Russell Westbrook says he is not fazed by criticism – NBA Update
Russell Westbrook came under the disapproving glare of many Oklahoma City Thunder fans and NBA analysts during the 2011 playoffs. Throughout the post season, it was a widely held view that Westbrook’s play was immature and even
selfish to some extent. The player in question however, says he isn’t fazed by all that and is just focusing on coming back stronger next year to better help his team achieve success.
Westbrook was speaking after staying relatively quite ever since Thunder were shown the door by the Dallas Mavericks in the Eastern Conference Finals. That was the series in which Russell faced the harshest criticism and he was
made to sit for a whole fourth quarter by his coach, Steve Brooks. He reacted to it, in front of the public eye and rumours started of a rift between Westbrook and the coach, and even his superstar teammate Kevin Durant.
Looking back at the whole playoffs and his own performances, Westbrook says he doesn’t want to dwell on what happened.
“I refuse to let myself do that,” Westbrook said in a recent interview. “I’ve been working too hard to get to the position we were in last season to worry about anything somebody else was saying…”
He continued by stating that he wasn’t concerned about what people were saying because his duty was just to satisfy his team with his play on the court, something he strained to do,
“My job is not to prove myself to whomever it is that is talking about this team,” Westbrook said. “It’s to help my team and organization get better.”
“Everyone has their own opinion, and once someone says something they just roll with it. And that’s how it went.”
To be honest, his teammates would like quite a few things from the rising star. Westbrook is talent wise, one of the best point guards in the NBA. His athleticism alone sets him apart; add to that his skill and penetration, you
get one of the most potent offensive point guards around.
However, Westbrook didn’t play to his strengths during the playoffs, nor to his team's. A player as gifted as him, who could get to the rim whenever he wants to, all too often took jump shorts he clearly wasn’t comfortable with,
and it cost his team dearly.
Also, Westbrook often hogged the ball. He dribbled and dribbled some more and often just refused to pass the ball. The Allen Iverson like mentality simply isn’t suited to any team and particularly to the talented roster that the
Thunder possess.
It’s pretty simple really, if you have a two-time scoring champion on your side, the best option is to pass the ball. Westbrook is still young though and Oklahoma City would be hoping he learns from his mistakes next season.
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