We’re Going to Miss Russell Westbrook While He’s Gone.

It’s hard to quantify how much of an impact injuries have had on the NBA Playoffs. Kobe Bryant isn’t playing, Derrick Rose may or may not return, Rajon Rondo has been out for months, and so on. It sucks because we wait all year for four rounds of non-stop basketball, climatic finishes and huge box scores that make our eyes pop open.

So, it serves as no surprise that Russell Westbrook being out of the Oklahoma City Thunder’s lineup for the rest of the playoffs, well, sucks. At this point, the injury bug that has bitten the NBA postseason is something we could either be immune to or bummed out by, I chose the latter.

Westbrook is either revered or detested, there seems to be no gray area about him. He is arguably the most talented point guard in the entire league, as evidenced by him being the only guard to rank top ten in both points and assists. While his decision-making can be questioned, his value to the Thunder cannot. The very things people criticize Westbrook for doing will be the things that make a difference in Oklahoma City’s championship hopes.

There are people who want him to shoot less so that three-time scoring champion Kevin Durant can shoot more; now those people get what they’ve longed pined for. Despite having the most assists to one player (214 to Durant) this year, Westbrook’s game has been described as selfish and too aggressive. It’s a wonder why people see the efficiency of Durant and don’t give Westbrook any credit for playing a role in it.

Without Westbrook’s aggressive scoring nature, the degree of difficulty on Durant’s shots is higher with little room for error. In the 19 games Durant shot lower than 45% from the field, Westbrook contributed 25.4 points on 45% shooting, 5.7 boards and 6.6 assists, resulting in 11 wins. Not too many players in the NBA have the luxury to have an off shooting night and have a teammate shoulder the load that way.

Westbrook’s game isn’t perfect, but it’s effective. The masses are equally critical about Kobe Bryant and LeBron James doing the exact opposite of one another, whether it’s one shooting too much and the other not shooting enough. In the case of Westbrook, maybe he does shoot a lot; but now people will see what happens when he doesn’t shoot at all. In a world of people with a bevy of suggestions, no one can concoct a way for the Thunder to NOT miss their All-NBA point guard.

Now, the efforts of power forward Serge Ibaka will be eyed carefully. Without James Harden to take over backup point guard duties, the attention turns to the guy the Thunder’s front office chose to keep over the 2013 All-Star. If the Thunder are going to advance to another NBA Finals, they will need Ibaka to establish more of a presence in the paint and take more than 3.8 shots at the rim. That style of play is fine against a Rockets team that doesn’t have the veteran savvy of a more experienced Thunder squad, but the likes of Tim Duncan and Marc Gasol will require a physical presence if you hope to neutralize their efforts.

That’s something that, even from the point guard position, Westbrook gave the Thunder. He got into the lane and established an emphatic presence that not many other teams have at all, let alone from their lead guard. Ibaka’s increased shooting range is nice for a change of pace, but he’s going to have to effect the game past jumpers, blocking shots and put-back dunks. Oklahoma City signed him to a four-year $48 million deal last year, this is the time for him to establish himself as a cog in their championship aspirations.

Regardless of what Ibaka or anyone else does, replacing an All-NBA guard isn’t easy. Ask the Bulls, ask the Celtics ask the Lakers. The Thunder have the fun task of replacing 29.8% of their points, 32.4 of their field goal attempts and 47.1 of their assists, according to Matt Moore of CBS Sports. No matter how talented Kevin Durant is, or how well Ibaka, Kevin Martin and Reggie Jackson play, the loss of Westbrook will be evident and profound.

I feel robbed because I’m going to miss watching those erratic drives that result in an emphatic jam. The same reason we love the playoffs is exactly why I love watching Russell Westbrook play with that intensity game in and game out, no matter the importance of the game. There is some contrived definition of a selfish teammate that people attach to Westbrook. Watch this clip: Is that anything but a guy who loves the fun of the game?

If there’s anything evil attached to Westbrook’s game, it’s a necessary evil and I love it. He is what makes the NBA Playoffs fun. Now, his cynics get exactly what they wanted: more Durant, less Westbrook. Soon enough, they’ll be Westbrook apologists.