Westbrook thrives

Russell Westbrook was at his level best against the Magic yesterday. For the second straight match, the Thunder faced a double- digit deficit and near- certain loss deep into the fourth quarter. And for the second straight match, he got them to snatch victory in dramatic fashion. Heck, he was such a force of nature throughout the encounter, and especially in the crunch, that the 18,408 who witnessed his relentless drive at the Amway Center could not help but cheer for him ( in the process redefining the term “hostile territory”).

To be sure, Westbrook had help in engineering his latest comeback. For one thing, the Magic had all sorts of opportunities to put the game away, only to miss seeming gimmes, both from the field and from the charity stripe, in the waning seconds of regulation. For another, the Thunder went all in to support his effort; from setting timely screens to maintaining proper spacing to boxing out for crucial boards, they proved willing and able to do the dirty work necessary for him to strut his stuff. And, certainly, there is to be no discounting the stellar defense they displayed. Still, the outcome would have been vastly different had Westbrook not weaved his, well, magic against the Magic. Even by his own admission, he’s far from efficient; he’s a volume shooter who could do much, much better with his decision making, particularly from the perimeter. When everything is on the line, though, watch out; for all intents, he’s arguably the best of the best in producing clutch baskets. And after that long 32-foot dagger that sent the set-to into overtime, the aftermath seemed academic.

Needless to say, Westbrook’s claim to the Maurice Podoloff Trophy has been strengthened anew. In leading the Thunder from 21 points down in the second half to triumph, he has cemented his hold as the National Basketball Association’s most electrifying player. And, yes, he did come up with his 38th triple-double of the season, putting up 57, 13, and 11 to all but ensure his season’s place in history alongside Oscar Robertson’s 1961-1962 marvel.

Because voting is subjective, Westbrook cannot claim to have a foothold on the Most Valuable Player award. From his vantage point, however, it’s enough that the Thunder know he’s the engine that keeps them running. “I just play, man” has been his typical response to queries on how he will fare in the race. He’s wrong, of course. He doesn’t “just play.” He thrives, and the

league is all the better for it.

Because voting is subjective, Westbrook cannot claim to have a foothold on the Most Valuable Player award. From his vantage point, however, it’s enough that the Thunder know he’s the engine that keeps them running. “I just play, man” has been his typical response to queries on how he will fare in the race. He’s wrong, of course. He doesn’t “just play.” He thrives, and the league is all the better for it.