When you have a guy with the caliber of skill like Russell Westbrook, you put his game, expectations and potential on an elevated pedestal. Partner his fantastic skills with a guy like Kevin Durant or Serge Ibaka and it gets even better! In a recent game against the Philadelphia 76ers, all 3 members of the Thunder’s big 3 were on the court for only the second game this season.
Russell Westbrook, Kevin Durant and Serge Ibaka have played, practiced and trained together for years. On this play though, it may not look like it.
Durant and Ibaka BOTH calling for the ball, Westbrook struggles to handle to ball and dribbles around for about 10 seconds before he chucks up an air-ball as the shot clock expires.
The confusion here is that the team is up 13. Why’re you trying to possibly play hero ball and do it all for you team. Westbrook chuckled it off afterwords but you have to appreciate his confidence to be able to handle the ball, look off his teammates and just go one on one with just about anyone.
Westbrook, Durant and Ibaka are going to need more time together in order to make this all work how they want it too. It’ll mean that Westbrook will have to pass more, Durant will have to try and do less and Ibaka will have to move away from being the teams leading scorer to more of a role player position.
You have to love all their games and confidence though.
Especially Westbrook! I mean, the dude calls “GLASS” mid-game right in a defenders face like he’s playing at the park!
https://youtu.be/EUiLKhQty2k
