Thank you, Scott! That was worth going off the script for. It’s killing me how much people are analyzing Russ all of a sudden. He’s a great player, period. The stuff he gets criticized for are things Rose does on a nightly basis. Gimme a break.

I don’t listen to the Sports Animal any more, so I’m askin if RW is gettin roasted by all the college football fans/talk hosts who are now NBA analysts ?

Lynn, I’d say it’s a pretty good mix. Local and national fans. A few local media members, although it’s been in the media around here if you ask me. And national analysts as well. But I think everyone realizes he has incredible talent. It’s just the times when he turns reckless that everyone freaks out about. But at the same time, I’ve heard many of the exact same people praise him when he puts it together and plays his tail off. It doesn’t get any fairer than that. -DM-

THANK YOU…just because national media likes being critical of russell doesnt mean local media needs too do it, anybody whos watched more than 20 games this season knows this is russells games, sometimes he gets outta control but thats how he plays, and comparing his shot number to durants is ridiculous exp when Durant is being guarded so tightly

[...] Via Darnell Mayberry of NewsOK.com, Scott Brooks spoke out earlier today about all the negative critiquing and criticizing going on with Russell Westbrook lately. Basically, Brooks summed up what I’ve wasted about 3,000 words on the past couple weeks in just a couple paragraphs. With Russell, we analyze every possession. I do that myself when we break down the films. But it seems like everybody’s breaking down the film. They’re like in my meetings or in my head. It’s not fair to him. It’s really not fair to him. He’s developed into an All-Star in three years. Not a lot of guys you can say that played the 2-guard spot in college and only for two years and can come in and lead a team that had a bad record three years ago and become an All-Star and make the playoffs twice. [...]

Something people don’t talk about nearly enough:

With our starting unit, Thabo and Perk aren’t offensive options. And Ibaka isn’t a low post threat– he’s just got that 15 footer. So quite literally, KD and Russ are the only two offensive options. Many times, KD is being double teamed or roughed up, so it’s hard to get the ball to him. The offense breaks down in this situation, and I think Russ is forced to drive or take a jumper. We need another shooter out there with those guys to space the floor. That would open Russ’s driving lanes even more.

Regardless, Russ is the second best player and runs the offense on the #5 best offense in the NBA and one of the league’s elite teams, all at 22 years old and only playing point guard for 3 years. People need to chill.

Great quotes. I have been hard on RW and frustrated ofter by his dribbling, driving and shooting too often, but then I gather myself and realize he is but 22. And then I remember what I was like at 22 or even 30 and I shut myself up. The one thing I am most critical is that he is not an instinctive passer and usually needs to be dribbling before he can pass. I assume that is something that will come with experience and maturity. If he can develop that, not only will he be sensational but so will Durant who right now must get his own shot when Russell is out there with him.

I was thinking about a lot of great players and what age they were when they hit their peak. Most were older than Russell. I think the fact that Rose is a similar age has probably put more emphasis on how quickly a player can mature….doesn’t mean he will though. Rose and Westbrook are more similar in terms of stats than most of the national media seems willing to recognize, too. I try all the time to remember how young this team is, and the fact that this is completely new territory for them. We should seriously be amazed at how well they’re doing, given their youth and inexperience.

D-Rose got 24 points in Game 1 Semi. He made those 24 points from 27 shots. It’s EXACTLY the same thing as what Russ is doing, they are scoring point gaurds, they will miss shots. Yes he should be looking to get it to KD first but what Brandon said he is the second scoring option in that starting 5. It’s a small bump in the road in what will be a fantastic career and I would take him infront of nearly every PG in the game today. He is young, he will make mistakes and as long as he strives to get better all the time, that’s all we can ask too.

I’m glad Scott Brooks said some of these things on the record because I’m tired of reading some of it myself–especially when it comes from people or writers who really have no clue what they’re talking/writing about. Russ plays at uber speed on a team which was 23-59 two years ago. He plays on a team which has no low post offensive option and defensive specialist strating at the two guard. Russ will some mistakes given this recipe. But he is also one helluva basketball and a primary reason I’ve been at the Ford Center three times in the last week and it’s May. There’s way too many people getting paid in this market who are giving analysis on the Thunder—who quite frankly shouldn’t even be covering high school basketball. Russ should take some solace in that some of these same people were all over Kevin after the game at Portland. Hnag in there and just play your game Russ.

Good for Scott Brooks. I knew I liked that guy for a reason. RW is worth standing up for.

Way to Go Coach! I think RW is playing great! I hated hearing all the national and local media blasting him for taking a lot of shots and not playing perfect. Who is perfect? GO THUNDER!!

[...] in general). He doesn't want the issue. The Oklahoman's Darnell Mayberry quite helpfully provided two full, uncut Brooks quotes that just about says is all. My distillation of Brooks' unusually verbose statement is: "outsiders [...]

[...] is the MVP of the league and he leads their team in scoring,” head coach Scott Brooks told The Oklahoman. “He takes the most shots. He’s good. That’s how they play and that’s how they win, but [...]