Should Russell Westbrook be a STARTER for the Nuggets? | 3 the Hardaway

The Big 3 discuss whether or not they would start Russell Westbrook in Denver.
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[@sammyslam1]

Russell Westbrook fan here.
I do think Coach Malone will start the season with Russ coming off the bench, giving Christian Braun the starting sg spot.
I think The Nuggets will likely be forced to change that if Jamal Murray starts the season a bit slow and Braun can not provide a consistent scoring punch.
Don't be surprised if Russ is eventually moved into the starting pg spot.

[@3thehardaway]

How you feeling about Murray long term? Thanks for your comment!

[@chozenboi]

He my favourite player of all-time but no, bringing him off the bench would be huge whenever Jokic or Murray go to the bench. As for the closing lineup though yes he should finish with them.

[@3thehardaway]

For sure will be in the closing lineup. Nuggets will love his intensity.

[@corysimmons455]

Yes russell westbrook should be a starter move Murray to the shooting guard

[@3thehardaway]

And they could stagger minutes where Russ is the primary playmaker while Joker is on the bench.

[@corysimmons455]

@@3thehardaway russell westbrook should start joker doesn't need to go to the bench they have to get use to playing with each other

[@3thehardaway]

@@corysimmons455 No I was saying when Jokic is sitting on the bench (to rest), they can keep Westbrook in as a facilitator on offense. My bad for the confusion.

[@corysimmons455]

​@@3thehardaway he can play with joker as well

[@stanislavstef]

Despite the Kroenke's and Booth's "pledges" stated at the beginning of the off-season, nuggets did NOTHING to improve their roster and chances to contend.
Kroenke: "when you have the best player on the planet, you need to go for it... you owe it to him"
Booth: "I'm the steward of Jokic's prime"
Yep. That's what was said. Literally. Publicly.
And then - Nuggets lost KCP (and few others) and brought in Saric and Westbrook. On minimums.
Didn't go for great players, all-stars, value-add assets... They went for bottom of the barrel, cheap and risk-free.
It is clear that from the get-go - the only focus for the Nuggets owners, Nuggets FO and Nuggets GM was: KEEP US UNDER THE APRONS, MINIMIZE COST, OBLIGATIONS AND LIABILITIES.
That was the PRIMARY and the ONLY focus that these people REALLY had.
Because - Kroenkes are in the process/negotiations to sell Denver Nuggets. They invested about $400M 20 years ago and now are looking at the $3.5-4B valuation/deal. About 900%+ pure profit in 20 years. Not bad at all.
And that brings us to this point - Nuggets got worse last year, and then got even worse this year. Nuggets are eroding and rotting inside-out.
Jokic is probably fully aware of this situation, and the question is - how is he perceiving it?
Nuggets are throwing away Jokic's prime - this is obvious. What does Jokic think about it!? Is he OK with it!? Or he's quietly pissed off (serbian way) and he'll blow up with a DEMAND FOR A TRADE!?
We'll see.
Personally - I'm disgusted by Denver Nuggets. By their owners, FO, their GM, their "media" such as this one, and ultimately by their fanbase.
The whole thing has that "trailer trash" vibe of low expectations and cheap hustling.
We'll see.

[@3thehardaway]

Great perspective. Probably our best comment ever 💯. I think Joker and Murray are great enough to keep the Nuggets in the mix but the apron rules limits a lot of the teams in the league. I think they are about to lean on player development around Joker. What I think that means is moving on from the “others” (MPJ, eventually AG as well). Still think they are force to be reckoned with.

[@stanislavstef]

@@3thehardaway Thanks. I have no hope left for Murray. I think his peak is in the rearview mirror. Guy is a benchwarmer for Canada now. Backup to Dort and Brooks.
No.
AG and MPJ are great kids. All heart, all effort all goodness. But they're limited in their talent.
Nuggets FO/GM/such would like to sell us the "player development" BS - BUT, smart people know - when you have top 10 player of all time, in his prime, you don't "develop". YOU GO FOR WINS.
When did Nuggets had a player like Jokic!? When will they have one like him again!?
Truth is - Jokic NEVER had an all-star level player to play with, and it seems that he never will. At least, not in Denver Nuggets.
IMO - he should announce that he's demanding a TRADE (this will bury the kroenke's deal) and leave this trailer-trash, redneck, dishonest bs franchise.