Comments on: Raymond Felton Calls Out Russell Westbrook

By: dustbury.com » The end of that particular trail

dustbury.com » The end of that particular trail — Wed, 28 Mar 2012 04:27:25 +0000

[...] didn’t see a repeat of whatever it was between Russell Westbrook and Raymond Felton; Felton was excused for personal reasons and did not dress. Rookie point guard Nolan Smith [...]

By: Hector

Hector — Sun, 08 Jan 2012 15:27:01 +0000

I don’t think Westbrook will ever play like a more “traditional” point guard until OKC finds big boys who actually initiate offense from the low post. That would relieve pressure on a supremely talented CONVERTED point guard. Until then Westbrook can’t win. I’m a Lakers fan(from LA) but I like watching OKC play but I see a talented but limited, one dimensional team if the point guard has to kick it around the perimeter all the time. Even D-Rose at least has Boozer.OKC’s big are either more comfy outside the paint or butter fingers like Perkins.

By: Matthew

Matthew — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 18:47:22 +0000

Good article Darnell.I think it is really unfair to Russell that he doesn’t have a contract yet. Just wondering what the hold up is.

By: Gil

Gil — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 15:07:02 +0000

@Mr. Lucky “Westbrook is the best rebounding guard… Westbrook is one of the best defending guards…”

It’s all true, but IMHO, it also looks like since last season, Westbrook is guy that wants a big max contract above everything else, including making his team winning games.

Under the new rules, he can have up to 30% of the cap, and he could make everything he can to get that, more than help OKC win more games.

It’s even worse with Love, because he will ask for a max contract based on his personnal stats, while MIN was not winning at all, unless it changes this season.

Every people I know thought last season that Westbrook looked like he wanted to be the hero of OKC, but for his own goal.

Maybe all this is wrong, I hope.

By: Thursday Bolts – 1.5.12 | Daily Thunder.com

Thursday Bolts – 1.5.12 | Daily Thunder.com — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 14:45:25 +0000

[...] Darnell Mayberry on Ray Felton’s comments: “Westbrook’s biggest problem appears to be not knowing when to turn it off. He hasn’t realized, it seems, that the fire inside him doesn’t always have to be a raging blaze. That’s when he puts the Thunder in a bad spot. Last year, we called it hero mode. But that was more about offense. Now, Westbrook is mixing in extreme aggressiveness on defense, defined mostly by gambling in the backcourt, as a means to force the issue and make something happen. He’s trying to be spectacular on every play instead of just being solid and trusting the system. It’s a part of what’s led to his surprisingly slow start.” [...]

By: El Prez

El Prez — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 03:31:14 +0000

The truly greatpoint guards in NBA history know how to shift gears and how to elevate their game and their team in the fourth period. Russ has yet to learn this, but I didn’t need Raymond Felton to point this out to me. Russell is just pushing too much on both ends of the court right now. At least he’s gotten his turnovers back down to a reasonable rate these last few games. So–what did Russell have to do with neither KD or James being able to hit any key shots down the stretch last night? No one gets more pissed at Russ than me when he pulls one of his Little League tantrums, but last night was more on KD, James, and Perk than it was on Russell.Did Felton notice Aldridge repeatedly abusing Perk? Did he notice Gerald Wallace having his way with KD when he so desired? Did he notice James was great for the first two thirds of the game–but not so great the last six minutes? When a great NBA point guard like say Chris Paul, Jason Kidd, or Steve Nash wants to go on the record and say some things about Russell’s game–I’ll take note. Raymond Felton…not really all that interested.

By: Todd

Todd — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 01:30:05 +0000

So Darnell is a “fool” and he’s “on drugs.” Well, comments like those are what happens when parents don’t teach the kids basic common courtesy and then leave them alone on the computer. Ah well, moving on….

Darnell is not suggesting the Thunder needs to trade Westbrook, or that Felton is better than Westbrook. Never did he say or even hint at such things. And it’s possible to be a fan of a player or a team and still be critical of something. As I said earlier, I’m a big fan of Westbrook, but he’s a little off so far this season. Plus, it’s Darnell’s job to call things as he sees them. And he’s seeing this thing pretty clearly.

Westbrook has been revving his engine to the red-line more often than not to start this season, and it’s hurt the team at times. He needs to dial that back some and pick his spots a little more. He was getting very good at that last year which I think is no small reason why he made the All Star team. I think he’ll come around.

And I also think that even when he’s being over-aggressive like he’s been doing this year, it’s not because he’s trying to make himself look good at the expense of the team. I think he’s trying to make something happen *for* the team. Which is something else that I think Darnell alluded to. He simply needs to do as Mike suggested, and learn, or maybe remember, to shift down from overdrive from time to time.

By: Chuck

Chuck — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 00:29:15 +0000

It s painfully obvious. RW is not a point guard. His best passing is when he is driving. He does not pass the ball instinctively as the better passers do. If the Thunder meaning Brooks do not make an adjustment, they will have problems against the better coached teams.

Just watch and see how slowly he finds the open man especially KD.

By: Walt

Walt — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 00:02:35 +0000

He should compete just like other elite athletes do. He reminds me of Michael Ray Richardson.

By: Dr. D

Dr. D — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 00:01:09 +0000

Darneel is on drugs. If you have to draft who do you take: Felton or Westbrook? For everything you guys say about Westbrook, he is still one of the best players in the league period!