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bless the child;1808525 said:Mavs got their number...
truth spitter;1809308 said:Tough tough tough loss...but we gon get back to work tomorrow..u can bet that babe...keep on pushin
@KDthunderup
Mumo X;1415662 said:So what flaw did MJ hav? Skul me on that.
By MICHAEL DUGAT
FOXSportsSouthwest.com
Jan. 16, 2011
Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant, the two faces defining Oklahoma City as it battles the burden of raised expectations, are leading the Thunder's surge of a four-game winning streak that’s seen them rise into a tie for third in the Western Conference standings just one game prior to their halfway mark.
As a pair, they have shouldered the hopes placed on them with a grace and humility defying the dates on their birth certificates.
Refusing to wear the badges that narcissism, stature and fame would have them embrace (see Durant’s insistence on including the oft-overlooked Thabo Sefolosha and Nenad Krstic on a magazine cover) and acting in direct contrast to many of their peers, they flatten the waves seeking to bury their grand aspirations and open the possibility for their teammates to join them in locating the championship shores they seek.
It’s outside of their personas to glorify their own contributions, to publicly set themselves apart from the rest of the team. Instead, they choose to burrow deeply within the importance of the unit, the team, the whole.
While it may fall outside of their personal comfort zones, we aren’t bound by the same mantra. We can place them on a pedestal. Not because they asked for or demanded it, but because they’ve earned it with their play.
And, we will.
In doing so, another question finds its way to the surface: Of the two comprising the highest scoring duo in the league – combining for 50.7 points per game (0.2 points above the LeBron James/Dwyane Wade combo) – who is the team’s most valuable player to this point?
Fresh off his dominant performance while leading the United States to a gold medal in the FIBA World Championships this summer, Durant entered the season as a popular pick for the league’s MVP trophy – obviously labeling him to carry the same honor on his own team. Those predictions, however, could not have foreseen the huge strides Russell Westbrook, a role player on that same U.S. national team, would make between his second and third seasons.
Westbrook has increased his scoring average by six points to a career-high 22.2 and has at slightly increased his field-goal, 3-point and free-throw percentages as well as his assist and rebounding numbers. His player efficiency rating has risen from a respectable 17.8 last season to an elite 23.7 this year (good for 11th in the NBA).
Defined by his position of point guard, Westbrook controls the offensive attack. Taking the third-most "at the rim" (in close) shot attempts per game (only Carmelo Anthony and Wade take more), his endless forays into the paint have destroyed otherwise sound defenses, leading to open looks for teammates.
His hand manipulates the five strings orchestrating the league’s sixth-highest scoring offense, coming in at 104 points per game. Westbrook hasn’t missed a game, and he is integral to the team’s overall success.
Durant has missed four games this season; the Thunder are 3-1 without him. In three of the four, Westbrook led the team in scoring. Without Durant, Westbrook has averaged 26.8 points, 7.0 assists, 6.3 rebounds and 5.0 turnovers per game.
Without Durant, Westbrook effectively raised his scoring and rebounding output, yet suffered a decrease in assists and gave away a higher number of turnovers. Essentially, he’s done precisely what one would expect from an elite player shifting his focus to make up for the absence of the league’s leading scorer.
Without diminishing the contributions of Westbrook, it’s hard to deny the impact Durant’s presence carries.
One advanced statistic offers a glimpse of that impact: adjusted plus/minus. This is the difference between the points a team scores and allows over the course of a game while a player is on the court, adjusted to account for the other four players simultaneously affecting the outcome. It is also a stat that may remain infamous in the minds of many Thunder fans thanks to the surprisingly poor showing from Durant in this category during the 2008-09 season.
If it is any consolation, over the past two seasons, he ranks behind only LeBron James with an adjusted plus/minus of plus-13.60.
This season, Durant brings a plus-4.5 in comparison to Westbrook’s plus-1.2.
Both are respectable numbers, but they do offer a partial view into why Durant is likely the most valuable player on the Thunder.
It’s easy to point to the fact that he leads the league with an average of 28.5 points per game as proof of this, and it's not unreasonable to do so. But the overwhelming nature of the threat he provides while on the court stretches further.
Mentioned above is the fact that Westbrook gets to the rim more than all but two other players in the NBA, and while his physical skills must be praised, you cannot overlook the lanes and the spaces that are stretched wider as defenses refuse to abandon Durant on the perimeter.
Referring to his own star, Dallas Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle, noted that Dirk Nowitzki's presence on the court was a “game-changer.” Meaning, Nowitzki merely being present on the court, forcing the other team to address his existence, changed the game for the rest of the team. The threat alone causes the defense to react and attack differently. In essence, even when Nowitzki and Durant don’t touch the ball, they make their teammates better.
Durant isn’t likely to celebrate this, but it factors into the game and into the opposition's plan. The game becomes easier for all involved if a player of his caliber is involved.
For a more direct impact, divert your gaze back to the fact that Durant does lead the league in scoring and does so with consistent efficiency. Remarkably, if his current pace continues, this will be the third consecutive season Durant has hit 47.6 percent of his field-goal attempts. For the sake of this argument, compare that to the career-high 43.2 percent Westbrook is currently shooting.
Both are extremely talented players only beginning to tap into the potential of what they can achieved as a pair maturing amid the promise of a young and improving supporting cast. If injuries don’t interfere and the roster can continue its growth as a unit, the Thunder will continue to progress along the path towards a bright future.
While it is OK to hope Durant and Westbrook continue to refuse to be led by their egos, leaving little reason to internally answer the team MVP question, the conclusion reached here is that distinction belongs to Kevin Durant.
cuttadc13;2133715 said:I like this young team on the West...Im hoping they can put something together to actually beat the Lakers if it comes down to it in the playoffs...this team will only get better with time...Westbrook and Durant are fuckin incredible players to have on one team
aijalon;2134044 said:I don't know if you guys have been following the thunder
MR.CJ;2135615 said:I always said jeff green was overrated.
cuttadc13;2136821 said:They may got next...but Orlando bout to get in dat ass RIGHT NOW! lol
O Capone;1611345 said:I'll post this here cuz it's kinda off-topic in that other thread...
As a fan of the Thunder yea you got something to look forward to. But as a fan of the Sonics who has paid very close attention to how this team was built, it's very clear to me that winning is not on the agenda. The Thunder have compiled the CHEAPEST roster possible. They don't want to spend a penny to add that vet presence they desperately need. All Clay Bennett wants right now is to make some of his money back rather than spend money to make the team more competitive. They got lucky last year and caught teams by surprise because of Westbrook's development. Teams are learning how to guard Durant and force him into very low % shots. Fans in OKC gonna be very disapointed when they realize Durant, Westbrook, and Green have maxed out their potential and the team can't or refuses to bring in a real second all-star to play with Durant. Westbrook is no all-star. He is no D-WIll, he is no CP3... It's only a matter of time before other people start seeing what I already see...
O Capone;1611766 said:For Westbrook to be an all-star the Thunder better have the best record in the NBA...
Right now he is competing with Monta Ellis, Steve Nash, Chris Paul, Brandon Roy, Deron Williams, Kobe Bryant, Stephen Curry, Aaron Brooks, Tony Parker, Tyreke Evans, Eric Gordon, and many others for Western Conference guard spots... He is better than some of these guys but still the west got so many guards that it will be hard for Westbrook to make an all-star game...
