Is there a case for Westbrook being MVP this season?

[tgan3]

It is obvious how much of a gamechanger he is. Without him, the Thunder are a D League team. With him, they are beating the Spurs. This is all without Durant's help. I wonder who will be the No.1 guy when Durant returns..

[navy]

Well the Spurs arent that great at the moment so.....

Depends on how Durant plays.

[Budadiiii]

It is obvious how much of a gamechanger he is. Without him, the Thunder are a D League team. With him, they are beating the Spurs. This is all without Durant's help. I wonder who will be the No.1 guy when Durant returns..
You haven't watched enough Thunder games. Durant will always be the number 1 guy.

Westbrook knows, heck everyone on the planet knows who's getting the ball in the 4th. It's basically give Durant the ball and get the **** out of the way. Go back and watch every single Thunder game since they've been in the league. You'll soon realize it's Durant's team and always will be.

[livinglegend]

It is obvious how much of a gamechanger he is. Without him, the Thunder are a D League team. With him, they are beating the Spurs. This is all without Durant's help. I wonder who will be the No.1 guy when Durant returns..
During the regular season, durant will be the no.1 guy and in the playoffs, westbrook will be the no.1 guy just like last year.

[kNicKz]

no

[tgan3]

During the regular season, durant will be the no.1 guy and in the playoffs, westbrook will be the no.1 guy just like last year.

Westbrook is playing on another level now though:

Quote from bleacher report:
In the 14 games since he's returned from a broken hand, Russell Westbrook is averaging 29.8 points, 6.4 rebounds, 7.7 assists and 2.2 steals

Westbrook had been on a tear, but his individual rampage evolved into something outrageous on Christmas Day in the Thunder's 114-106 win over the San Antonio Spurs.

In 35 minutes, Westbrook finished with 34 points (14-of-28 shooting), 11 assists, five rebounds and five steals. According to Basketball-Reference.com, a line consisting of at least 30 points, 10 assists, five rebounds and five steals has now cropped up just 38 times since 1985 after Westbrook's tantalizing display.

[3ball]

It's basically give Durant the ball and get the **** out of the way. Go back and watch every single Thunder game since they've been in the league.


this isn't really true.

there have been various instances where durant is being passive, and westbrook takes all the shots down the stretch... then people either pile on westbrook for stepping on durant's toes, or they pile on durant for being beta and passive.

the best examples are in the playoffs, where westbrook has had individual games that are superior to anything durant has ever done in the postseason - westbrook scored 43 in the Finals while durant was passive and reluctant to takeover.... and westbrook also had a 40 point/10 assist game, one of only 3 in playoff history.

durant has never had any playoff game as good as either, so westbrook is the one that's reached the higher level of peak performance in the playoffs - it's supposed to be durant, but it's actually been westbrook.

these are just two examples... but westbrook frequently tries to take over when durant is being passive.
.

[SpecialQue]

Yes.

[Budadiiii]

this isn't really true.

there have been various instances where durant is being passive, and westbrook takes all the shots down the stretch... then people either pile on westbrook for stepping on durant's toes, or they pile on durant for being beta and passive.

the best examples are in the playoffs, where westbrook has had individual games that are superior to anything durant has ever done in the postseason - westbrook scored 43 in the Finals while durant was passive and reluctant to takeover.... and westbrook also had a 40 point/10 assist game, one of only 3 in playoff history.

durant has never had any playoff game as good as either, so westbrook is the one that's reached the higher level of peak performance in the playoffs - it's supposed to be durant, but it's actually been westbrook.

these are just two examples... but westbrook tries to take over when durant is being passive all the time.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2onPqStNnkk

And many other examples. Best closer in the league

[3ball]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2onPqStNnkk

And many other examples. Best closer in the league
agreed, when he's on his game... but also consider that there aren't any renowned killer closers in the league at the moment either.

the best example of durant closing was when he took over and closed out the heavily-favored spurs in the 4th quarter 3 games in a row in the 2012 WCF to send the thunder to the championship.

[spiegel]

Harden
Curry
Davis
Gasol
Westbrook

in no order

[Budadiiii]

agreed, when he's on his game... but also consider that there aren't any renowned killer closers in the league at the moment either.

the best example of durant closing was when he took over and closed out the heavily-favored spurs in the 4th quarter 3 games in a row in the 2012 WCF to send the thunder to the championship.
Durant was hassled like crazy last post season. Part of the reason Westbrook was so dominant. Teams know Westbrook can't finish, and they'd rather have him get his and take Durant out.

But it's undoubtedly Durant's team and I was just answering his question. "who will be the number 1 guy" Of course it's Durant, silly question.

[3ball]

Durant was hassled like crazy last post season. Part of the reason Westbrook was so dominant. Teams know Westbrook can't finish, and they'd rather have him get his and take Durant out.


and being bottled up by the defense falls on durant for not having a post/triple-threat/mid-range game.

moving without the ball and catching it say, 12 feet from the basket, is deadly to any defense, but durant doesn't do it nearly enough.

the post/mid-range are the type of shots that the defense can't prevent - they can only close their eyes and hope he misses..

otoh, the defense CAN prevent primary ballhandler dribble-penetration, and 3-pointers, which up until now have been durant's go-to ways to score.
.

[3ball]

when the defense focuses in on durant, the thunder basically doubles down on their efforts to get him the ball and get him off, and that actually weakens and stagnates their overall offensive attack.

they play right into the defense's hands.

but if durant had a post/mid-range/triple-threat game, where he was catching the ball consistently in the mid-range areas, his team wouldn't have to try to hard to get him off when the defense focuses in on him.
.

[Lebron23]

Hell No

He missed plenty of games, and the OKC thunder aren't even playoffs teams.

[J Shuttlesworth]

Westbrook was definitely the closer for the Thunder in the playoffs last year

[dunksby]

Westbrook will never be as good or impactful as Durant.

[Spurs5Rings2014]

Westbrook will never be as good or impactful as Durant.

He was last play offs.

:confusedshrug:

[dunksby]

He was last play offs.

:confusedshrug:
1-21 in OT and he was not there during RL so again not so much impact as Durant.

[J Shuttlesworth]

1-21 in OT and he was not there during RL so again not so much impact as Durant.
Yeah but if you watched the 4th, generally westbrook was the one keeping the team around to force OT instead of losing in regulation. Westbrook had a bunch of huge offensive rebounds, and clutch buckets/free throws at the end of the 4th. Especially vs. Memphis

[dunksby]

Yeah but if you watched the 4th, generally westbrook was the one keeping the team around to force OT instead of losing in regulation. Westbrook had a bunch of huge offensive rebounds, and clutch buckets/free throws at the end of the 4th. Especially vs. Memphis
Durant and Westbrook scored the same amount in the clutch last playoffs, I think Durant even had a couple more.

[tamaraw08]

agreed, when he's on his game... but also consider that there aren't any renowned killer closers in the league at the moment either.

the best example of durant closing was when he took over and closed out the heavily-favored spurs in the 4th quarter 3 games in a row in the 2012 WCF to send the thunder to the championship.

I frowned before whenever Durant worshippers would always blame Westbrook for taking too many shots.:facepalm
The other poster nailed it when he said there were far too many times that Kevin has been passive PLUS the fact the team was full of limited players before from Perkins, Sefalosha etc.
But then again the phrase "when he is on..."He almost singlehandedly beat the Clippers but layed an egg vs the Spurs esp the first 2 games.
I just wonder if OKC has a very good 2-way player like Butler by his side. or even just a Trevor Ariza or Klay Thompson...:confusedshrug:
His consideration for the MVP would depend on where he takes this team, if 6th to 8th place with Durant barely playing, then yes.
Yes, Harden heads to list right now but I don't see James taking Houston far esp once he faces a team that don't foolishly foul him and send him to the FT line for more than 8 times/game.

[fragokota]

This ain't happening bro. He's playing great but the team record is killing him. Let alone his numbers are expected to drop when KD comes back. Terrific season for him thus far though.