Series Thread: Western Conference Finals: OKC Thunder VS Golden State Warriors

[tlance]

On the subject of whether or not OKC, particularly Durant and Westbrook choked.

In a closeout game at home, they shot 20-58, 1-13 from 3 point range and committed a combined 8 of their teams 15 turnovers, 5 or 6 of them late in the game. They also had a 7 point lead and were in control late in the game.

They managed to lose by 7. I don't know how you call that kind of meltdown anything but a choke.

The stats admittedly look bad, but I think drastically understate the impact of KD and Russ on the game. Durant shot poorly all game and Russ could not hit the last couple minutes. As for the TOs, Durant and Westbrook averaged a combined 7.8 TOs a game in the regular season. Iggy's strips were spectacular plays, and Westbrook's 2 throw always happened after the game was over. They were down 5 with 14 seconds left.

I think calling this a choke diminishes how well the team played before GS made their run and also how well GS played in the 4th. They were spectacular on both ends.

 

[trojanfan12]

I think calling this a choke diminishes how well the team played before GS made their run and also how well GS played in the 4th. They were spectacular on both ends.

Actually, it doesn't. Yes, GSW played well and hit shots, but OKC contributed to their own demise. Several of those late turnovers were nothing more than guys panicking. They also missed shots they normally hit.

Obviously, GSW had to hit shots to take advantage of what was happening and they forced OKC out of what was working. But if OKC even played average basketball, they hold on and win that game.

In other words, they choked.

 

[calsnowskier]

Fair or foul for Cavs fans to hope for a Draymond flagrant and or tech tomorrow?

With as much bitching and crying as Cavs fans did last year? If you have no problem with being a hypocrite, have at it.

 

[gordontrue]

With as much bitching and crying as Cavs fans did last year? If you have no problem with being a hypocrite, have at it.

??

If you're referring to Irving and Love being out... I think there's a HUGE difference between missing games due to injury and missing a game due to repeatedly committing flagrant fouls / technical fouls.

Anyway... while I have expressed frustration and disappointment at the Cavs not being healthy last year.... I never talked about it in terms of the warriors title. Warriors were the best team from day 1 through to the finals and beat everyone in front of them.

 

[Hambombs]

What % you give OKC of winning? For me its about 47%

That's such a random number lol

 

[Hambombs]

Vegas has the warriors as 7 point favorite -350 moneyline. Which is about a 75% chance win probability

 

[GNG]

Actually, it doesn't. Yes, GSW played well and hit shots, but OKC contributed to their own demise. Several of those late turnovers were nothing more than guys panicking. They also missed shots they normally hit.

Obviously, GSW had to hit shots to take advantage of what was happening and they forced OKC out of what was working. But if OKC even played average basketball, they hold on and win that game.

In other words, they choked.

 

[Montalban]

That was my thoughts exactly but LAD says that the Warriors get that kind of effort every night.

Certainly not in games 1, 3 and 4 in this series. They looked like shit

 

[Montalban]

Vegas has the warriors as 7 point favorite -350 moneyline. Which is about a 75% chance win probability

Sounds about right but its only one game and OKC still has two of thebest 4 players in the league. They will be very dangerous. Dubs should win at home since they are 47 and 3 there this year.

 

[Montalban]

Actually, it doesn't. Yes, GSW played well and hit shots, but OKC contributed to their own demise. Several of those late turnovers were nothing more than guys panicking. They also missed shots they normally hit.

Obviously, GSW had to hit shots to take advantage of what was happening and they forced OKC out of what was working. But if OKC even played average basketball, they hold on and win that game.

In other words, they choked.

Agreed. On 5 straight possessions starting with 2:20 left, OKC did not manage a shot. Westbrook turned it over on 4 straight and Durant on the other.

 

[trojanfan12]

Agreed. On 5 straight possessions starting with 2:20 left, OKC did not manage a shot. Westbrook turned it over on 4 straight and Durant on the other.

Westbrook also went through a couple of minutes where he was more interested in trying to draw a foul than he was in making a shot. On one 3 pointer he kicked his legs out, threw a wild shot at the basket and fell down trying to draw a foul and the Warrior player who was there (forget who it was) was nowhere near touching him. Did the same thing on a drive to the basket a possession or 2 later.

 

[ChrisWebber]

Westbrook also went through a couple of minutes where he was more interested in trying to draw a foul than he was in making a shot. On one 3 pointer he kicked his legs out, threw a wild shot at the basket and fell down trying to draw a foul and the Warrior player who was there (forget who it was) was nowhere near touching him. Did the same thing on a drive to the basket a possession or 2 later.

If Westbrook attempted to make those shots and not draw fouls. OKC wins.

 

[mr.hockey4242]

Anyone going on record and saying the Thunder will win tomorrow?

Not me btw, definitely not me.

 

[mr.hockey4242]

What % you give OKC of winning? For me its about 47%

10% and that's probably being kind.

It was dumb for people to act like they had no shot in this series at the start. But this game 7 is shaping up to be a beatdown now.

 

[Hambombs]

If Westbrook attempted to make those shots and not draw fouls. OKC wins.

Maybe, maybe not. My crystal ball will never know

 

[Kold]

I gotta agree that it was definitely a choke job when you unravel like that. However, you can still give GS credit for playing their part, while still acknowledging that OKC choked.

 

[Clayton]

Instead of choked, can I just say that Durant was a bricklayer? Spurs shot the Thunder out of games but not this late. Thunder probably have about 55% chance of winning game 7 if they can mentally overcome game 6 but that just doesn't happen very often. Okc shooting that poorly is a fluke but....playoffs...

Yeah, I'll be the guy to pick okc in game 7. On the road against the goat regular season team. Or at the very least a close game

 

[LAD]

Westbrook also went through a couple of minutes where he was more interested in trying to draw a foul than he was in making a shot. On one 3 pointer he kicked his legs out, threw a wild shot at the basket and fell down trying to draw a foul and the Warrior player who was there (forget who it was) was nowhere near touching him. Did the same thing on a drive to the basket a possession or 2 later.

It was Klay

 

[Mecca]

 

[ChrisWebber]

I predict OKC wins 99-90