Comments on: Thunder 111, Jazz 85

By: Russell Westbrook Hits Career Milestone, Joins Elite Company | Russell Westbrook Jersey

Thu, 16 Feb 2012 10:01:40 +0000

[...] the Jazz, he accomplished something that puts him in the company of the elite-elite. As noted by Darnell Mayberry, when Westbrook scored his 10th and 11th points of the game, he joined Oscar Robertson and Magic [...]

By: Darnell Mayberry

Darnell Mayberry — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 05:36:20 +0000

Well that didn’t take long. Lol! -DM-

By: David

David — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 05:34:59 +0000

I take back everything I said. RW lost the game for us tonight by getting way too emotional and trying a stupid 3. Him and Perk fouling. That guy is way overrated

By: David

David — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 19:29:36 +0000

For a good take on OKC’s developing offense, why RW assists are down, and how it’s actually better come playoff time, read this blogpost:

http://www.dailythunder.com/2012/02/unassisted-scoring-how-the-thunder-get-their-points/#more-18880

By: David

David — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 19:17:54 +0000

So RW doesn’t pass because he’s immature or because he lacks leadership? This is why I hate when you bring this stuff up Darnell because everyone in Oklahoma drinks the ESPN Russell Westbrook haterade and no one seems to care about his PER, that only RW, Kobe, and Lebron have tallied averaged the at least 20 pts, 5 assists, and 5 boards a game, his exclusive company with Osar Robertson. Everyone just wants to hate, hate, hate, oh and start Maynor. It may not be maturity and leadership people. Maybe he’s doing what the coaching staff asks him to do, maybe the starting lineup needs his scoring, but nope, he’s an immature, young punk who will destroy the franchise.

Now that that’s off my chest. Darnell does make a good point, but I feel like last night was a bad example. He did have good pace and tried to get people involved, but an assist is a two way street, sometimes is an arbitrary stat, and he was pulled early in a blowout.

Furthermore, in regard to the offense, if people think we haven’t put in any new wrinkles or haven’t developed anything new then they aren’t watching the games (incidentally, I’m starting to think most people don’t really watch the games). KD passes more now and will often to bring the ball up the floor late to keep it in his hands, Harden brings the ball up the floor late and will let RW be the cutter, our bigs pass to each other or pass out to 3pt shooters, we’ve also installed the RW/KD pick and pop game late. But go ahead, keep on telling yourself that the offense has done nothing to fix its half court woes because TNT/ESPN has said so. Or you could quit listening to Barkley and Skip Bayless and actually watch games and only read good writers like Darnell and Royce Young

By: bertfan

bertfan — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 17:15:46 +0000

I love to watch him but totally agree that Westbrook needs to bring better passing and leadership for the Thunder to go deep in the playoffs. What’s puzzling me is coach Brooks said Westbrook is a great guy and very coachable so isn’t coaching to blame for not putting more emphasis on passing and team offense and pushing Westbrook to at least try? It doesn’t seem like our offense has improved since last year beyound relying on late individual exploits. Is coaching all too happy to keep piling wins this way even if it means our poor offensive schemes and ball movement will not win against higher IQ teams like Dallas in the playoffs?

By: Tuesday Bolts – 2.15.12 | Daily Thunder.com

Tuesday Bolts – 2.15.12 | Daily Thunder.com — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 16:15:31 +0000

[...] Darnell Mayberry: “This is hard to ignore. The Thunder’s defensive-minded center had four more assists tonight than its All-Star point guard. A lot of Westbrook detractors could and perhaps would make a big deal about that. In no way am I trying to here. But in no way do I think that’s a good thing. One more? Fine. Two more, even? OK. But four more? C’mon man! If this was one isolated game, that would be one thing. (No, Perk hasn’t tallied more assists than Westbrook before.) But we all know Westbrook’s passing game hasn’t been at the level it was last season. This was his 10th game with four assists or fewer, tonight’s tally being a season-low. I’m all for having a shoot-first point guard. But I like my point guards a whole lot more when they get everyone else involved and make others better. I’m not sure anyone can make a case that Westbrook is doing that right now.” [...]

By: Trevor

Trevor — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 12:47:48 +0000

Completely agree DM. As a point you must facilitate, period..

Unfortunately Russ doesn’t have the maturity to understand this yet. I’m a big Thunder fan, but I don’t think they get out of the West right now.

By: Darnell Mayberry

Darnell Mayberry — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 06:49:27 +0000

David, I get that. Yes, that is part of what explains it. But to chalk up his performance this year to that and that alone, to me, is only an excuse. My point is he’s now in his fourth season. He’s now a two-time All-Star. He’s now a max player. If not now, when exactly do the expectations increase for him? He’s a fabulous player, no doubt. But for all the accolades and achievements, when Thabo Sefolosha returns we’ll still be talking about the starting unit needing balance because three starters aren’t offensive players. Well isn’t it his job to make them bigger threats? Things are working nicely now. But this, too, is something that I can already see potentially becoming a problem in the playoffs. His assists numbers are down, and there are several reasons for that. But in my opinion, he should be at the point where he can get ample assists regardless of who he’s playing with. But the larger point is, no matter what the assists line reads, he just isn’t consistently making his teammates better. Many will perhaps disagree. But I can’t see how they can make a case that he is. And that is much more of a problem in my eyes than his shot attempts or his assist numbers. -DM-

By: Willo (Australia)

Willo (Australia) — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 06:27:01 +0000

Cole just needs to bide his time, he will get his (prob next year). I really like watching him play and I think he is a really big talent.