OGT Nov 4: Raptors (4-0) @ Thunder (3-1) 8pm EST

[Legends66NBA7]

http://www.nba.com/games/20151104/TOROKC/gameinfo.html?ls=iref:nba:scoreboard

http://i.cdn.turner.com/drp/nba/raptors/sites/default/files/styles/story_main_photo/public/rapsvsthunder-web.png


http://mlse.digital/raptors/projectedlineups-110415.jpg


The Toronto Raptors are off to their first 4-0 start thanks in part to a defense that is limiting foes to an Eastern Conference-best 38.7 percent from the field.

They figure to be put to the test against the NBA's highest-scoring duo Wednesday night.

Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook are off to red-hot starts for the Oklahoma City Thunder, who look to bounce back from their first defeat and become the first club to knock off the Raptors.

Toronto (4-0) started this four-game trip with Tuesday's 102-91 victory over Dallas, holding the Mavericks to 38.4 percent shooting including a four-minute stretch in the fourth quarter in which the home team didn't register a basket.

The new-look Raptors weren't sure what to expect, but like what they are seeing so far.

"I think it was the start that we needed," said Kyle Lowry, who scored a team-high 27 points and handed out 10 assists. "Either we could have a real good start, or a tough start with pretty much 10 new guys. But I think we've done a good job of just staying focused with our principles."

Now they must contend with the Thunder, who are second in the league in points per 100 possessions (109.0), points per game (118.3) and field-goal percentage (48.4).

Westbrook is second in the league with 30.3 points per game and Durant is averaging 29.8 while showing little negative effects from the broken right foot that sidelined him for most of last season.

Durant missed both games against Toronto in 2014-15. The last time he faced the Raptors, he exploded for 51 points with a 31-foot 3-pointer with two seconds left in a 119-118 overtime win March 21, 2014.

While the Thunder have been tough to stop, they have also stopped themselves by averaging 19.4 turnovers per 100 possessions to match Philadelphia for the league's worst mark. They had a season-high 25 turnovers in their first loss, 110-105 at Houston on Monday.

"I thought our turnovers tonight, (25) is too much and we've really got to try to make some strides and get better in that area," first-year coach Billy Donovan said.

The biggest culprit has been Westbrook, averaging a career-high 5.5 turnovers after he averaged 4.4 a season ago for the league's highest mark. Last season was mostly a result of Westbrook shouldering the load with Durant out; now it's more of a concern with the superstar duo reunited.

"I just think we need to get better and we keep needing to improve," Donovan said. "I think we really need to focus and really get better in terms of playing to our identity."

Oklahoma City (3-1) leads the NBA in rebound margin at plus-14.5 while Toronto is also among the leaders in that department at plus-10.3. Enes Kanter leads the Thunder with 11.0 rebounds per game and Jonas Valanciunas tops the Raptors at 10.3.

The Raptors have won consecutive road games against the West after losing nine straight such contests. They went 11-8 in the second half of back-to-back sets last season; this is their first 2015-16 set.

"We are off to a great start, but we have to remember this is a marathon, not a sprint," coach Dwane Casey said.

[Kungfro]

Well that 4 game win streak to start the season was nice while it lasted. This will be a good opportunity to see how good the Raps Defence is, especially with Carrol guarding KD. Still hoping for a win though, I always enjoy seeing the Raps at the top of the standings.

[CurryOverLebron]

I just want a healthy Westbrook so he can embarrass Derrick Rose tomorrow.

[Legends66NBA7]

Well that 4 game win streak to start the season was nice while it lasted. This will be a good opportunity to see how good the Raps Defence is, especially with Carrol guarding KD. Still hoping for a win though, I always enjoy seeing the Raps at the top of the standings.

True. Hopefully it doesn't put the team on a downward spiral into oblivion.

[barkleynash]

As a raps fan I like this early test. Okc doesn't play a ton of D. Hopefully the raps can score enough and use their new and improved defence to keep the score tight and have a shot in the fourth quarter.

[Rocketswin2013]

this will be close if Toronto can defend wb and kd

not impressed with okcs defense so far this year

[24-Inch_Chrome]

Let's get it.

[KendrickPerkins]

this will be close if Toronto can defend wb and kd

not impressed with okcs defense so far this year
good luck with that

[dabigbaws]

best duo in history

[KendrickPerkins]

as expected, OKC's D eating toronto alive....

[dabigbaws]

surprised derozan doesn't have 10 ft attempts already

[dabigbaws]

why not mcgary over collison

[Legends66NBA7]

Well, that was a terrible 1st quarter. Can't get any worse than that.

[KendrickPerkins]

Derozan better light up Singler here

[KendrickPerkins]

God the Raptors are terrible

Derozan just needs to attack the rim and draw fouls jesus

[KendrickPerkins]

Do the Raps ever pass to the open man?

Selfish bunch of idiots

This team is so bad

[Legends66NBA7]

I like how Toronto is feeding Bismack, but aren't feeding Jonas on a bad shooting night by the wings.

[dabigbaws]

kanter is elite on BOTH ends of the floor

[dabigbaws]

why is singler in the game? why is singler in the team? why is singler in the NBA? why is singler looking at a basketball?

[KendrickPerkins]

Good shit Demar

[Natureland]

11 turnovers :facepalm

[KendrickPerkins]

why is singler in the game? why is singler in the team? why is singler in the NBA? why is singler looking at a basketball?
He's one of the worst players I've seen

[dabigbaws]

why would ibaka pass to waiters when he has durant and westbrook running up the floor?

[KendrickPerkins]

DeRozan heating up :applause:

Does a masterful job drawing fouls

[dabigbaws]

He's one of the worst players I've seen

literally every game he has played in hes picked up at least 3 fouls in 5 mins

[Legends66NBA7]

Dion Waiters shouldn't be on NBA team. He's got Durant on the wing and he decides to ISO and take contested long 2.

Guy will never get it.

[SugarHill]

Dion Waiters shouldn't be on NBA team. He's got Durant on the wing and he decides to ISO and take contested long 2.

Guy will never get it.
is able to create his own shit at the nba level which is pretty rare

[KendrickPerkins]

Jonas is such a bitch

Just pass the ball

[Legends66NBA7]

Jonas is such a bitch

Just pass the ball

He's a poor passer out of the interior. That's part of what hinders his game at this point.

[Legends66NBA7]

is able to create his own shit at the nba level which is pretty rare

He has the talent, just the wrong mindset.

[SugarHill]

that was the fastest block to score ever

[JimmyMcAdocious]

why is singler in the game? why is singler in the team? why is singler in the NBA? why is singler looking at a basketball?

NBA issued all teams in a city with at least a 3:1 ratio of white to other people needs a minimum for 3 white players, 1 must be a perimeter guy. It's in the rule book idiot.

[SugarHill]

I wanted that dunk to go in so bad. Bigger Westbrook > raptors

[Naero]

10 assists by Russell Westbrook already. :wtf: I only just sifted through the boxscore of this game after being mostly attentionally locked to the Cavaliers-Knicks game (intermission atm).

[Legends66NBA7]

They actually got the lead at halftime. :biggums:


Well, 14 turnovers by OKC and Westbrook taking his usual :wtf: shots also add to those turnovers, so there's that.

[dabigbaws]

how are we losing.

[Monta Ellis MVP]

10 assists by Russell Westbrook already. :wtf: I only just sifted through the boxscore of this game after being mostly attentionally locked to the Cavaliers-Knicks game (intermission atm).

Wow.

It's Westbrook's team!

[Beebo]

CoJo is just solid. Plays D, runs the offence and take smart shots.

Great pickup.

[Rocketswin2013]

Westbrook with ten assists and his team has an eye-popping 39 points at the half. Epitome of empty stats.


Give the team to Durant

[imdaman99]

Westbrook with ten assists and his team has an eye-popping 39 points at the half. Epitome of empty stats.


Give the team to Durant
Please. OKC is an elite offense you dumbass. In large part because of Westbrook. So get a clue :hammerhead:

[Legends66NBA7]

Westbrook with ten assists and his team has an eye-popping 39 points at the half. Epitome of empty stats.


Give Durant the team.

Basically, his gift is also a curse.

He's taking some stupid shots and over playing on defense, which is offsetting those assists. He looked damn good in the first quarter and looked the complete opposite in the 2nd half.

[SugarHill]

raptors shooting 31%

[Legends66NBA7]

Please get JV clean looks on offense.

[Legends66NBA7]

raptors shooting 31%

Forced steals and got to the line to compensate that.

[SugarHill]

westbrook heating up

[KendrickPerkins]

90% of Derozans offensive game is getting to the line

:oldlol:

[Monta Ellis MVP]

Kevin Durant has some skills but he is kind of a skinny beta. Sources have said that he is going to leave for Golden State in Free Agency.

[BlakFrankWhite]

Dem turnovers man :facepalm

[KendrickPerkins]

OKC's rim protection tonight is lethal

So many shot blockers

[SugarHill]

this raptors defense is fantastic. I think the plan is to make OKC very comfortable with open shots so they miss

[Legends66NBA7]

That should have been a turnover, no ?

[Fire Colangelo]

Ughhhh my raptors stream is so laggy...... Cavs vs Knicks works fine though :facepalm

[KendrickPerkins]

Demar!

Let's ****ing go champ

That spin move was nasty

[dabigbaws]

what the **** why does this retard get all these shit calls?

[SugarHill]

how is it even possible for a shooter to be that open at the same time that the paint is wide open? and then that same shooter is wide open the next play?

[dabigbaws]

how is it even possible for a shooter to be that open at the same time that the paint is wide open? and then that same shooter is wide open the next play?

they leave him open on purpose

[Legends66NBA7]

Ughhhh my raptors stream is so laggy...... Cavs vs Knicks works fine though :facepalm

It's an ESPN game, so better stream.

[KendrickPerkins]

how is it even possible for a shooter to be that open at the same time that the paint is wide open? and then that same shooter is wide open the next play?
Roberson isn't a shooter bro

[Legends66NBA7]

how is it even possible for a shooter to be that open at the same time that the paint is wide open? and then that same shooter is wide open the next play?

Missed box out on JV's part. Second time shooter wide open shouldn't have happened.

[dabigbaws]

oh jesus christ sit down collison

[BlakFrankWhite]

Westbrook has 14 assists in 26 minutes

He is not human!

[BlakFrankWhite]

Westbrook gunning for that 20/20 game :bowdown:

[VengefulAngel]

Westbrook gunning for that 20/20 game :bowdown:

He might get 25/25 :bowdown: :bowdown:

[sd3035]

Decent rig job by the refs to keep the craptors in this

[!@#$%Vectors!@#]

I dont see Ballmovement on OKC side :mad: :banghead: :hammerhead:

[Rocketswin2013]

Might watch this in the 4th

[BlakFrankWhite]

Jeh-sus, will we always choke when Westbrook on the bench?

[dabigbaws]

eneS!!

[Fire Colangelo]

Wow seriously? :oldlol:

[BlakFrankWhite]

eneS!!

:lebronamazed:

[!@#$%Vectors!@#]

Kanter u soft b i tch:mad:

[SugarHill]

I dont see Ballmovement on OKC side :mad: :banghead: :hammerhead:
doesn't matter cuz waiters scoring at will

[BlakFrankWhite]

GOATbrook back in

RIP Raptors

[Legends66NBA7]

Wow, bullshit.

[!@#$%Vectors!@#]

Refball helping Okc win

[rapker]

how did they get the job to ref...

[dabigbaws]

we need to get the ball to durant A LOT more...

[!@#$%Vectors!@#]

Refball Again :lol :lol

[rapker]

technical for you, technical for you, technicals for alllll the raps!!!

[dabigbaws]

clearly pegged the ball at the ref.

[dabigbaws]

you cant ****ing breathe on derozan

[Fire Colangelo]

Terrible turnover by Lowry...

[dabigbaws]

give the ball to durant. run something for durant. do something for durant

[Legends66NBA7]

Lowry's had a dogshit game, man. What the hell is he thinking making a pass like that ?

[Beebo]

Just keep it simple Lowry damn

[BlakFrankWhite]

Waiters gifting Raps the game

[!@#$%Vectors!@#]

Skinny Lowry:applause: :applause:

[!@#$%Vectors!@#]

Dat Flop.... Also e_e Why fire brooks if you're gonna keep playing Isoball?

[Kungfro]

DeRozan!!:bowdown:

[Young X]

DeRozan :applause:

[SugarHill]

http://media.giphy.com/media/xb8zoHFCKU0Ra/giphy.gif

[rapker]

DeRozan with CAPITAL D

[VengefulAngel]

OKC "offense" :lol

[BlakFrankWhite]

I don't fkin believe it

[dabigbaws]

Not Worried.

[!@#$%Vectors!@#]

:banghead: :banghead: :mad: :mad: :rant :rant just Hire Scott brooks again,:lol :lol

[dabigbaws]

Really?????????

[SugarHill]

all aboard the first round exit cruise :banana:

[rapker]

DeMarre with CAPITAL D!!!!

[imdaman99]

You need a stop, how you gonna lose your man and let him get an offensive rebound :biggums:

[n00bie]

Wow. How are the raptors going to win this?? 13 point 1st quarter, 2 techs and still winning 😂

[Kungfro]

5-0

:djparty

[BlakFrankWhite]

Well played Raptors

Deserved the W

[rapker]

that slip though

[24-Inch_Chrome]

:party:

[KendrickPerkins]

Demar haters are silent tonight

[Naero]

:facepalm Another wasted game for the Thunder... I thought they would have had an unbeaten home record for a while, but another one was squandered down the stretch due to stagnant ball movement on the offensive end.

Until the ball-movement stagnancies are rectified, Billy Donovan will only be so creditable for the wins; it'll be more assumable that his players are the saving graces to his coaching oversights...

[Fire Colangelo]

:rockon: :rockon:

undefeated.

[Crimsonrain777]

OKC dropped 2 in a row:oldlol: :oldlol:

[imdaman99]

:roll: Ibaka turrible jumpball tipper :roll:

[dabigbaws]

how the **** did we lose this game.

oh durant barely ****ing touched the ball

[n00bie]

Demar haters are silent tonight

I admit I was never a fan of Demar's game however he's been great so far.

[Beebo]

How the **** did we manage to win that? :biggums:

5-0 lets get it!

[Legends66NBA7]

Raptors were do relentless and laid it all out tonight. Easily their best effort of the season considering the competition. Huge night by DeMar and Cory.


Anyone other Raptor fans getting vibes of the 13/14 team post Rudy trade ? Seems like a better version of that team.

[kwajo]

I'm literally speechless, no idea how we ended up winning this game other than the fact that our team flat out plays hard and ugly.

[KG215]

Demar haters are silent tonight
He was escorted to the FT line all night by the refs.

Still, that was a damn embarrassment. Back-to-back chokejobs by the Thunder. We've got some pretty serious issues right now.

On another note...

Raptors - 39 FTA
DeRozan - 15 FTA
Thunder - 14 FTA

[BlakFrankWhite]

how the **** did we lose this game.

oh durant barely ****ing touched the ball

Westbrook was horrible in the 4th

[Kungfro]

:rockon: :rockon:

undefeated.

Is it to early to get excited about this team? I usually keep my expectations in check because this team has constantly disappointed me, but this is a hell of a way to start the season.

[disel]

Overrated okc

[O_City_Thunder]

Good Game Raptors Fans!!! :cheers:

[!@#$%Vectors!@#]

how the **** did we lose this game.

oh durant barely ****ing touched the ball

More like your team loses all ballmovement once it's late 3rd and fourth Quarter:mad: :mad: :banghead: :banghead:

[SugarHill]

He was escorted to the FT line all night by the refs.

Still, that was a damn embarrassment. Back-to-back chokejobs by the Thunder. We've got some pretty serious issues right now.

On another note...

Raptors - 39 FTA
DeRozan - 15 FTA
Thunder - 14 FTA
if you foul him, you foul him

[disel]

westcrap padding dem stats

[BlakFrankWhite]

16 point choke vs Houston

9 point choke vs Raptors

Dis the type of shit, that will have Durant flipping the finger and walking away

[!@#$%Vectors!@#]

if you foul him, you foul him

Also can't blame the raptors for the lack of ball movement by OKC

[TrueBlue89]

Chokebrook costing his team. :lol

[Legends66NBA7]

Good Game Raptors Fans!!! :cheers:

GG. You're team will figure it out.

It was an important win here and OKC gave the team a great challenge, especially to start this game.

[KendrickPerkins]

He was escorted to the FT line all night by the refs.

Still, that was a damn embarrassment. Back-to-back chokejobs by the Thunder. We've got some pretty serious issues right now.

On another note...

Raptors - 39 FTA
DeRozan - 15 FTA
Thunder - 14 FTA
That's what he does though, has a knack for it

I don't hate on guys who draw fouls. Durant, Harden, Demar... I like em all

Westbrook got overly emotional again and the team chemistry stopped. How many times did Durant even touch the ball down the stretch?

Westbrook isn't a guy you want leading your team, until Durant regains his form and takes away possession time from Westbrook I don't see the Thunder as an elite team

They're being led by a very inefficient spastic player right now.

[r0drig0lac]

82-0 incoming

[Rocketswin2013]

Durant needs to have this team.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CS_fcJrUcAA3Aco.png

[Twiens]

Huge win, great to see that defensive identity is back this year!!

[KG215]

That's what he does though, has a knack for it

I don't hate on guys who draw fouls. Durant, Harden, Demar... I like em all

Westbrook got overly emotional again and the team chemistry stopped. How many times did Durant even touch the ball down the stretch?

Westbrook isn't a guy you want leading your team, until Durant regains his form and takes away possession time from Westbrook I don't see the Thunder as an elite team

They're being led by a very inefficient spastic player right now.
I'm not saying DeRozan's FTs weren't legit, because about all of them were. But the game wasn't being called the same way on the other end.

But that was far from OKC's biggest problems tonight. Terrible ball security and too much Westbrook and not enough Durant in the 4th quarter killed us tonight. If we could just take average or slightly below average care of the ball the last two games we'd be 5-0 right now. Instead we're staring 3-3 in the face with a road game on the second night of a back-to-back in Chicago tomorrow.

[rapker]

we played really ugly ball in the first half, but the defence was consistent all game - that's how we do it boys

[yeaaaman]

Raptors were do relentless and laid it all out tonight. Easily their best effort of the season considering the competition. Huge night by DeMar and Cory.


Anyone other Raptor fans getting vibes of the 13/14 team post Rudy trade ? Seems like a better version of that team.

I was thinking the comeback win in Dallas on their West coast road-trip from that year that kind of kick-started their post Gay turnaround. They played scrappy and tough. Definitely a much different look from last year.

[Legends66NBA7]

Yeah, I fear Durant way more down the stretch of a ball game than Westbrook. Don't forget what he did to the Raptors back in 2014 and that's when Brook got hurt during the game.

[Cocaine80s]

I'm not saying DeRozan's FTs weren't legit, because about all of them were. But the game wasn't being called the same way on the other end.

But that was far from OKC's biggest problems tonight. Terrible ball security and too much Westbrook and not enough Durant in the 4th quarter killed us tonight. If we could just take average or slightly below average care of the ball the last two games we'd be 5-0 right now. Instead we're staring 3-3 in the face with a road game on the second night of a back-to-back in Chicago tomorrow.
lol, theres no chance you guys lose to chicago though :lol

[IGOTGAME]

Durant needs to have this team.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CS_fcJrUcAA3Aco.png

why does he care about the stats? If he is making the right plays and the team is winning that should be all that matters...

[Legends66NBA7]

I was thinking the comeback win in Dallas on their West coast road-trip from that year that kind of kick-started their post Gay turnaround. They played scrappy and tough. Definitely a much different look from last year.

In 2013, they beat Dallas and OKC to start their turnaround. Same thing in 2015.

Although this time, the team is much more mature.

[Kungfro]

Here's the Raps next 10 games. Could realistically go 11-0 to start the season, don't see us winning in Oracle though.

http://imageshack.com/a/img911/4742/9Zg45R.jpg

[Fire Colangelo]

Is it to early to get excited about this team? I usually keep my expectations in check because this team has constantly disappointed me, but this is a hell of a way to start the season.

I know what you mean. I remember we had like a 3-0 start to the season back in 09 that got me super pumped, and we ended up missing the playoffs that year.

Realistically we've only beaten 1 good team and 4 mediocre teams, so my expectations aren't that high yet.

With that said, there's a lot of things to be excited for:

Val's finally getting those 4th quarter minutes. Looking to have a 15/11 season, and the new additions look fantastic.

Anyways, I'm looking forward to the rest of the road trip vs Orlando and Miami. Both games very winnable.

[yeaaaman]

In 2013, they beat Dallas and OKC to start their turnaround. Same thing in 2015.

Although this time, the team is much more mature.

Definitely I never thought about that. Let's see if they can keep it up though and not lay an egg and lose all the momentum.

[disel]

Durant wastin his talent with westcrap

[dazzer87]

I blame coach brooks for his lost

[kwajo]

Here's the Raps next 10 games. Could realistically go 11-0 to start the season, don't see us winning in Oracle though.

http://imageshack.com/a/img911/4742/9Zg45R.jpg
Let's not go nuts, we're bound to drop a "winnable" game to someone, I'm going to guess Miami or NY at this point.

[yeaaaman]

I know what you mean. I remember we had like a 3-0 start to the season back in 09 that got me super pumped, and we ended up missing the playoffs that year.

Realistically we've only beaten 1 good team and 4 mediocre teams, so my expectations aren't that high yet.

With that said, there's a lot of things to be excited for:

Val's finally getting those 4th quarter minutes. Looking to have a 15/11 season, and the new additions look fantastic.

Anyways, I'm looking forward to the rest of the road trip vs Orlando and Miami. Both games very winnable.

Orlando could be a trap game they're super scrappy this year.

JV earning minutes down the stretch this year is good though. It also feels different because last year we needed Lowry to be great for us to win, when he got worn down after the break we all know what happened.

Now there's more room for guys to have "off" nights because we have more weapons and balance, to go along with strong rebounding and defence. So it feels different, but only time will tell if it yields different results. The hope obviously is that it does.

[yeaaaman]

why does he care about the stats? If he is making the right plays and the team is winning that should be all that matters...

I don't think he really cares about his stats that much because if he did he is definitely capable of averaging far more points than he currently does.

I think it speaks more to the fact he probably feels he can do more for his team to help them win. If he had more opportunities to create, he'd do so, and I'm sure he feels it would help the team win.

When he was out last year, Westbrook put up historic numbers and they didn't make the playoffs. When Westbrook was out, Durant put up historic numbers and they finished with a top seed in the West. So I'm sure there's more to it than stats.

[Fire Colangelo]

Orlando could be a trap game they're super scrappy this year.

JV earning minutes down the stretch this year is good though. It also feels different because last year we needed Lowry to be great for us to win, when he got worn down after the break we all know what happened.

Now there's more room for guys to have "off" nights because we have more weapons and balance, to go along with strong rebounding and defence. So it feels different, but only time will tell if it yields different results. The hope obviously is that it does.

Yeah, Orlando is actually really good this year.

Obviously inexperienced, but really good. They've lost like 4 close games to start the season, sooner or later they'll start winning those. I see them sneaking into the playoffs this year.

But yeah, we relied far too much on Lowry, and on Lou iso last season. DeMar was injured, Ross and Val were inconsistent. It's good to see that we have a really balanced starting 5, and a really good bench that knows their roles.

[RedBlackAttack]

why does he care about the stats? If he is making the right plays and the team is winning that should be all that matters...
Reading between the lines, it sounds like he is pointing to touches as the reason he isn't distributing the way he'd like to. He is attempting to use "rebounds" as a way of talking around Westbrook's ball dominance. Like, "if only I got more rebounds -- you know, the only way I'm going to touch the ball consistently with this guy on my team -- you'd see that I can contribute more."

I will be shocked if this Westbrook-Durant thing doesn't eventually come to a head. Westbrook had 21 field goal attempts, 16 assists and 8 turnovers tonight. That is just absurd usage of the basketball and it is unhealthy on a team with a player as good as Durant.

I don't know where OKC fans fall on this subject, but there is a pretty low cap on how good the team can be when one guy is controlling the ball that much, especially considering Kevin Durant is standing next to him.

[kwajo]

Reading between the lines, it sounds like he is pointing to touches as the reason he isn't distributing the way he'd like to. He is attempting to use "rebounds" as a way of talking around Westbrook's ball dominance. Like, "if only I got more rebounds -- you know, the only way I'm going to touch the ball consistently with this guy on my team -- you'd see that I can contribute more."

I will be shocked if this Westbrook-Durant thing doesn't eventually come to a head. Westbrook had 21 field goal attempts, 16 assists and 8 turnovers tonight. That is just absurd usage of the basketball and it is unhealthy on a team with a player as good as Durant.

I don't know where OKC fans fall on this subject, but there is a pretty low cap on how good the team can be when one guy is controlling the ball that much, especially considering Kevin Durant is standing next to him.
Westbrook is a beast and unstoppable much of the time, truly a unique player, but he's a head case. Sometimes it works out beautifully because he has a fire that can't stop, but it also makes him do ridiculous things like initiating contact and turning it into flops, hogging the ball on offence or simply not being a team player or "sticking to the script" on D. Maybe he'll mature and everything will be fine, but I agree it seems like it might boil over someday.

[yeaaaman]

Reading between the lines, it sounds like he is pointing to touches as the reason he isn't distributing the way he'd like to. He is attempting to use "rebounds" as a way of talking around Westbrook's ball dominance. Like, "if only I got more rebounds -- you know, the only way I'm going to touch the ball consistently with this guy on my team -- you'd see that I can contribute more."

I will be shocked if this Westbrook-Durant thing doesn't eventually come to a head. Westbrook had 21 field goal attempts, 16 assists and 8 turnovers tonight. That is just absurd usage of the basketball and it is unhealthy on a team with a player as good as Durant.

I don't know where OKC fans fall on this subject, but there is a pretty low cap on how good the team can be when one guy is controlling the ball that much, especially considering Kevin Durant is standing next to him.

That's pretty much what I was getting at. And I completely agree, you can't have a guy like Durant just idling around the court, Westbrooks usage is insane, it's probably almost the same as when Durant was out last year. I can't see that's being a winning formula either, not when you have a Durant.

I'd imagine KD is actually super efficient considering how little it seems he's involved at times.