Oscar Robertson dismisses criticism of Russell Westbrook

[url]https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/oscar-robertson-dismisses-criticism-of-russell-westbrook-players-dont-win-championships-by-themselves/[/url]


Oscar Robertson and Wizards star Russell Westbrook have more in common than just triple-doubles. For years, Robertson was criticized for playing on a losing team. He spent the first decade of his career with the Cincinnati Royals losing to Bill Russell's Boston Celtics and Wilt Chamberlain's Philadelphia 76ers in the playoffs. It gave him a reputation as a losing player, someone capable of putting up big numbers but not leading a team to championship glory. Robertson only reached the mountaintop after being traded to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's Milwaukee Bucks, and that criticism mostly subsided thereafter.

But Robertson sees Westbrook heading down a similar path without a late-career trade on the horizon to change that. In an interview with Marc Stein of The New York Times, he lamented the idea of sports media criticizing Westbrook for not winning a championship because championships are won by teams, not players.

"I think it's ridiculous that some sportswriters criticize him because he has not won a championship," Robertson said. "Players don't win championships by themselves. You've got to have good management. You need to get with the right group of players."

While Robertson has a point, it should be noted that his situation and Westbrook's aren't exactly identical. In Robertson's entire tenure with the Royals, only two of his teammates ever earned All-NBA honors. Jack Twyman did it once, and Jerry Lucas did it five times. That might sound impressive, but remember, there were far fewer teams in Robertson's day, so making All-NBA wasn't nearly as impressive. To only have two teammates make it in a decade in Cincinnati would have been very disappointing.

Westbrook has played with two full-fledged MVPs in Kevin Durant and James Harden. Paul George finished third in one of his seasons alongside Westbrook. In fact, it could be argued that outside of his 2016-17 MVP season, Westbrook has never even been the best player on his own team. Bradley Beal holds that distinction now in Washington.

That extra talent helped bring Westbrook close to the title on a few occasions. He reached the Finals in 2012 and nearly made it back in 2016. But those teams lost in part to Westbrook's own flaws as a player. Last season, for instance, the Los Angeles Lakers refused to defend him on the perimeter. Instead, using the extra defender to double James Harden and force the ball out of his hands. They could do so because of Westbrook's poor shooting, which has dogged him throughout his career. Westbrook turned the ball over 15 times in the final three games of the 2016 Western Conference finals in which his Thunder blew a 3-1 lead.

None of this is to suggest that Westbrook's flaws make him incapable of winning a championship. It just means that working around his flaws is very difficult to do on the championship stage, and it makes him less valuable than some of his counting stats suggest that he might be. Averaging a triple-double is incredibly impressive, but we know enough about basketball in 2021 to know that it doesn't make a player as well-rounded as it would conceptually appear. Westbrook is very, very good at certain parts of basketball. He is not as good at other parts of it.

As Robertson says, players don't win championships by themselves. Westbrook has never found an organization capable of putting a championship team around him. But based on the caliber of players he's played with, it's not for lack of trying. Westbrook, unlike Robertson, spent his prime on some very good teams. Those teams lost in part because of Westbrook, in part because of their own flaws and in part because of the strength of their opponents. It shouldn't take away from the remarkable parts of Westbrook's game, but it shouldn't be ignored entirely, either.

While I am personally glad to see Robertson put less emphasis on rings than other oldheads that think that they are the only thing that matters when speaking about players but he can't write off the fact that Russell is not a good playoff performer in general.

You should cite or link the articles you copy and paste

But I agree, Westbrook has played with significantly better players and still underperforms in regards to team success. His numbers may be good, but really only era appropriate. I mean more 3pt fgs these days = longer rebounds. Higher pace of game today = more opportunity to score double digits. More jumpshots = higher chances of attaining assists.

Pretty much every measured variable changes by the era of ball. In this case, a PGs has increased in almost every aspect because of the era we're in. Centers like dwight have gone down.

I take it Oscar is not a betting man because there ain't no way Westbrook is winning a title unless he takes the minimum and plays on the clippers or nets or something.

[QUOTE=rawimpact;14308927]You should cite or link the articles you copy and paste

But I agree, Westbrook has played with significantly better players and still underperforms in regards to team success. His numbers may be good, but really only era appropriate. I mean more 3pt fgs these days = longer rebounds. Higher pace of game today = more opportunity to score double digits. More jumpshots = higher chances of attaining assists.

Pretty much every measured variable changes by the era of ball. In this case, a PGs has increased in almost every aspect because of the era we're in. Centers like dwight have gone down.[/QUOTE]

Does this mean Durant also underperformed until he went to the 73 win Warriors team?

[QUOTE=Marchesk;14308959]Does this mean Durant also underperformed until he went to the 73 win Warriors team?[/QUOTE]

Imagine if Westbrook replaced Harrison Barnes and all they needed for him to do was not embarrass himself like Barnes did in the Finals. If I'm a betting man, that's rings on top of rings. He's making Bradley Beal and a band of no names (ok, maybe Rui) into an elite offense. If he had no responsibility to score, he would average 12-15-15.

[QUOTE=imdaman99;14308968]Imagine if Westbrook replaced Harrison Barnes and all they needed for him to do was not embarrass himself like Barnes did in the Finals. If I'm a betting man, that's rings on top of rings. [B]He's making Bradley Beal and a band of no names (ok, maybe Rui) into an elite offense.[/B] If he had no responsibility to score, he would average 12-15-15.[/QUOTE]

The 18th ranked offense is an elite offense? They had a better rank last year at 15th. You really are living in some bizzaro world outside reality huh?


Westbrook would also implode the warriors GOAT ball movement and spacing, along with killing drays passing role. Don't ever put that curse on the dynasty dubs.

[QUOTE=tpols;14308977]The 18th ranked offense is an elite offense? They had a better rank last year at 15th. You really are living in some bizzaro world outside reality huh?


Westbrook would also implode the warriors GOAT ball movement and spacing, along with killing drays passing role. Don't ever put that curse on the dynasty dubs.[/QUOTE]

Westbrook was injured earlier. I am talking about recently, in the past 15-20 games. It was obvious to anyone who watches basketball and doesn't read boxscores that he was hurt. Stop talking about stuff you are clueless on, reading boxscores :oldlol: you never saw Oscar and you don't watch any Westbrook games. Stick to what you know.

Westbrook just played a game where his team dropped 50 assists. WAIT WESTBROOK HOLDS THE BALL AND PADS ASSISTS. He didn't even have half of them.

[QUOTE=imdaman99;14309084]Westbrook was injured earlier. I am talking about recently, in the past 15-20 games. It was obvious to anyone who watches basketball and doesn't read boxscores that he was hurt. Stop talking about stuff you are clueless on, reading boxscores :oldlol: you never saw Oscar and you don't watch any Westbrook games. Stick to what you know.

Westbrook just played a game where his team dropped 50 assists. WAIT WESTBROOK HOLDS THE BALL AND PADS ASSISTS. He didn't even have half of them.[/QUOTE]
Westbrook was the catalyst of a number one offense before but Ttrolls will never admit that. Best to ignore him he has massive brain damage.

[QUOTE=Marchesk;14308959]Does this mean Durant also underperformed until he went to the 73 win Warriors team?[/QUOTE]

Of course, that whole OKC roster in the 2010s of KD, Westbrook, Ibaka, Steven Adams and a good group of role players underperformed in regards to team success.

WB does have well known issues with bad shots and turnovers but prior to this season i underestimated his positives.

Obviously he is extremely athletic with a relentless motor and this causes all kinds of problems for the opposing defenses. Our centers have been feasting on the opportunities Russ creates. Whenever there is a loose ball on the floor Russ is going after it and that leads to a lot of extra possessions by the end of the game. Also his effort level rubs off on the rest of the team. He expects everyone to play hard all the time and will get after guys if they are dogging it.

Yeah we knew he was injured earlier in the year but we didnt know what it was. He wasn't playing back to backs. Once he had an uncontested dunk blocked by the rim lol.

[QUOTE=imdaman99;14309084]Westbrook was injured earlier. I am talking about recently, in the past 15-20 games. It was obvious to anyone who watches basketball and doesn't read boxscores that he was hurt. Stop talking about stuff you are clueless on, reading boxscores :oldlol: you never saw Oscar and you don't watch any Westbrook games. Stick to what you know.

Westbrook just played a game where his team dropped 50 assists. WAIT WESTBROOK HOLDS THE BALL AND PADS ASSISTS. He didn't even have half of them.[/QUOTE]
Before he used to be a ball hog who's more concerned about his ppg numbers and he was getting criticized for that.

Now that he's averaging several triple doubles per game that involves higher assists and still, he gets these odd criticisms. A never-ending story it seems.