Ok, this conversation started today and I'm going to caveat it a little here. We know based on this season that D. Rose is definitely going to get the MVP and has pushed his Bulls team to the 60 win mark which hasn't been done since a guy wearing his own trademarked sneakers and rocking the '23' lived in the United Center (and also the Chicago Stadium), so we can say that Derrick Rose is better than Westbrook, but can we say that Rose is better than Westbrook by far? I'll start with the numbers and just the numbers.
Derrick Rose - 25.1 Points per game, 7.8 Assists per game, 4.1 rebounds per game; probable MVP, 60 Win team.
Russell Westbrook - 21.8 Points per game, 8.2 Assists per game, 4.6 rebounds per game; 54 Win team.
So for the sake of the argument, I'm saying that these guys are closer than most people think as far as what they bring to the table.
With that, let the games begin. Who do you think is better, and why?!?!?
3 comments:
Not even close. Westbrook has all Rose's physical skills, but he's still 2-3 years (if ever) away from having Rose's understanding of the game.
Westbrook still to some degree gets by on his athleticism and is still in many aspects learning the game.
Rose, on the other hand, is about thisclose from being a finished product. His command of the game is simply superior to Westbrook's at this point.
Sometimes these arguments are fun, but sometimes unfair or impossible to settle. In one way it's not Westbrook’s fault to have what I think is a better starting five and another go to superstar in Kevin Durant. Can we honestly say that if we swap players that Westbrook would be leading the Bulls the way Derrick is right now? I think Derrick's progress would have been neutralized/slowed down some if he were on the Thunder and never been the player he is now or could become. Derrick's necessity to be the top dog on the court for the Bulls allowed him the space and room to grow as a baller. Westbrook didn't have this same chance and in the eyes of some it makes a bigger gap of difference. Seems to me this is more of what Derrick is now vs what Westbrook could have become.
I just feel like there are close in a lot of ways. They are about the same size, Derrick may be a little quicker, they are both strong with the ball, broad shoulders,.....and they both can score inside and out. Derrick has shown this year that he is THE MAN, and it'll be interesting to see how far the Bulls go. But, I will say that after watching Westbrook a lot this year (anyone see the game last night) I've come away with a new found respect for his game.
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