 in the NBA Finals, so let’s presume Scott Brooks’ job is safe. But there’s still unrest in some corners with Russell Westbrook’s playmaking and ball security. The guy is two rebounds shy of a triple-double in Game 1, and somehow it’s still not good enough.
Question: If Westbrook is so ill-suited for the position, why is Miami game-planning for him? Heat coach Erik Spoelstra basically admitted to doing so in his pregame press conference Thursday, calling Westbrook “a relentless assault that just keeps on coming.”
Spoelstra attributed Westbrook’s post-season reduction in turnovers to the “evolution of great players. And in the the moment of great competition, they evolve.
“He’s such an aggressive, attacking player. I think even when he makes mistakes at times that they live with it because he creates so much on those assaults to the rim. So our job tonight will be to try to get him out of his comfort level as much as possible while we respect that speed.”
Spoelstra said Westbrook’s speed compares with what the Heat faced in the Eastern Conference Finals from Boston’s Rajon Rondo.
“Both of them are equally challenging in a different way,” Spoelstra said. “Rondo is such a brilliant basketball maestro, reads a game, and as soon as you turn your head and make one mistake, he makes you pay for it.”
With Westbrook, “if you’re not back ahead of the play, body in front of it, and that has to be multiple bodies in front of it, he’ll make you pay,” Spoelstra said. “And that relentlessness is probably part of his greatness.”
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I always knew Russell was awesome. When everyone else is sleeping, and I do mean everyone, Russell is thundering. So many times he gets things going for the Thunder when there is not even a drop of rain in the sky. Those who can’t see it are blind. I love Kevin, and he is the greatest. But, Kevin is not a Westbrook, and Westbrook is not a Kevin. There would be no 4th quarter for Kevin to do his thing, if Russell had not carried the team on his back until the 4th quarter.
I think Russel is hated because of his blackness. He acts black; he’s emotionally. He black tough; he holds his head up and has a black strut in his walk. I think it’s a black issue. Russell is vocal; he’s fearless, and backtalking. Forgive me if I’m wrong, but some can’t live with a good looking, handsome, young, agressive, confident, so, black young man. Remember, Russell was raised, trained, and nurture by a strong black father. That’s what makes him so strong on the court, the love and nurture of a strong father. He said his favorite sports person was Tiger Woods. I believe it because his life, growing up with a supportive father, is the life of Tiger Woods.
God bless America; God bless the Thunder; God bless Russell Westbrook; he’s gonna need it.