I Fundamentally Don't Understand This Russell Westbrook Assist

On the run ➡️ bounce pass ➡️ through a defender's legs... □

Russell. Westbrook. pic.twitter.com/gIivFNkIHD

— NBA TV (@NBATV) March 17, 2017

I will fight every single one of you for Russell Westbrook pic.twitter.com/CFtSAbkzjU

— Zito (@_Zeets) March 17, 2017

I don't even need to look at the NBA schedule to know that we are getting pretty close to the end of the season. The sudden polarization of opinions regarding a guy that's well on his way to a historical accomplishment is enough of an indication that some people have grown so tired of one man's continued excellence that their view of it eventually changed. In essence, Russell Westbrook's heroic efforts have lived long enough to see themselves become the villain. His triple-doubles so frequent that some have brushed them off as merely attempts to stuff the ballet box (score) in his favor. Now, I won't sit here and tell you that the heart, soul, and attitude of the Oklahoma City Thunder isn't more than occasionally selfish. Arguing that would be as silly as trying to argue that he's also extremely efficient. I will say that if the pass that Russell Westbrook threaded through the legs of a guy on the other side of the court while running at full speed was simply an effort to boost his assist numbers then I am totally fine with giving the MVP award to a stat-padding son of a bitch. 

Seriously, I can't even begin to understand how Russell Westbrook knew where to throw that ball, never mind understand how he was able to throw it there. When he released that bullet of a pass the legs that it eventually bounced through were a full stride and half away from being in the perfect position to get nutmegged. As if the precise anticipation wasn't enough to make me wonder whether or not I exist in the same space/time continuum as Russell Westbrook, the execution necessary to put it in the smallest of windows while moving like a goddamn gazelle would put most mobile quarterbacks to shame.

​You don't even have to believe me when I say that dish was saucy, because the person whose hands it hit wasn't even ready for it. I'm pretty Victor Oladipo was as confused during his finish as I was the first time I watched the highlight, and he's a teammate that gets to witness the extraordinary literally every single day. I can't definitive say that Russell Westbrook has had the best season and deserves the MVP because James Harden has been just as freakish, but I do declare that the former has had a more entertaining season, and - as a fan - that means just as much to me.