Shaq has pointed words for Thunder star Russell Westbrook

[JohnMax]

http://newsok.com/article/5349195

NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal had some pointed words for Thunder point guard Russell Westbrook in an interview with Nola.com, the website for the New Orleans Times Picayune.

O’Neal echoed Thunder players and coach Scott Brooks when he said more sacrificing from Oklahoma City’s roster is vital for the Thunder’s championship hopes. Only he singled out Westbrook.

“In the history of the game, every one-two punch — the one or the two — has to sacrifice and step back. Russell Westbrook don’t step back enough for me,” O’Neal told the website. “At some point, for the betterment of the team, you’ve got to step back. Until Westbrook learns to step back, it may be hard for them. Kevin Durant is the man, but Westbrook is like, ‘I’m getting mine every time. You can’t do it.’”

Speaking truth or Shaqtin a fool?

You be the judge.

[SOD 21]

Shaq just went through his old quotes from playing with Kobe and just inserted Russell Westbrook's name in there for Kobe.

[SamuraiSWISH]

Um I agree

[Fallguy20]

Shaq is right you know...

Any bias for Shaq aside, I can't be the only one watching Thunder games in the postseason and thinking to myself,

"Westbrook, why the hell did you just jack up that three with time on the shotclock when you have KD wide open over there?"

or

"Is this guy seriously trying to answer to something KD did a second ago to prove that he is also important to the team?"

or

"No... just no... you are talented beyond belief, but you are not playing to yours or your teams strengths and if you lose this series it will be because of you."


:confusedshrug:

He is amazing, but I get the sense that he plays like a child. Like that kid you play pickup ball with who does stupid stuff and you end up yelling, "YOU'RE NOT JORDAN!" at him as you run back on D...

Look at Ibaka. Dude is talented too, but you don't get the feeling like he is trying too hard. He helps his team because of his play. Westbrook, being more talented, could help his team even more if he played with a similiar mindset.

TL;DR
Westbrook needs to believe he is the second option but not feel like that makes him any less awesome.

[HOoopCityJones]

I believe Shaq just went through his old quotes from playing with Kobe and just inserted Russell Westbrook's name in there for Kobe.

Expect we won three straight though. Honest mistake on your part, don't worry about it. :cheers:

Kobe and Shaq sacrificed both their games. IT just didn't last.

And Shaq is speaking from past mistakes on his and Kobe's part.

[r15mohd]

Expect we won three straight though. Honest mistake on your part, don't worry about it. :cheers:

Kobe and Shaq sacrificed both their games. IT just didn't last.

And Shaq is speaking from past mistakes on his and Kobe's part.


I dont think Shaq sacrificed anything while a Laker, he was the focal point...Kobe had to step back as far as being option 1. as far as it not lasting, that's on Kobe. had he remained option 1b or 2, Lakers were going for many years further.

as Shaq aged, Kobe would of gotten his limelight (figure 2006 going forward)...Kobe just wanted it early and it cost him heavily those few years

[scm5]

I dont think Shaq sacrificed anything while a Laker, he was the focal point...Kobe had to step back as far as being option 1. as far as it not lasting, that's on Kobe. had he remained option 1b or 2, Lakers were going for many years further.

as Shaq aged, Kobe would of gotten his limelight (figure 2006 going forward)...Kobe just wanted it early and it cost him heavily those few years

They sacrificed for each other depending on match ups. Shaq would be the focal point against some teams, Kobe others.

Of course, this is only after Kobe developed into a legit superstar.

[IncarceratedBob]

Shaqs an idiot. I'm surprised he can even put a sentence together. Dude needs to be castrated asap yo. #Idiot

[ArbitraryWater]

Oh everyone is agreeing now, but back in June Durant was absolutely shook and threw bricks up in the playoffs, and Westbrook saved them multiple times..

[SexSymbol]

I dont think Shaq sacrificed anything while a Laker, he was the focal point...Kobe had to step back as far as being option 1. as far as it not lasting, that's on Kobe. had he remained option 1b or 2, Lakers were going for many years further.

as Shaq aged, Kobe would of gotten his limelight (figure 2006 going forward)...Kobe just wanted it early and it cost him heavily those few years
Shaq wanted a multi year, 30mil+ a year contract from the Lakers in 2004, and he wasn't going to negotiate it.
Nobody who's right in their mind would pay such money for a declining Shaq, who was practically nothing on defense but a big body by then, quite a few times looked like he just stopped caring.
It's not just on Kobe, Shaq was incredibly childish and egoistic, even Phil admitted that recently

[r15mohd]

They sacrificed for each other depending on match ups. Shaq would be the focal point against some teams, Kobe others.

Of course, this is only after Kobe developed into a legit superstar.


you're talking a very skewed match-up comparison though...there was may be 3-4 centers (if lucky) that actually gave Shaq a hard time :confusedshrug:

i don't deny the Lakers switched it up and had Kobe 1a, but it wasn't as profound as your statement would indicate

[ZeN]

I dont think Shaq sacrificed anything while a Laker, he was the focal point...Kobe had to step back as far as being option 1. as far as it not lasting, that's on Kobe. had he remained option 1b or 2, Lakers were going for many years further.

as Shaq aged, Kobe would of gotten his limelight (figure 2006 going forward)...Kobe just wanted it early and it cost him heavily those few years
What did Kobe have to do with Shaq screaming at the owner to pay him, on the court, during a game? Or his askiing for a large salary that the owner didnt want to pay?

Shaq gets traded to Miami accepts less money per year than he wanted. Then also structures that contract to help the team, when he never was willing to do it for the Lakers.

Shaq has literally burned bridges every time he left teams..


Shaq hated Kobe
Shaq bad mouthed D Wade after leaving Miami
Shaq ended in bad terms with Nash

Etc..

[lilteapot]

What did Kobe have to do with Shaq screaming at the owner to pay him, on the court, during a game? Or his askiing for a large salary that the owner didnt want to pay?

Shaq gets traded to Miami accepts less money per year than he wanted. Then also structures that contract to help the team, when he never was willing to do it for the Lakers.

Shaq has literally burned bridges every time he left teams..


Shaq hated Kobe
Shaq bad mouthed D Wade after leaving Miami
Shaq ended in bad terms with Nash

Etc..

literally?

[Just2McFly]

Step back and watch Durant do what exactly? :facepalm

[ZeN]

literally?
Quite So. He burned them down to ashes. It was on the news.

[JT123]

Annnnnnd Westbrook continues to get scapegoated for Durant's failures. :facepalm These idiots seem to be forgetting what Durant did in the 2013 playoffs when Westbrook was hurt. KD choked away FOUR playoff games in a row against Memphis, and needed a role player to prevent his ass from getting backdoor swept this past season. What a joke!
Is there some media mandate that says no one is allowed to criticize Durant? This guy has to be the most protected athlete of all time, and that includes Michael Jordan.

[SamuraiSWISH]

Step back and watch Durant do what exactly? :facepalm
KD played the best ball of his career this year, the stretch that won him MVP, when Westbrook was out of the lineup. Never was he more aggressive, maximizing his capabilities. Westbrook's get his, over emotional mentality is a gift, and a curse for both the Thunder / Durant.

[ILLsmak]

Shaq is right you know...

Any bias for Shaq aside, I can't be the only one watching Thunder games in the postseason and thinking to myself,

"Westbrook, why the hell did you just jack up that three with time on the shotclock when you have KD wide open over there?"

or

"Is this guy seriously trying to answer to something KD did a second ago to prove that he is also important to the team?"

or

"No... just no... you are talented beyond belief, but you are not playing to yours or your teams strengths and if you lose this series it will be because of you."


:confusedshrug:

He is amazing, but I get the sense that he plays like a child. Like that kid you play pickup ball with who does stupid stuff and you end up yelling, "YOU'RE NOT JORDAN!" at him as you run back on D...

Look at Ibaka. Dude is talented too, but you don't get the feeling like he is trying too hard. He helps his team because of his play. Westbrook, being more talented, could help his team even more if he played with a similiar mindset.

TL;DR
Westbrook needs to believe he is the second option but not feel like that makes him any less awesome.


yea when he was saying in that best pg in the NBA article that he's always thinking he's the best guy on the floor... yeah ok. I bet guys like John Stockton thought they were the best player on the floor, too, but you gotta do something different as the ball handler.

The key is dominating the whole game, not just your match up, as a PG. You gotta make everything work.

I don't agree that KD disappeared. He might have struggled, but when you don't get touches as a number 1 guy sometimes, you can get out of rhythm. It could be even a five minute stretch where he doesn't get the ball. Or if he goes 0-4... then Westbrook is like **** this I gotta take over. But that's not winning bball.

The Thunder are too good to not be winning. Hopefully they will figure it out soon.

Edit: The one great thing about LeBron is that he knows he can get his whenever. Sometimes, he doesn't... but that's how he plays. He's just yea get yours I'll get mine, cuz I mean, in reality your ball handler should be able to create shots but they shouldn't ever be looking for their own shot without running the offense.

Even AI was less of a jacker than Westbrook cuz AI would give up the ball and let the offense run through other people.

-Smak

[Undisputed]

I've always disliked Westbrook. He is way too emotional and it gets the better of him. I totally agree with Shaq. Russell is out there trying too hard to be the man, and it ultimately ends up being a weakness. If you have one of the best players in the world on your team, you shouldn't always be looking for your shot...and Westbrook is always looking for his own.

[AI Thornton]

Shaq paraphrased: "Westbrook, don't be Durant's Kobe."

[russwest0]

Shaq was lucky enough to play for a coach that had a system that made winning games with star players easy.

I'll never blame Westbrook for not passing the ball more to Sefolosha or Perkins. Watching that Spurs series with no Ibaka was downright pitiful. I think in one game, OKC's starting 3 after KD and Russ didn't even have 10 points together. And they were getting plenty of looks too.

Hopefully Brooks at least plays Adams and Morrow a lot this year. If he does, I expect Westbrook to pass it a lot more.

[J Shuttlesworth]

I agree to an extent, but Durant also needs to step up and lead the team

[red1]

When watching the games it is obvious that okc as a team wouldnt be shit without westbrook playing the way he does. Yeah durant did have that godly stretch when westbrok was out but is that sustainable? Would that one-man offense work in the playoffs? The answer to both questions is no.

[AlphaWolf24]

you're talking a very skewed match-up comparison though...there was may be 3-4 centers (if lucky) that actually gave Shaq a hard time :confusedshrug:

i don't deny the Lakers switched it up and had Kobe 1a, but it wasn't as profound as your statement would indicate


It wasn't even "switching up"....(I mean of course against certain teams with mismatches you can exploit....and certain times Kobe or Shaq would take advantage)

Kobe was the facilitator of the triangle.....he would run the offense ( through Shaq) ....pick his spots early in the game and then in the 4th quarters and crunchtime he would look to take over the game and close.

This is what both of their roles were....they both played their roles/position in Dominating fashion.....Kobe was the #1 option in Crunchtime and the best closer in the NBA.


The only thing Kobe Sacrificed was FMVP....he was a legit superstar and arguably the best allaround player in the NBA in the early 2000's...heck he even had more endorsements then Shaq did.

__________________________________________________ _____

I think Shaq means ( with Westbrook).....is to define their roles better....Westbrook can be Westbrook....but at the end of games Durant needs to be the clear #1 option....westbrook needs to stepback in that regard.

[tpols]

KD played the best ball of his career this year, the stretch that won him MVP, when Westbrook was out of the lineup. Never was he more aggressive, maximizing his capabilities. Westbrook's get his, over emotional mentality is a gift, and a curse for both the Thunder / Durant.
And then he proceeded to get locked up by Tony Allen in the playoffs and 2ould have been bounced in the first round 2007 dirk nowitzki style if not for heroic performances by reggie jackson and Westbrook (and a zbo suspension)

There was no 'stepping back' for Russell to do.. Durant was on the ropes in the first round.

[nathanjizzle]

U cant just blame westbrook. Blame kd for being soft. And not commanding the floor

[SamuraiSWISH]

I've always disliked Westbrook. He is way too emotional and it gets the better of him. I totally agree with Shaq. Russell is out there trying too hard to be the man, and it ultimately ends up being a weakness. If you have one of the best players in the world on your team, you shouldn't always be looking for your shot...and Westbrook is always looking for his own.
:applause:

[SamuraiSWISH]

And then he proceeded to get locked up by Tony Allen in the playoffs and 2ould have been bounced in the first round 2007 dirk nowitzki style if not for heroic performances by reggie jackson and Westbrook (and a zbo suspension)

There was no 'stepping back' for Russell to do.. Durant was on the ropes in the first round.
Come on. Stop knob slobbing Westbrook. You've already made yourself look stupid with a near Westbrook > Wade argument being made in another Westbrick thread. What's the fascination? Yea, and Tony Allen is a great defender.

[Graviton]

What exactly is Westbrook supposed to do? I am tired of these blanket statements and buzzwords that don't actually focus on anything. "He needs to step back". WTF does that mean?

Durant already took more shots than Westbrook in the playoffs, Westbrook IS standing back, it's just when Durant gets shut down by tough perimeter defense and can't get free WB has to make shit happen out of nowhere. These retards in the media think it's some video game where you pass to Durant and he automatically makes all the clutch shots and wins the game on his own. How many times did we see Durant struggling to get free and RECEIVE the pass? Is Westbrook responsible for that too?

[3ball]

http://newsok.com/article/5349195

Russell Westbrook don’t step back enough for me,” O’Neal told the website. “At some point, for the betterment of the team, you’ve got to step back. Until Westbrook learns to step back, it may be hard for them. Kevin Durant is the man, but Westbrook is like, ‘I’m getting mine every time. You can’t do it.’”

Speaking truth or Shaqtin a fool?


He's Shaq'tin a fool here....

Durant's style is suboptimal right now... right now (at least as of last season) he relies on spot-up three-pointers and long-dribbling forays to get his 30+ every night - this works in the regular season when you play bad/mediocre teams for 3/4 of your games and you don't play them repeatedly so they don't gameplan to take away your strengths...

but in the playoffs, this style can be slowed down by the best teams.... so what's westbrook supposed to do while Durant is being slowed down?... westie HAS to step up while Durant is still building his game to an optimal level....

once durant can add post dominance to his other skills, then he will be CAPABLE of being a winning #1 option against the best teams, and at that point, westbrook should indeed take a step back... but until then, it's westbrook's team as far as i'm concerned.

i don' think people give enough credence to how suboptimal it is for one of the tallest players on your team playing 25+ feet from the basket consistently - this steps on the toes of teammates who are shorter.... hence durant needing to learn to dominate inside for his team to go to that next level.

[Graviton]

He's Shaq'tin a fool here....

Durant's style is suboptimal right now... right now (at least as of last season) he relies on spot-up three-pointers and long-dribbling forays to get his 30+ every night - this works in the regular season when you play bad/mediocre teams for 3/4 of your games and you don't play them repeatedly so they don't gameplan to take away your strengths...

but in the playoffs, this style can be slowed down by the best teams.... so what's westbrook supposed to do while Durant is being slowed down?... westie HAS to step up while Durant is still building his game to an optimal level....

once durant can add post dominance to his other skills, then he will be CAPABLE of being a winning #1 option against the best teams, and at that point, westbrook should indeed take a step back... but until then, it's westbrook's team as far as i'm concerned.

Finally someone that gets it, Durant does need to improve his post game, he gets manhandled on the perimeter by tough defenders. Can't even free himself up at times. And t's not Westbrook is holding him back, Durant still takes the most shots. Idk what the complaining is about. :confusedshrug:

[kuniva_dAMiGhTy]

What exactly is Westbrook supposed to do? I am tired of these blanket statements and buzzwords that don't actually focus on anything. "He needs to step back". WTF does that mean?

Set his team up more; shoot less. His aggressiveness is commendable, but I feel he plays a little selfish at times.

TBH, I feel OKC's problem(s) stem from their head coach. Brooks isn't the right fit.

[tpols]

Come on. Stop knob slobbing Westbrook. You've already made yourself look stupid with a near Westbrook > Wade argument being made in another Westbrick thread. What's the fascination? Yea, and Tony Allen is a great defender.

I never said Westbrook was better than wade.. I said he showed flashes of being as good in the playoffs last year and that if it's a sign of things to come in the future for his peak that there'd be a discussion .

Wade fans were so mad they were claiming Westbrook was barely a top 10 player.. you even said Westbrook had never matched wades 2011 run where he dropped 24/7/4 despite Westbrook coming off a fresh 27/8/7 against stronger competition.. that mightve been the dumbest/most untruthful statement of all in that thread.

K blaze shared my sentiment as did multiple others. It was mostly wade stans with the typical eff gee argument and 'but Russell's dumb!'

[Graviton]

Set his team up more; shoot less. His aggressiveness is commendable, but I feel he plays a little selfish at times.

TBH, I feel OKC's problem(s) stem from their head coach. Brooks isn't the right fit.
Set up who though? Perkins and Thabo who blow wide open opportunities every game? Only guy he can set up is Ibaka and he does get him wide open mid range jumpers. Durant doesn't need set ups and can get his own shots, but he still receives them open 3s after Westbrook's drives.

It is Brooks, he has no offensive plan. Just ISO ISO ISO, I still remember that play out of a timeout in this playoffs, it was "Give Durant the ball so he can jack up a contested 3 over two defenders". No screens, no trick plays, just simple idiotic hail mary shots.

[raprap]

It wasn't Westbrooks fault that KD was shook.

[j3lademaster]

It wasn't Westbrooks fault that KD was shook.This. I refuse Durant can't beat a 5'10" defender if he were playing normally, even if that 5'10" defender is CP3. He had the mismatch OKC wanted and blew it for whatever reason. That's not Brooks's fault albeit he's a bad coach, nor is it WB- who if he had "stepped back" OKC wouldn't even have made it past the 1st round.

[RidonKs]

Shaq just went through his old quotes from playing with Kobe and just inserted Russell Westbrook's name in there for Kobe.
:oldlol: this to a tee. its all shaq knows how to do.

[NZStreetBaller]

This. I refuse Durant can't beat a 5'10" defender if he were playing normally, even if that 5'10" defender is CP3. He had the mismatch OKC wanted and blew it for whatever reason. That's not Brooks's fault albeit he's a bad coach, nor is it WB- who if he had "stepped back" OKC wouldn't even have made it past the 1st round.

Okay why in the hell do people keep bringing up Tony Allen and cp3s defence over and over like it ruined durant. If im not mistaken durant beat both of those teams maybe he didnt play well but he won. So quit acting like they were the death of him

[bizil]

The reason why Westbrook stands out in this regard is because he's the PG. The most premium assets of the PG spot is to be a floor general and drop off those dimes. Granted, OKC needs Westbrook to score the points he does. But guys like Big O, Magic and Isiah could score just as many points as Westbrook AND do it from a pass first PG perspective. They were masters at dictating a game and knowing what to do when AND being dominant in the scoring and passing aspects at the same time.

U have a revolutionary talent in Durant so he needs to be the top dog. So I agree with Shaq. Westbrook's mark needs to be I'm the best ALL AROUND PLAYER on OKC. He can be a great scorer, passer, and defender all in one. He has that kind of potential. But the question is can he do it from PG and grow as a floor general. Or does he need to move to SG and do it from there.

[tpols]

Okay why in the hell do people keep bringing up Tony Allen and cp3s defence over and over like it ruined durant. If im not mistaken durant beat both of those teams maybe he didnt play well but he won. So quit acting like they were the death of him

they won because reggie and westbrook stepped up lol.. if they had kept trying to feed KD as he was being put in a straight jacket they wouldve fken lost. Thats why shaq is retarded.


Hes also one to talk about playing the right way.. "The dog wont protect the house unless you feed him":oldlol: :facepalm Guy threatened to not play defense if he didnt get his looks, came in fat/unmotivated when he wasnt getting money he wanted.. couldnt be a more hypocritical spokeperson for this issue.

[Jef]

not shocking that perhaps the biggest waste of talent in american sports history is hating on player who continues to improve every year.

shaq should have been the most dominating force of all time, but cared more about egos and let himself go during what should have been the prime of his career.

westbrook should have been an ultra athletic, defensive minded role player, but grew into an all around superstar who continues to rise to the occasion on the biggest stages.

[keep-itreal]

yeah sure, Westbrook should pass the ball to Perkins and let him get some buckets:rolleyes:

What's the point of passing the ball to his useless teammates if they can't even score points.

Westbrook has to be agressive otherwise they're losing

[PJR]

What exactly is Westbrook supposed to do? I am tired of these blanket statements and buzzwords that don't actually focus on anything. "He needs to step back". WTF does that mean?

Play with more discipline, and value possessions better.

Despite being a shitty three point shooter, I've seen Westbrook chuck 30 footers, 3-4 seconds in the shot clock far too much. You also shouldn't be shooting almost 5 threes a game, when you're only a 30% three point shooter in the first place.

He also breaks plays off a ton. People kill Scott Brooks for his supposed lack of offensive imagination, but the reality is, most of the time, it's Westbrook breaking off the plays.

[imdaman99]

It's true that Durant was great in the regular season and was a runaway MVP... but everyone knows playoff basketball is different. The same calls he would get in the regular season, they were not calling for him in the Grizzlies or Clippers or Spurs series.

Westbrook is not holding Durant back, unless you believe Durant should be averaging 40 points which neither Jordan or Kobe or Shaq ever did. Durant can play great without Westbrook for stretches... in the regular season. When, they are playing different teams every night. We saw what the Grizz did to him without Westbrook. Westbrook does more than just offense, he gave Conley problems which didn't happen last year when Westbrook was out.

If Shaq had his way, Kobe would have never developed into the beast that he became. Shaq has gotten jealous everywhere he played. On Orlando, Penny became more marketable than him so he left. On the Lakers, all the little kids wanted to be Kobe and liked him more so he wanted a ridiculous amount of money or he wanted out. On Miami, he never had a chance as that is Wade's town. If samurai wants to talk about over-emotional, it's Shaq. Shaq did his crying off the courts and was jealous like a Mean Girl.

That being said, it's possible Westbrook could average 9 assists this season.

[Dro]

I agree with Shaq.....

[Sakkreth]

Expect we won three straight though. Honest mistake on your part, don't worry about it. :cheers:

Kobe and Shaq sacrificed both their games. IT just didn't last.

And Shaq is speaking from past mistakes on his and Kobe's part.
Shaq did not want to but he's a center and Kobe is perimeter player. Kobe forcing Shaq to sacrafice hurt the lakers.