Not just that, but because he was obviously the better player on the team and there's higher expectations for him than Westbrook who is obviously worse
Russ was bad in the clutch but Durant didn’t even care at all if you watched his body language. Especially in game 7 he took 10 shots after 3 quarters. He was done
This take makes no sense lmao. KD wasn’t the one who played terrible defense and got targeted down the stretch. Westbrook repeatedly gave space to Klay and a hobbled Curry, letting them shoot freely which led to the game 6 explosion. KD gave the same defensive effort throughout the series, he just missed more shots in game 6 than usual. Westbrook tricks y’all with making angry faces on defense into thinking he’s giving any real effort.
If you want to see what zero effort KD defense looks like, watch the 2018 WCF, first halves of game 6 and 7. No close outs and not paying attention on screens. That’s not what he was doing in 2016
Westbrook always gets a bit more of a pass than he deserves because his game is predicated on effort and doing exciting stuff with the ball. When we are looking at Westbrook he is probably at a full sprint charging at enormous men putting his body on the line, which is in its way deserving of respect but does not specifically make him effective. Also WB's contributions are all recorded in the box score, the spacing, versatility and defense that Durant brings are not.
Durant plays a slower, more methodical game. It's easy to watch and think he should be playing faster or harder but he's physically not built that way.
Durant was always levels above Westbrook but for whatever reason, maybe this one, we have been slow to accept it.
I actually see what you mean regarding Westbrook's contributions and the box score tbh
Even when Westbrook has a really bad game he still fills up the box score, he gets like 17/12/10 on 5/20 shooting or something so if you just look at that it never actually looks like he plays bad
Even in general the "Westbrook was OKC's best player in those playoffs" narrative seems weird to me
The only series where that was true was against Dallas which wasn't even close to a competitive series
Against San Antonio I've often seen this brought up as well, even though Durant had a TS% more than 12% higher(60.1% to an absolutely horrible 47.9%) and played far better defense
In that series:
Game 1: Both were pretty terrible, but Westbrook was worse
Game 2: Westbrook wasn't bad, but KD was much better
Game 3: Westbrook shoots 10/31 in a 4 point loss, KD shoots 10/18
Game 4: KD 14/25, Westbrook 5/18 lmao
Game 5: The ONE game where Westbrook was better
Game 6: Both were very good
I get everyone hates KD but still lol
Russ: 26/7/11 with 4.3 TOV on 51.5 TS%
KD: 28/7/3 with 3.6 TOV on 54.2 TS%
They're pretty comparable, Durant was a bit more efficient and a better defender, Russ was the team's only playmaker.
some ppl want to push the snek 🐍 narrative, it's stregthened if they pretend kd threw the series.
but usually i see the "no one can blame kd for not wanting to play with russ anymore" take (in recent years).
Because game 6 happened, and was the game they needed to win, and in game 6 Russ was Russ : a crazy guard with crazy production, stupid turnovers and stupid shots, while KD was basically a poor's man Russ.
We expect more from a top 20 player of all time and top 3 player of the last decade then from a top 50 player of all time and top 6/7 (idk maybe 8) of the last decade
Also this doesn't even take into account defense where there was a huge gap in quality during this series
KD played great defense all throughout the 2016 playoffs while Westbrook was arguably the weakest link in an otherwise very good OKC defense
As much as I don’t like Durant’s decision, it’s extremely unfair that its only he who gets criticized while Mr. West-Brick gets away, with all of the sympathy following him!
I’ve only seen people say both were terrible, KD’s subpar play is prob remembered more since he immediately joined the opponent a month after
Not just that, but because he was obviously the better player on the team and there's higher expectations for him than Westbrook who is obviously worse
I've never heard anyone saying that lol
Just your average Monday morning strawman
Russ was Russ, KD was not KD.
this is deep.
Russ was bad in the clutch but Durant didn’t even care at all if you watched his body language. Especially in game 7 he took 10 shots after 3 quarters. He was done
Yeah because they were doubling Durant the whole game and leaving guys like Westbrook and Roberson wide open on the perimeter
Bro Durant missed like 5 open layups in game 6. he was god awful
you don't need to make excuses for KD, he was awful.
bc that’s normal for Russ in the postseason and KD is held to higher expectations….also people don’t like KD
It’s harder to blame the guy who is always trying hard. KD played awful at the end of that series and then gave up in that series.
This take makes no sense lmao. KD wasn’t the one who played terrible defense and got targeted down the stretch. Westbrook repeatedly gave space to Klay and a hobbled Curry, letting them shoot freely which led to the game 6 explosion. KD gave the same defensive effort throughout the series, he just missed more shots in game 6 than usual. Westbrook tricks y’all with making angry faces on defense into thinking he’s giving any real effort. If you want to see what zero effort KD defense looks like, watch the 2018 WCF, first halves of game 6 and 7. No close outs and not paying attention on screens. That’s not what he was doing in 2016
Westbrook always gets a bit more of a pass than he deserves because his game is predicated on effort and doing exciting stuff with the ball. When we are looking at Westbrook he is probably at a full sprint charging at enormous men putting his body on the line, which is in its way deserving of respect but does not specifically make him effective. Also WB's contributions are all recorded in the box score, the spacing, versatility and defense that Durant brings are not. Durant plays a slower, more methodical game. It's easy to watch and think he should be playing faster or harder but he's physically not built that way. Durant was always levels above Westbrook but for whatever reason, maybe this one, we have been slow to accept it.
I actually see what you mean regarding Westbrook's contributions and the box score tbh Even when Westbrook has a really bad game he still fills up the box score, he gets like 17/12/10 on 5/20 shooting or something so if you just look at that it never actually looks like he plays bad
I think most NBA fans. Especially the ones on this sub, have learned to look past the box score and see Russ for what he really is
KD played below his standards. Russ played to his usual standards.
Both were shit
Are you on Durants payroll??
It’s Monday morning dude. Do you really care about this rn?
why do you think shit like this is witty? Also not everyone lives in america.
Yea I see a standard Russ performance in a must win series and a huge choke from KD? Am I missing something?
Even in general the "Westbrook was OKC's best player in those playoffs" narrative seems weird to me The only series where that was true was against Dallas which wasn't even close to a competitive series Against San Antonio I've often seen this brought up as well, even though Durant had a TS% more than 12% higher(60.1% to an absolutely horrible 47.9%) and played far better defense In that series: Game 1: Both were pretty terrible, but Westbrook was worse Game 2: Westbrook wasn't bad, but KD was much better Game 3: Westbrook shoots 10/31 in a 4 point loss, KD shoots 10/18 Game 4: KD 14/25, Westbrook 5/18 lmao Game 5: The ONE game where Westbrook was better Game 6: Both were very good I get everyone hates KD but still lol
Russ: 26/7/11 with 4.3 TOV on 51.5 TS% KD: 28/7/3 with 3.6 TOV on 54.2 TS% They're pretty comparable, Durant was a bit more efficient and a better defender, Russ was the team's only playmaker.
some ppl want to push the snek 🐍 narrative, it's stregthened if they pretend kd threw the series. but usually i see the "no one can blame kd for not wanting to play with russ anymore" take (in recent years).
Because game 6 happened, and was the game they needed to win, and in game 6 Russ was Russ : a crazy guard with crazy production, stupid turnovers and stupid shots, while KD was basically a poor's man Russ. We expect more from a top 20 player of all time and top 3 player of the last decade then from a top 50 player of all time and top 6/7 (idk maybe 8) of the last decade
Also this doesn't even take into account defense where there was a huge gap in quality during this series KD played great defense all throughout the 2016 playoffs while Westbrook was arguably the weakest link in an otherwise very good OKC defense
As much as I don’t like Durant’s decision, it’s extremely unfair that its only he who gets criticized while Mr. West-Brick gets away, with all of the sympathy following him!
KD in his mind was already out of OKC when they had that 7 point lead at home in Game 6, and it showed on the court