Can Russell Westbrook Play SG?

[TheFlex]

Disclaimer: The stats used are a combo of statistics found on basketballreference.com and from John Hollinger's advanced ESPN rankings. Some of the numbers when put side-by-side may be slightly different based on where you find them (for example Player A's true shooting percentage and Player B's usage rate vary between the two sites. However, if in this commentary I stated that Player A's usage rate, for example, was ##.# based on the findings of one site, I used the same site to determine the usage rate of Player B. The differences between the two stat generators is essentially negligible because of such caution.

Player A: Shooting Guard and Point Guard, 6'4", 212 lbs, 24.5 career ppg, 18.9 2013-14 ppg, 4.0-6.4 career rpg range, 4.5-7.5 career apg range, 1.8 career spg, .490/.291/.765 career shooting splits, 25.3 2013-14 usage rate (1st among shooting guards, 14th among point guards), 21.3 PER

Player B: Point Guard, 6'3", 187 lbs, 21.0 career ppg, 23.3 2013-14 ppg, 4.6-6.0 career rpg range, 5.3-8.2 career apg range, 1.6 career spg, .432/.303/.813 career shooting splits, 32.1 2013-14 usage rate (1st among both positions), 21.54 PER.

Player A is Dwyane Wade (who had five seasons in which he eclipsed Player B's current usage rate). Player B is Russell Westbrook.

The similarities are not shocking. Super-athletic scoring machines like Westbrook -- along with PGs like Derrick Rose and Eric Bledsoe -- have long been evaluated in dual-position respects: as point guards and shooting guards. The same goes for shooting guards with electric handling like Dwyane Wade. Can this breed of players seamlessly cross over between basketball's two backcourt positions?

I don't see why not, especially for somebody as filled out as Westbrook (who is well within the weight/height range of a modern day shooting guard). Many would argue it would actually help a player as active as Westbrook, whose skills better translate to the shooting guard position. Such a shift could also help Westbrook as he gets older (as shooting guards tend to have lower usage rates than point guards, easing the wear and tear on Westbrook's knee).

What do you think? Can Russell Westbrook play the shooting guard position every night next to Kevin Durant?

[Tr1boy]

Disclaimer: The stats used are a combo of statistics found on basketballreference.com and from John Hollinger's advanced ESPN rankings. Some of the numbers when put side-by-side may be slightly different based on where you find them (for example Player A's true shooting percentage and Player B's usage rate vary between the two sites. However, if in this commentary I stated that Player A's usage rate, for example, was ##.# based on the findings of one site, I used the same site to determine the usage rate of Player B. The differences between the two stat generators is essentially negligible because of such caution.

Player A: Shooting Guard and Point Guard, 6'4", 212 lbs, 24.5 career ppg, 18.9 2013-14 ppg, 4.0-6.4 career rpg range, 4.5-7.5 career apg range, 1.8 career spg, .490/.291/.765 career shooting splits, 25.3 2013-14 usage rate (1st among shooting guards, 14th among point guards), 21.3 PER

Player B: Point Guard, 6'3", 187 lbs, 21.0 career ppg, 23.3 2013-14 ppg, 4.6-6.0 career rpg range, 5.3-8.2 career apg range, 1.6 career spg, .432/.303/.813 career shooting splits, 32.1 2013-14 usage rate (1st among both positions), 21.54 PER.

Player A is Dwyane Wade (who had five seasons in which he eclipsed Player B's current usage rate). Player B is Russell Westbrook.

The similarities are not shocking. Super-athletic scoring machines like Westbrook -- along with PGs like Derrick Rose and Eric Bledsoe -- have long been evaluated in dual-position respects: as point guards and shooting guards. The same goes for shooting guards with electric handling like Dwyane Wade. Can this breed of players seamlessly cross over between basketball's two backcourt positions?

I don't see why not, especially for somebody as filled out as Westbrook (who is well within the weight/height range of a modern day shooting guard). Many would argue it would actually help a player as active as Westbrook, whose skills better translate to the shooting guard position. Such a shift could also help Westbrook as he gets older (as shooting guards tend to have lower usage rates than point guards, easing the wear and tear on Westbrook's knee).

What do you think? Can Russell Westbrook play the shooting guard position every night next to Kevin Durant?

RW easily can play SG. But he likes to have the call in his hands. Might as well just play as a PG

He is not as effective coming off screens, playing off the ball vs having the ball in his hands to operate.