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

[CitySushi]

With the way the Warriors have played in OKC the last two games, there's going to need to be a lot going right for the Warriors in order to force a game 7:

1) Early foul trouble for Adams or Ibaka. If one of those guys has to sit any sort of significant minutes due to foul trouble, it will immensely help.

2) Big games from the Warriors big 3. Not just in terms of offensive production, but playing a clean, turnover free game and getting it done on the defensive side of the ball.

3) Bogut/Ezeli need to have a great game. At least one of them will need to produce at the C spot for the Warriors to compete.

4) Two of the following players will need to produce big games: Livingston, Barnes, Iguodala, Speights.


Pretty tall order for a team that's been pretty disjointed in the two games in OKC. What's frustrating is that this series could easily be 3-2 Warriors, if the Warriors hadn't choked away game 1(Thunder arguably won it with stellar play). But it is what it is. Warriors will have to grind for every inch on Saturday.

 

[Hambombs]

As he should...RW is doing pretty much what he wants on the floor...some untimely TOs hurt last night, but that kid is a beast.

He's been guarding Westbrook well when he's on him

 

[Hambombs]

But Curry is hurt, right? Doesn't add up. How does someone with a gimpy knee defend RW successfully? Especially someone that is smaller than RW size wise? Curry isn't hurt.

He's forcing him to shoot jumpers which is what I would do

 

[ATL96Steeler]

He's been guarding Westbrook well when he's on him

Ok.

 

[ATL96Steeler]

He's forcing him to shoot jumpers which is what I would do

I would call it laying off to stay between him and the basket...in all honesty...that's the best DEF against RW.

 

[gordontrue]

Chris Haynes on showing this video to the Cavs....

"When I showed the video to the players, their mouths dropped to the floor, including the mouth of LeBron James. But there were no comments to follow. Each player just handed my phone back and shook his head in disbelief"

 

[bksballer89]

Chris Haynes on showing this video to the Cavs....

"When I showed the video to the players, their mouths dropped to the floor, including the mouth of LeBron James. But there were no comments to follow. Each player just handed my phone back and shook his head in disbelief"

It's just not a normal basketball move. He gets away with a lot

 

[CitySushi]

It's just not a normal basketball move. He gets away with a lot

We had to endure this. Call it even?

 

[ATL96Steeler]

With the way the Warriors have played in OKC the last two games, there's going to need to be a lot going right for the Warriors in order to force a game 7:

1) Early foul trouble for Adams or Ibaka. If one of those guys has to sit any sort of significant minutes due to foul trouble, it will immensely help.

2) Big games from the Warriors big 3. Not just in terms of offensive production, but playing a clean, turnover free game and getting it done on the defensive side of the ball.

3) Bogut/Ezeli need to have a great game. At least one of them will need to produce at the C spot for the Warriors to compete.

4) Two of the following players will need to produce big games: Livingston, Barnes, Iguodala, Speights.


Pretty tall order for a team that's been pretty disjointed in the two games in OKC. What's frustrating is that this series could easily be 3-2 Warriors, if the Warriors hadn't choked away game 1(Thunder arguably won it with stellar play). But it is what it is. Warriors will have to grind for every inch on Saturday.

#3 & 4 are critical...I picked GS in 7 for one reason...I thought they were the deeper team...thus far OKC's role players have out played GS's. Bogut especially needs to repeat his game 5 effort.

2 more big keys imo... they have to win the turnover battle, and they gotta get the vast majority of the 50/50 balls...OKC stayed in the game early last night because they seemed to get most of the 50/50 balls and got plenty of 2nd shot opportunities....seems like the rebounding edge flipped to OKC after gm 2.

 

[LAD]

#3 & 4 are critical...I picked GS in 7 for one reason...I thought they were the deeper team...thus far OKC's role players have out played GS's. Bogut especially needs to repeat his game 5 effort.

2 more big keys imo... they have to win the turnover battle, and they gotta get the vast majority of the 50/50 balls...OKC stayed in the game early last night because they seemed to get most of the 50/50 balls and got plenty of 2nd shot opportunities....seems like the rebounding edge flipped to OKC after gm 2.

Another interesting stat is rebounds. If GS can at least break even with OKC with rebounds they will give themselves a more likely chance to win the game. If they can out rebound them again that's even better.

 

[ATL96Steeler]

Another interesting stat is rebounds. If GS can at least break even with OKC with rebounds they will give themselves a more likely chance to win the game. If they can out rebound them again that's even better.

Yep...in games 1 & 2 it seem like OKC was having trouble getting the DEF board clean...GS was getting a lot of tips, tap outs, etc...after game 2 the reverse...even early in the game last night they seem to be the more aggressive team on the boards...not as much late.

I think Donovan or somebody on the OKC staff made that a point of improvement...also Curry needs to stay aggressive going to the basket...I know 3 is better than 2, but with the smaller players on him he settles too much sometimes...Durant's long arms forces him to the basket more, which imo makes him even more dangerous outside...b/c KD has to slack off a little.

 

[LAD]

Yep...in games 1 & 2 it seem like OKC was having trouble getting the DEF board clean...GS was getting a lot of tips, tap outs, etc...after game 2 the reverse...even early in the game last night they seem to be the more aggressive team on the boards...not as much late.

I think Donovan or somebody on the OKC staff made that a point of improvement...also Curry needs to stay aggressive going to the basket...I know 3 is better than 2, but with the smaller players on him he settles too much sometimes...Durant's long arms forces him to the basket more, which imo makes him even more dangerous outside...b/c KD has to slack off a little.

Yes, I agree. Because they don't have the bigs like OKC in the paint GS has to continue to gang rebound. Just continue to get their hands on lose balls. I really like GS chances because they seem to respond well when the pressure is on. Hope that remains true on Sat.

 

[Robotech]

Yes, I agree. Because they don't have the bigs like OKC in the paint GS has to continue to gang rebound. Just continue to get their hands on lose balls. I really like GS chances because they seem to respond well when the pressure is on. Hope that remains true on Sat.

We do have the bigs to match up. Adams is the only big OKC player. Ibaka plays outside a lot, and Kanter is more of a finesse player. The question is can Bogut stay out of foul trouble and can Ezeli avoid being so horrible with his shooting that it's worth having him out there to grab boards and block shots.

 

[LAD]

We do have the bigs to match up. Adams is the only big OKC player. Ibaka plays outside a lot, and Kanter is more of a finesse player. The question is can Bogut stay out of foul trouble and can Ezeli avoid being so horrible with his shooting that it's worth having him out there to grab boards and block shots.

I'm talking about bigs in terms of rebounding. Our bigs don't match up most of the time because Kerr likes to play the small ball unit. Kerr almost never plays Bogut, Ezeli & Mo at the same time because of Dray being able to play the 4 along side either of them. They're usually substituting for each other. But, Donovan plays Kanter/Adams together as one of his regular rotations. Then you factor in Ibaka and it's like they almost always have 3 bigs (Ibaka plays like a big) in the paint at all times. Hard to match up equally to that. It's why they're leading the league in rebounds.

 

[trojanfan12]

Chris Haynes on showing this video to the Cavs....

"When I showed the video to the players, their mouths dropped to the floor, including the mouth of LeBron James. But there were no comments to follow. Each player just handed my phone back and shook his head in disbelief"

Pretty good roundhouse kick right there.

 

[Clayton]

It seems like no matter how good the Thunder are playing, their style of play leads to a game that they just give away too many fast break points on the other end.

 

[LAD]

It seems like no matter how good the Thunder are playing, their style of play leads to a game that they just give away too many fast break points on the other end.

I think the reason for that is RW & KD try to force a lot of things rather than taking what the defense gives them and making a play in that situation. The great players that have learned to have patience and let the defense dictate what they do on offense have been successful.

 

[Wishbone]

Too funny how OKC fans have their panties all in a bunch after last night's game. One would think they lost the series or something.

Wut The thunder played a horrible game and if KD hit's that 3 late they have a good chance to win it.

 

[Clayton]

I think the reason for that is RW & KD try to force a lot of things rather than taking what the defense gives them and making a play in that situation. The great players that have learned to have patience and let the defense dictate what they do on offense have been successful.

The great players force things and win.

See: Kobe Bryant

 

[LAD]

The great players force things and win.

See: Kobe Bryant

I disagree. When Kobe was forcing things he wasn't winning. Please see those seasons after Shaq left & before Pau arrived.