Oklahoma City Thunder Can't Survive on Russell Westbrook's Brilliance Alone

Russell Westbrook might be an extraterrestrial being, but the Oklahoma City Thunder can't rely solely on his brilliance if they want to bridge the gap between above average and elite. 

Westbrook's production has been unequivocally breathtaking since Durant underwent a second procedure on his right foot, and per-game averages of 40.7 points, 11.3 rebounds, 11.3 assists and three steals over the last seven days netted him Western Conference Player of the Week honors on Monday.

"My job is to compete at a level every night that I don't think anyone else can," Westbrook said Monday, according to The Oklahoman's Anthony Slater. 

Without Durant, he's done just that. 

ESPN Stats & Info and ESPN Insider's Tom Haberstroh provide the evidence necessary to understand just how otherworldly his play has been: 

In the 21 games Westbrook has appeared in sans Durant, Oklahoma City is 12-9. That's not bad by any measure. In fact, the team's winning percentage during those games is .571—an improvement over the Thunder's season-long total of .556. 

However, it's a far cry from the .667 winning percentage the Thunder Buddies have recorded in the 27 games they've shared the floor. 

And the fact of the matter remains that Oklahoma City hasn't consistently won in convincing fashion during Westbrook's extended statistical romp.

Over their last six games, the Thunder are 3-3. That stretch has included losses against the injury-riddled Chicago Bulls, sliding Phoenix Suns and Portland Trail Blazers. It's also included narrow victories over the bottom-dwelling Philadelphia 76ers and maddeningly inconsistent Toronto Raptors. 

When Westbrook carries the scoring load, it's not like Oklahoma City's blown the competition away, either. So far, the Thunder are 2-5 when Westbrook scores at least 40 points. Not so coincidentally, all five of those losses have come with Durant sidelined.  

The good news is Westbrook's been so dominant that his play has generally overshadowed some of his team's synergistic shortcomings. 

But even when he's at his most dominant, the Thunder haven't felt whole even if they have been exponentially more entertaining. Durant is the difference between being viewed as the most lethal No. 8 seed in NBA history and a tenacious—yet flawed—playoff qualifier.

Riding solo, Westbrook has been an offensive terror. The offense experiences severe regression when he's on the bench—so much so that it produces similarly to the New York Knicks offense in those instances. 

Unfortunately, the defense takes a noticeable hit during Westbrook's time on the floor. 

But as Bleacher Report's Grant Hughes writes, it's virtually impossible to consider Westbrook's output over the last six weeks, account for the team's net ratings and conclude that he's even slightly detrimental to the Thunder's cause. 

"A logical look at his production has to at least include those things as starting points for discussion, but when you watch him play, it's difficult to conclude he's somehow a negative," Hughes wrote. "And even if the facts all pointed that way, for entertainment's sake, you wouldn't want him to stop."

Westbrook is always going to do as Westbrook does—careening down the floor in a blur only to attack the rim with elegant control and a nasty disposition. That's why he's the greatest show the NBA has to offer.  

What's terrifying is there's a way for the Thunder to have their cake and eat it, too. 

In the 713 minutes Durant and Westbrook have shared the floor this season, Oklahoma City has spouted out a net rating of plus-9.3 points per 100 possessions. That ranks tops among all two-man Thunder combinations that have logged at least 700 minutes.

While the offense evidently experiences minor slippage compared to when Westbrook's on the floor solo, the duo propels Oklahoma City into an elite defensive tier. 

When Durant and Westbrook are operating as joint conductors, only one team is posting a better defensive rating: the Golden State Warriors. 

The excitement level diminishes when Westbrook isn't Oklahoma City's sole proprietor of chaos, and that should bring his numbers back into a more human realm.  

"At some point, Durant will return, and his presence will have a naturally smoothing effect on Westbrook's game," ESPN Insider's Bradford Doolittle wrote. "With the game's best scorer beside him, Westbrook can't put his stamp on every possession, and the dynamic between the two stars has been polished over the past seven seasons."

That's quite alright, though. Westbrook has made his mark and thrown his hat in the MVP ring with force. He doesn't have anything left to prove now that his historic resume is speaking volumes. 

But the Thunder do. 

Durant will "no doubt" make a return during the regular season, according to ESPN.com's Royce Young, and Slater indicates Durant's workout regimen has been ramping up of late:  

Theatrically, the Thunder may not be as compelling with Durant back. Westbrook's playmaking ability will be capped to an extent, and the night-to-night unpredictability that's come to define Oklahoma City of late won't make for the same brand of captivating ball. 

But what the Thunder need most is substance—not style.

And with Westbrook and Durant reunited, stability can rule the day as fantasies of a first-round upset morph into a realistic pursuit. 

All statistics current as of March 9 and courtesy of NBA.com unless noted otherwise.