Leander wrote:What's your opinion on Westbrook? I saw his insane RPG stats for a player his size and position but then watched a YouTube video saying his team mates let him grab rebounds to get triple doubles and boost his stats. That's just stupid and selfish. What do you think? Just imagine a good rebounder being on the same team for years and lowering his stats because of Westbrook...messing up an entire career.
https://youtu.be/HYKolm75h8Y
Billy Donovan himself stated that it's a team strategy. When Westbrook gets the rebound, he flys down the court, he's a one man fastbreak. The Kanter and Adams "Boxing out for him" that happened in his first season he averaged a triple double was for that reason.
Most of the rebounds in that video are legit by Westbrook, so many shouldn't even be on that video. The ones where it's only him, Sabonis or Adams in the paint and nobody around, they WANT Westbrook to get that so he can book it up the court or make a quick decision, that's smart basketball. There are many, many rebounds on that video where the bigs are out of position, or the ball isn't even at arms length, and Westbrook swoops in and grabs it and starts the break.
I've watched many Thunder games, and while Westbrook is erratic at times (one too many red bulls), he 100% sets the tone for that team, and a big part of that is how he starts the offense off of rebounds and gets them out on the break. He is the best passer on the team, the fastest/most athletic player, and the most explosive when he has it going.
The person who made that video clearly is just trying to discredit Westbrook, and turned a blind eye to all the legitimate rebounds on that video. Anybody who knows a lick about basketball and is being realistic, sees that most of the boards on that video were legit, and the ones where Sabonis or Adams put arms up, was because no opposing players were around and they wanted Westbrook to book it up the floor. Having Adams, or another big touch the ball and make a pass to Westbrook are two steps that slow them down and are completely unnecessary if there is no threat for OKC to lose the rebound (Not opponents in the area).
Westbrook drives me nuts sometimes, because he will gun at the end of the game from deep mid or three, and lose his team games. He's not gunning to put up points, he is trying incredibly hard to win the game. His shot selection and out of control drives is what holds Westbrook and the team back at times. When he is right, and his shot selection is better, he is easily one of the best players in the league, and a big part of that is his energy, enthusiasm, leading by example, and his ability to do so many things on the floor.