Russell Westbrick Discussion: Clipper Gonna Clip

Perhaps we should have actually called a play?

 

When we get more ball handlers back, he'll have the ball less, IMO.

At that point , we can use him almost exclusively as an off ball screener.

 

HIs defense seems better when he's guarding the PnR. Some real good defense fighting thru screens particularly in the 4th quarter.
OTOH I thought he was outright bad as trailer/chaser type. Lost track of how many times he lost his man.

Such a trick or treat type of player: huge high and really bad lows all in the space of a quarter happen with him. Hopefully if this team ever gets healthy, it reduces the chance of f***ups with Lebron primarily handling the ball

 

Yes and they deserve some blame for the playoffs performance too don't they? I don't understand why it's a Westbrook problem. KD found success with a stacked Golden State team, but he didn't always step up on OKC as the main option, but it's still team effort in the playoffs. I thought that OKC had something until Harden left, but Golden State was better than them. Houston...I knew there was absolutely no way that team was getting past Lebron an AD. I have to see it pointed out specifically how his game doesn't translate into winning in the post-season. His team didn't get bounced in the first round every year.

 

His last year on OKC, he had George and was outplayed by Lillard. On top of that he the matchup got into this head and he was the best player in that series behind Lillard, George, and CJ

Houston, I don't know what to say other than Lakers specifically game planned to exploit his weaknesses.

Last year Beal was hurt but the Sixers have really good defenders and they went under the screens similar to what the lakers did and I thought he was bad

PER isn't the best stat but it's easy to see the big dropoff he's had in the playoffs the last 4 years and particularly the last 3 Just awful shooting numbers matched to TO's

The question is as a third option can he bring it? Hopefully.

 

maybe the answer is he gets the other team's primary ballhandler or offensive option every night? harder to go to sleep then.

 

Portland was the 3 seed and OKC 6th. Looking back at that series Westbrook had one bad game. The Blazers went to the conference Finals that year. Perhaps they really were the better team?

Houston? They started Robert Covington at center! There was no way they were beating the Lakers. I would also point out that Westbrook played with a torn quad in that series. Nevertheless, they had zero shot at getting out of the second round against us.

Washington? I mean those guys were supposed to be a threat against Philly? Seriously?

Sometimes numbers drop off against superior teams. I just like to point out that there is always two sides to the story, and everything isn't always the way it seems on the surface. Narratives aren't always facts.

Third option, he was flat out the best available IMO. We will need him to win this chip. I am confident that he will deliver the goods too.

 

Yeah, did not like that, had the feeling that either someone did not run their route correctly or Miami knew the play and thwarted our efforts. ???? It seemed like a broken play and at that point, rather than risk the turnover he kept it to take the shot knowing that a miss would be way better than a turnover. ????????

 

Cranjis McBasketball (@Tim_NBA) Tweeted:
51.7% of Russ' shots come at the rim when both Dwight & DeAndre are sitting (186 minutes).

- 34.2% w/DeAndre on-court (151 MP).
- 25.5% w/Dwight on-court (99 MP).

AD's rim frequency w/Russ on court and:

- as C: 49.5% (179 MP)
- w/DAJ: 34.3% (114 MP)
- w/Dwight: 33.3% (21 MP)

 

so...AD's rim attempts might not be fully controlled by testicular volume. do i have that right?

and yes, we all saw these things coming when our stars/FO insisted on non-shooting/non-passing centers.

 

These are good numbers to carry into the playoffs.

If AD plays extended minutes at Center in the regular season he's gonna be worn out by the time playoffs role around.

In my eyes DJ and Dwight are placeholders like Bynum from 08-10. Our optimal frontcourt was LO/Pau but Bynum ate up minutes until the playoffs where we can unleash more Pau at C. Similarly we need to just let DJ and Dwight eat a good chunk of regular season minutes at Center, even if it means a sub-optimal AD. Maybe try more AD at C in 2nd half of the year.

On a side note, we can use a small ball center like Kieff, he gave us another point of attack when Dwight or Javale couldn't cut it.

 

so far the numbers haven't supported AD at center, but we also haven't run optimal lineups with him at c.

we've barely played AD/melo/russ lineups. throw in two of reaves/monk/bradley and run that against second units. this is how you get lebron rest.

 

They haven't, and I think it's just the grouping.

While the defense is improving, they haven't out AD in ideal positions.

There is where I think Ariza will fit in at the four...

 

Lakers would be foolish to bank any hope in an old and injured Ariza in 2022. He can give you an occasional good game here and there.

 

Yeah, I've said that ready, but if we're talking hypothetically, that's where he would fill in...

Or we get a buyout guy.

Melo has improved, but in high leverage situations, I would prefer somebody else.