Like clockwork. For the record, are you saying AI was not a legit superstar and outscored Melo, while his not a legit superstar ass was on the decline?
How are we defining showing up? Yelling more? More histrionics? It's not like Westbrook had some great game (by his standards) today. The man gets the credit and the blame. You want Russ to be the man, then you can't get mad at him being treated like it (which really isn't happening).
Its like clockwork because its reality.
AI was 31 and definitely on the downtrend by the time he got up with Melo or are you going to actually argue he was in his prime at 31 as a undersized guard who was always a streaky shooter?
I definie showing up by playing and actually having an effect on the game.
Russ doesn't get the credit when they win and all of the blame when they lose to protect the media sacred cow of Durant, so I don't understand what point you are trying to make.