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Message: [QUOTE="Dogdeacon, post: 2683925, member: 1026"] A. Basketball is a team sport, passing sharing the ball is infectious and we all love, know and recognize those special teams and players that share the ball. Rajon Rondo is similar to Russ in this way, a player that is great at the skill of assists, but sometimes hunts for assists rather than making the correct basketball play. Its absolutely frustrating for other players to play with someone that doesn't move the ball and hunts for the scoring play that only involves passing when it leads to a basket. Where Rondo was different of course is not the same type of scorer, shoots way less so much lower usage rate = more opportunity for others & team play. B. Russ's usage rate ws insanely high (42.3% last yr highest EVER, now down to manageable 34% ), teams cannot win this way. Bill Simmons wrote about it last year pre-playoffs accurately predicting OKC's postseason flameout. [URL='https://www.theringer.com/2017/3/9/16042800/the-russell-westbrook-problem-54e59db48117']50 Shades of Westbrook[/URL] C. 90% of the game the Russ show is fine and effective, but in 4th Q too predictable easier to stop, magnified, more true come playoff time. My short answer to your hypothetical: I don't think he can change. Ala Allen Iverson he is ball dominant and once he can't do that he's got no 2nd act. IF someday Russ becomes unselfish enough (and he's certainly smart enough) to change his style of play I think it HAS to occur with an ALPHA that he defers to. Pretty hard to imagine since he had in Durant arguably the 2nd best player in the NBA & couldn't defer. I assume back in the day Harden was on the floor without Russ too? Is there a superstar that could co-exist with a more deferential Russ (AD - no, Russ needs lane clear, LeBron & Harden need the ball, Giannis-Russ would stifle, Kristaps would defer to Russ, Embid? etc...)? Maybe if this Doncic kid is Larry Bird 2.0 that's the type of contagious passing player that could transition Russ into more of a winner - less impressive stats wise but a potential champion. As-is I don't think he's ever winning squat (though I do think OKC can beat Jazz & give Rockets run esp if Harden wilts per usual). [/QUOTE]

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