Oklahome City Thunder: Scott Brooks Teaches Russel Westbrook a Lesson

Russell Westbrook is a rising star with a thunderous upside.  He is quick, powerful and determined.  His mid-range game is practically flawless.  He drives the ball and gets to the glass and finishes effortlessly.  He's a good on-ball defender.  He's the new age point guard; skilled, athletic, young and aggressive. 

He's also extremely cocky.  Which I'm sure Scott Brooks can live with.  That's what you want to see in your point guard.  The point guard needs to be confident and decisive.  You want him to lead the team on the floor.  You want him to execute what you have drawn up.

Russell wasn't quite doing that toward the end of the third quarter in Game 2 against the Dallas Macericks.  He received admonition from Scott Brooks, and he lacked the proper appreciation for it.  Matter of fact, I couldn't hear what he was saying, but he appeared to express  a little disdain for his coach's decision.  I was quite surprised to see what unfolded. 

Coach Brooks sat his young All-Star down the whole fourth quarter.  He is not tolerating foolishness from his young stud.  I applaud him. 

I believe Russell Westbrook will learn a valuable lesson from this.  He's a member of a team; a team that can possibly win it all.  No segment of the team is greater than the whole.  Mr. Westbrook is a segment of the whole.  Congratulation Coach Brooks!  I love what you did.

Mark Jackson, the ESPN analyst and former NBA point guard didn't quite seem to understand.  He kept stating that he would have his starter, Westbrook, in the game in a critical situation with the game hanging in the balance.  

Obviously Coach Brooks didn't hear him.  If he did hear him; he didn't care.  Make no doubt about it.  Scott Brooks is the head coach of the Oklahoma City Thunder, and they couldn't have a better man for the job!

Sometimes it takes tough love to get your point across.  Scott Brooks showed tough love tonight.  Russell Westbrook was the recipient of some tough love.  Hopefully, he will eventually understand what happened tonight. 

Scott Brooks shows a confidence in every man that enters the game.  He knew Nick Collison, DaeQuan Cook, Eric Maynor and James Harden were equal to the task.  They could win that game. 

This might be pivotal.  Think of the confidence these players now have going back home to OKC.  The bench won this game against a Dallas Maverick team that just "blitzkrieged" the defending champion, L.A. Lakers.   Nowitzki and his troops fell short to a team that would not quit!  They refused to relinquish their lead in the fourth quarter.

This series should prove to be a real battle.  Each team will need all of its players.  Russell Westbrook received some needed discipline tonight.  I hope he accepts it in the right way.  I think he will.  Scott Brook demonstrated that he has a set of, well, basketballs.  That's what we'll call them. 

If he had lost this game we (the media; probably me included) would have annihilated him.   "Why in the world was Westbrook not on the floor?"

I'm sure what I think doesn't mean much to Scott Brooks, but that young coach has certainly gotten my respect.  I admire a man that is willing to call the shots.  He did what was right and OKC got a big victory Thursday night.

Mr. Westbrook, be glad you have a coach like Scott Brooks.  He'll take you a long way.