Russell Westbrook is making triple-doubles look routine, has razor sharp instincts and has a flair for the dramatic. Somehow Kevin Durant, Westbrook's teammate of seven years, has grown accustomed to the dynamic point guard's feats.
But once in a while, Westbrook pulls something off that leaves even Durant searching through the various exclamations basketball people have used in reference to his teammate. This time, it was a free throw in which Westbrook hit the front rim of the hoop, only to sprint by the defense and lay it in for two on a hustle put back.
Westbrook just validated all the middle school basketball coaches that have ever taught their players to chase their rebounds. This was still not the kind of hustle and athleticism Durant is used to seeing. This was something special.
"That was unreal," Durant said. "You've got to time that right, and you've just got to be as athletic as him. There's only a few... Well, I don't know if there's anybody in the league that can do that.... You've got to make the free throw, but I'll take the two points and the acrobatic play instead. But, yeah, he's a freak of nature, man."
Additionally, Westbrook scored 26 points to go along with 12 assists and 11 rebounds in the Oklahoma City Thunder's 119-100 road win over the Toronto Raptors. It was his seventh triple-double of the month, tying him for the most in a single month in the last 30 years. Westbrook is tied with Michael Jordan's mark from April 1989.
The win was also the Thunder's eighth in a row and the latest to come against a playoff-bound team. Westbrook also continues to prove that he does not need to be the lone superstar on a team, and Durant is doing the same. Durant leads the Thunder with 28 points per game, and he dropped 34 on the Raptors. He is also leading the team in rebounds with 8.3 per game.
So while the bottom two teams in the West are worried about facing the Spurs or Warriors in the first round, finishing in sixth place may be no better.
