Russell Westbrick Discussion: Clipper Gonna Clip

Does Westbrook have a track record of improving statically in the playoffs? I mean Lebron you can definitely in the second half of his career, he's holding back but Westbrook sells himself as the guy who goes all out all the time.

I mean statically he's just bad not including advanced stats like adjusted +/- or synergy.
His TS% which is basic efficiency stat shows he's 45th among qualified PGs
He's TO percentage is 10th worst among qualified PGs
His point rating which basically takes assists minus TO's he's 30th among qualified PGs

He basically matches what the eye test shows an incredibly high usage rate player who is incredibly inefficient. This is something when you're a decent player on a bad team is ok not what you want as a second or third banana on a team with championship aspirations. In other words Westbrook is getting his raw numbers but it's thru volume

 

Well the last game they played him in the clutch but the play calls were for him to be the 4th or 5th option (I mean he was the dump off guy). That's definitely one way but when AD gets back that will be tricky as AD is probably the guy you want to be in the dunker spot

 

It's clear that Westbrook and Lebron are still figuring things out. But let's put things into context.

We were 7-3 in the 10 games before the covid fall out. We are 4-1 in the last 5, since we got some players back. In between those two runs we lost 5 straight running 3rd stringers and G league players.

Without a third star we wouldn't be above .500. AD & Lebron have only played 15 of 39 games together this season and without Westbrook I imagine we lose the majority of those 24 games. So all in all, he has been average but we are still in the playoff picture and with a good second half we might snag 4th position from Memphis.

 

See here's the thing..Westbrook has never played with two guys of the caliber of Lebron and AD. I don't really care about how he fared elsewhere because of that. We already know Lebron and AD elevate during the playoffs. I think folks are under estimating Russ by ignoring that. Yeah...you can try and imagine how it might go wrong, based on this extremely small sample size from this season. Again the entire team hasn't even played together yet, let alone the 3 main cogs being able to gell. So I'm rather non plussed about trying to reach some conclusions about this guy being a bad "fit" right now. Different situations often times leads to different results. Russ won't be asked to play the same role here, that he was asked to play any where else he's been. So talking about OKC or Houston is rather irrelevant to me. Call me crazy, or a delusional Homer, I still believe this team is loaded come the playoffs . I know Bron and AD are ballers, I believe Nunn is a baller, Russ too, Monk and Talen are semi ballers IMO.Time will prove me right or wrong. In a 7 game series, I don't fear any team in the West, based on what I've seen this season.

 

The obvious problem with this hypothesis is that Russ's skillset are not the ones which typically shine as a third star. What you're looking for typically is a guy who can shoot and play defense. Having a secondary ballhandler/creator value drops like crazy in the playoffs as the minutes for the #1 go up and the possessions go down as play slows down.

OTOH, it's really easy to see how it won't work: can't trust him so he's placed in the dunker spot or the screener but then those are also AD best spots. The problem with Russ in other words is his best skills are duplicative of Lebron but not as good and he unlike guys like Klay/Kyrie/Lowry he doesn't add a different dimension

 

People need to imagine last year's team, if either KCP, Kuz or Trez missed all of the first half of the season. One of the other 2 missed a quarter of the season, and the other missed a third...AND AD'S out. Let's just overlook Lebron missing games too. It would have been a total disaster. Lol..we wouldn't be at 500 at this point for sure.

Sounds good in theory and ultimately you might be right. I disagree, I saw the beginning of a connection between Russ and AD before he went down. Starting to see one develop between Russ and Lebron. I totally believe that Lebron is smart enough, to figure out how to play with Russ in the playoffs. I really don't think that the typical or ideal 3 option applies here. These are 3 future Hall of Famers. James is one the of All time greats. I think we are more than good for these teams in the West come the playoffs. It's not just the trio either.I think we have enough firepower with the other players on this squad backing them up to tackle anyone. Of course...IF all three are healthy, now that part could throw a monkey wrench into everything.

 

Best game he could possibly have?

that’s a reach even if you hate Westbrook

 

I like it all except I'm going to put Malik in the baller category. Great post.

 

And this is the issue. The Lakers play one or two possessions to beat crappy teams and lose or get really blown out from good teams. That will need to change.

 

lol haberstroh still has a job? i remember when espn pimped him as some sort of analytics guru. it was laughable. he's a dyed in the wool laker hater like most of that generation of espn writers, who are partly responsible for tanking kobe's legacy (kobe outlasted them, but they helped ensure he was a villain for the best years of his career).

that said,

i can't say our narrow victories over horrible teams are bolstering my confidence much.

 

I think Russ' 0 TOs was more impressive than some of his triple doubles. It had been 408 games since he had zero TOs. He didn't force the issue and only took one 3. Played with better pace and control. Looked good in the dunker's spot in the 4th and finished some easy dump offs.

On the trade front: he's not going anywhere. I think our call was to Portland just for s***s and giggles. Maybe 1 or 2 Hail Mary's.

 

0 turnovers? An alien is now in control of his body and brain. Go beings from space.

 

he needs to take downers so the games slows down for him

such supreme athleticism has to be toned down to be effective

I can relate to this problem. Supreme athleticism can overwhelm mere mortals.

 

Fwiw...AD, Lebron and Russ have only played 3 consecutive games together. This has occurred twice this season. The top 3 teams in the West all have one thing in common. They have played the majority of this season, with their expected rotations coming out of training camp, for most of the season. We are totally in the other direction. It's a bit of a marvel that we are over 500 IMO.

 

On court chemistry is an enormous variable to success. (Obviously)

 

LOL even with the perfect brain farting sound effects. Shake yourself you clown and get serious about what you do with the ball. I include the ridiculous air ball misses in the farting category. Whoopie no turnovers against the Kings. Bout ******g time. The guy should have to watch that compilation in front of teammates and coaches.