Even in the wake of the scrutiny, Westbrook is self-aware. After the Nuggets won Game 7, he perfectly described what he brings from his play, from the good to the ugly. "I think a lot. As much as people may not think — I'm very smart,

Russell Westbrook always puts on a show, but OKC and Thunder fans have never seen it from this vantage point. Bring on the Nuggets and the drama.

Addressing the elephant in the room, Westbrook's playoff series against the Thunder will invoke all types of emotions. It'll be bittersweet as the bond between the player and fanbase is in the same breath as Dirk Nowitzki and the Dallas Mavericks, Dwyane Wade and the Miami Heat.