Bernucca: Is Reckless Russell Becoming Relaxed Russell?

Meanwhile, Westbrook was on the sideline, trying to calm down his teammates, who after Griffin’s free throw and a 3-pointer by Jamal Crawford seconds later now trailed a game they had once led by 19 points. That prompted a timeout, where Westbrook was the voice of reason.

“He told us to keep playing,” said Durant, who gets emotional himself with 12 technicals this season. “Everyone in the huddle was calm. We had a tough stretch but it was about how we bounced back.”

Out of the timeout, it briefly looked like the Reckless Russell we all scrutinize had resurfaced as he sped toward the basket. But it was really Relaxed Russell, dropping in a layup that gave the Thunder the lead for good and quieted the Staples Center crowd.

On the next possession, Ibaka screened the top of the zone and Westbrook did not fire a mid-range jumper but passed smartly to a rolling Ibaka, who converted as Griffin fouled out for a three-point play. And after two free throws by Crawford, Relaxed Russell sealed it with a jumper from that open short corner.

Brooks often spends time with the media defending Westbrook. After this win, he praised him.

“He’s done a great job and today was a classic example of what he has done,” the coach said. “We know that. We see it all the time. We don’t like to tell everybody how good he is, but he leads our team.

“He’s an emotional guy, he keeps everybody together, and he’s a big reason why we won this game – dialogue in the locker room, dialogue in the timeouts and on the court.”

For all of Oklahoma City’s success this season, it has had trouble winning on the road against quality teams. There have been losses at San Antonio, Boston, Miami, Denver twice, the Lakers and Golden State. Sunday was arguably their best road win of the season.

The Thunder get two more chances to try out their newfound composure when they visit the Knicks on Thursday and the Spurs next Monday. In those difficult environments, they will be much better off if Relaxed Russell shows up.

There is still plenty of regular season and an entire postseason full of big, emotional games for Reckless Russell to rear his ugly head. And when those moments arrive, Westbrook needs to remember how Relaxed Russell salvaged a Sunday in Los Angeles.

TRIVIA: Not counting interim coaches, which is the only NBA franchise that never has hired a black coach? Answer below.

THE END OF CIVILIZATION AS WE KNOW IT: Wizards play-by-play man Steve Buckhantz may need to see an optometrist after calling Trevor Ariza’s airball at the buzzer a game-winning “dagger.”

QUOTE OF THE WEEK: Philadelphia 76ers coach Doug Collins, on how much he has searched for solutions to his team’s problems:

“If everybody looked inside themselves as much as I do, the world would be a CAT scan.”