Westbrook, Pachulia, and The Thunder

The Thunder are in trouble and Russell Westbrook has worn out his welcome. You say, "How could you say that man?! Westbrook is like, averaging a triple double for the love of god!" Well let's dig a little deeper. May I present exhibit A. 

In the above clip you see Pachulia commit a hard foul in attempting to steal the ball from Westbrook. This play speaks volumes about The Thunder. First, no one came over to help Westbrook. When he took the hit and fell, no one came over to help him up. The Oklahoma City Thunder, in Oklahoma, did not come and help up their best player after he took a wicked foul. Second, why is no one returning the favor to Pachulia? Someone on OKC needs to lay that man out. I don't care if they come over and clock him, or run him into a hard pick, or even get up in his face and give him a push in a classic "HOLD ME BACK" type of moment. Instead The Thunder watch Westbrook writhe on the ground. 

There's levels to this shit. What I mean is Pachulia didn't just stick Westbrook with a hard foul; watch after the foul is committed. He stands there and stares down at Westbrook. That's disrespectful. Anyone whom has ever played pick up basketball knows fouls happen. Elbows happen. Trips happen. Running into picks happens. While some fouls are uncalled for, it's the standing over someone that takes it to the next level. Trust me, every basketball player knows this. And that's why I have such a huge problem with no one coming over and getting up in Pachulia's face. Pachulia flattens their best player, their only all-star, the first guy to possible average a triple double since 1970 and Westbrook's teammates stand there and do nothing. Apparently Westbrook is going to take matters into his own hands. 

Did not coming to Westbrook's aid say more about Westbrook or more about his teammates? Look I get it. Maybe The Thunder didn't want to get a technical or a flagrant for pushing back against Pachulia in an obvious non-basketball type of penalty. The game was close and The Thunder needed all of the points/possessions they could get. However maybe the other Thunder players are tired of Westbrook. I don't know why they didn't come to his aid but I got beef with it. Someone shove Pachulia and get in his face. Someone help Westbrook up. Where's Kendrick Perkins when you need him? Steven Adams! Where were you this play?

I feel bad for Westbrook. Yeah he's making money, yeah he's living a dream playing basketball, but with Durant leaving him, watching this play makes me feel for Westbrook a little more. It's crazy I wish they would get him more help. Yet look at the help he's receiving in his career. Kevin Durant, James Harden, Serge Ibaka, and many more. Two of those helpers are MVP level players. Ibaka was an All-NBA level defender during his time with Westbrook. I'm not sure what to make of Westbrook after watching all of these guys leave/get traded. Is it a coincidence that Russ is the last man standing in OKC? Doing shit like this doesn't help.

Nevertheless, The Thunder showed me something in not coming to help Westbrook. You know that friend who has your back, even when you're wrong? Westbrook has a bunch of guys who'll bail him out of jail, but no one who went to jail with him. Between this play, Draymond Green nut kicking Steven Adams, losing in seven games in a playoff series, Durant leaving OKC to join Golden State, clearly there is no love lost between this teams. The way the Thunder have to win is by playing physical, scrappy, tough, and fast. They're going to have to snag rebounds, box out, and play perfect fundamental basketball. They have to be the team no one wants to play and be miserable to play against. Because right now, Westbrook isn't enough.

NBA

Oklahoma City Thunder

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Written by

John Bernardo

Sports Writer

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