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

[Heatles84]

I keep telling you guys that the Warriors haven't played anyone good in the playoffs..... Until now. Last year, they had 2 byes with New Orleans and Memphis, then they played Houston... A team who didn't even make the playoffs this year. In the finals, they played Cleveland, but Love and Kyrie were hurt and it was an easy series. If the Warriors win this series, they have finally beat someone. I will give them credit. It's about time we get to see them deal with some adversity and actually play a good opponent.

They played Houston in the first round. I see accuracy is not something you aim for.

 

[Heatles84]

Some are but the Warriors lost 1 game at home all year. It is far from over and the Warriors might be down 1-0 but they still have the advantage bc they still have homecourt. They take Game 2 and they are still just fine. I think most people are surprised they won bc of how KD and Westbrook shot. Other than the crazy 3rd quarter by Westbrook, they did play all that well either especially in the 1st half.

You don't have home court once you lost a home game. Only way they get home court back is if they steal one in OKC.

 

[bksballer89]

You don't have home court once you lost a home game. Only way they get home court back is if they steal one in OKC.

@Shanemansj13 Do you understand or do you need me to spell it out for you?

 

[LAD]

I agree they been bad. I just don't think they were one sided last night. If they're bad for both teams I can live with it. It's when they're one sided that annoys me

Oh I agree, never thought it was one sided either- which is why I said it is what it is.

 

[LAD]

@Shanemansj13 Do you understand or do you need me to spell it out for you?

Well comprehension isn't his strength so lets just hope he's a better speller.

 

[LAD]

You don't have home court once you lost a home game. Only way they get home court back is if they steal one in OKC.

I'm saying, some people just be bumpin the gums without having a clue of what they're talking about.

 

[Shanemansj13]

You don't have home court once you lost a home game. Only way they get home court back is if they steal one in OKC.

@Heatles84 @bksballer89 I am not saying right now obviously OKC does. I am saying IMO I still believe they have the advantage in the series bc of a possible game 7 at GS. I guess I said it the wrong way lol

 

[ATL96Steeler]

Can't agree here. He was his usual out-of-control self. He shot 7-21 from the field. That is not efficient by any means. Seriously.

You’re right...the shooting percentage was not great. But I didn't say it was pretty.

He started cold, but with GS holding a dbl digit lead and KD MIA mostly, he carried OKC in the 3Q…not only with scoring as he got to the basket several times, and knocked down several key shots. He also had a couple of steals, and assists to swing the mo to OKC. Couple that with some strong DEF on Curry in the 2nd half, he was the clearcut best player on the floor imo.

With RW…GS wins that one by dbl digits most likely.

 

[bksballer89]

Can't agree here. He was his usual out-of-control self. He shot 7-21 from the field. That is not efficient by any means. Seriously.

You missed the 2nd half? 19 points in the 3rd quarter

 

[Shanemansj13]

You missed the 2nd half? 19 points in the 3rd quarter

She only watches one half of Warrior games. Makes sense since she is only one-half of a Warriors fan lol

 

[CitySushi]

Haven't read most of the responses here, so just gonna post my thoughts on the game:

1st half was well played by the Warriors and pretty sloppy for OKC. The 2nd half was the major turning point of the game with the Thunder defense really stepping it up and putting GS out of their comfort zone. OKC won this game by forcing the Warriors to disrupt their offensive flow. Defensively I thought the Warriors did a pretty good job for the most part.

Random thoughts:

1) This was the first game I can really recall where I've been upset at Kerr. When Russ went off in the 3rd quarter, Kerr didn't make any adjustments to put Klay back on to Russ. Westbrook basically just gave Steph the business. Russ hit a couple of outside shots, but more than anything Steph wasn't able to keep in front of him which gave RW a bunch of drives to the basket where he got fouled. Klay switched back on to him in the 4th and you could see the major difference that it had with Klay on RW.

2) Draymond had way too many shot attempts. He should routinely be in the 12-14 range. 20 is just too many for a player with his ability to set up teammates. He's a good spot up 3 point shooter when he's set, but there were at least 2 or 3 of his 3 point attempts that just left me baffled. Whether it was from way beyond the line or too early in the shot clock, those can't happen.

3) You live and die with how Curry plays the game. When he's on, it's spectacular. When he's off, you just shake your head at his decision making. His turnovers last night weren't "good" turnovers, where he's trying to set up teammates or taking a calculated risk. They were just flat out sloppy and unfocused. His turnovers came at really costly times where the Warriors were starting to make runs. They killed momentum.

4) I thought Billy Donovan was really smart not going small at the end of the game. Iguodala and Barnes weren't able to capitalize on the mismatches, and really the small lineup the Warriors use to get back into games wasn't effective because there was little to no ball movement. The only reason this lineup is successful is because they share the ball, which they did not in the 4th quarter.


Props to OKC for coming out hungry in the second half. As much as I want to say the Warriors flat out lost this game, I think more credit needs to be given to the Thunder for forcing the Warriors to play the way they did. I expect to see a Warriors win next game and still think the Warriors win in 6 games, which was my initial thoughts (although I didn't post it here).

 

[Heatles84]

@Heatles84 @bksballer89 I am not saying right now obviously OKC does. I am saying IMO I still believe they have the advantage in the series bc of a possible game 7 at GS. I guess I said it the wrong way lol

I agree. If this thing goes 7, it certainly helps Golden St. out having home court.

 

[lakersrule]

Great first game. I think we get six more of these.

 

[Montalban]

Can't count the Warriors out until they've lost 4 games but hearing Curry say last night in the post-game press conference that the Warriors panicked in the 4th quarter is especially worrisome.

 

[CitySushi]

I just read most of the thread, and honestly I expected more hot takes than I saw. Holy hell did I even see someone compliment Draymond in there somewhere? LOL.

To me, Kerr was out-coached in this game. The players do determine the game, but there were various points where adjustments weren't made in a timely manner. My last post I said how Klay was not switched on to RW to stop him. In the 4th, when Klay was guarding him, he forced him into some terrible looks and RW was pretty ineffective in the 4th. I've stated before Klay guards him really well for some reason.

Another adjustment was that he stuck with Ezeli for far too long last night. It was clear he was struggling really bad and for some weird reason his stone hands came back with vengeance last night. I think you'll probably see Vareajo active next game and could potentially get some run.

Mo Speights has actually been really effective in the 3 regular season games against the Thunder, but in this game he was an after thought. He's been the Warriors 5th leading scorer in the post-season and when the offense was struggling, it might have been worth while to give him a look.

It's easy to armchair coach the game in hindsight, but all those three things I was thinking at the time of the game.

 

[Wishbone]

I agree. If this thing goes 7, it certainly helps Golden St. out having home court.

It helps but OKC has won 5 out of 6 road games vs Dallas, SA, and GS.

 

[Mecca of the “B” Team]

This type of story infuriates me. Way to ruin this kids moment.

OAKLAND -- Oklahoma City Thunder center Steven Adams apologized for his postgame comment that so many found offensive in the wake of a Game 1 win in the Western Conference Finals.

Adams, a 22-year-old New Zealander of Tongan and British descent who had 16 points and 12 rebounds in the 108-102 win over the defending champion Golden State Warriors, described the Warriors’ guards as “quick little monkeys” in a postgame interview with ESPN’s Chris Broussard.

“It was just a poor choice of words, mate,” Adams told USA TODAY Sports. “I wasn’t thinking straight. I didn’t know it was going to upset anyone, but I’m truly sorry. It was just a poor choice of words. I was just trying to express how difficult it was chasing those guys around.”

 

[trojanfan12]

This type of story infuriates me. Way to ruin this kids moment.

OAKLAND -- Oklahoma City Thunder center Steven Adams apologized for his postgame comment that so many found offensive in the wake of a Game 1 win in the Western Conference Finals.

Adams, a 22-year-old New Zealander of Tongan and British descent who had 16 points and 12 rebounds in the 108-102 win over the defending champion Golden State Warriors, described the Warriors’ guards as “quick little monkeys” in a postgame interview with ESPN’s Chris Broussard.

“It was just a poor choice of words, mate,” Adams told USA TODAY Sports. “I wasn’t thinking straight. I didn’t know it was going to upset anyone, but I’m truly sorry. It was just a poor choice of words. I was just trying to express how difficult it was chasing those guys around.”

The PC police/SJW's strike again.

 

[WiggyRuss]

I just read most of the thread, and honestly I expected more hot takes than I saw. Holy hell did I even see someone compliment Draymond in there somewhere? LOL.

To me, Kerr was out-coached in this game. The players do determine the game, but there were various points where adjustments weren't made in a timely manner. My last post I said how Klay was not switched on to RW to stop him. In the 4th, when Klay was guarding him, he forced him into some terrible looks and RW was pretty ineffective in the 4th. I've stated before Klay guards him really well for some reason.

Another adjustment was that he stuck with Ezeli for far too long last night. It was clear he was struggling really bad and for some weird reason his stone hands came back with vengeance last night. I think you'll probably see Vareajo active next game and could potentially get some run.

Mo Speights has actually been really effective in the 3 regular season games against the Thunder, but in this game he was an after thought. He's been the Warriors 5th leading scorer in the post-season and when the offense was struggling, it might have been worth while to give him a look.

It's easy to armchair coach the game in hindsight, but all those three things I was thinking at the time of the game.

OKC is one of the biggest teams in the league...with Durant, Ibaka, Kanter, and Adams they tower over most teams - including the Warriors...

i always thought it would be a challenge for them to keep those bigs on the floor with GSW's ball movement- and maybe it still will be. Itll be really interesting to see.

How healthy do you estimate Curry is right now just out of curiosity?

 

[Mecca of the “B” Team]

The PC police/SJW's strike again.

It's fricking unreal, Dude.

He's what, 22 and from a different Country.

It is so obvious that's not what he meant.

I watched the interview and it didn't even register that he said it and I'm black....

I saw the article on the front page of MSN.com and cringed .