The Oklahoma City Thunder led the NBA in blown fourth quarter leads last season and Kevin Durant wanted to play within an offense that had better ball movement and easier scoring chances.
Despite a coaching change from Scott Brooks to Billy Donovan, the offense often stalled. Durant and Russell Westbrook were a powerful offensive duo but they didn't always make each other better.

"Ultimately he got frustrated and felt that they had plateaued," said a person with insight into Durant's thought process. "[Donovan] came in, and he still had the same issues that he had with Russ under Scotty. The offense didn't change much. He still had to take a ton of contested shots every game; and that's when he had the ball at all."

The Warriors have been one of the NBA's best passing teams for several seasons and their system is about setting up great shots instead of merely settling for good ones.

"He's never going to have a game in Golden State where Steve Kerr has to say at halftime, 'You guys need to get Kevin the ball,' which happened in OKC," the same person said.

http://basketball.realgm.com/wiretap/242700/Kevin-Durant-Thought-Thunder-Plateaued-Was-Frustrated-With-Westbrook-Within-Offense

The article is somewhat flawed because much of the "evidence" is based on people that are supposedly in Durant's circle....but it does validate widely circulated narratives about Westbrook and his myopic play. And clearly some of it must be true since Durant decided to leave a perennial contender that was just one game shy of being NBA Finals favorites.

That being said, is Russell Westbrook really the guy we want to pursue in 2017? If his ego was so out-of-control with a star like Durant, what will happen when he's playing next to inferior stars in Melo and (hopefully) KP? What implications will his game have on KP's growth and development moving forward?

For me, passing on Westbrook is an easy decision if my goal is to build a real winner. I view him as a cancer and empty stats guy in the vein of a suped-up Steve Francis or, to a lesser extent, Stephon Marbury.

NardDogNation wrote:And clearly some of it must be true since Durant decided to leave a perennial contender that was just one game shy of being NBA Finals favorites.

For me, passing on Westbrook is an easy decision if my goal is to build a real winner. I view him as a cancer and empty stats guy in the vein of a suped-up Steve Francis or, to a lesser extent, Stephon Marbury.

That cancerous, empty stats guy led a team that was up 3-1 and had a 7 point lead with 5 mins up 3-2, mins away from being the Finals favorite.

Can't have it both ways.

martin wrote:I'd guess that CP3 would be first in line if Rose does not pan out.

I did mention the same thing earlier Martin. Agreed.

Knickoftime wrote:

NardDogNation wrote:And clearly some of it must be true since Durant decided to leave a perennial contender that was just one game shy of being NBA Finals favorites.

For me, passing on Westbrook is an easy decision if my goal is to build a real winner. I view him as a cancer and empty stats guy in the vein of a suped-up Steve Francis or, to a lesser extent, Stephon Marbury.

That cancerous, empty stats guy led a team that was up 3-1 and had a 7 point lead with 5 mins up 3-2, mins away from being the Finals favorite.

Can't have it both ways.

....cause Kevin Durant and a slew of very talented complimentary players had nothing to do with it....

martin wrote:I'd guess that CP3 would be first in line if Rose does not pan out.

That's my guess too. I am hoping that Rose pans out so we don't have to pursue the older CP3 or the erratic Westbrook and can instead focus on loading up the bench and finding guys who can help cut down on our older starter's minutes.

NardDogNation wrote:

The Oklahoma City Thunder led the NBA in blown fourth quarter leads last season and Kevin Durant wanted to play within an offense that had better ball movement and easier scoring chances.
Despite a coaching change from Scott Brooks to Billy Donovan, the offense often stalled. Durant and Russell Westbrook were a powerful offensive duo but they didn't always make each other better.

"Ultimately he got frustrated and felt that they had plateaued," said a person with insight into Durant's thought process. "[Donovan] came in, and he still had the same issues that he had with Russ under Scotty. The offense didn't change much. He still had to take a ton of contested shots every game; and that's when he had the ball at all."

The Warriors have been one of the NBA's best passing teams for several seasons and their system is about setting up great shots instead of merely settling for good ones.

"He's never going to have a game in Golden State where Steve Kerr has to say at halftime, 'You guys need to get Kevin the ball,' which happened in OKC," the same person said.

http://basketball.realgm.com/wiretap/242700/Kevin-Durant-Thought-Thunder-Plateaued-Was-Frustrated-With-Westbrook-Within-Offense

The article is somewhat flawed because much of the "evidence" is based on people that are supposedly in Durant's circle....but it does validate widely circulated narratives about Westbrook and his myopic play. And clearly some of it must be true since Durant decided to leave a perennial contender that was just one game shy of being NBA Finals favorites.

That being said, is Russell Westbrook really the guy we want to pursue in 2017? If his ego was so out-of-control with a star like Durant, what will happen when he's playing next to inferior stars in Melo and (hopefully) KP? What implications will his game have on KP's growth and development moving forward?

For me, passing on Westbrook is an easy decision if my goal is to build a real winner. I view him as a cancer and empty stats guy in the vein of a suped-up Steve Francis or, to a lesser extent, Stephon Marbury.

franco12 wrote:

Cartman718 wrote:I know he's had a tough run with injuries but that could be the clippers curse. I love cp3's game and competitive fire. With him melo and noah that would be a fiery 3 to deal with for most teams

I thought cp3 had a great run last year, but

Can we get some youth please?

NardDogNation wrote:

fishmike wrote:

NardDogNation wrote:

The Oklahoma City Thunder led the NBA in blown fourth quarter leads last season and Kevin Durant wanted to play within an offense that had better ball movement and easier scoring chances.
Despite a coaching change from Scott Brooks to Billy Donovan, the offense often stalled. Durant and Russell Westbrook were a powerful offensive duo but they didn't always make each other better.

"Ultimately he got frustrated and felt that they had plateaued," said a person with insight into Durant's thought process. "[Donovan] came in, and he still had the same issues that he had with Russ under Scotty. The offense didn't change much. He still had to take a ton of contested shots every game; and that's when he had the ball at all."

The Warriors have been one of the NBA's best passing teams for several seasons and their system is about setting up great shots instead of merely settling for good ones.

"He's never going to have a game in Golden State where Steve Kerr has to say at halftime, 'You guys need to get Kevin the ball,' which happened in OKC," the same person said.

http://basketball.realgm.com/wiretap/242700/Kevin-Durant-Thought-Thunder-Plateaued-Was-Frustrated-With-Westbrook-Within-Offense

The article is somewhat flawed because much of the "evidence" is based on people that are supposedly in Durant's circle....but it does validate widely circulated narratives about Westbrook and his myopic play. And clearly some of it must be true since Durant decided to leave a perennial contender that was just one game shy of being NBA Finals favorites.

That being said, is Russell Westbrook really the guy we want to pursue in 2017? If his ego was so out-of-control with a star like Durant, what will happen when he's playing next to inferior stars in Melo and (hopefully) KP? What implications will his game have on KP's growth and development moving forward?

For me, passing on Westbrook is an easy decision if my goal is to build a real winner. I view him as a cancer and empty stats guy in the vein of a suped-up Steve Francis or, to a lesser extent, Stephon Marbury.

I would say you have not viewed him very much. He's a top 5 player in the NBA

He contributes pretty stats...that also contributes to an offense that had some of the least ball movement in the league and some of the poorest execution I've seen down the stretch. The guy is no doubt individually talented but this is a team game and he's no team player.

Thunder beat the Spurs, the ultimate team team.

Again, how bad can it be?