Russell Westbrick Discussion: Clipper Gonna Clip

I give this version of Russ as many minutes as he can handle. It is a different energy when he is playing now even if he still does a very crazy turnovers. My only real gripe is I would rather have Austin having Beverly's minutes.

 

I don’t think you raise Russ minutes. Keep him at 30-32 where he can be impactful with his energy - similar concept to Giannis in Milwaukee. In fact we should do the same with Lebron, cut out about 4-6 minutes.

I’d like to see those minutes go to Nunn or Bryant. I think both can be key contributors.

 

Lebron playing less minutes was supposed to be the plan. Along with running the offense through AD. Darvin has pretty much been true to his vision otherwise. He's gotten AD to play mostly at 5 without any fuss, Russ to come off the bench without any fuss, but Lebron is an entirely different animal though, he's Lebron James, getting him to accept some changes is going to be more of a challenge.

 

Disgruntled players at the other side of their athletic prime don't usually bounce back. I give some credit to ham, and also shows how a lot of his slumping was diva-itis rather than him not being able to still play some (as he did in the Wizards). He is with us so I wish him well. He is a friend's favorite player so it is good to see him providing something for us while he is still the Russ Angeles Westbrook.

 

Russ is playing good ball and being a team guy. The only physical difference I can see is for some reason last season he could not hold onto the ball. He would drive to the rim and you didn't know where the ball might go. He is finishing really well now. Don't know if had a hand issue or was frustrated and not focused. He has sure put that behind him.

 

I think he's a rhythm player, and he was not used in a way that allowed him to get a rhythm last year. As a player, I think Ham gets him, and is putting him in a position to succeed. By giving him free reign in the 2nd unit, he's able to take a little step back with leBrone on the floor. And vice versa. I think they are both finding a nice rhythm. We just have to find the best combination of pieces to put around them and keep them all healthy.

 

He's playing better but against good defensive teams like the Cavs he's unplayable.

Defense is playing prevent against him, tempting to get him into the paint but they collapse at that point so he can't finish or pass out. Add on he's got no gravity on his jump shot and it's game over for the Lakers offense

 

The trade that ended any chance of playoffs for a while.

 

Averaging nearly 6 TOs the past 3 games, it's like nobody is watching that.

 

Feels like a lot of the turnovers are him fumbling the ball. Super frustrating, but I can’t get too upset about it. For the most part, it doesn’t feel like he’s playing out of control or making boneheaded decisions, mostly just bad hands.

 

I didn’t mind Westbrook, he had a great first quarter and then kind of was frozen out to end the half. Then came in the third and stemmed the bleeding a bit before the wheels came off for the whole team. It is what it is.

 

he'll never challenge lebonehead for the all time most turnovers though. That record is locked up for decades to come.

check that, I looked it up. If he has longevity and tries really hard, he's only 3 years behind the kang in to's

 

the greatest players in the league history miss the most shots, turn the ball over, etc.. it’s why they keep getting the opportunity.

 

one can spin any stat just about any way they like. I looked, but I couldn't find Jordan in the top 20 though.

 

Jordan was great at taking care of the ball but if he played a few more seasons (similar games played to Kobe) he'd be up there.

 

Not sure the numbers bear that out. Jordan averaged 2.7 TO per game.
Lebron is 3.5
Westbrook is 4.1
Kobe was 3.0
Karl Malone 3.1

vs Bron, Jordan averaged 23% less turnovers. Even if they were even on games, he'd have a crapton less TO's. (he's 34th on the list per below)

 

He would, but Lebron and Russ spent most of their years as point guards and handled the ball more often. The more you handle the ball, the more opportunities you have to turn it over. They had higher play making responsibilities and most turnovers come from passes.

Career assist to turn over ratios:

MJ = 1.96
Russ = 2.05
Lebron = 2.11

One can argue their volume of assists helps offset the turnovers.

 

What number is Kareem?

 

Kareem averaged 2.7 turnovers per game. Total number will be lower than reality since they didn't start tracking turnovers until his 9th year in the league.