I know it's the preseason, but Durant...

[KG215]

dropped 36 points in 23 minutes tonight.


http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b79/jdbudget/ThundervsNuggetspreseason_zpse174b9fc.png


Made all four 3s in the first four minutes of the 3rd quarter. Had 12 assists last preseason game and scored 36 points in 23 minutes tonight.

[juju151111]

dropped 36 points in 23 minutes tonight.


http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b79/jdbudget/ThundervsNuggetspreseason_zpse174b9fc.png


Made all four 3s in the first four minutes of the 3rd quarter. Had 12 assists last preseason game and scored 36 points in 23 minutes tonight.
He pre prime mode right now. He going to go off, might be his peak year too.

[The JKidd Kid]

Can't wait until he comes to the Nets in 2016. :cheers:

[It's A VC3!!!]

Can't wait until he comes to the Nets in 2016. :cheers:
Same.:cheers:

[ABG]

he's a beast.

[aj1987]

6'11", speed and handles of a guard, can shoot from anywhere on the court, and has the wingspan of a 7+ footer. I would be surprised if the dude doesn't end up as a top 15 GOAT.

[Young X]

I really want to see him average 32+ next season. I wanna see 40/50 point games from him. Make it happen, KD.

[Trollsmasher]

peaking in the preseason:facepalm

[Fudge]

That's ****ing unreal.

GAWDrant carrying this team without Swagbrook.

[KG215]

peaking in the preseason:facepalm
I mean if you're going to troll at least try and come up with something that's not so stupid.

[ripthekik]

that's some good stuff.
I really hope he doesn't get into that mentality of trying to build an all-around game. I know he's been trying to up his passing/assist, but I feel he shouldn't. He's the best damn scorer in the game right now.. focus on your strengths. Just score the damn ball.

[NumberSix]

Nice...... Nice.

[no pun intended]

Is it only me or does he look much bigger?

[KG215]

Is it only me or does he look much bigger?
He's definitely put on some weight. Sometimes I think it's really noticeable (something like 15-20 pounds) and other times I think it looks more subtle (like 5 pounds), but he's definitely bulked up some.

About the scoring tonight...he scored 22 in the first half in 16 minutes of playing time. Then he came out and scored 14 quick points in the 3rd, and was taken out with a little more than 5 minutes to go in the 3rd. After hitting those four quick 3-pointers to start the 3rd quarter, he looked locked in. Probably would've been a 50+ point game if it was the regular season.

[Droid101]

Plays way better without Westbrook. They need to trade Westbrook while he has peak value and surround Durant with defenders and good passers.

[TheBigVeto]

It's just a matter of time before he drops 82.

[SamuraiSWISH]

Plays way better without Westbrook. They need to trade Westbrook while he has peak value and surround Durant with defenders and good passers.
Agreed.

I've been saying that too. They should've shipped Westbrick for a real PG in CP3 when they had the chance before the 2012 season.

Westbrook holds that team back, Durant specifically with his atrocious decision making. I'd love to see Durant have some insane scoring games this year.

I'd actually root for OKC without that temper tantrum, feminine retard running PG for them. All they need is an intelligent, distribute first PG on their team and the skies the limit.

[KG215]

Plays way better without Westbrook. They need to trade Westbrook while he has peak value and surround Durant with defenders and good passers.
Or, you know, they can build around two superstars instead of one superstar and support/role players ala LeBron in Cleveland. I guess they could get another superstar caliber player in return for Westbrook, but why do that when you've already got one (Westbrook) who's just 25 years old?

[b1imtf]

:applause:

[plowking]

I hope Durant averages something ridiculous this season. Like 35ppg. Would be sick.

And I'm so sick of the Westbrook bashing... Its lame, played out, and flat out incorrect. Great, you all heard some commentators/analysts say hes stupid, makes bad decisions. Yeah, not really.
Idiots on here like Magic Johnson. Critiquing him for playing the way he plays, then he goes off for 40+ and then everyone is praising him.

Westbrook is always a plus for any team, every game. He forces defenses to adjust just about more than any player in the league. You can win with him, and anyone suggesting otherwise is as stupid as they come. We've seen the "he'll never win a championship" phrase said about damn near everyone. It only makes you look stupid.

[Chuckbrook]

This is the perfect opportunity for me to say something negative about Russell Westbrook, but I think I'll just go to bed. :cheers:

[NumberSix]

This is the perfect opportunity for me to say something negative about Russell Westbrook, but I think I'll just go to bed. :cheers:
He has a turtle face. I saw him. I said "HEY! Yeah you. You fcuking turtle face fcuk".

[East_Stone_Ya]

It's just a matter of time before he drops 82.

:roll:

[BoutPractice]

Ridiculous. We might be entering the late 80s Jordan era of Durant's career, where he just puts amazing numbers but the team around him isn't quite good enough to win the championship. We'll see.

[TheReturn]

I hope Durant has a monster season.

[ILLsmak]

I agree with trading Westbrook, but they'd have to get a good value in return. The thing about trading guys is if they find out it's ****ed because they are gonna get mad then you gotta trade them for less. So it's almost like they'd have to wait for a call and just accept it instead of shopping him. Maybe they are.

I think they need a PG who is similar to Westbrook, but who can defer. Bust out NBA 2k and think up some trades...

Nah but really, young PG + real big. Aldrige and Lillard for Westbrook is GG.

In a way, it's been good for KD to have Westbrook because WB can always get the blame. However, I don't think KD is gonna grow fully until Westbrook is gone. He may never need to grow fully, and if Westbrook, in turn, continues to grow and they actually develop better chemistry, it may work. As for now, though, I still think they'd be better getting rid of him.

-Smak

[andremiller07]

Westbrook is not the issues it's whoever has been the 3rd option, Harden as the 3rd has a poor finals series and Ibaka is more a 4th-5th option he's not a 3rd.

[Greg Oden 50]

still a loser

[Eric Cartman]

They let Harden go and multiple posters are suggesting they get rid of Westbrook as well?

Might as well kiss Durant goodbye in free agency when the time comes.

[TheReturn]

They let Harden go and multiple posters are suggesting they get rid of Westbrook as well?

Might as well kiss Durant goodbye in free agency when the time comes.
Sort of depends on what you get back for WB.

[LA_Showtime]

I know the Thunder want Durant to play more like LeBron and get other guys involved but I just want to see him say screw it and shoot 25-30 times per game. He's one of the few guys in this league who could probably average 40.

[miamiandorlando]

he should just go all out and score allot while westbrook is out instead of trying to get others involved

[russwest0]

I watched that game. Had they kept him in for the full 3rd quarter he would have dropped 40 in 3 quarters.

KD is absolutely gonna dominate without Russ for the first month. He should get at least 7 assists a game and at least 30 ppg. KD pretty much surpassed LeBron last year in terms of pure statistics (including advanced statistics), so he'll probably build on that this year.

A part of me was thining, what if we traded Westbrook to Hornets for Anthony Davis and just let KD have full command of the offense.

Reggie Jackson
Thabo Sefolosha
Kevin Durant
Serge Ibaka
Anthony Davis

But IDK, Russ is a monster, I just wish we'd let KD take more shots than Russ

[KG215]

he should just go all out and score allot while westbrook is out instead of trying to get others involved
Eh...I disagree. I think he needs to find a good balance while Westbrook is out. There's going to be some games his shot isn't falling and he's going to need to rely on his teammates more in that particular game if they want to win.

I didn't get to watch all of last night's game because it took me until the 2nd quarter to find a stream that wouldn't f**k up my computer. But based on what I saw last night compared to the first two games is that Durant was making a more conscious effort to score the ball. The first two games it more-or-less looked to me like he was purposely being passive in the first half, before taking over in the 3rd quarter. And, in both of those first two games overseas, the 3rd quarter of those games is when OKC blew things open. I know the 76ers almost came back and won, but Durant didn't play the entire 3rd quarter or 4th quarter.

Last night he was in scoring mode from the outset (11 points in the 1st quarter) and OKC dominated the game from start to finish. I think it's just going to have to be a feeling out process as the game goes along. If he's feeling it early on, as he obviously was last night, then he probably should just focus on scoring 40+ or 50+ that night. But if he starts off the game shooting 1/5 or 2/7 like he did against Fenerbahce, then he probably might want to get others involved a little more.

[dannywpt]

Plays way better without Westbrook. They need to trade Westbrook while he has peak value and surround Durant with defenders and good passers.

Yeah, and lose to the Grizzles in the west semi's again despite KD putting up ridiculous numbers...

[scm5]

Plays way better without Westbrook. They need to trade Westbrook while he has peak value and surround Durant with defenders and good passers.

I agree completely.

Something like this would be amazing for both OKC and ORL.

Westbrook, Perkins, Lamb and a pick for Vucevic, Afflalo, Jameer, and Davis.

OKC ends up looking like:

Nelson/Jackson
Thabo/Afflalo
Durant/Afllalo
Ibaka/Davis
Vucevic/Collison

ORL gets to build around a solid star player in Westbrook and OKC becomes incredibly deep and well rounded at all positions.

[dannywpt]

That trade suggestion is awful and no sober GM would ever consider giving up Westbrook for Vucevic, Davis, Nelson and Afflalo, let alone throw in Lamb and picks.

I'm all for getting rid of Perkins though. Almost by all means. But not by giving away Goatbrook.

[Trollsmasher]

I watched that game. Had they kept him in for the full 3rd quarter he would have dropped 40 in 3 quarters.

KD is absolutely gonna dominate without Russ for the first month. He should get at least 7 assists a game and at least 30 ppg. KD pretty much surpassed LeBron last year in terms of pure statistics (including advanced statistics), so he'll probably build on that this year.

A part of me was thining, what if we traded Westbrook to Hornets for Anthony Davis and just let KD have full command of the offense.

Reggie Jackson
Thabo Sefolosha
Kevin Durant
Serge Ibaka
Anthony Davis

But IDK, Russ is a monster, I just wish we'd let KD take more shots than Russ
so retarded:facepalm

[scm5]

That trade suggestion is awful and no sober GM would ever consider giving up Westbrook for Vucevic, Davis, Nelson and Afflalo, let alone throw in Lamb and picks.

I'm all for getting rid of Perkins though. Almost by all means. But not by giving away Goatbrook.

Really? Because I would.

You upgrade Perkins to Vucevic which is huge.

Afflalo is better than Lamb will ever be and he's ready to contribute now. He can also play both SG/SF which makes it hurt less when Durant sits. Good shooter and almost as good defensively as Thabo.

Davis off the bench is also huge and allows Ibaka to move to C if OKC wants to play small ball.

Jameer is a downgrade at PG, but Reggie Jackson needs minutes to develop and he won't get that playing behind Westbrook. The upgrade in players all around is well worth the downgrade in one position. It's not like Jameer is some scrub, he is a legit starter.

[Jailblazers7]

Plays way better without Westbrook. They need to trade Westbrook while he has peak value and surround Durant with defenders and good passers.

The team is better with Westbrook. Durant might put up better numbers but that team is going nowhere with him as the lone star imo. Only way Westbrook should get dealt is if they think his knee will be a recurring issue and want to trade him while his stock is high.

[pauk]

Its interesting to see how he got better once the season actually starts and depending on Westbrook absence Durant sure will be getting career highs this season.

[DuMa]

If KD doesnt hit 50 at least once while RUss is out, i'll kill a baby.

[O_City_Thunder]

If KD doesnt hit 50 at least once while RUss is out, i'll kill a baby.
That's kinda extreme.....don't you think? :confusedshrug:

[scm5]

Durant has the potential to be the GOAT scorer without Westbrook.

[Bibby4Three]

Westbrook is sometimes frustrating to watch when he should be feeding Durant but instead he is chucking.

[Nash]

eh, Durant needs Westbrook. Just see how well he did without him in the playoffs.

[kNicKz]

eh, Durant needs Westbrook. Just see how well he did without him in the playoffs.

I think he needs Bosh, Wade, and Ray Allen

[tmacattack33]

Half of these guys don't even try in the regular season, let alone the preseason.

[KG215]

eh, Durant needs Westbrook. Just see how well he did without him in the playoffs.
Wrong, the team needs Westbrook, not Durant...if that makes sense. By extension, yes, Durant needs Westbrook (or any other legit sidekick to succeed, just like almost everyone else throughout NBA history), but not as much as the team needs Russ. Durant beasted when Russ went down (32-10-6 on 46% FG and 58% TS in 9 playoff games without Westbrook), but the team wilted; most notably Serge who was pretty reliant on Westbrook setting him up. I think he'll be better now that he's had an entire preseason and training came to play without Russ, but having to adjust and figure out how to do that on the fly in the playoffs wasn't easy.

[KG215]

Half of these guys don't even try in the regular season, let alone the preseason.
Good point. 36 points in 23 minutes against other NBA players, even in a preseason setting, just isn't that impressive I guess. I'm sure if LeBron scored 36 pts in 23 min, or flirted with or got a triple double in 20-25 minutes of a preseason game you'd cream yourself, though.

[longtime lurker]

eh, Durant needs Westbrook. Just see how well he did without him in the playoffs.

You mean to tell me that losing an all star and all NBA point guard and replacing him with a back up makes a team worse? Please tell us more oh wise basketball sage.

[Fudge]

Half of these guys don't even try in the regular season, let alone the preseason.
:roll:

People actually still believe this shit?

[LikeABosh]

I think he needs Bosh, Wade, and Ray Allen
LMAO he had a healthy Westbrook, Harden and Ibaka in 2012

[russwest0]

LMAO he had a healthy Westbrook, Harden and Ibaka in 2012

>Heat fan since 1980
>Dat username


:wtf:

:biggums:

[aj1987]

>Heat fan since 1980
>Dat username


:wtf:

:biggums:
That's what threw you off? Not "Heat fan since 1980"? :facepalm