By romreimade this claim on Twitter and 140 characters is not enough so here’s my blog post on why Russell Westbrook is better than the reigning MVP.
Kevin Durant can be game planned around. He might end up with a 10-25 shooting game with 30 points but that’s what you’d hope for. Let him take a lot of shots and make him into an inefficient shooter. In 5 out of the 7 games in this year’s playoffs against the Grizzlies he shot under 43%.
The primary reason I think Westbrook is better is because you can’t stop him from having a good game. The only person that stops Westbrook is himself. And sometimes he does just that with bad shot selection but overall you can’t game plan around him.
Think about it as a coach: How can you stop Russell Westbrook? You can’t. For example, in Game 4 of Clippers vs. Thunder, Westbrook was able to score just about anytime he wanted to in the fourth quarter. Meanwhile, Kevin Durant was being bottled up by Chris Paul and while he scored, the points didn’t come as easy as they did for Russ.
Russell Westbrook is why OKC is so dangerous in the playoffs, not Kevin Durant.
When defenses set against OKC, they know they have to focus first on getting the ball out of Westbrook’s hands and then they rely on defending KD to the best of their ability. They know if they make Durant take a tough, low percentage shot, they’ve done their job.
Durant’s so good, he’s still going to hit a bunch of tough shots. The difference for me is even if you try to bottle up Westbrook, he can still find a way to get a layup or just rise above for an uncontested jumper.
Without Westbrook in the 2013 playoffs, the Thunder were out in 5 games to pretty much the same Grizzlies team as they just beat in 7. Kevin Durant couldn’t carry them to even a competitive series (I bet Lebron could have). Westbrook couldn’t have carried them past the Grizzlies either but I make this point to show Kevin Durant is very much stoppable.
Westbrook and Durant need each other to advance in the playoffs. Despite Scott Brooks, they’re a championship caliber team. I think Westbrook is more dynamic (a lot like a bigger Derrick Rose) and because of that creates all sorts of matchup problems that other teams can’t solve.
If the Thunder and Spurs advance, watch who gives San Antonio fits. It’s going to be Russell Westbrook physically dominating the Spurs backcourt and carving up their interior defense.
On the defensive end, despite being 7 foot, Durant is more of a liability than Westbrook. He’s easier for opponents to muscle and maneuver around. While Westbrook isn’t a defensive stalwart himself, I’d argue he’s less of a liability.
To sum up, I think Westbrook is more important to the Thunder than Durant. He takes defensive pressure off the rest of his teammates because of quickness, strength, and overall athleticism. He’s roundly criticized when things go south because he’s hyper aggressive and is very susceptible to taking bad shots but if he’s not there to put pressure on the defense, Durant turns into a taller, more efficient Carmelo Anthony.
This is not to say Durant isn’t a fantastic player. He’s an amazing talent. But if I were to start a team, I’d pick Russell Westbrook before him. He’s the best point guard in the league because he’s a dynamic force that can’t be stopped and he can become even better with the right coaching. I think he’s the #2 player in the league behind Lebron.
Recency bias is such a funny thing.
Just about a year ago people were talking about Durant's historical stretch without Westbrook. Now it's all about Westbrook not needing Durant.
The thing I ask with Westbrook is what is an ideal team for him where he can actually win a championship playing his style of basketball?
I feel like I can come up with a ton of ways to build a dynasty around durant, not nearly as many as I can around Westbrook because he is so ball dominant and has such high trust issues with teammates.
I think maybe a Kobe style team with a top tier front court but then I realize despite his usage how much more efficient a shooter and scorer kobe was.
By JonmBy romreimade this claim on Twitter and 140 characters is not enough so here’s my blog post on why Russell Westbrook is better than the reigning MVP.
Kevin Durant can be game planned around. He might end up with a 10-25 shooting game with 30 points but that’s what you’d hope for. Let him take a lot of shots and make him into an inefficient shooter. In 5 out of the 7 games in this year’s playoffs against the Grizzlies he shot under 43%.
The primary reason I think Westbrook is better is because you can’t stop him from having a good game. The only person that stops Westbrook is himself. And sometimes he does just that with bad shot selection but overall you can’t game plan around him.
Think about it as a coach: How can you stop Russell Westbrook? You can’t. For example, in Game 4 of Clippers vs. Thunder, Westbrook was able to score just about anytime he wanted to in the fourth quarter. Meanwhile, Kevin Durant was being bottled up by Chris Paul and while he scored, the points didn’t come as easy as they did for Russ.
Russell Westbrook is why OKC is so dangerous in the playoffs, not Kevin Durant.
When defenses set against OKC, they know they have to focus first on getting the ball out of Westbrook’s hands and then they rely on defending KD to the best of their ability. They know if they make Durant take a tough, low percentage shot, they’ve done their job.
Durant’s so good, he’s still going to hit a bunch of tough shots. The difference for me is even if you try to bottle up Westbrook, he can still find a way to get a layup or just rise above for an uncontested jumper.
Without Westbrook in the 2013 playoffs, the Thunder were out in 5 games to pretty much the same Grizzlies team as they just beat in 7. Kevin Durant couldn’t carry them to even a competitive series (I bet Lebron could have). Westbrook couldn’t have carried them past the Grizzlies either but I make this point to show Kevin Durant is very much stoppable.
Westbrook and Durant need each other to advance in the playoffs. Despite Scott Brooks, they’re a championship caliber team. I think Westbrook is more dynamic (a lot like a bigger Derrick Rose) and because of that creates all sorts of matchup problems that other teams can’t solve.
If the Thunder and Spurs advance, watch who gives San Antonio fits. It’s going to be Russell Westbrook physically dominating the Spurs backcourt and carving up their interior defense.
On the defensive end, despite being 7 foot, Durant is more of a liability than Westbrook. He’s easier for opponents to muscle and maneuver around. While Westbrook isn’t a defensive stalwart himself, I’d argue he’s less of a liability.
To sum up, I think Westbrook is more important to the Thunder than Durant. He takes defensive pressure off the rest of his teammates because of quickness, strength, and overall athleticism. He’s roundly criticized when things go south because he’s hyper aggressive and is very susceptible to taking bad shots but if he’s not there to put pressure on the defense, Durant turns into a taller, more efficient Carmelo Anthony.
This is not to say Durant isn’t a fantastic player. He’s an amazing talent. But if I were to start a team, I’d pick Russell Westbrook before him. He’s the best point guard in the league because he’s a dynamic force that can’t be stopped and he can become even better with the right coaching. I think he’s the #2 player in the league behind Lebron.
Recency bias is such a funny thing.
Just about a year ago people were talking about Durant's historical stretch without Westbrook. Now it's all about Westbrook not needing Durant.
The thing I ask with Westbrook is what is an ideal team for him where he can actually win a championship playing his style of basketball?
I feel like I can come up with a ton of ways to build a dynasty around durant, not nearly as many as I can around Westbrook because he is so ball dominant and has such high trust issues with teammates.
I think maybe a Kobe style team with a top tier front court but then I realize despite his usage how much more efficient a shooter and scorer kobe was.
Westbrook and Durant are both amazing. they're clearly alpha level players that can carry a franchise on their own. It's insane to realize that Presti drafted 3 of those guys.
Here's the thing though, both those guys have shown that they can play amazingly alone, and amazingly together. They're both monsters who you can build around. Durant's more efficient, Westbrook is more versatile. That's about it.
I will say, I don't think Kobe needed a top tier front court. If Phil's shown anything, it's that he can institute the Triangle effectively no matter where your positions of strength are. Plus, that team played huge stretches with Bynum injured and their crunch time lineup didn't have him. It was essentially Kobe with one top tier big, two spot up shooters, and a versatile stretch 4. I actually think the Triangle would be an amazing fit for the Thunder - with both or just one of those guys. Especially now that they have a decent scoring Center.
By DY_nastyvahagn's right lolFar from it.
Undervalued assets is still Morey's bread and butter. He find impact players most importantly due to their salaries. Sure he can get better players than Brewer, but he's not stupid enough to lock them down to long-term contracts for sake of pleasing them. He knows the worth of role players.
By VahagnBy RBKYeah sorry Vahagn. Pointing out the most obvious doesn't automatically make you knowledgeable. You don't even need stats to show that.
Morey's a top GM, Harden's the best 2 guard. Anything going against those two is simply denying the truth.
Step aside from your incessant persecution complex for 5 seconds and engage in some nuanced arguments. You can say "Morey's a top GM" all you want it doesn't make it true.
The guy came in decrying superstars and talking about finding undervalued assets as the name of the game. After a few years he changed his tune to "you need superstars to win". Then he built a team around a single playmaker, realizing now that unlike the team that RC Buford built or the team that the Mavs built, Harden is the only person on that team that can make that offense run.
You can gloss over all of these things all you want, but what I see is someone who has no idea what he's doing from a basketball standpoint, and is constantly changing course (something like 47 trades in 7 years) because he's either too impatient, or he's building bad teams.
He made one franchise changing deal. Got Harden. Because OKC was too cheap to fork over the extra 5 million. You take that deal away and Howard never goes to Houston, Bosh never considers it, you're a middling 9th seed at best.
To his credit though 90% of GM's never put their team in a position to ever get a Harden. And the fact that he has managed to deliver under the hot seat the way he did with harden is pretty noteworthy. That ownership wanted a superstar and wanted it then and he pulled a rabbit out of the hat in a two year window and got Harden.
Outside of harden he has done a decent job drafting, replacing talent, finding value role players signed to good contracts and getting fair trade. The grunt work you want out of a GM.
I actually think his willingness to adjust his view is a strength. Nothing is worse for a franchise then a GM that can't adapt to change. Those guys end up being the Joe Dumars of the NBA imo.
By VahagnSince when, no GM would pass up the chance to get players like LBJ or Durant if the opportunity presented itself. At the beginning of his hiring, he had a foundation(not a good one) established already with 2 max players in Yao/TMac. Yao was deemed untradeable for good reason even due to his injury history, TMac literally had no value until the final year of the contract, where he was then sent to NY(2010 FA class). Grabbed Artest, Lowry, Dragic, Kevin Martin and more who were ALL undervalued players for the most part until Morey sought them out. Lowry and Dragic to a lesser extent weren't all-star caliber players until they came to Houston...and this is simple fact.By RBKYeah sorry Vahagn. Pointing out the most obvious doesn't automatically make you knowledgeable. You don't even need stats to show that.
Morey's a top GM, Harden's the best 2 guard. Anything going against those two is simply denying the truth.
Step aside from your incessant persecution complex for 5 seconds and engage in some nuanced arguments. You can say "Morey's a top GM" all you want it doesn't make it true.
The guy came in decrying superstars and talking about finding undervalued assets as the name of the game. After a few years he changed his tune to "you need superstars to win". Then he built a team around a single playmaker, realizing now that unlike the team that RC Buford built or the team that the Mavs built, Harden is the only person on that team that can make that offense run.
You can gloss over all of these things all you want, but what I see is someone who has no idea what he's doing from a basketball standpoint, and is constantly changing course (something like 47 trades in 7 years) because he's either too impatient, or he's building bad teams.
He made one franchise changing deal. Got Harden. Because OKC was too cheap to fork over the extra 5 million. You take that deal away and Howard never goes to Houston, Bosh never considers it, you're a middling 9th seed at best.
Morey didn't build around a single playmaker considering we had Lin and which lead into being lucked up in Harden. Like I said, if it wasn't for the poison pill contract, Lin's still wearing a Rockets uni. He doesn't always swing for the fences with trades or FA moves, but the majority have been impactful while most importantly keeping financial flexibility, which is Morey's philosophy. The MAIN reason why Artest was offered more than a one-year deal after our playoff series win against Portland, main reason why he didn't sign Parsons to the 3 year deal.
Only true thing is we'll be a 9th seed without the Harden trade, but that's simple not how history played out. How much weight would my opinion mean if I said NY doesn't get Carmelo if Amar'e doesn't sign there first? Seriously, you're showing a bias more than actually putting factual evidence across.
Man OKC drafted 3 MVP level players AND had them on the same team at the same time.
that's fucking crazy, wow.
that's fucking crazy, wow.
By RBKBy DY_nastyvahagn's right lolFar from it.
Undervalued assets is still Morey's bread and butter. He find impact players most importantly due to their salaries. Sure he can get better players than Brewer, but he's not stupid enough to lock them down to long-term contracts for sake of pleasing them. He knows the worth of role players.
You're too obsessed with process. Who gives two fucks whether he underpays his role players or he adequately pays them? You're measuring success by that metric? Who cares. He spent multiple years avoiding big name players for the sake of being Billy Bean. He WASTED a few years on a flawed theory. His most current theory - being that you should play Morey Ball and maximize Harden's usage rate by only surrounding him with spot up shooters that don't take the ball out of his hands is blowing up in his face as well. He had to settle for Pablo because he never properly paid Dragic or Lowry.
No one's suggesting that Morey isn't smart. I'm suggesting he's out of his depth. Constantly jerking from one theory to the next theory based on what the data is telling him this month or this year while Pop and Carlisle build systems and teams that actually win chips and can sustain injuries to a starting ball handler or two.
Lowry is better in Toronto than he ever was in Houston. Dragic was better in Phoenix than he ever was in Houston. How the hell are you taking credit for them? So Morey finds undervalued talent just enough to stay treadmilling and when it comes time to pay them to get to the next level he doesn't, in hopes he'll land Lebron. This is being a good GM to you?
And that poison pill contract of Lin's was given to him by Morey in the first place. So Lin would be in Houston if Morey didn't sabatoge himself with that contract? Dude, look at the arguments you're making.
By psychintellectMan OKC drafted 3 MVP level players AND had them on the same team at the same time.Got robbed off a title too in game 2 by a ref in the finals
that's fucking crazy, wow.
Even with the single playmaker, we're still better currently than the Spurs(doesn't matter since they just got a ring) and a Mavericks team projected to be in a top 3 after signing Parsons and taking that same SA team to a 7 game series.
What's your excuse for that?
What's your excuse for that?
By VahagnLowry is better in Toronto than he ever was in Houston. Dragic was better in Phoenix than he ever was in Houston. How the hell are you taking credit for them? So Morey finds undervalued talent just enough to stay treadmilling and when it comes time to pay them to get to the next level he doesn't, in hopes he'll land Lebron. This is being a good GM to you?
Toronto didn't give up a 1st rounder for nothing. Lowry was unknown commodity who Morey discovered from Memphis. This is fact.
Dragic was a respected backup PG who couldn't get the chance to take over the team until Nash was gone. Morey again was able to salvage the bad season Brooks, which Pheonix obviously valued more, and got a better player and PG in Goran. This is fact.
Dragic/Lowry could never reach their full potential in Houston because just like the Dragic/Bledsoe duo, it's two starting caliber point guards playing together and competing for touches. This is fact.
Lowry had whatever rift with McHale and was then dealt. Dragic was going to be given the chance to start before he left on his terms to Phoenix again over player options. This is fact.
He's a good GM because he doesn't tie down the team with bad contracts and loses flexibility for bigger moves while still remaining competitive. Sure we can take on players like Ty Lawson or extend Dragic to a 5/100 extension but that doesn't fit Morey's MO. Never has and never will.
By RBKEven with the single playmaker, we're still better currently than the Spurs(doesn't matter since they just got a ring) and a Mavericks team projected to be in a top 3 after signing Parsons and taking that same SA team to a 7 game series.
What's your excuse for that?
They WON RINGS. The ONLY job of a GM is to build a contender. 7 years and 47 trades is plenty of time and plenty of chances. When I say you're obsessed with process, that's what I mean. How you build a contender is irrelevant. Under pay your role players, over pay them, what ever. Underpaying or remaining financially flexible are useless metrics. They're only valuable if they help you build a contender, but if you stay tread-milling, who cares?
You've got an MVP level player, and you've let walk Dragic, Lowry, Parsons, and invested heavily in a broken down Dwight. All your "chances to sign Lebron" don't mean diddly squat if you don't perennially reach the WCF. Which those two organizations have done.
Regarding the ball handler thing. This is just Basketball stuff. Morey clearly doesn't run his team as if he believes in chemistry because he keeps trading everyone, he doesn't believe in installing a complex offensive system, he doesn't believe in point forwards or having multiple guys who can run the offense in case one of them goes down. Pop/Phil/Carlisle/Riley - these guys believe in these things. He doesn't. Maybe Morey's right, but I doubt it.
Morey's job is not to be a scout. Finding hidden talent is irrelevant if you don't keep the hidden talent. This isn't baseball where the A's fundamentally can't compete with the Yankees. Houston can spend 80% of what any other team can spend, at least. Maybe Morey's a good scout, maybe Morey's a good negotiator, but he's definitely not a good GM.
By VahagnBy RBKEven with the single playmaker, we're still better currently than the Spurs(doesn't matter since they just got a ring) and a Mavericks team projected to be in a top 3 after signing Parsons and taking that same SA team to a 7 game series.
What's your excuse for that?
They WON RINGS. The ONLY job of a GM is to build a contender. 7 years and 47 trades is plenty of time and plenty of chances. When I say you're obsessed with process, that's what I mean. How you build a contender is irrelevant. Under pay your role players, over pay them, what ever. Underpaying or remaining financially flexible are useless metrics. They're only valuable if they help you build a contender, but if you stay tread-milling, who cares?
You've got an MVP level player, and you've let walk Dragic, Lowry, Parsons, and invested heavily in a broken down Dwight. All your "chances to sign Lebron" don't mean diddly squat if you don't perennially reach the WCF. Which those two organizations have done.
Regarding the ball handler thing. This is just Basketball stuff. Morey clearly doesn't run his team as if he believes in chemistry because he keeps trading everyone, he doesn't believe in installing a complex offensive system, he doesn't believe in point forwards or having multiple guys who can run the offense in case one of them goes down. Pop/Phil/Carlisle/Riley - these guys believe in these things. He doesn't. Maybe Morey's right, but I doubt it.
Morey's job is not to be a scout. Finding hidden talent is irrelevant if you don't keep the hidden talent. This isn't baseball where the A's fundamentally can't compete with the Yankees. Houston can spend 80% of what any other team can spend, at least. Maybe Morey's a good scout, maybe Morey's a good negotiator, but he's definitely not a good GM.
I think you need some perspective here. What are the clear cut better GM's over the past 7 years? Presti? We can pull him apart by giving up Harden but I would concede he is better. Riley? Certainly,a but he isn't above criticism. Buford? the obvious number 1... Who else?
I'd say Morey fits somewhere into that conversation after those guys.
By VahagnWinning the ship is the ultimate goal, but you're clearly overlooking what happened to TMac and Yao. We're essentially less than 2 seasons with the Harden/Howard era and you want them to win immediately?By RBKEven with the single playmaker, we're still better currently than the Spurs(doesn't matter since they just got a ring) and a Mavericks team projected to be in a top 3 after signing Parsons and taking that same SA team to a 7 game series.
What's your excuse for that?
They WON RINGS. The ONLY job of a GM is to build a contender. 7 years and 47 trades is plenty of time and plenty of chances. When I say you're obsessed with process, that's what I mean. How you build a contender is irrelevant. Under pay your role players, over pay them, what ever. Underpaying or remaining financially flexible are useless metrics. They're only valuable if they help you build a contender, but if you stay tread-milling, who cares?
You've got an MVP level player, and you've let walk Dragic, Lowry, Parsons, and invested heavily in a broken down Dwight. All your "chances to sign Lebron" don't mean diddly squat if you don't perennially reach the WCF. Which those two organizations have done.
Regarding the ball handler thing. This is just Basketball stuff. Morey clearly doesn't run his team as if he believes in chemistry because he keeps trading everyone, he doesn't believe in installing a complex offensive system, he doesn't believe in point forwards or having multiple guys who can run the offense in case one of them goes down. Pop/Phil/Carlisle/Riley - these guys believe in these things. He doesn't. Maybe Morey's right, but I doubt it.
Morey's job is not to be a scout. Finding hidden talent is irrelevant if you don't keep the hidden talent. This isn't baseball where the A's fundamentally can't compete with the Yankees. Houston can spend 80% of what any other team can spend, at least. Maybe Morey's a good scout, maybe Morey's a good negotiator, but he's definitely not a good GM.
Howard signing will backfire on us unless we miraculously win this season(unlikely, but only hope). His trades are marginal upgrades or essentially low risk/high reward, he doesn't trade any key players just for the sake of trading them.
Lakers were very Kobe-dominant at the guard position, so were the Bulls with Jordan. I'll give you Pop and Carlisle with Parker/Manu/Kidd and Riley obviously lucked into LeBron/Wade. But at the same time, you wouldn't argue that Lowry, Parsons, or Dragic are of their caliber in the respective championship seasons.
By JonmI think you need some perspective here. What are the clear cut better GM's over the past 7 years? Presti? We can pull him apart by giving up Harden but I would concede he is better. Riley? Certainly,a but he isn't above criticism. Buford? the obvious number 1… Who else?I posted the list of the rankings and was told it doesn't mean shit.
I'd say Morey fits somewhere into that conversation after those guys.
Buford, Riley, Presti, and Pritchard are the only 4 above Morey. Cuban/Donnie Nelson is ranked 7th. Olshey, Ujiri, and Danny Ferry were other people above Morey but are ranked 7th, 9th, and 17th respectively.
EDIT: Not going to overlook what Dallas did, but they're weren't favorite to win the Finals, let alone win the West the year they won the Finals. That team played out of their mind.
I don't give a shit if Dwyane is sucking. Dragic and Whiteside make this team really fun to watch.
The last time we had all star caliber PG/Center combo was Timmy and Zo.
The last time we had all star caliber PG/Center combo was Timmy and Zo.
By JonmI think you need some perspective here. What are the clear cut better GM's over the past 7 years? Presti? We can pull him apart by giving up Harden but I would concede he is better. Riley? Certainly,a but he isn't above criticism. Buford? the obvious number 1… Who else?
I'd say Morey fits somewhere into that conversation after those guys.
Why would you say he's better at all? Olshey built the Clippers then went to Portland and built them too. He's clearly better. Presti's better. Ainge is better, Donnie Nelson is better, Kupchak is better, Riley is better, Ferry is better, Buford is clearly better I think Masai is better too.
The dude has made something 47 trades, and he's let walk more talent than he's kept. If LA let Bynum walk and never chipped, would it be of any value whatsoever to say "Kupchak drafted him"? If They weren't willing to over pay him and Vujacic and others to keep the core in tact, would it mean shit if we "didn't over pay role players"?
Morey has no idea what he's doing from a basketball perspective. None. Unlike Billy Bean he wasn't a pro caliber player and a scout for years and years. And Unlike Billy Bean he wasn't dealing with a severe financial handicap that made him resort to that model.
By RBKI posted the list of the rankings and was told it doesn't mean shit.
Buford, Riley, Presti, and Pritchard are the only 4 above Morey. Cuban/Donnie Nelson is ranked 7th. Olshey, Ujiri, and Danny Ferry were other people above Morey but are ranked 7th, 9th, and 17th respectively.
EDIT: Not going to overlook what Dallas did, but they're weren't favorite to win the Finals, let alone win the West the year they won the Finals. That team played out of their mind.
Lakers were very Kobe-dominant at the guard position, so were the Bulls with Jordan. I'll give you Pop and Carlisle with Parker/Manu/Kidd and Riley obviously lucked into LeBron/Wade. But at the same time, you wouldn't argue that Lowry, Parsons, or Dragic are of their caliber in the respective championship seasons.
Dallas made the WCF multiple times, and the Finals twice. They built a contender from the ground up. They didn't sacrifice Dirk's MVP caliber seasons for financial flexibility. Which is what Morey's been doing for 3 years. The Lakers had Odom and Pau that could run the Triangle. They had Farmar who could run it off the bench. That's why they kept winning whether Bynum busted his knees, Pau hurt his foot, or Kobe sat out. PJ's Bulls teams had Pippen that ran that team too when Jordan sat.
Pippen/Odom/Diaw. Same guy in terms of the ability to run a complex offensive system as a Point forward.
By DominicanPowerWhiteside is an All Star now? Wow.He has 8 rebounds already. Dude is a badass.
The last 5 games or so seems like he's averaging 15 and 15 it's ridic.
Knicks out here running a hybrid between the Triangle and some high PnR's.
They're also better at getting back into the offensive format when things break down too. Watching this team make 5 or 6 passes and ending up with an open shot is fun to watch.
They're also better at getting back into the offensive format when things break down too. Watching this team make 5 or 6 passes and ending up with an open shot is fun to watch.
By VahagnKnicks out here running a hybrid between the Triangle and some high PnR's.Thard stylin' on dem fools.
They're also better at getting back into the offensive format when things break down too. Watching this team make 5 or 6 passes and ending up with an open shot is fun to watch.
the 2 minutes of miami hawks was the worst i see in any season
what a fuck trash
isiah tomas am miles better than tragic........
dragic are fuck shit
what a fuck trash
isiah tomas am miles better than tragic........
dragic are fuck shit
DeRozan is drunk outta his mind lol.
Botched a breakaway dunk SO BAD it's going to be on the next Botchamania!
Botched a breakaway dunk SO BAD it's going to be on the next Botchamania!
By The FrankmanDeRozan is drunk outta his mind lol.He had to pay for trying to disrespect his opponent.
Botched a breakaway dunk SO BAD it's going to be on the next Botchamania!
I think we're confusing better with getting big-name players. Because the Clippers/Blazers have just about the same amount of success as Morey has had under his tenure. All 3 have reached the 2nd round at some point and none reached the WCF.
And if we want to talk about Houston lucking up into Harden, Olshey REALLY lucked up into CP3.
And if we want to talk about Houston lucking up into Harden, Olshey REALLY lucked up into CP3.
I love that blind pig back door cut. Works so damn often.
Except Olshey was only there for a few years each. It took Morey 40+ treadmill trades to get to this point. Olshey did both in like two years. He's not out here executing random ass trades every two months just ffs and pissing off the entire league in the process.
By RBKI think we're confusing better with getting big-name players. Because the Clippers/Blazers have just about the same amount of success as Morey has had under his tenure. All 3 have reached the 2nd round at some point and none reached the WCF.
Except Olshey was only there for a few years each. It took Morey 40+ treadmill trades to get to this point. Olshey did both in like two years. He's not out here executing random ass trades every two months just ffs and pissing off the entire league in the process.
By VahagnExcept Olshey was only there for a few years each.
And as I said, Morey had to get out of the TMac/Yao situation. Portland before Olshey had a similar situation with Roy and Oden.
By VahagnKnicks out here running a hybrid between the Triangle and some high PnR's.A lot of that is due to the D-League guys the Knicks brought in actually run the Triangle better than the incumbents. Westchester Knicks ran the Triangle O also... which makes you think, how is it that the coaches down there taught it just fine but Rambis and Cleamons can't? Fuck, fire those two jokers and hire the Westchester Knick guys as assistants.
They're also better at getting back into the offensive format when things break down too. Watching this team make 5 or 6 passes and ending up with an open shot is fun to watch.
By The FrankmanBy VahagnKnicks out here running a hybrid between the Triangle and some high PnR's.A lot of that is due to the D-League guys the Knicks brought in actually run the Triangle better than the incumbents. Westchester Knicks ran the Triangle O also… which makes you think, how is it that the coaches down there taught it just fine but Rambis and Cleamons can't? Fuck, fire those two jokers and hire the Westchester Knick guys as assistants.
They're also better at getting back into the offensive format when things break down too. Watching this team make 5 or 6 passes and ending up with an open shot is fun to watch.
Yea absolutely. They're also seeing different wrinkles. They're getting into it different ways instead of just the n1 pass to the wing. No those guys can teach it fine. It's about getting players bought in and having talent. in the D League - everyone is shit. Having Cleamons Mavericks teams or Rambis' Minny teams going up against NBA talent is not going to cut it.
Don't get me wrong though, they suck as head coaches.
Lol wow we're bad. So I'm guessing Indiana and Charlotte/Boston/Charlotte get the last two spots in the east
Being forced to watch Adreian Payne is punishment for all the bitching I did about Anthony Bennett. I take it all back, I'm so sorry, come back, Bennett.
By rodeoclownBeing forced to watch Adreian Payne is punishment for all the bitching I did about Anthony Bennett. I take it all back, I'm so sorry, come back, Bennett.
I'm pretty sure I just saw him set a screen on Rubio while on offense. He's just awful
That was nice. Fake like you're going to cut and fill the corner and stop under the basket for a catch and shoot layup.
By VahagnWhy would you say he's better at all? Olshey built the Clippers then went to Portland and built them too. He's clearly better. Presti's better. Ainge is better, Donnie Nelson is better, Kupchak is better, Riley is better, Ferry is better, Buford is clearly better I think Masai is better too.This is just a weird argument you are making. First off you have 8 out 29 GM's ahead of Morey. That still puts Moery as being better then most of his peers.
The dude has made something 47 trades, and he's let walk more talent than he's kept. If LA let Bynum walk and never chipped, would it be of any value whatsoever to say "Kupchak drafted him"? If They weren't willing to over pay him and Vujacic and others to keep the core in tact, would it mean shit if we "didn't over pay role players"?
Morey has no idea what he's doing from a basketball perspective. None. Unlike Billy Bean he wasn't a pro caliber player and a scout for years and years. And Unlike Billy Bean he wasn't dealing with a severe financial handicap that made him resort to that model.
Dallas made the WCF multiple times, and the Finals twice. They built a contender from the ground up. They didn't sacrifice Dirk's MVP caliber seasons for financial flexibility. Which is what Morey's been doing for 3 years. The Lakers had Odom and Pau that could run the Triangle. They had Farmar who could run it off the bench. That's why they kept winning whether Bynum busted his knees, Pau hurt his foot, or Kobe sat out. PJ's Bulls teams had Pippen that ran that team too when Jordan sat.
Pippen/Odom/Diaw. Same guy in terms of the ability to run a complex offensive system as a Point forward.
You keep moving the goalposts on what constitutes a good GM, first it is championships and then when you want to stack the deck against Morey you assert other GM's without chips are good GM's and better then him. Some with arguably less success. But then you throw out criticism like the number of trades? With no context as to why they are bad.
You also ignore a key factor in judging GM's: starting position.
GM's don't come into the same situation everywhere they go. The team may be at a different place in terms of competitiveness, market draw, the assets in their warchest, coaching, quality of ownership, ownership expectations, philosophical freedom.
So when you account for the rigid demands of the Rockets ownership, their plagued injury past, the situation Morey walked into and the fact that he managed to rebuild a team after losing it's 2 cornerstones, being in the dreaded late lottery hell that buries most franchises, and has came out with a top 5 Western team, the best SG in the league, and the 5th best winning percentage over his tenure, it is pretty damn impressive to me.
Would he be my number 1 choice to start a franchise? No. But I bet at least half the teams in the league would gladly have him over who they have now.
By pilonv1I'm pretty sure I just saw him set a screen on Rubio while on offense. He's just awfulYou did! Totally got in Ricky's way that whole possession. It's baffling how somebody his age with his college experience just looks like they have no idea what to do.
By rodeoclownBy pilonv1I'm pretty sure I just saw him set a screen on Rubio while on offense. He's just awfulYou did! Totally got in Ricky's way that whole possession. It's baffling how somebody his age with his college experience just looks like they have no idea what to do.
lol that outlet. And they gave up a first for him?
By pilonv1lol that outlet. And they gave up a first for him?Mistakes were made. You can't always trade for Andrew Wiggins.
By JonmThis is just a weird argument you are making. First off you have 8 out 29 GM's ahead of Morey. That still puts Moery as being better then most of his peers.
You keep moving the goalposts on what constitutes a good GM, first it is championships and then when you want to stack the deck against Morey you assert other GM's without chips are good GM's and better then him. Some with arguably less success. But then you throw out criticism like the number of trades? With no context as to why they are bad.
You also ignore a key factor in judging GM's: starting position.
GM's don't come into the same situation everywhere they go. The team may be at a different place in terms of competitiveness, market draw, the assets in their warchest, coaching, quality of ownership, ownership expectations, philosophical freedom.
So when you account for the rigid demands of the Rockets ownership, their plagued injury past, the situation Morey walked into and the fact that he managed to rebuild a team after losing it's 2 cornerstones, being in the dreaded late lottery hell that buries most franchises, and has came out with a top 5 Western team, the best SG in the league, and the 5th best winning percentage over his tenure, it is pretty damn impressive to me.
Would he be my number 1 choice to start a franchise? No. But I bet at least half the teams in the league would gladly have him over who they have now.
a) The 8 were just off the top of my head. Morey's mediocre at best. He's not elite, and he's not good. If I gave you 3 additional names, would that change anything?
b) I'm not moving goalposts. But when you're judging something like GM, you can't just blindly say "chip makes you the best". For some of the reasons you mentioned. What I'm arguing is that "maintains flexibility" "underpays assets" "stockpiles picks" don't really mean much if you're treadmilling and not actually building contenders. That's confusing process with results and being obsessed with new ways of thinking just because they're new.
c) Making 47 trades is bad because you lose any chance at building chemistry. Making 47 trades is bad because you ultimately trade away talent that should be kept. Making 47 trades is bad because eventually some players don't want to play for you. Making 47 trades and only landing one All Star in all that time is bad because one can argue that a monkey could hit those results. Ainge by comparison who is also in the midst of a multi year rebuild has only done about half that many trades.
d) Morey did not inherit a horrible situation at all. He inherited a playoff caliber team with two all stars. There are far worse situations you can inherit. His situation wasn't good or anything. But he went from a 1st/2nd round team to a 1st/2nd round team. How exactly has he outperformed the previous GM?
e) Half the teams in the league don't have a guy who's been in the job for 7 years. Several of them are rookies or second/third year guys.
Is he better than a decent chunk of GM's? Sure. But that doesn't make him a good GM. It makes him average in comparison to a bunch of 30 year old rookies who have less basketball knowledge than he does.
It's like we're forgetting that he got Harden because ownership made him get a star. If left to his own devices, does he pay a max to Harden when he's already got Kevin Martin for much much much less money who back then was an analytics lovers wet dream?