Being a rookie point guard on a team that features an All-Star like Kevin Durant is no easy task - just ask Russell Westbrook. Nonetheless, we are often defined by the way we handle life's challenges, and Westbrook accepted this one head-on. Last season he got off to a shaky start, but as the season moved along he got better and better, giving Oklahoma City Thunder head coach Scott Brooks reason to believe in his young floor leader.
"I see him improving constantly," Brooks tells HOOPSWORLD. "He improved every month last year and I thought he improved over the summer. Going into the season I see the improvement. It's nearly impossible to lead as a rookie. Magic Johnson did it, but that's Magic Johnson. I don't think anything else needs to be said there. As a point guard you have to understand that that's a job where it takes toughness every night. You have four guys thinking that they're open. You have a coach demanding that the ball here and there. Russell is mentally tough and he's equipped to handle that. I see it. He enjoys the big competition and the big games and I look forward to continuing to see improvement. He has many years - he's not even close to where he's going to be as a player."
Of course, Brooks was an NBA point guard himself not so long ago, and that perspective has helped him mold and shape the player that Westbrook will become.
"I love the challenge of making our players better players and, obviously, I see the game through a point guard's eyes," says Brooks. "I played it and I understand what the four other guys are thinking and what the point guard's thinking. I think he's doing a great job of handling all that. It's not an easy job because every night you're playing against tons of pick-and-rolls. There are many more pick-and-rolls now. Then he has to facilitate the offense. Everybody blames the point guard if things don't go well, it's just part of the job. But with Russell I see his improvement and I like the fact that he's so coachable and he wants to get better. He continues to ask questions and watch film. He watches film with all of our guys and he's going to get a lot better."
"I spent the summer really working hard," acknowledges Westbrook. "I learned a lot from last year, some of the things I was able to do last year, some things I struggled with, and I tried to come into this season with a better mindset. I really felt like I needed to work on making better decisions, so a big thing for me this year will be making better decisions. I want to focus on making the simple play sometimes, not always trying to make the tough plays all the time."
"He's improved tremendously," says Durant. "He's slowing down, learning the game. We have Mo Cheeks here now, and he's helping him learn the point guard position, and Russell's been playing hard and getting everybody involved, which good point guards do. I'm glad we have him as our point."
Last season Westbrook struggled, as many players do, with communication. He lacked confidence in his own ability to speak, and so struggled in interactions with the media as well as his teammates. He spent some time this summer with Steve Shenbaum at game on media, and has already reaped the benefits of being better able to express himself.
"It's definitely helped me, not only in the locker room, but on the court, too. When somebody makes a mistake you can't just run up on them steaming, you've got to approach them a different way and make sure they understand what you're talking about. (Shenbaum) really helped me to be able to tell my teammates what I think in a way that doesn't sound like I feel like I have to be right all the time."
It helps, too, that the Thunder organization is not pressuring Westbrook to feel like he has to be the leader, just because he's the point guard.
"I really don't feel like this team has put too much pressure on me or even Kevin to be the leader. Everybody listens to everybody and we kind of go with the flow. I think it's better that way, if everybody feels like they can talk to each other and support each other if you do something wrong."
In truth, the Thunder haven't labeled anyone as the "leader," and prefer to share the responsibility equally.
"Everyone outside our locker room thinks that I'm the premier guy, but inside here we're all one equal group and that's how we approach it. That makes it easier for all of us," explains Durant. "Whoever's on that floor together, we're playing for each other, so it's not just me or Russell or Jeff, it's Kevin Ollie and Etan Thomas, Serge Ibaka - it's everyone on this team and that's how we look at it."
Chemistry is as big a part of winning games as the talent that's on the court, and the all-for-one mentality can take the Thunder far. That said, playoff teams and championship teams have leaders who assume the responsibility and lead the team when the going gets rough late in games. Durant is going to be there, but Russell Westbrook also looks poised to emerge as a leader for this young OKC team.
Farmar Now Playing For His Supper
Shannon Brown was supposed to be the throw-in in last season's trade between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Charlotte Bobcats. The principles were Vladimir Radmanovic going to Charlotte and Adam Morrison heading to LA. The Bobcats were looking for a veteran who could bury the three, and were more than happy to let the Lakers try and help Morrison realize the potential he showed to earn the third overall selection in the 2006 NBA Draft. There would be less pressure on him in LA, Bobcats head coach Larry Brown reasoned, and he might flourish in a lesser role.
Well, things don't often turn out exactly as expected, and this time was no different. Morrison will not be extended by the Lakers, who took a long look at him in summer league and haven't seen much of interest from him to date. Today the team opted not to offer him a contract extension, making him a restricted free agent next summer. Interestingly, Brown the "throw-in" has become much more of a factor, and his play also kept the Lakers from offering an extension to reserve point guard Jordan Farmar.
"I think I have a lot to offer," Farmar told Mike Bresnaham of the LA Times. "I know I can do so much more than I'm doing right now. If they really, really want me, they probably would have signed me. It's tough. I feel that I've gone out there a lot and shown what I have, with the opportunity that I've got. It's my job to try to prove it to them."
So far in 2009-10 Farmar is averaging 4.7 points and 1.7 assists while shooting 31% from the field. By comparison, Brown is averaging 5.3 points and .7 assists while shooting 75% from the field and playing three fewer minutes per game than Farmar.
The throw-in is looking more and more like the mainstay in LA. At the very least, the Lakers want to see what a little extra motivation will do for the man they once considered the successor to Derek Fisher.
First Look At Tonight's Action
New Orleans Hornets @ New York Knicks: The Hornets haven't had an easy time of it early on, but hope to start righting the ship tonight as they take on the winless Knicks. Bad matters got worse for the Knicks when Nate Robinson sprained his ankle, now expected to be out for a couple of weeks. No other new injuries to report.
New Jersey Nets @ Charlotte Bobcats: The New Jersey Nets are still looking for their first win despite some brilliant play early on from some of their young studs. Brook Lopez is playing like an All-Star, and of course Devin Harris and Courtney Lee should be one of the best backcourt tandems in the league once they develop some chemistry and consistency. Expect another big game from Lopez tonight, who's averaging 17.0 points, 7.7 rebounds, and 2.3 blocks per game and shooting 57% from the field. The word is Raja Bell will opt not to have wrist surgery, and will start tonight. Flip Murray is still out for the Bobcats. Devin Harris is still battling a hamstring injury, and could be out for up to a week.
Houston Rockets @ Utah Jazz: The Rockets are a surprising 2-1 despite being without Tracy McGrady and Yao Ming, with Trevor Ariza stepping up to shoulder a large share of the scoring load. Still, winning in Utah is another matter entirely. The Jazz are 1-1 on the young season and will look to jump over .500 by defending their formidable home court. No new injuries to report on either side.
Memphis Grizzlies @ Sacramento Kings: There's nothing quite like a trip to Sacramento to help right the ship, and the Grizzlies need a "w" right about now. The even bigger news for the Grizzlies is that Allen Iverson is expected to make his Memphis debut tonight after missing all of preseason and the first three regular season games with a hamstring injury. Tyreke Evans injured his ankle last game, but is expected to play tonight for the Kings.
Minnesota Timberwolves @ Los Angeles Clippers: The Timberwolves and Clippers are both missing promising young front court players in Kevin Love and Blake Griffin, respectively, thought Minnesota is less well-equipped to overcome the injury. Marcus Camby has been banged up, as well, but will likely start with Chris Kaman tonight. This could be the Clips' big chance to hang their first win on the board.
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