The line has been drawn in the sand. You either ride with Russell Westbrook to the death or you despise him.

I feel pretty safe declaring this hypothesis as the Maginot Line of NBA fandom, an impenetrable military fortification of Westbrook stans isolating themselves from any middle ground of opinion, all in defense of his style of play and actions off-the-court.

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Let me be clear up front: there is no right or wrong answer. If you love The Brodie, you appreciate his ‘it’s me vs. the world’ mentality.

He is basketball’s version of Maximus from Gladiator — taking on any challenge, any competitor, at any time, and when he’s done he’s going to tomahawk his sword at you and demand to know if you were entertained. He doesn’t care if you respond, as apathy is his arch nemesis.

Russ’ relentless, blood-thirsty approach isn’t just a mentality — he never takes a play off. He would posterize a litter of golden retriever puppies if it meant two points for his team.

This man has a line of players around the block who would love nothing more than to get him into a steel cage, lock the door, and throw away the key, and while this approach has attracted the loyalty and love of millions, it has simultaneously spawned sentiments of envy, malice, and a lust for retribution against him.

He has instigated a multiple war front with some of the league’s biggest names, and as a result: the exacerbated fans of those players/franchises have united under one flag in opposition of their common enemy.

“He’s a stat-padder.”

“He’s corny, a fake tough guy.”

“It’s all an act.”

Just a small sample of the feedback you see and hear on the internet daily from the Westbrook resistance — or in the case of Portland Trail Blazers Center Jusuf Nurkic: “Why Not, Westbrick?”

This tweet was published shortly after the Blazers’ 123-114 defeat against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Tuesday. It was the lemon-herb dressing on top of the steak the two had grilled for the entirety of the night.

But what temperature was this specific steak made to order? What temperatures are the beefs that Westbrook has on the grill with all of his other adversaries?

We will use the following thermometer on a 0-10 degree scale:

Rare (0-2 degrees)

Medium Rare (2-4 degrees)

Medium (4-6 degrees)

Medium Well (6-8 degrees)

Well Done (8-10 degrees)

Degrees will be added (0-2.5) based on the following characteristics of the beef:

Ingredients: how extensive is Westbrook’s battle with the opposing player? What products of tension constitute the recipe? Is it fresh or has it been simmering for an extensive amount of time? Battle: There are casualties in war otherwise it wouldn’t be called war. What was the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand moment and how severe was it? Postgame: Was the beef squashed at the postgame press conferences or did it escalate? Resolution: Does it feel like there will be an olive branch offered or did someone have to be conquered for it to end?

Damian Lillard/Jusuf Nurkic/Portland Trail Blazers

INGRIDIENTS: 1

1 BATTLE: 1.5

1.5 POSTGAME: 2.5

2.5 RESOLUTION: 1.5

1.5 BEEF TEMPERATURE: Medium Well

Ingredients: Remember when Damian Lillard made a big deal about being continuously snubbed by the All-Star game selection committee? He eventually got the recognition, and guess who got snubbed to make room? Paul George.

Westbrook was very vocal about his displeasure:

Unbelievable. I think it’s just outrageous in my opinion. I think…I don’t know who else made the team but… four people from one team. You’ve got guys complaining about getting snubbed until they get in. Guys are talking about it all the time but the guys that deserve it should be in it.

The tension quickly dissipated as Lillard told The Oregonian’s Joe Freeman about his interaction with Westbrook at the all-star game weeks later.

“He was the first guy I saw … As soon as he came in, we made eye contact, we both laughed. He was like, ‘Man, you know we’re better than that.’ I said, ‘I know.’ I said, ‘But you know I take exception to everything.’ We literally laughed about it. “It wasn’t a big deal … Me and Russ have always had respect for each other.”

Long story short: it was nothin’.

Battle: First, Evan Turner mocks Westbrook’s ‘Rock the Baby’ celebration.

Then, Westbrook and Nurkic have a petty war:

Then, the declaration:

Postgame: Things hit the fan in the locker room, fast … first, Westbrook responds to Turner’s actions:

And then Nurkic comes for Russ after Westbrook’s under-his-breath insult on Twitter (see above).

Resolution: No, this does not feel like it’s getting resolved any time soon. Just go to Lillard’s Instagram and see for yourself:

Lillard said after the game they respect each other, per The Athletic’s Jason Quick, but let’s be honest the only ‘welcome’ those postgame pleasantries will be is a doormat at the footstep of Round 2.

Joel Embiid

INGREIDENTS: 2.5

2.5 BATTLE: 2.5

2.5 POSTGAME: 2.5

2.5 RESOLUTION: 2.5

2.5 BEEF TEMPERATURE: Well Done

Ingredients: Where do we even start?

That time Russ waved at Joel and told him to go home after beating him in triple-overtime…

And then Embiid dunked him into middle earth during the rematch…

The match score was deuce. All seemed quiet on the western front, kind of…

until…

HEADS!!!!

Westbrook had two words for Embiid when he was asked if they were cool…

Embiid’s response:

It’s on and it’s not getting resolved anytime soon.

Lance Stephenson

INGREIDENTS: 0

0 BATTLE: 2

2 POSTGAME: 0

0 RESOLUTION: 0

0 BEEF TEMPERATURE: Rare

Has an NBA’s patented taunt ever been killed faster than Lance’s air guitar?

Short answer: No.

Nikola Jokic