OKC coach Scott Brooks praises Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook for their All NBA Team Selections
Oklahoma City Thunder stars Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook were selected in the All NBA first and second teams respectively on Thursday and their head coach Scott Brooks has come out to praise for the efforts of the duo, who are considered among the elite players at the moment.
Brooks had nothing but praise for the three time scoring champion Durant who has been the best player in the playoffs so far. He described Durant to be one of the best players in the league, praising his ability of not only creating offense, but also as a brilliant defender;
“That’s what makes him a special player. He can play both ends of the floor. Kevin has really improved as a two-way player, and I think that is what over the last three years has taken our team to a different level and it takes his game to a different level.”
Durant bagged the third consecutive scoring title by averaging 28 points per game during the regular season. He also averaged 8 rebounds per game to go along with 3.5 assists per game and had it not been for a monstrous season by Miami Heat’s LeBron James, KD would have won his first MVP award this year.
Brooks also had nothing but praise for the amount of energy Westbrook brought to this Thunder team.
“He’s quick, he’s powerful, his mid-range game is good. He takes it to the basket and finishes around the rim over bigs and through defenses. Then his three point shot, you have to respect it… Russell makes us very good with what he does with his talent and his skills and his work ethic. His determination, it’s hard to control, and he attacks and he’s forceful.”
Westbrook averaged 23.6 points during the regular season and has upped the ante to 24.1 during the two rounds of the playoffs so far. He has also been able to improve his defence and ball handling during the playoffs.
During the regular season he averaged 1.7 steals per game which has gone up to 1.9 in the post season.
Russell had received much criticism for the high number of turnovers (3.6) he averaged per game during the regular season. But the playoffs have brought out the best of him in that aspect as well and he has been able to limit his turnovers to 1.6, which has been instrumental in OKC`s triumphant run to reach the Conference Finals.
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