Utah Jazz point guard Ricky Rubio put the entire NBA universe on notice after he churned out a triple-double performance in Game 3 of their first-round series with the Oklahoma City Thunder. Rubio posted 26 points, 11 rebounds, and 10 assists in 37 minutes. Rubio also embarrassed Thunder guard Russell Westbrook, who melted in the matchup with the Spanish court general.
For Shaquille O’Neal, however, Westbrook getting outshined by Rubio should not be taken beyond the context of it happening in just one game. To make his point clear, the former Los Angeles Lakers center compared Westbrook to himself and Rubio to ex-Vancouver Grizzlies big man and flat-top enthusiast Bryant Reeves.
Shaq on Russ vs. Rubio: That's like me going against Big Country, and Big Country getting 30 😂 pic.twitter.com/zFxOhZpcQv
— Dime (@DimeUPROXX) April 24, 2018
It sounds funny, but O'Neal does have a point. Just because Rubio dropped a triple-double on Russell Westbrook in a game, it does not mean that the former is the better player than the reigning league MVP in this series.
Having said that, Rubio is, at least, arguably, the more efficient player between the two in the first round. Rubio entered Game 4 with averages of 20.3 points on 38.5 field goal shooting percentage, 8.3 rebounds, 8.0 assists, and 3.3 turnovers in the last three games. Westbrook, on the other hand, has 20.7 points (36.1 percent field goal), 11.0 rebounds, 10.0 assists, and 5.3 turnovers per game during the same span.
Rubio and Westbrook have contrasting styles of play, which also only makes their matchup even more intriguing.
However, Westbrook failed to deliver enough for the Thunder when the smoke of the battle cleared in Game 4, Rubio and the Jazz held a 3-1 series lead. Westbrook did have the better individual performance but none of that matters at this stage of the season.
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