Is Kyrie actually a better scorer than Westbrook?

[CTbasketball92]

The Cavs have pretty much made Kyrie the first option so far and he's played solidly. He's averaging about 24 ppg on ok efficiency (54 TS%). On the other hand, Russell Westbrook has a usage rate of over 40% and yet is averaging 32 ppg on 56 TS%, even though he doesn't have a reliable second or third option and also has to run the entire offense. Westbrook isn't nearly as skilled as Kyrie, but his motor and athleticism let him generate more drives to the rim and more trips to the foul line as well, and he can make midrange shots about as well as LeBron. Why isn't Westbrook thought of as a better scorer than Kyrie?

[jbryan1984]

I know it sounds biased, but Kyrie has crept his way into the discussion for best point guard in the league year after year. He literally gets better every, single, year. If anyone at all is better than him its CP3, Curry and Westbrook and I think now, you could defiantly make the case that he is even or better than 2 of them.

[ClipperRevival]

As scorers, the Kobe/LeBron comparison makes some sense.

[CTbasketball92]

As scorers, the Kobe/LeBron comparison makes some sense.

Yeah, in the sense that Kobe can seemingly score more points against difficult defenses, but LeBron will always have the efficiency edge because of his size/athleticism. But here's the thing though, Kobe was still an elite volume scorer. I think his best seasons between 2006-2007 he averaged like 33 ppg with a 57 TS%. Kyrie's best year he averaged about 22 on 58 TS%, as the team's second best player. Considering that all Kyrie has to do is get buckets now and that he;s getting 20 shots a game, this is seemingly a pretty good indicator of his what he'd be capable of as a great team's first option, and he's been only average. Westbrook has way more volume and way more responsibility, and has still been scoring better. Also, he put up better scoring numbers in 2014-2015 with a huge usage rate then as well. Westbrook might just be a better scorer in every circumstance, probably because of his freethrow attempts.

[Bosnian Sajo]

Big fan of Kyrie's game.

[Prometheus]

Westbrook plays drive-and-dish all night, and is a beast attacking the rim. He gets way more scoring opportunities with his physicality. And he also likes to chuck, so there's that.

But... how are we defining "better scorer"? If you need a bucket to kill momentum or go-ahead in crunch time, Kyrie can make offense out of thin air with his iso creativity and sharp jumper. Westbrook will score more over the course of the game, but Kyrie can score more reliably on command.

[moongaze]

Their career averages indicate that Kyrie is the much better scorer. He has higher shooting percentage from anywhere on the court. Three point line, field goals, free throw line, you name it. For their career , Russ only averages less than a point more per game than Kyrie. The only thing Russ does better is get to the line more.

Finally, people still remember 55 with 11 treys against Portland and 57 against the defending champ spurs. How about 41 on 71 percent shooting in game 5 of a do or die and then outscoring steph for the series, something Russ couldn't do , by the way.

No way someone with the nickname westbrick is the better scorer

[Milbuck]

I know it sounds biased, but Kyrie has crept his way into the discussion for best point guard in the league year after year. He literally gets better every, single, year. If anyone at all is better than him its CP3, Curry and Westbrook and I think now, you could defiantly make the case that he is even or better than 2 of them.

Kyrie isn't on any of those three's level.

[moongaze]

We can look at playoff efficiency and it gets even worse for Russ.

[CTbasketball92]

Their career averages indicate that Kyrie is the much better scorer. He has higher shooting percentage from anywhere on the court. Three point line, field goals, free throw line, you name it. For their career , Russ only averages less than a point more per game than Kyrie. The only thing Russ does better is get to the line more.

Finally, people still remember 55 with 11 treys against Portland and 57 against the defending champ spurs. How about 41 on 71 percent shooting in game 5 of a do or die and then outscoring steph for the series, something Russ couldn't do , by the way.

No way someone with the nickname westbrick is the better scorer

Interesting, but I'd argue that Westbrook would've been much more efficient if OKC had better spacing and if he didn't have to worry about simply scoring all game. Westbrook started off not nearly as good of a scorer as he is now, but beginning in 2013-2014, he really picked it up. Last year he had a solid TS% while also averaging nearly as many points as Kyrie is averaging while also averaging like 10 assists and 7 rebounds. I'd say Kyrie has a higher scoring ceiling for sure, and he's a better iso scorer and much better at the end of games, but Westbrook's force lets him average more points while maintaining decent* efficiency, thus making it a bit closer than people would think.

[Dray n Klay]

Just stop it moongaze, you're literally comparing an All-NBA 1st team superstar to a dude in Kyrie who coudn't even make the all-star game last year



Cringe

[Atlantis]

Westbrook plays drive-and-dish all night, and is a beast attacking the rim. He gets way more scoring opportunities with his physicality. And he also likes to chuck, so there's that.

But... how are we defining "better scorer"? If you need a bucket to kill momentum or go-ahead in crunch time, Kyrie can make offense out of thin air with his iso creativity and sharp jumper. Westbrook will score more over the course of the game, but Kyrie can score more reliably on command.

This.

[egokiller]

I know it sounds biased, but Kyrie has crept his way into the discussion for best point guard in the league year after year. He literally gets better every, single, year. If anyone at all is better than him its CP3, Curry and Westbrook and I think now, you could defiantly make the case that he is even or better than 2 of them.

If cp3 ever made it to the finals and he was facing Kyrie, Kyrie would out perform him. Some guys just out shine everyone else when they are on the biggest stage.

[NBAGOAT]

If cp3 ever made it to the finals and he was facing Kyrie, Kyrie would out perform him. Some guys just out shine everyone else when they are on the biggest stage.

quite presumptuous of you to make conclusions off one Finals series and considering CP3 has never even gotten a chance to prove himself on that biggest stage.

[egokiller]

quite presumptuous of you to make conclusions off one Finals series and considering CP3 has never even gotten a chance to prove himself on that biggest stage.

You either have that level of swag on the big stage, or you don't. That's not to say that it can't be attained in the future, but Kyrie showed it at just 24 years old. Lebron has it, but I would never have suspected that Kyrie would have had it so quickly.

PJax, Pop....would say the same.