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Burst of energy. Explosive. Dynamite. Highlight reel.
These are words used to describe Thunder point guard Russell Westbrook, and these are the elements that were missing from Oklahoma City’s starting lineup at the end of last year and the start of this season.
In the first round of the 2012 playoffs, Houston Rockets point guard Patrick Beverly undercut Westbrook while the Thunder star was attempting to call a timeout.
“To me it was a dirty play, when players in the NBA are going to call a timeout, you don’t go and challenge them like Beverly did,” Oklahoma Christian basketball alumnus Will Reinke said. “I think the Thunder would have had a chance to win the NBA championship if [Westbrook] would not have gotten hurt.”
Rookie point guard Reggie Jackson was asked to step up and fill in for Westbrook for the remainder of the playoffs. The Thunder would win their first round series against the Rockets, but would lose in the next round to the Memphis Grizzlies.
It is tough to look back on a season and speculate how far the Thunder could have advanced in the playoffs with Westbrook in the lineup. The website Bleacherreport.com believes the Thunder would have lost in the finals to the eventual champions, the Miami Heat. A poll conducted on the website also found similar results, with almost 50 percent of those polled saying the Thunder would have lost in the finals.
Thunder fans had a scare this year at the start of the season, as the starting lineup for game one featured Reggie Jackson instead of Westbrook. Before the season started, Westbrook had to have a follow-up surgery on his knee to make sure everything was solid and that he could have a productive year.
Westbrook was supposed to be out two to four weeks, but made his debut less than one week into the season at the Thunder’s first home game against Phoenix.
“It was great to see him back out there,” senior Carli Covalt said. “I was amazed at how quick he came back to the lineup, but I know he was ready to come back and help the team out. He is really fun to watch and makes the team so much better. I hope he can stay healthy all season.”
Westbrook amazed Thunder fans not only with the speed of his recovery, but in how well he has played since he was injured. To many, Westbrook looks as if he has not missed a beat since he exited the Thunder’s lineup last April. A coast-to-coast slam against the Dallas Mavericks may very well have solidified that estimation.
Many people returning from knee surgery are sometimes timid, and ease back into their playing time. Westbrook not only returned, but exhibited a resemblance to last year’s mid-season form.
There are some Thunder fans out there sure that the Thunder would be better off without Westbrook. He is sometimes known to be out of control, and a ball hog to some degree – even to the point of taking away from Kevin Durant’s scoring ability.
Most of the people in that frame of thought were quickly proven wrong when the absence of Westbrook proved to be the end of the Thunder’s season last year.
Westbrook controls the chaos on the Thunder. Sometimes he seems to be out of control, but that seems to be his style of play. He plays fast, but that is why he could be considered one of the top 10 point guards in the NBA. There are not any other point guards that can match his size and athletic ability. He can change the game in an instant with a steal, or with a big dunk on a fast break, according to junior Lady Eagles forward Emma Gade.
“He is so much fun to watch,” Gade said. “He seems like he is all over the floor, always making great plays. The Thunder are more fun to watch with him in the lineup. The fact that he has the ability to get to the rim, shoot a mid-range jumper, or shoot the three, makes him pretty unstoppable.”
Needless to say, Thunder fans around Oklahoma and Oklahoma Christian are excited about Westbrook’s return. He brings energy, toughness, strength, skill and athleticism back to the Chesapeake Energy Arena.
Westbrook’s return also opens up the floor for superstar Kevin Durant. Durant is one of the best players and best scorers in the league, and with Westbrook in the lineup, teams cannot focus solely on stopping him. Westbrook also finds Durant for open shots in transition before the defense can set up.
The Thunder are in action three times this week, playing the Los Angles Clippers Nov. 13th, the Golden State Warriors Nov. 14th, and the Milwaukee Bucks Nov. 16th. All the games are on the road.
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