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Hardwood Paroxysm Presents: NBA Midseason Super-Overreactionizer

By HP Basketball Network

Jan 9, 2015; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Indiana Pacers forward Paul George (13) works on his dribbling during warmups before the game against the Boston Celtics at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 9, 2015; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Indiana Pacers forward Paul George (13) works on his dribbling during warmups before the game against the Boston Celtics at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports /
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February 15, 2015; New York, NY, USA; Western Conference guard Russell Westbrook of the Oklahoma City Thunder (0) wins the MVP trophy after the 2015 NBA All-Star Game at Madison Square Garden. The West defeated the East 163-158. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports
February 15, 2015; New York, NY, USA; Western Conference guard Russell Westbrook of the Oklahoma City Thunder (0) wins the MVP trophy after the 2015 NBA All-Star Game at Madison Square Garden. The West defeated the East 163-158. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports /

All-Star Snub will push Westbrook, Thunder to Championship

By Kyle Neubeck (@KyleNeubeck) — Upside and Motor

The fates aligned themselves perfectly. Freed from the towering shadow of expectations that comes from playing with Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook knew it was his time. He was a rabid pit bull at the All-Star Game, seizing on the blood and free reign to shoot wafting through the air.

It earned him the MVP for the evening – but it wasn’t enough. And now the league must pay. 

Westbrook’s toughest opponent is often himself; the redline indicator on his dashboard is missing, which results either in car crashes or feats befitting Hollywood stunt men. But not on this evening, not in this venue. Only a series of mistakes from multiple parties derailed the Russell Westbrook extravaganza, leaving him a point short of the All-Star Game scoring record.

It was Steve Kerr, committing acts of basketball terrorism leaving him on the bench for a long stretch in the fourth. It was Chris Paul, James Harden and his teammates on the West roster, burning off clock at game’s end, refusing to give him the ball. Short of melting the co-conspirators with eye-powered lasers, there was nothing more Westbrook could have done to convince them it was his time to shine.

Oklahoma City has been outside or on the fringes of the playoff picture while their stars have battled health woes, but the stretch run is upon us and the Thunder are poised to make a run. To add fuel to the fire of a basketball player whose rage most resembles a serial killer is a shaky proposition at best. The coach of the West’s best team and members of several hopeful contenders have just poked the sleeping giant in the eye. No good will come from this.

Westbrook is the Happy Gilmore to his foes’ Shooter McGavin. At one time, making the playoffs to satisfy his own journey of self-fulfillment might have been enough. Now he lives for another reason – kicking everyone else’s ass.

The reckoning awaits. There is no escape from Russell’s wrath for these wicked, misguided souls until July. They will rue the day they chose to starve the beast.

Next: LaMarcus Aldridge becomes a Better Dirk Nowitzki, leads Portland to a Championship

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