CelticsStrong
Around the League => Around the NBA => Topic started by: Moranis on April 10, 2018, 10:19:43 AM
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He needs those 16 rebounds to once again average a triple double. The Thunder are in a battle for seeding, so they do need to win, so he will play in their last game against Memphis.
So, what do you think the percentage odds are of Westbrook getting 16 rebounds.
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I am not so sure how me applying a percentage chance will have any validity, so I will just say 'pretty good'. Everybody knows what he will be trying to do so teammates will get out of his way on most rebound opportunities. Memphis shouldn't be trying to win so that should help, too.
Honestly, I am not a huge Westbrook fan, but I do hope he gets there. It is a neat statistical feat and being able to do it two years in a row would be even more impressive - especially with the added help he has had this year from George and Anthony.
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I hope Russell makes it. In sports, I constantly hear players talking about taking their games to the next level for the playoffs. Well, that just tells me that their not giving 100% effort for every game during the regular season. When I watch Westbrook play, he always seems to play with maximum effort all the time. He deserves the recognition of averaging a triple double for two seasons in a row.
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About as close to a sure thing the NBA has had since Stern retired. The marketing opportunity is too good.
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I wonder how it's handled if Westbrook grabs only 12-15 rebounds? That would put his average between 9.95 and 9.9875. In a world where they typically only show stats to one decimal place, that will come off as 10.0. I guess I can see the the ABC/ESPN/NBA hype machine promoting it like it's another triple double season, while us "stat geeks" and hardcore fans will argue "well technically, he didn't average a triple double..."
I guess another question is who does OKC want to face in the first round? Even if it doesn't make the most sense, you know part of them would love the chance to face a Curry-less GS if they stick at #7. Unsure of how all those tie breakers might work out West, could they fall to #8 with a loss, because that's definitely an unwise move.
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I guess another question is who does OKC want to face in the first round? Even if it doesn't make the most sense, you know part of them would love the chance to face a Curry-less GS if they stick at #7. Unsure of how all those tie breakers might work out West, could they fall to #8 with a loss, because that's definitely an unwise move.
CBS posted this about 12 hours ago.
Note: Final game is against New Orleans; 9-6 division record
7. Oklahoma City Thunder (47-34)
Win tiebreakers over: Jazz (3-1)
Lose tiebreakers to: Timberwolves (3-1), Pelicans (2-1), Nuggets (3-1), Blazers (4-0)
Split series: Spurs (2-2)
Note: Final game is against Memphis; 5-11 division record
8. Minnesota Timberwolves (46-35)
Win tiebreakers over: Thunder (3-1), Pelicans (4-0), Nuggets (2-1)
Lose tiebreakers to: Spurs (2-1)
Split series: Jazz (2-2)
Note: Final game is against Denver; 9-6 division record
9. Denver Nuggets (46-35)
Win tiebreakers over: Thunder (3-1), Pelicans (2-1)
Lose tiebreakers to: Timberwolves (2-1)
Split series: Jazz (2-2), Spurs (2-2)
Note: Final game is against Minnesota; 9-6 division record
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I think Westbrook needs to be careful with this. Now he got his 18 in a nice win in Miami but it is not going to be a good look if he gets the 16 rebs he needs but they lose and miss the playoffs.
Let me update this. Since Min and Denver play against each other, one of them has to lose so there is no way that OKC doesn't make the playoffs (they have clinched). Westbrook will just go for it as he should.
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I think Westbrook needs to be careful with this. Now he got his 18 in a nice win in Miami but it is not going to be a good look if he gets the 16 rebs he needs but they lose and miss the playoffs.
They can't miss the playoffs but they can drop to the 8 seed. They're in.
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I hope Russell makes it. In sports, I constantly hear players talking about taking their games to the next level for the playoffs. Well, that just tells me that their not giving 100% effort for every game during the regular season. When I watch Westbrook play, he always seems to play with maximum effort all the time. He deserves the recognition of averaging a triple double for two seasons in a row.
Let’s not get it twisted... He does it for the stats.
But I say he should go for it and win the game and face GSW instead of Houston.
That could be a fun series.
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Do we think it's a coincidence that 3 of Westbrook's best rebounding games of the season have come in the last 4 games (with 15,16, 7, 18)?
So here's my prediction: Westbrook initially get's 16 rebounds. But some Reddit user points out that the scorekeeper incorrectly gave one of Jerami Grant's rebounds to Westbrook, so it's retroactively taken away. Westbrook technically ends up avg 9.9875, but all the broadcasters call it 10 and show it as 10.0 anyway, with only Jeff Van Gundy (during any ABC broadcasts) and Charles Barkley (during the TNT shows) speaking out against it.
Barkley: Listen, I love Westbrook, I think he's a great kid, what he did last year was phenomenal, I think he had a great year this year, but he didn't average no triple double.
Shaq: You just jealous. He just jealous Ernie (said while Barkley's speaking).
Ernie: So Charles, you're telling me, the numbers say 10.0, that's what the numbers say. This isn't something special they're doing just for Westbrook here. It's the math.
Kenny: But with rounding!
Shaq: Chuck don't know no math.
Barkley: I know I had more triple doubles than you!
Shaq: Psh, please. Count the rings.
Barkely: How about I go count Kobe's rings.
Shaq: Still more than you. Still more than you. Even Kenny got more than you.
Goes to commercial with them arguing. Something like that I'm sure.
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Do we think it's a coincidence that 3 of Westbrook's best rebounding games of the season have come in the last 4 games (with 15,16, 7, 18)?
So here's my prediction: Westbrook initially get's 16 rebounds. But some Reddit user points out that the scorekeeper incorrectly gave one of Jerami Grant's rebounds to Westbrook, so it's retroactively taken away. Westbrook technically ends up avg 9.9875, but all the broadcasters call it 10 and show it as 10.0 anyway, with only Jeff Van Gundy (during any ABC broadcasts) and Charles Barkley (during the TNT shows) speaking out against it.
Barkley: Listen, I love Westbrook, I think he's a great kid, what he did last year phenomenal, I think he had a great year this year, but he didn't average no triple double.
Shaq: You just jealous. He just jealous Ernie (said while Barkley's speaking).
Ernie: So Charles, you're telling me, the numbers say 10.0, that's what the numbers say. This isn't something special they're doing just for Westbrook here. It's the math.
Kenny: But with rounding!
Shaq: Chuck don't know no math.
Barkley: I know I had more triple doubles than you!
Shaq: Psh, please. Count the rings.
Barkely: How about I go count Kobe's rings.
Shaq: Still more than you. Still more than you. Even Kenny got more than you.
Goes to commercial with them arguing. Something like that I'm sure.
With the general ease you seem to have come up with this dialogue and how realistic it seems, I can't help wonder how much of TNT's preshow is scripted, WWE style. Lol.
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The big question is how will everyone else not get rebounds?
Will they all just run away when a shot goes up? Passively helping.
Could we see the dramatic return of the box-out? Actually playing team ball.
I'd vote on dudes just running away from the basketball. Nobody knows how to box out anymore.
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The big question is how will everyone else not get rebounds?
Will they all just run away when a shot goes up? Passively helping.
Could we see the dramatic return of the box-out? Actually playing team ball.
I'd vote on dudes just running away from the basketball. Nobody knows how to box out anymore.
It's extremely easy to deliver rebounds to the guards if there is a concerted team strategy. Just look at Bradley's outlier year.
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I hope so. I am pulling for him.
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The triple double is the most meaningless, fake stat that ever existed. A line of 11-10-9 is no less valuable or impactful than a line of 10-10-10. Yet so many people have been brainwashed by the hype-men in the media to believe that it somehow is.
Good for Russ if he wants to chase after a meaningless stat, I couldn't care less.
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Do we think it's a coincidence that 3 of Westbrook's best rebounding games of the season have come in the last 4 games (with 15,16, 7, 18)?
So here's my prediction: Westbrook initially get's 16 rebounds. But some Reddit user points out that the scorekeeper incorrectly gave one of Jerami Grant's rebounds to Westbrook, so it's retroactively taken away. Westbrook technically ends up avg 9.9875, but all the broadcasters call it 10 and show it as 10.0 anyway, with only Jeff Van Gundy (during any ABC broadcasts) and Charles Barkley (during the TNT shows) speaking out against it.
Barkley: Listen, I love Westbrook, I think he's a great kid, what he did last year was phenomenal, I think he had a great year this year, but he didn't average no triple double.
Shaq: You just jealous. He just jealous Ernie (said while Barkley's speaking).
Ernie: So Charles, you're telling me, the numbers say 10.0, that's what the numbers say. This isn't something special they're doing just for Westbrook here. It's the math.
Kenny: But with rounding!
Shaq: Chuck don't know no math.
Barkley: I know I had more triple doubles than you!
Shaq: Psh, please. Count the rings.
Barkely: How about I go count Kobe's rings.
Shaq: Still more than you. Still more than you. Even Kenny got more than you.
Goes to commercial with them arguing. Something like that I'm sure.
TP for the dialogue, which is spot on.
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The triple double is the most meaningless, fake stat that ever existed. A line of 11-10-9 is no less valuable or impactful than a line of 10-10-10. Yet so many people have been brainwashed by the hype-men in the media to believe that it somehow is.
Good for Russ if he wants to chase after a meaningless stat, I couldn't care less.
I certainly get your larger point but exactly 2 times in the entire history of the NBA has a triple double been averaged over the course of a season. I have a hard time calling something so rare meaningless
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The triple double is the most meaningless, fake stat that ever existed. A line of 11-10-9 is no less valuable or impactful than a line of 10-10-10. Yet so many people have been brainwashed by the hype-men in the media to believe that it somehow is.
Good for Russ if he wants to chase after a meaningless stat, I couldn't care less.
I certainly get your larger point but exactly 2 times in the entire history of the NBA has a triple double been averaged over the course of a season. I have a hard time calling something so rare meaningless
But why should I care about some arbitrary line of "10"?
Westbrook averaged 10.7 rebounds and 10.4 assists last season. But had he averaged 9.7 rebounds and 11.4 assists it wouldn't be a triple-double and most people would look at it as less of an accomplishment. Yet I would argue that averaging 1 more assist and 1 less rebound would have been more valuable to his team.
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I'm sure that he'll get 16 rebounds because, just like Jordan and Kobe, he's all about his stats ::).
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The triple double is the most meaningless, fake stat that ever existed. A line of 11-10-9 is no less valuable or impactful than a line of 10-10-10. Yet so many people have been brainwashed by the hype-men in the media to believe that it somehow is.
Good for Russ if he wants to chase after a meaningless stat, I couldn't care less.
I certainly get your larger point but exactly 2 times in the entire history of the NBA has a triple double been averaged over the course of a season. I have a hard time calling something so rare meaningless
But why should I care about some arbitrary line of "10"?
Westbrook averaged 10.7 rebounds and 10.4 assists last season. But had he averaged 9.7 rebounds and 11.4 assists it wouldn't be a triple-double and most people would look at it as less of an accomplishment. Yet I would argue that averaging 1 more assist and 1 less rebound would have been more valuable to his team.
It means something because it's very hard to be significant in 3 major areas of the game. Westbrook is 6'2" shoes off. For him to avg 10 RPG every night is incredible.
Rebounding is why Players like Chris Paul, Steven Nash, Rondo, Jason Kidd, could never do it.
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Westbrook with 1 point but 12 assists and 11 rebounds at halftime.
Just 5 more rebounds to go.
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The triple double is the most meaningless, fake stat that ever existed. A line of 11-10-9 is no less valuable or impactful than a line of 10-10-10. Yet so many people have been brainwashed by the hype-men in the media to believe that it somehow is.
Good for Russ if he wants to chase after a meaningless stat, I couldn't care less.
I certainly get your larger point but exactly 2 times in the entire history of the NBA has a triple double been averaged over the course of a season. I have a hard time calling something so rare meaningless
But why should I care about some arbitrary line of "10"?
Westbrook averaged 10.7 rebounds and 10.4 assists last season. But had he averaged 9.7 rebounds and 11.4 assists it wouldn't be a triple-double and most people would look at it as less of an accomplishment. Yet I would argue that averaging 1 more assist and 1 less rebound would have been more valuable to his team.
It means something because it's very hard to be significant in 3 major areas of the game. Westbrook is 6'2" shoes off. For him to avg 10 RPG every night is incredible.
Rebounding is why Players like Chris Paul, Steven Nash, Rondo, Jason Kidd, could never do it.
I remember Kidd getting a lot of 10-10-10 ones. He couldnt shoot, but could grab long rebounds and throw lobs full court, so he got quite a few I think. Rondo, had he a normal healthy career as a starter, would have likely had quite a few as well.
Kidd and Rondo were stronger, and Paul and Nash more slightly built, but their respective schemes usually had the latter two position for an outlet pass off a rebound or inbound so they could run off makes. Maybe that all makes a difference.
But I always thought the triple double represented really dominating a game in possibly the most critical areas.
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Do we think it's a coincidence that 3 of Westbrook's best rebounding games of the season have come in the last 4 games (with 15,16, 7, 18)?
So here's my prediction: Westbrook initially get's 16 rebounds. But some Reddit user points out that the scorekeeper incorrectly gave one of Jerami Grant's rebounds to Westbrook, so it's retroactively taken away. Westbrook technically ends up avg 9.9875, but all the broadcasters call it 10 and show it as 10.0 anyway, with only Jeff Van Gundy (during any ABC broadcasts) and Charles Barkley (during the TNT shows) speaking out against it.
Barkley: Listen, I love Westbrook, I think he's a great kid, what he did last year was phenomenal, I think he had a great year this year, but he didn't average no triple double.
Shaq: You just jealous. He just jealous Ernie (said while Barkley's speaking).
Ernie: So Charles, you're telling me, the numbers say 10.0, that's what the numbers say. This isn't something special they're doing just for Westbrook here. It's the math.
Kenny: But with rounding!
Shaq: Chuck don't know no math.
Barkley: I know I had more triple doubles than you!
Shaq: Psh, please. Count the rings.
Barkely: How about I go count Kobe's rings.
Shaq: Still more than you. Still more than you. Even Kenny got more than you.
Goes to commercial with them arguing. Something like that I'm sure.
lol TP
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Westbrook with 1 point but 12 assists and 11 rebounds at halftime.
Just 5 more rebounds to go.
20 rebounds, 19 assists... and six points. Seems unselfish ;D ;D ;D
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Westbrook with 1 point but 12 assists and 11 rebounds at halftime.
Just 5 more rebounds to go.
20 rebounds, 19 assists... and six points. Seems unselfish ;D ;D ;D
I am sure he figured that if his teammates were giving him free rebounds, then he could dish out a few extra assists to pad their scoring #s.
Even if it was a little forced, I am still happy for him that he was able to average a triple double [again]. It would have been pretty lame to average 9.99 rebounds.
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Russ would be better suited to play on the And-1 tour
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Obvious padding stats is obvious
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this level of obvious stat padding is stupid. worry about trying to win a ring Russ, not your individual stats.
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I am kind of happy with him getting this achievement.
Even though basketball wise it is meaningless.
It won't change anything.
Along with the MVP award (I have expressed my thoughts about that extensively), his team USA play and making finals with 2 other MVPs, this is, and my guess will be, the biggest achievement of his career.
He won't win a title, make the finals anymore, so let him have his raw stats and the majority of superficial NBA followers.
They deserve each other.
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I'm not a fan of Westbrook. He's kind of out of control on the court, and he seems more concerned with stats than with winning.
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I'm not a fan of Westbrook. He's kind of out of control on the court, and he seems more concerned with stats than with winning.
Perhaps it's why Kevin Durant truly left him to chase after championships lol. He couldn't stand Westbrook padding stats.
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I'm not a fan of Westbrook. He's kind of out of control on the court, and he seems more concerned with stats than with winning.
Perhaps it's why Kevin Durant truly left him to chase after championships lol. He couldn't stand Westbrook padding stats.
Russell Westbrook was 100% the reason why Durant left. I said it would be before it happened.
Durant got tired of Russ competing with him for touches. Durant has done just fine getting his touches, despite playing with even more talent in GSW. The Warriors share the ball and make the right play. Russ only makes the plays that make himself look better.
Westbrook is a fool.
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I'm not a fan of Westbrook. He's kind of out of control on the court, and he seems more concerned with stats than with winning.
Perhaps it's why Kevin Durant truly left him to chase after championships lol. He couldn't stand Westbrook padding stats.
Russell Westbrook was 100% the reason why Durant left. I said it would be before it happened.
Durant got tired of Russ competing with him for touches. Durant has done just fine getting his touches, despite playing with even more talent in GSW. The Warriors share the ball and make the right play. Russ only makes the plays that make himself look better.
Westbrook is a fool.
except Durant has more shots and a higher usage playing with Westbrook then he has had in Golden State.
Durant left because he is a beta and couldn't stand playing with an actual alpha.
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I'm not a fan of Westbrook. He's kind of out of control on the court, and he seems more concerned with stats than with winning.
Perhaps it's why Kevin Durant truly left him to chase after championships lol. He couldn't stand Westbrook padding stats.
Russell Westbrook was 100% the reason why Durant left. I said it would be before it happened.
Durant got tired of Russ competing with him for touches. Durant has done just fine getting his touches, despite playing with even more talent in GSW. The Warriors share the ball and make the right play. Russ only makes the plays that make himself look better.
Westbrook is a fool.
except Durant has more shots and a higher usage playing with Westbrook then he has had in Golden State.
Durant left because he is a beta and couldn't stand playing with an actual alpha.
Being the best player on a championship team is pretty alpha
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I'm not a fan of Westbrook. He's kind of out of control on the court, and he seems more concerned with stats than with winning.
Perhaps it's why Kevin Durant truly left him to chase after championships lol. He couldn't stand Westbrook padding stats.
Russell Westbrook was 100% the reason why Durant left. I said it would be before it happened.
Durant got tired of Russ competing with him for touches. Durant has done just fine getting his touches, despite playing with even more talent in GSW. The Warriors share the ball and make the right play. Russ only makes the plays that make himself look better.
Westbrook is a fool.
except Durant has more shots and a higher usage playing with Westbrook then he has had in Golden State.
Durant left because he is a beta and couldn't stand playing with an actual alpha.
Being the best player on a championship team is pretty alpha
As we've seen this year in Curry's absence, Curry is and always has been the best player on the Warriors.
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I'm not a fan of Westbrook. He's kind of out of control on the court, and he seems more concerned with stats than with winning.
Perhaps it's why Kevin Durant truly left him to chase after championships lol. He couldn't stand Westbrook padding stats.
Russell Westbrook was 100% the reason why Durant left. I said it would be before it happened.
Durant got tired of Russ competing with him for touches. Durant has done just fine getting his touches, despite playing with even more talent in GSW. The Warriors share the ball and make the right play. Russ only makes the plays that make himself look better.
Westbrook is a fool.
except Durant has more shots and a higher usage playing with Westbrook then he has had in Golden State.
Durant left because he is a beta and couldn't stand playing with an actual alpha.
Being the best player on a championship team is pretty alpha
As we've seen this year in Curry's absence, Curry is and always has been the best player on the Warriors.
I guess the debate is finally settled- the Warriors are Curry's team and not Durant's team ;D
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I'm not a fan of Westbrook. He's kind of out of control on the court, and he seems more concerned with stats than with winning.
Perhaps it's why Kevin Durant truly left him to chase after championships lol. He couldn't stand Westbrook padding stats.
Russell Westbrook was 100% the reason why Durant left. I said it would be before it happened.
Durant got tired of Russ competing with him for touches. Durant has done just fine getting his touches, despite playing with even more talent in GSW. The Warriors share the ball and make the right play. Russ only makes the plays that make himself look better.
Westbrook is a fool.
except Durant has more shots and a higher usage playing with Westbrook then he has had in Golden State.
Durant left because he is a beta and couldn't stand playing with an actual alpha.
Being the best player on a championship team is pretty alpha
As we've seen this year in Curry's absence, Curry is and always has been the best player on the Warriors.
Doesn't really make sense. Are you saying that the Warriors were worse with Curry out? Because that really doesn't need saying. They still won 58 games with Durant missing 14 games and Curry missing around 30.
I don't get your point at all - what has Curry's absence got to do with the fact that Durant is the better player
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I'm not a fan of Westbrook. He's kind of out of control on the court, and he seems more concerned with stats than with winning.
Perhaps it's why Kevin Durant truly left him to chase after championships lol. He couldn't stand Westbrook padding stats.
Russell Westbrook was 100% the reason why Durant left. I said it would be before it happened.
Durant got tired of Russ competing with him for touches. Durant has done just fine getting his touches, despite playing with even more talent in GSW. The Warriors share the ball and make the right play. Russ only makes the plays that make himself look better.
Westbrook is a fool.
except Durant has more shots and a higher usage playing with Westbrook then he has had in Golden State.
Durant left because he is a beta and couldn't stand playing with an actual alpha.
Being the best player on a championship team is pretty alpha
As we've seen this year in Curry's absence, Curry is and always has been the best player on the Warriors.
Doesn't really make sense. Are you saying that the Warriors were worse with Curry out? Because that really doesn't need saying. They still won 58 games with Durant missing 14 games and Curry missing around 30.
I don't get your point at all - what has Curry's absence got to do with the fact that Durant is the better player
The Warriors wwrr 41-10 with Curry and 17-14 without him. They were 49-19 with Durant and 9-5 without him. That to me says Curry is far more important to the Warriors success than Durant is. Thus Curry is better.
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I'm not a fan of Westbrook. He's kind of out of control on the court, and he seems more concerned with stats than with winning.
Perhaps it's why Kevin Durant truly left him to chase after championships lol. He couldn't stand Westbrook padding stats.
Russell Westbrook was 100% the reason why Durant left. I said it would be before it happened.
Durant got tired of Russ competing with him for touches. Durant has done just fine getting his touches, despite playing with even more talent in GSW. The Warriors share the ball and make the right play. Russ only makes the plays that make himself look better.
Westbrook is a fool.
except Durant has more shots and a higher usage playing with Westbrook then he has had in Golden State.
Durant left because he is a beta and couldn't stand playing with an actual alpha.
Being the best player on a championship team is pretty alpha
As we've seen this year in Curry's absence, Curry is and always has been the best player on the Warriors.
Doesn't really make sense. Are you saying that the Warriors were worse with Curry out? Because that really doesn't need saying. They still won 58 games with Durant missing 14 games and Curry missing around 30.
I don't get your point at all - what has Curry's absence got to do with the fact that Durant is the better player
The Warriors wwrr 41-10 with Curry and 17-14 without him. They were 49-19 with Durant and 9-5 without him. That to me says Curry is far more important to the Warriors success than Durant is. Thus Curry is better.
I really don't think that proves anything at all. There are a lot more factors in play than just those two players. You could find even more solid "proof" with some stiff of a player who just happens to be out when the team is not playing well.
Also, more important and better are two totally different things. Thompson can do some of the things that Durant can do. Nobody on the team does what Curry can do.
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It's debatable who the best player on the Warriors is, but being the best player doesn't make somebody an alpha (nobody would call Smart our best player, but I don't think anybody would disagree that he has an alpha personality). In OKC, while Westbrook is certainly a take charge kind-of player, Duant still felt he had too much responsibility to bear; it was really just the two of them.
In GSW, Durant has been able to slide right in and play with a bunch of other all-stars. He has performed well, but has never had the pressure of absolutely having to play well...that is until Curry went out and the Warriors 'struggled'. I would love Durant on the Cs more than just about any player in the league, but he is absolutely a beta...and also, who really cares? He was able to find a situation in which he felt comfortable and now he gets to win lots of championships without all the pressure. That has to be pretty cool for him.
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I'm not a fan of Westbrook. He's kind of out of control on the court, and he seems more concerned with stats than with winning.
Perhaps it's why Kevin Durant truly left him to chase after championships lol. He couldn't stand Westbrook padding stats.
Russell Westbrook was 100% the reason why Durant left. I said it would be before it happened.
Durant got tired of Russ competing with him for touches. Durant has done just fine getting his touches, despite playing with even more talent in GSW. The Warriors share the ball and make the right play. Russ only makes the plays that make himself look better.
Westbrook is a fool.
except Durant has more shots and a higher usage playing with Westbrook then he has had in Golden State.
Durant left because he is a beta and couldn't stand playing with an actual alpha.
Being the best player on a championship team is pretty alpha
As we've seen this year in Curry's absence, Curry is and always has been the best player on the Warriors.
Doesn't really make sense. Are you saying that the Warriors were worse with Curry out? Because that really doesn't need saying. They still won 58 games with Durant missing 14 games and Curry missing around 30.
I don't get your point at all - what has Curry's absence got to do with the fact that Durant is the better player
The Warriors wwrr 41-10 with Curry and 17-14 without him. They were 49-19 with Durant and 9-5 without him. That to me says Curry is far more important to the Warriors success than Durant is. Thus Curry is better.
I really don't think that proves anything at all. There are a lot more factors in play than just those two players. You could find even more solid "proof" with some stiff of a player who just happens to be out when the team is not playing well.
Also, more important and better are two totally different things. Thompson can do some of the things that Durant can do. Nobody on the team does what Curry can do.
Which again says Curry is better since he can't be duplicated. Curry is a 2 time MVP, the only unanimous MVP in NBA history. The Warriors are a mediocre team when he doesn't play, which isn't the case when any other player misses extended action. Remember Durant missed 20 games last year as well. GS was 51-11 with him, but was still 16-4 without him (so not much worse). Curry is better than Durant. I've more recently come to this conclusion, as I for awhile felt Durant was better since he is a better defender, but I can't dispute the unrecognizable conclusion that Curry is just so good offensively he makes up for his defensive deficiencies. James is the best player in the world, but I now pretty confidently believe Curry is the 2nd best player in the world. Durant, I'd have at 3 right now, though Davis, Giannis, Harden, Westbrook, and a healthy Leonard aren't far behind.