Watching Russell Westbrook on the basketball court gives you the sense that he's volatile -- the kind of guy who needs special attention, who needs to be reined in at times and who could blow up a very good team if those things are not understood.
Westbrook reportedly had an episode the other night -- in the midst of an 0-for-13 shooting night -- where he and Kevin Durant (the Batman to Westbrook's Robin) shouted at each other on the bench.
While this shouldn't be simply brushed aside -- if there is a rift between the two, as some would suggest, then it's another brick in the wall -- it doesn't mean we should all start calling for the dismantling of the Thunder.
That's what J.A. Adande, a strong basketball writer who does make some good points along the way, is calling for in this piece. Adande suggests the Thunder should trade Westbrook to the Warriors for Stephen Curry. Sorry, but no way. We love Curry as much as the next guy (hindsight-fueled rage about how he could be with the Timberwolves goes here), but he is not the second piece on a potential NBA title contender. Even with as good as Durant is, he needs someone of Westbrook's caliber as his sidekick if the Thunder is going to emerge from the West. Durant probably knows this, which is why he does his best to throw water on Westbrook's fuse when it runs too hot.
Westbrook looks a little crazy at times on the court. But trading him just as OKC could be set to rise to the top would be even crazier.
