Russell Westbrook of the Oklahoma City Thunder is as exciting and explosive as any player in the NBA. For the most part, it's a good thing as his energy electrifies his teammates and the crowd. On the other hand, he really hurts his team with emotional outbursts and silly fouls. Are his emotions good or bad for the team as a whole?
In the first two games of the NBA Finals, Westbrook has been equal parts exciting and infuriating. He's really cut back on both his fouls and turnovers, averaging just two of each per game. He's also played really out of control at times and is shooting 20-for-50 (40 percent) from the field.
It seems that every game Westbrook makes three or four amazing plays that showcase how athletic and gifted he really is. Then, he turns around and makes a boneheaded play that leaves all of us scratching our heads.
In Game 2 against the Miami Heat, Kevin Durant was in foul trouble with two in the first quarter. Westbrook already had one himself when he picked up a terrible foul 90 feet from the basket at the end of the first quarter when he tried to slap the ball out of Mike Miller's hands.
In Game 1 against the Heat, his emotions almost got him ejected as Shane Battier tried to take the ball out of bounds. In a strange situation, neither player would walk around the other and Westbrook decided to take a wild swing at the ball. A double technical was called, but any sane person would agree it was 100 percent Westbrook.
At what point does Westbrook cross the line between intensity and lunacy? He could get himself thrown out of a game because of his temper and that would be devastating.
Westbrook is not merely a good talent, he's a great talent. Let's just hope his aggressive nature and intense machismo don't ruin all of it.
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