Is Westbrook currently the best player in the world?

[Demitri98]

After last night, I'd say so.

Only guys with an argument are Davis, Curry and LeBron right now.

Westbrook is just on another level.

[Graviton]

It's still Lebron unless he disappoints in the playoffs. Talking "best player" so early in the season is pointless. Westbrook has only played 16 games.

[Im so nba'd out]

http://i.minus.com/i3Xzl8DVIQD8t.gif

[stalkerforlife]

No.

Just stop.

Durant is the best player alive when healthy. Check the record with and without both players.

[Real14]

It's still Lebron unless he disappoints in the playoffs. Talking "best player" so early in the season is pointless. Westbrook has only played 16 games.

most Physically gifted and has most potential but he's not the best:no:

[bizil]

I would give the nod to Bron still. Looking back historically, usually when a perimeter player was the best in the world they had these things in common:

Could play at least three positions at almost equal levels of greatness:

MJ- SG, SF, PG
Bird- SF, PF, SG
Magic- PG,SF, PF, SG
Kobe-SG, SF, PG
Lebron- SF, PF, PG, SG

Special category- Big O - PG, SG, SF (with all due respect to Wilt, it's hard for me NOT TO THINK Big O wasn't the best player in the world for at least one season getting all those triple doubles)

And all the guys I named were alpha dogs AND arguably the best passer at their position.

So following this template, I can't really say Russ in the best player in the world. MVP and best player in the world can be two different things. But whenever a perimeter player is considered the best in the world (like Bron is now) they are usually bigger perimeter players that can move into the frontcourt easily. Russ doesn't match the template size wise OR passing ability wise. I think Harden fits my template better.

[Top Gun]

He's playing the best at this time.

[Joyner82reload]

Not even the best player on his own team, but then again he's on the same team with the best player in the world

[TylerOO]

Yes

[hawksdogsbraves]

Do you think the NBA is the only league in the world?

I advise you to look up a little player known as Vassilis Spanoulis.

NBA only fans disgust me :facepalm

[JohnMax]

His efficiency in the paint has plummeted, as have all his other metrics in the paint(which has been discussed a lot lately)..more importantly, he has continued his defensive decline from last year where he has become virtually a non-factor(which is also proven by the numbers)..

LeBron without defense brings him down to the level of everybody else, he's no longer on another planet like he was from 2011-2013..

[Sakkreth]

lol what ? No.

[Budadiiii]

Let's not overrate Westbrook. I have him at second behind Durant.

[smoovegittar]

Kobe said "no".

[bdreason]

Still LeBron and Durant.



WB is in that 2nd tier with guys like Curry, Harden, Davis, CP3, Griffin, etc.

[Natureland]

Why did some posts from a LeBron thread get dumped into here? :biggums:

[All Net]

Still LeBron and Durant.



WB is in that 2nd tier with guys like Curry, Harden, Davis, CP3, Griffin, etc.
Pretty much

[SamuraiSWISH]

No.

LeBron is coastin
KD is coastin
Kobe is old
D. Rose is coastin

Anthony Davis is definitely better, possibly CP3 and Steph Curry as well. Neither of the latter of an MVP top 2 caliber player on their team distracting defenses either.

Westbrook has been playing great, but don't get ahead of yourselves.

[Papaya Petee]

No.

LeBron is coastin
KD is coastin
Kobe is old
D. Rose is coastin

Anthony Davis is definitely better, possibly CP3 and Steph Curry as well. Neither of the latter of an MVP top 2 caliber player on their team distracting defenses either.

Westbrook has been playing great, but don't get ahead of yourselves.
:roll: :roll: :roll: Derrick Rose was never better than Russell Westbrook

[IGOTGAME]

Still LeBron and Durant.



WB is in that 2nd tier with guys like Curry, Harden, Davis, CP3, Griffin, etc.

Westbrook is better than everyone in that second tier.

[Undisputed]

:roll: :roll: :roll: Derrick Rose was never better than Russell Westbrook
Derrick Rose was better before his injuries. Westbrook improved a lot during the time Rose was out.

[lilteapot]

Lebron is the best player.

But so far, Russ is playing the best basketball out of anyone in the league.

[russwest0]

Derrick Rose was better before his injuries. Westbrook improved a lot during the time Rose was out.

Rose was never better than Westbrook once both were all stars.

Rose was in a much better situation with better coaching, floor spacing, and facing easier opponents in the past, and was still posting pretty much the exact same PER as Westbrook, even in his MVP year.

[sportjames23]

Do you think the NBA is the only league in the world?

I advise you to look up a little player known as Vassilis Spanoulis.

NBA only fans disgust me :facepalm


:oldlol:


Oh, you're serious?

[SOD 21]

What Russell Westbrook is doing early this season is just a continuation of what he did last year in the playoffs when he averaged 27 ppg, 7 rpg and 8 apg.

[LoneyROY7]

:wtf:
Not even the best player on his own team, but then again he's on the same team with the best player in the world

You must be SOOOO salty considering how Westbrook is playing this season.

I remember when you said Westbrook would be trash without Durant...how's that going?

:roll: :roll: :roll:

[tpols]

I think he might be.. As far as guys I'd want it'd be Davis, Westbrook and curry in that order.

[Undisputed]

Rose was never better than Westbrook once both were all stars.

Rose was in a much better situation with better coaching, floor spacing, and facing easier opponents in the past, and was still posting pretty much the exact same PER as Westbrook, even in his MVP year.

I disagree. People have a very short memory when it comes to sports athletes. Westbrook was Derrick Rose "lite" until Rose got injured, and it has nothing to do with situation.

But Westbrook is a better player than Rose now, and he is as good as anyone.

[SamuraiSWISH]

I disagree. People have a very short memory when it comes to sports athletes. Westbrook was Derrick Rose "lite" until Rose got injured, and it has nothing to do with situation.
Seriously. Plus the KD factor.

[La Frescobaldi]

Rose was never better than Westbrook once both were all stars.

Rose was in a much better situation with better coaching, floor spacing, and facing easier opponents in the past, and was still posting pretty much the exact same PER as Westbrook, even in his MVP year.

Not talking about which is better but are you sure about all those reasons?

Scott Brooks gets body slammed by Ish but that is probably a compliment because Ish knows less than nothing about coaches. I love this forum but it really is disgusting how literally stupid most of the posters are in regards to coaching (not talking about you, russwest0 you usually have some real solid posts. I'm just on a rant :lol ).

But before people say it's just the talent on the team I say no. His coaching is flawed compared to Popovitch, for example, but it's very very effective. He is far superior to Doc Rivers on a hourly daily seasonly basis.

Look at the facts - he has them playing deep in playoffs every year and does have his stars playing at extremely high levels but more, his role players are consistently at a high level. Are the Big 2 more talented than C. Anthony? Durant, yes, beyond question. Westbrook, no, he isn't.

Did Westbrook have the same traits as Anthony? The same ballhoggery tendencies? The same high abilities? The same idiocies of playing full throttle for 3 quarters and then gassing? The same stupendously bad decision-making in 4q? Of course he did. The kid was a joke.

Brooks moved him past that into the possibilities of greatness - which Anthony will never, ever touch.

No, Thibs is a fine coach but from where I stand you can't use situations of Bulls vs. Thunder as reasons.

[3ball]

possibly CP3 and Steph Curry as well. Neither of the latter of an MVP top 2 caliber player on their team distracting defenses either.

Westbrook has been playing great, but don't get ahead of yourselves.
i cringe when people compare curry, cp3 and d rose to westbrook... the former are all small guards and they play like small guards.

westbrook is a bigger guard that plays like a big guard - his ceiling is so much higher than the aforementioned small guards... i would never even make the comparison - he's a totally different type of player... john wall would be a better example (who i also consider a dimension above the each of those small guards).

when curry dominates in the playoffs, he hits like 7 threes - but it's much harder and more devastating for a defense to adjust to a player that consistently overpowers in the paint, than adjusting to curry getting hot from deep.

when cp3 dominates in the playoffs, his style prevents his team from playing optimal basketball - that's why when he dominates in the playoffs, it's rarely a blowout - it's always cp3 doing literally EVERYTHING, and they barely pull it out.

when westbrook dominates - he dominates like a ball-dominant, mini-jordan - physically overpowering, lightning quick, dynamic, instills fear, hyper-aggressive, will probably posterize you in embarrassing fashion (of course, he's only 1/3 as likely (http://www.insidehoops.com/forum/showthread.php?t=352399) to posterize you than jordan, but still a lot more than the aforementioned small guards).

it's waaaay harder for the defense to adjust to this type of player - in reality, a physically overpowering guard like westbrook compares more to a paul george or dominique wilkins than one of those small guards... sounds crazy, but westbrook's impact on the game and the force that he presents to the defense is more akin to those guys.

[turret]

It's still Lebron unless he disappoints in the playoffs. Talking "best player" so early in the season is pointless. Westbrook has only played 16 games.

voice of reason

[La Frescobaldi]

i cringe when people compare curry, cp3 and d rose to westbrook... the former are all small guards and they play like small guards.

westbrook is a bigger guard that plays like a big guard - his ceiling is so much higher than the aforementioned small guards... i would never even make the comparison - he's a totally different type of player... john wall would be a better example (who i also consider a dimension above the each of those small guards).

when curry dominates in the playoffs, he hits like 7 threes - but it's much harder and more devastating for a defense to adjust to a player that consistently overpowers in the paint, than adjusting to curry getting hot from deep.

when cp3 dominates in the playoffs, his style prevents his team from playing optimal basketball - that's why when he dominates in the playoffs, it's rarely a blowout - it's always cp3 doing literally EVERYTHING, and they barely pull it out.

when westbrook dominates - he dominates like a ball-dominant, mini-jordan - physically overpowering, lightning quick, dynamic, instills fear, hyper-aggressive, will probably posterize you in embarrassing fashion (of course, he's only 1/3 as likely (http://www.insidehoops.com/forum/showthread.php?t=352399) to posterize you than jordan, but still a lot more than the aforementioned small guards).

it's waaaay harder for the defense to adjust to this type of player - in reality, a physically overpowering guard like westbrook compares more to a paul george or dominique wilkins than one of those small guards... sounds crazy, but westbrook's impact on the game and the force that he presents to the defense is more akin to those guys.

yeah that's not bad at all.

The dude is like a Charles Barkley of guards

[kuniva_dAMiGhTy]

I would say he's definitely better than Rose, Wall (better pointguard too), and Paul. He's up there with the Curry/Bron/Harden/Durant tier.

[Graviton]

I would say he's definitely better than Rose, Wall (better pointguard too), and Paul. He's up there with the Curry/Bron/Harden/Durant tier.
Now I have seen everything, Kuniva says Westbrook better than Paul.

:biggums:

[kuniva_dAMiGhTy]

Now I have seen everything, Kuniva says Westbrook better than Paul.

:biggums:

At the moment, he is. As PURE pointguards, Curry and Chris have more control and stability.

To me Westbrook plays more like a hybrid, almost like a SG. :confusedshrug:

[LoneyROY7]

Now I have seen everything, Kuniva says Westbrook better than Paul.

:biggums:

At this point, you'd have to be pretty biased to think otherwise.

[StrongLurk]

Westbrook is underrated this year man. Look up the stats he's putting up in the minutes he's playing. His numbers are better than Lebron's but is playing 5 minutes less. Come on now...

[Graviton]

At the moment, he is. As PURE pointguards, Curry and Chris have more control and stability.

Westbrook plays more like a hybrid, almost like a SG.
Curry plays more full retard than Westbrook though. Pullup 3s on the fastbreak and shit. And when he has a bad shooting night he is useless. I am not drinking that Curry kool aid until he does something in the playoffs.

[kuniva_dAMiGhTy]

Curry plays more full retard than Westbrook though. Pullup 3s on the fastbreak and shit. And when he has a bad shooting night he is useless. I am not drinking that Curry kool aid until he does something in the playoffs.
We'll probably never agree on that, but your boy is obviously playing at a HIGH level right now. 3ball hit the nail on the head, saying dude is like a mini Jordan - so much energy and aggression, constantly attacking. You gotta love that.

One of the biggest differences between this year and seasons past is he's efficient about it (honing his skills, limiting his mistakes)

[Graviton]

We'll probably never agree on that, but your boy is obviously playing at a HIGH level right now. 3ball hit the nail on the head, saying dude is like a mini Jordan - so much energy and aggression, constantly attacking. You gotta love that.

One of the biggest differences between this year and seasons past is he's efficient about it (honing his skills, limiting his mistakes)
His efficiency would be even better if they didn't have black holes at C and SG. If Brooks plays Adams 30+ minutes and Morrow 20 minutes that's extra 4-5 assists instead of forced bricks.

His rebounding and hustle is my favorite part of his game, still remember when he skied over Deandre to grab an offensive rebound last season, not scared at all. He fights for every possession, for every second he is on the court. Even that steal on Paul in Game 5, how many other PGs would just give up and foul immediately?

[IGOTGAME]

voice of reason

yup. Westbrook is number 2 tho.

[Spurs5Rings2014]

Westbrook is underrated this year man. Look up the stats he's putting up in the minutes he's playing. His numbers are better than Lebron's but is playing 5 minutes less. Come on now...

Yep. Swear most of these Bran stans don't even watch basketball. Saying he's the best right now or in his own tier.

:biggums:

Just straight up ridiculous.

[Joyner82reload]

:wtf:

You must be SOOOO salty considering how Westbrook is playing this season.

I remember when you said Westbrook would be trash without Durant...how's that going?

:roll: :roll: :roll:

OKC with Westbrook and no Durant 3-4 43%
OKC with Durant 7-1 88%

2013-14
OKC with Durant and no Westbrook 21-8 75%
OKC with Durant and Westbrook 38-14 73%


Cool story bro

[Darius]

Now I have seen everything, Kuniva says Westbrook better than Paul.

:biggums:

I think cp3 is better for free you want a player to single handedly take a squad to win 50+ games but the dynamism and physicality of Westbrook is what shines in the playoffs.

It's incredible to me how athletic he is even after all the surgeries.

[Papaya Petee]

I disagree. People have a very short memory when it comes to sports athletes. Westbrook was Derrick Rose "lite" until Rose got injured, and it has nothing to do with situation.

But Westbrook is a better player than Rose now, and he is as good as anyone.
Thats absurd. People act like D-Rose was comparable to a prime Kobe Wade or LeBron.

Westbrook was nearly matching his production as a 2nd option, not a first option like Rose.

24\8\5 on 44% shooting are not that great of numbers. With a perfect defensive system for him to win games.

[LoneyROY7]

OKC with Westbrook and no Durant 3-4 43%
OKC with Durant 7-1 88%

2013-14
OKC with Durant and no Westbrook 21-8 75%
OKC with Durant and Westbrook 38-14 73%


Cool story bro

The fact that there are all these threads about Westbrook and how he could be the best player on the planet must be boiling yer damn blood.

:roll: :roll: :roll:

[Pointguard]

http://i.minus.com/i3Xzl8DVIQD8t.gif
And right now he's definitely the MVP. Westbrook is playing great ball tho.

[Euroleague]

If you are not the best player in Oklahoma City, how can you be the best player in "the world"?

[La Frescobaldi]

If you are not the best player in Oklahoma City, how can you be the best player in "the world"?

The Rh

[Cowboy Thunder]

Teams are going to have to start "the Westbrook rules"

[Budadiiii]

[QUOTE=La Frescobaldi]The Rh

[Undisputed]

Thats absurd. People act like D-Rose was comparable to a prime Kobe Wade or LeBron.

Westbrook was nearly matching his production as a 2nd option, not a first option like Rose.

24\8\5 on 44% shooting are not that great of numbers. With a perfect defensive system for him to win games.
It's not absurd at all. Derrick Rose has an MVP, Westbrook plays behind one. Before his injuries, he was magic. If you like Westbrook better, then so be it. I just don't think you respect how good Derrick Rose was and still can be.

Stats are bullshit. Westbrook is a career 43% shooter and has Durant to steal the defense's eyes....see, I can do that weak ass shit too. But it means nothing.

[Demitri98]

so...

[Spurs5Rings2014]

so...

Timely bump.

:applause:

[SOD 21]

On ESPN's Coast-to-Coast show, Brad Daugherty said Russell Westbrook is the best player in the NBA and Tim Legler said that he's impacting the game in more ways than Kevin Durant did last season when he went on his historical run in January and February.

Take that for what it's worth.

[JerrySeinfeld]

On ESPN's Coast-to-Coast show, Brad Daugherty said Russell Westbrook is the best player in the NBA and Tim Legler said that he's impacting the game in more ways than Kevin Durant did last season when he went on his historical run in January and February.

Take that for what it's worth.

Yeah I saw that. And then Chris Broussard and some other guy started freaking out like what he said was absurd, and then fell back onto some stupid sports hyperbole about LeBron as a rebuttal, when it should be Curry vs Westbrook at this point.

It's like those guys don't even look at the stats and see what players are actually doing but instead fall back on the mindset of what's always been always will be. And then we get dumb shit happening like the Lakers going into 2011 as the favorites to win it all just because they won it the year before.