Tag: Russell Westbrook

Thunder Clicks in Denver

Oklahoma City walked out of Denver with a 96-86 win in the final game of the preseason after a strong first half from its big three and excellent help off the bench.

The Thunder clicked in its final game of the preseason flowing from defense to offense as they had already played 30 games of regular season basketball as they had it going with their best line up of the preseason with the return of Alex Abrines from a knee injury. It all started with Russell Westbrook who set the tempo early with 14 first-quarter points he finished with 20 points 7 assists shooting 9 of 13 2 of 6 from 3 point range for the game.

Carmelo Anthony and Paul George were also fantastic Anthony scoring 16 points in 22 minutes and George 19 points in 34 minutes George going 5 of 9 from 3 point range, and five steals was the standout for the Thunder. A highlight of the first half was Anthony and Westbrook’s link-up play in the first half especially the trailer play they have been running in the previous two games which looks like it will be a feature for this teams offensive and defensive success as the season progresses.

OKC had good help off the bench with Josh Huestis helping the #FreeHuestis movement scoring 15 points in 22 minutes with 4 from deep. On the defensive end of the ball, Terence Ferguson was fantastic with his effort getting multiple tip plays to help keep the ball alive for the Thunder that transition into scores thanks to the phenomenal transition work the Thunder displayed against the Nuggets.

Denver had excellent support from Will Barton who went 9 of 18 scoring 26 points to keep Denver in the fight the Nuggets went to the free throw line 26 times to the Thunder’s eight times.

This was the best the Thunder has looked as a complete package they showed what a dangerous threat they are to any team that has to stand across from them on any night.

Written by Shannon Blake (justamansopinionblog) 

Please tell me what you think in the comments below.

And The Rivalry Goes On

Man Golden State Warriors just won’t let Russell Westbrook live in peace, will they?

 

Golden State Warriors vs Cleveland Cavaliers Game 5
(Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)

 

In a article written by Adam Wells of Bleacher Report Zach Lowe of ESPN went on his podcast The Lowe Post podcast and talked about the opinion reigning NBA champions Golden State Warriors have of reigning MVP Russell Westbrook “the Warriors “don’t fear” Westbrook because his “style of play is so easy to defend; it’s like cake to them.”

Also in Wells article for Bleacher Report, he notes how Lowe alludes to Jack McCallum’s Golden Days. “Lowe also noted McCallum’s book notes Durant left the Thunder to sign with the Warriors in July 2016 “partly” because of Westbrook.” Wells wrote in his piece.

 

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Klay Thompson blocking Russell Westbrook

 

Russell Westbrook’s last four performances against the Warriors look like this

 

Nov 3rd – 20 points 10 assists 6 rebounds

Jan 18th – 27 points 13 assists 15 rebounds

Feb 11th – 47 points 8 assists 11 rebounds

Mar 20th – 15 points 7 assists 8 rebounds

That adds up to Westbrook averaging 27.3 points, 10.0 rebounds and 9.5 assists shooting 37.5% overall against the Golden State Warriors as Adam Wells points out in his Bleacher Report piece. Wells also points out Westbrook had the most turnovers against the Warriors than any other team he faced.

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I don’t think we’re taking into account the emotional side of these games for Westbrook or Oklahoma City when we talk about his turnovers against Golden State Westbrook is usually a high turnover player he turned it over 438 times last season.

Against the Warriors, though it’s different they were going against a former teammate in Kevin Durant and for Westbrook that was extremely personal with Durant leaving OKC for the team that knocked you out of the playoffs after being 3-1 up is the team Kevin Durant decided.

Westbrook Im Coming

I don’t think there is another team in the NBA Russell Westbrook wants to beat more than the Golden State Warriors.

 

Written by Shannon Blake (justamansopinionblog) 

Please tell me what you think in the comments below.

Thunder fend off United in a surprising battle.

It was a night for the defense of Oklahoma City Thunder to stand up, and they did as the Thunder outlasted Australian side Melbourne United 86-86 at Chesapeake Energy Arena in a contest that was a fight quarter to quarter, in the end, the difference was Josh Huestis with two huge blocks at the death.

It wasn’t a good night for the offense of the Thunder as they shot 34% from the field 25% from three-point range. The Thunders new big three had a bad night with George shooting 5 from 17 scoring 22 points in 38:41 minutes. Anthony 6 from 19 scoring 19 points in his most minutes this preseason playing 31:10 minutes. Westbrook went 3 from 10 from the field scoring 9 points 7 assists and 5 rebounds in his most minutes this preseason playing 28:29 minutes.

The Thunder are not worrying about chemistry on the offensive side of the ball.

Josh Huestis was a stand out on defense with four blocks two in the dying seconds of the game to hand OKC the tight win. Melbourne United was very physical, and it worked for them in disrupting the Thunder on the offensive side of the ball. United also made some tough shots to make the game go down to the wire. Standouts for the Australian team were Caspar Ware Jr. Scoring 20 points and Josh Boone scoring 15 points. The two players received praise from Thunder All-Star Carmelo Anthony after the game.

Oklahoma goes to Denver on Wednesday to complete their preseason there will be a good chance we get to see a full run out for reigning MVP Russell Westbrook and All-Star Carmelo Anthony and maybe see the Thunder put out there best line up this preseason.

Written by Shannon Blake (justamansopinionblog)

 

The Three Headed Monster Has It’s First Victim

The reigning Kia MVP Russell Westbrook returned from platelet-rich plasma injection in his left knee to join up with his new All-Star teammates Paul George and Carmelo Anthony for the first time this preseason to get a solid win against the New Orleans Pelicans 102-91 in Oklahoma.

 

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Sue Ogrocki/Associated Press

Westbrook managed to play ten minutes in his return scoring 9 points on 3 of 5 shooting he also recorded four assists. Westbrook showed that he is deadly no matter how long he’s on the floor for as he showed off his elite level passing skills that is underrated as he hit up George, Anthony, and Adams. There were two highlight plays between the three-headed monster with Anthony hockey assisting a Westbrook assist that led to an Andre Roberson dunk and Westbrook assisting on a George 3.

 

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Westbrook assisting a Paul George 3

 

George after the game talked about the speed Westbrook plays with “(Westbrook’s) got speed that you can’t scout for, that you can’t plan for,” George said. “It’s a definite luxury to have a guy with you on the floor with you. He’s going to create so much stuff for me and Carmelo. It was good, it was good to get a glimpse of that.” “We joke about it, how to run a fast break with him because he’s so fast,” George said about Westbrook. “By the time you catch it your feet are all messed up trying to catch up to him. So it’s going to be an adjustment, but again, you’ve got a guy that puts that much pressure on a defense, it’s going to make the game so much easier for me. My job is the easy part, just to finish those plays for him.”

Carmelo Anthony added nine points, and six rebounds in the first half of the game didn’t return for the second half and also talked after the game how he feels the team is going “We don’t know, we’re just playing ball right now,” Anthony said of building an identity for the team. “We’re just trying to figure it out. We want to play fast, we want to play quick, but I think with Russ you almost have to play quick. If he passes it to you and you’re open, and you don’t shoot it, he’ll get mad at you. That’s something since he’s been in practice we’ve been working on. But we don’t know, we’re just playing basketball, seeing what works, trying to see what doesn’t work, and when the time comes, we’ll see what works and stick with that.”

Paul George scored 25 points in just over 27 minutes was the stand out for the Thunder showing what he is bringing to this partnership, and it was a thing of beauty. George talked about a conversation Russell, Carmelo and himself had with Coach Donovan during the week “That’s one thing Coach has sat down with myself, sat down with Russ, Carmelo, is he wants us to be ourselves,” George said. “He wants us to bring what makes us special, just do it within the confinement of this team. That’s what’s going to make the game easy for everybody.”

 

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George called for a foul in OKC 102-91 win over the Pelicans

 

Coach Billy Donovan also talked to the media about he sees the team developing the communication needed “The communication is great offensively,” coach Billy Donovan said. “Carmelo has played in different systems, so he’s learning a new system, Paul’s learning a system. We’ve had a lot of guys out there doing something for the first time and not only learning something new, not that they haven’t seen this before, but playing and functioning and playing with other guys. I think they’re doing a really, really good job of continuing to work on that chemistry.”

 

 

Written by Shannon Blake (justamansopinionblog)

 

 

The Future is looking bright in Oklahoma

Watching Oklahoma City’s first scrimmage of the year with new inclusions Paul George, Carmelo Anthony & Raymond Felton, I felt one emotion excitement. Was the competition LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Kawhi Leonard or a Damian Lillard, no it was simply Starters vs. the reserves and guys fighting for a spot on the roster.

What it was, was an opportunity to see the new talent the Thunder has acquired in the off-season. Anthony who hit some beautiful shots with slick moves, scoring 11 points, shooting 5 of 9 from the field and 1 of 3 from 3 point range and George showing his silky moves on offense & defense scoring an effortless 30 points, shooting 12 of 14 from the field & 6 of 8 from 3. George and André Roberson also showed why Thunder fans are so excited about their partnership on defense with both recording 2 steals each.

Sitting on my laptop in Perth, Australia watching the scrimmage you could feel the excitement inside Edmond North High School with everything that has happened this offseason with Russell Westbrook signing his extension and the acquisitions of Paul George and Carmelo Anthony the atmosphere felt electric.

 

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Fans in Edmond showing their appreciation for Russell Westbrook

 

We also got to see the future of OKC with Terrance Ferguson & Dakari Johnson, who had eye-catching moments one of the highlights being a link up play between Ferguson & George that led to a highlight dunk by George that had Russell Westbrook on his feet celebrating. Westbrook, who will not be participating in many pre-season games because of platelet-rich plasma injections in his left knee that needs some time to heal, but he is aiming for a chance to play in one or two preseason games. In a mini press conference talking to media, Westbrook said: “Oh I’m good, bro, When I come back, you’ll see.”

 

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Ferguson Skywalking in front of his new teammates

 

In the end, this was just a scrimmage between Thunder Blue & Thunder White. Russell Westbrook didn’t play Patrick Patterson didn’t play, and there was no elite competition, but damn, it was great to see George & Anthony play together along with Steven Adams and André Roberson. This season is going to be an exciting one.

Here is the box score from the scrimmage.

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Written by Shannon Blake (justamansopinionblog)

L0YALTY.

 

Loyalty is what Russell Westbrook preached after he signed his extension after Kevin Durant had made the decision to leave Oklahoma City Thunder for Golden State Warriors today on Kevin Durant’s birthday Westbrook decided to back up his talk.

Russell Westbrook
Russell at his contract extension after Durant had left OKC photo credit (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

Russell Westbrook has signed the 5 years, $205 million extension the Oklahoma City Thunder had offered him 90 days ago, which now makes him the highest paid athlete in NBA history. The complete deal Is 6 years $233 million with the 6th year being a player option that is worth $40 million and some change It’s very likely he will stay for the 6th year.

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photo credit Instagram @shermyszn photographer Joseph Sherman

This is so much bigger than just money, this was essential for the Thunder organization Westbrook signing this extension gives the organization another thing to sell Paul George and Carmelo Anthony on staying in Oklahoma for longer than just one season this was crucial in that sales pitch along with the 12 month head start they have on other teams thanks to general manager Sam Presti trading for both George and Anthony.

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George (13) Westbrook (0) Anthony (7) photo credit AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki

So, in the end, Russell Westbrook has been found to be a man of his words when OKC was In its darkest time he signed an extension and told the crowd of adoring fans that were in attendance or also watching on TV at home that he loves Oklahoma City he loves the people of OKC and wouldn’t want to be anywhere else well today on maybe the towns brightest day where the mayor declared every day Russell Westbrook day Westbrook told his fans the same thing.

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Statement by Russell Westbrook from ESPNs Royce Young Twitter @royceyoung

 

My question is when will people stop doubting Russell Westbrook?

 

Written by Shannon Blake (justamansopinionblog)

Paying the price of Someone Else’s Sins.

Is Oklahoma City going to make Russell Westbrook pay for the ‘sins’ of Kevin Durant? Westbrook has an estimated 5 years $207 million dollar extension on the table from the Oklahoma City Thunder franchise which has given Westbrook every reason to sign the extension by trading for Paul George who averaged 23 points 3 assists and 6 rebounds per game shooting 46 percent from the field and 39 percent from 3 point range where the Thunder were the leagues worst 3 point shooting team last season.George also comes with his own impressive resume which consists of being a 4x All-Star 3x All-Defensive Team making 1st team in 2014 they have given Westbrook the help he needed after his one man wrecking crew season that earned him his first MVP but also got him a first round exit in the playoffs.

 

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New teammates  George (R) Westbrook (L) photo from Bleacher Report

 

In a two-year span the Thunder have gone from 3-1 up on the best team in basketball the Golden State Warriors in the 2016 playoffs with Kevin Durant to losing that same series 4-3 which led to Durant walking right out the door straight into the locker room of the team that just beat them in that devastating series leaving Westbrook to pick up the pieces of a broken-hearted city and franchise. Westbrook went on to unleash hell on the NBA in a MVP season for the ages arguably giving the fans front row seats to one of if not the greatest offensive seasons the league has ever witnessed with Westbrook becoming the first man in history to have 42 triple doubles in a single season averaging 31 points 10 assists and 10 rebounds breaking Oscar Robertson record of 41 triple doubles which he set back in 1961-62 Westbrook also became only the second man in history to ever average a triple double for an entire season playing only 35 minutes per game the Big O was the first man to accomplished this feat averaging a triple-double whose playing time was on average 44 minutes per game back in Robertson’s time the average game featured 126 possessions in 48 minutes. The average in today’s game is 96 possessions in 48 minutes. There were roughly 30 more plays per game in which players could get stats. If you were wondering what Russell’s stats would have looked like back in 61-62 he would have averaged 40 points 13 assists and 14 rebounds per game!.

 

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Robertson (R) trying to guard Westbrook (L) photo from SportingNews

 

 But OKC is in the beginning of maybe its most important season in the history of the franchise. If Russell Westbrook does not sign the extension before October 16th and join Paul George in testing free agency since George is also a free agent next off-season the Thunder will be heading down the same road they went down with Kevin Durant what I do know is Russell Westbrook is no Kevin Durant. The one thing Oklahoma City can bet every single dollar it has is that Russell Westbrook will give his absolute best for 82 games the question is can OKC live with that? can the fans who have been so loyal to Westbrook and him back to the city that took a chance on him back in 2008 picking him at number 4 in the draft when everyone else thought it was a big reach taking Westbrook so high. Westbrook has been phenomenal for his adopted city giving back to the community building his tenth reading room for schools in Oklahoma Russell’s Reading Rooms, a staple of his Why Not? Foundation has made it cool for kids to sit down and read again.

 

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Westbrook was at Adams Elementary to open his 10th Russell’s Reading Room photo from NBA.com

 

So can they have faith in him to re–sign next off-season? I think they can have faith in the man that’s given everything he has to give and re-signing puts Westbrook on the certain path to becoming the greatest player in franchise history and be a one team player which is so extremely rare in today’s NBA in a lot of sports today everyone wants to join their friends to make a super team. Will the fans and organization make Russell pay the price for what Kevin Durant did last offseason in a song by Bruce Springsteen Adam Raised a Cain Springsteen sings “You’re born into this life paying For the sins of somebody else’s past” I hope Westbrook won’t have to pay that heavy price it could be the end of the franchise that has seen so much success.

 Written by Shannon Blake (justamansopinionblog)

I’m Coming!

Westbrook Im Coming

It was February 12th time out is called at 4:25 of the third quarter the moment that defined a season for me Russell Westbrook just stared and repeated “I’m coming I’m coming I’m coming I’m coming I’m coming” at former teammate Kevin Durant, unfortunately, it didn’t count for much on the scoreboard or when Kevin won the championship later this season, but I think it did for Russell and maybe also the fans of the Thunder but Russell had the opportunity to tell the man who left him for dead that he is still here and every time you come to Oklahoma City I’ll be here every time we come to Oakland “I’m coming I’m coming I’m coming I’m coming I’m coming” the scoreboard could say 1000-3 but you knew Russ gave everything for those 3 and he’s damn proud he got those 3 points you’ll say to yourself it’s 1000-3 why the hell is he proud of those 3 because that’s Russ I still struggle to define Russell I don’t think there has or will ever be another Russell think about it Michael Jordan is supposed to be the greatest of all time, yet there is LeBron James, who will be thought of in the same breath, try it say Michael Jordan I guarantee the first name you think of is LeBron James now say Russell Westbrook and you get nothing he’s one of one always has been always will be will he win every game, no will he always give you 1000% yes is that enough, I don’t know about you but for me it is.

Forty two triple doubles in a season passing Oscar Robertson (41) Russell also averaged a triple double for the season only the second time in history that has ever been done Oscar being the first to do it Russell will be the MVP and that kills some people out in the NBA world, media and fans of other teams, he shoots too much he doesn’t pass the ball enough the rebounds he gets are cheap or who has he made better? well I don’t know anyone in OKC but I’m sure if I flew from Australia asked people in OKC they might say Russell has made them better or how about the kids who get to go to one of the ten Russell reading rooms Russell has created so how about we stop degrading what Russell Westbrook has done this year because it has been phenomenal but now Russell has to do more and sadly everyone expects him to do more and I have absolutely no idea how we can expect more but in the words of Russell Westbrook “Why Not”.

Written by Shannon Blake (justamansopinionblog)