For years we’ve heard it. Russell Westbrook is good, but he’s not a pure point guard; that’s a designation reserved for Chris Paul, among others. Westbrook doesn’t pass first…he can’t run an elite offense. The list of complaints go on. But it’s 2015 now and this much is clear – while Westbrook isn’t your “classic” point guard, he’s the modern prototype for the position.
Basketball is constantly evolving in terms of playing style. When one style is figured out, another is designed to take its place. In an era dominated by isolation heavy guards, the Detroit Pistons made defense cool again when they demolished the offensive talents of Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal in the 2004 NBA Finals.