The best personal beefs in the Jazz-Thunder series

5. Ricky Rubio (6-foot-4, 180 lbs.) vs. Russell Westbrook (6-foot-3, 200 lbs.)

Rubio came into this series as a heavy underdog against Westbrook. He’s not only held his own going toe to toe with the psychotic reigning MVP, but he’s gotten the better of him.

Westbrook’s may have the statistical advantage with 21.3 points, 11.8 rebounds, and 8.3 assists averages through four games, but Rubio’s 18.5 points, 7.8 boards, and 8 assists are right there with him and Rubio has outscored Russ in two games so far.

Rubio’s production has also come with a higher shooting percentage from two, with four less shots per game, and he’s committing almost two less turnovers than Russ. Maybe the most telling stat is the plus-minus discrepancy between the two — 90 points (Rubio: +45, Westbrook: -45).

After Rubio played one of the best games of his career, racking up a triple-double and leading Utah to a 2-1 series advantage in Game 3, Westbrook had the following comment in a postgame press conference:“He made some shots. Too comfortable. But I’m gonna shut that s— off next game though. Guarantee that.”

Following the Thunder’s 17-point loss in Game 4, Westbrook definitely didn’t take the highroad, but he did deflect and downplay the competition with Rubio, saying “It wasn’t about me or him. Let’s get past that. We done with that.” 

Just Russ being Russ.

Meanwhile, Ricky Rubio is also being Ricky Rubio — not getting into a press conference war of words, just quietly going out and playing, letting his play (and obviously his hair) do all the talking.