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Kevin Durant’s injury means it’s Russell Westbrook’s time to shine

By Wes Goldberg

Apr 19, 2014; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (0) and forward Kevin Durant (35) prepare to return to the game against the Memphis Grizzlies in game one during the first round of the 2014 NBA Playoffs at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 19, 2014; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (0) and forward Kevin Durant (35) prepare to return to the game against the Memphis Grizzlies in game one during the first round of the 2014 NBA Playoffs at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports /
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With Kevin Durant out for six-to-eight weeks with a foot fracture, Russell Westbrook will have his opportunity to lift the Oklahoma City Thunder.

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Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook have been paired together for the length of their success, and it had spurred some conversations as to if one would be as good without the other. It’s a fair concern, considering opponent’s must often take a pick-your-poison approach when it comes to double teams and defensive focuses.

With Westbrook sitting out more than 30 games last season with an injury, Durant proved he was not only as good but more dominant. That stretch of dominance helped him leap LeBron James in the MVP race.

Westbrook may not have that kind of impact but, as Jeff Caplan of NBA.com, writes, will have the opportunity to put the team on his back.

"In that vein, this could be the biggest moment of Westbrook’s career. He watched last season as Durant pulled the Thunder together in his absence, and even at one point pulled them to the top of the West standings as Durant put together a string of historic performances that earned him his first MVP.Westbrook won’t be asked to become Michael Jordan, but he will be required to grow beyond this team’s fiery, emotional leader. As a ball-dominant point guard who has already committed to pursuing more ball movement within the Thunder’s star-driven offense this season, this is Westbrook’s moment to seize opportunity from adversity, to expand his game and back Brooks’ recent claim that the 6-foot-3 burst of energy is the best point guard in the league.Westbrook will need the help of others to be sure, including defensive-minded shooting guard Andre Roberson, erratic shooting guard Jeremy Lamb, unproven forward Perry Jones and newly acquired sharpshooter Anthony Morrow, but it will be in Westbrook’s hands to involve them all as the team transitions to an offense that will be 30 points lighter without Durant."

I’ve often wondered that if Westbrook did have his “own team” if he would be viewed the way we look at Derrick Rose. Both are stupid athletic with unimaginably-natural scoring skills. I would take Westbrook over Rose defensively, but Rose has shown an ability to lift his team on a consistent basis the way Westbrook just hasn’t been asked to. Now the Thunder will be asking.

While it’s disappointing that we won’t be able to watch the Slim Reaper work for a few weeks, we can at least draw some interest from this storyline. Seeing if Westbrook can evolve in Durant’s absence will be as compelling as anything this season.

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