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

[Mecca of the “B” Team]

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?

Doesn't matter if he's 20% or 110%......

No excuses.

 

[Clayton]

I'm definitely on the knee jerk reaction train and flipping my pick for GSW in 6 to OKC in 6. I think OKC can win the steals/blocks/forcing sloppy play factor of this series.

 

[LAD]

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.

I agree he came alive in the 3rd-but one good quarter doesn't mean he was the best player on the court IMO. I think it was KD. He played the most consistent throughout the game.

 

[LAD]

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.”

Well in all fairness if we jump on the dumb things that LBJ says then this has to be mentioned as one of those moments.

I wonder if this is seen as whiteboard motivation.

 

[Mecca of the “B” Team]

Well in all fairness if we jump on the dumb things that LBJ says then this has to be mentioned as one of those moments.

I wonder if this is seen as whiteboard motivation.

This is not even in the same stratosphere.

Who would it be whiteboard motivation for?

He said it about his own teammate....lol

 

[LAD]

This is not even in the same stratosphere.

Who would it be whiteboard motivation for?

He said it about his own teammate....lol

Really? Because in the narrative of the quote you posted it said he was describing the Warriors' guards....and Adams does play for OKC, right?

And it doesn't matter what stratosphere it's in-since we're not comparing the comments themselves. I said it was "stupid" just like most of the comments that LBJ makes-which tends to make a lot of the media outlets. I think the fact that he apologized means he understood how someone might perceive it in a negative manner.

Everything negative that's been said about this team has been used by them collectively as motivation to do better & prove people wrong.

 

[Mecca of the “B” Team]

Really? Because in the narrative of the quote you posted it said he was describing the Warriors' guards....and Adams does play for OKC, right?

And it doesn't matter what stratosphere it's in-since we're not comparing the comments themselves. I said it was "stupid" just like most of the comments that LBJ makes-which tends to make a lot of the media outlets. I think the fact that he apologized means he understood how someone might perceive it in a negative manner.

Everything negative that's been said about this team has been used by them collectively as motivation to do better & prove people wrong.

You are correct, he was talking about the Warriors.

But, what he said was not stupid, nor offensive.

It's the media's need to stir the pot and our cultures sensitivity towards certain words.

Substitute the word monkey with Ferrari and nobody would have said boo.

In other Countries when someone uses the word monkey they are usually actually referring to the primate.

It's our hangup, not his.

 

[ATL96Steeler]

I agree he came alive in the 3rd-but one good quarter doesn't mean he was the best player on the court IMO. I think it was KD. He played the most consistent throughout the game.

KD had a nice game, but was never dominant at any point. When the game was hanging in the balance...he was really a non-factor imo, he missed like 6 or 7 shots in a row, I don't remember seeing any assists during that stretch either...to his credit...I think he played the entire 4Q so fatigue was a factor I'm sure.

RW...clearly was off in the 1st half...when you completely dominate for a full qtr and change the course of the game, I think you can give him best player on the court, but it wasn't just the 3Q...he was a major factor in the 4Q on DEF guarding the opponent's best player.

I hear ya, but we agree to disagree on this one.

 

[ATL96Steeler]

I'm definitely on the knee jerk reaction train and flipping my pick for GSW in 6 to OKC in 6. I think OKC can win the steals/blocks/forcing sloppy play factor of this series.

Yeah you are....lol. I was GS in 7 and for now will stick with that.

Kerr will make a few adjustments...one should be to take Curry off Westbrook imo...that matchup will wear him down a little too much. Another one...look for Curry and Thompson to attack the glass more off the dribble or cuts...the free throw game will be a lot more balanced in game two I think.

 

[Wishbone]

I can't even imagine the nightmare it would be to try and guard Russell Westbrook. The guy just has another gear that nobody else has.

 

[LAD]

You are correct, he was talking about the Warriors.

But, what he said was not stupid, nor offensive.

It's the media's need to stir the pot and our cultures sensitivity towards certain words.

Substitute the word monkey with Ferrari and nobody would have said boo.

In other Countries when someone uses the word monkey they are usually actually referring to the primate.

It's our hangup, not his.

I agree that the media stirs things a bit until it's completely out of control. But, there has to be some self awareness on the parts of these athletes and other famous people. Having the media thrust every comment you make onto the internet or front pages of magazines is something they signed up for-whether they like it or not.

So while you may not think it was stupid I do because they have to know everything they say/do will be scrutinized. It may not have been offensive to you or I, but to someone else it might be which is the reason the media puts it on blast in the first place.

 

[LAD]

KD had a nice game, but was never dominant at any point. When the game was hanging in the balance...he was really a non-factor imo, he missed like 6 or 7 shots in a row, I don't remember seeing any assists during that stretch either...to his credit...I think he played the entire 4Q so fatigue was a factor I'm sure.

RW...clearly was off in the 1st half...when you completely dominate for a full qtr and change the course of the game, I think you can give him best player on the court, but it wasn't just the 3Q...he was a major factor in the 4Q on DEF guarding the opponent's best player.

I hear ya, but we agree to disagree on this one.

I can agree that KD was off a little bit in the 4th, but when we look at a lot of their games the reason he isn't affective is because he isn't getting touches due to RW doing too much. Last night just happened to be one of the times when RW being out of control worked in their favor.

 

[LAD]

Yeah you are....lol. I was GS in 7 and for now will stick with that.

Kerr will make a few adjustments...one should be to take Curry off Westbrook imo...that matchup will wear him down a little too much. Another one...look for Curry and Thompson to attack the glass more off the dribble or cuts...the free throw game will be a lot more balanced in game two I think.

Yes, he should've stayed with Klay on RW. Curry isn't the defender that Klay is so not sure why Kerr thought making that switch would be a positive for them.

 

[LAD]

I can't even imagine the nightmare it would be to try and guard Russell Westbrook. The guy just has another gear that nobody else has.

Klay did exceptionally well in both the 1st half and the end of the 4th.

 

[Niner Outlaw]

GS has reasons to feel good about the loss—even though they shot rather poorly, they had a double digit lead at halftime and it was a 1 possession game with 30 seconds left. Not to mention that the Ws tend to make great adjustments from one game to the next, so game 2 should be very telling.


Having said that, OKC beat the best team in the NBA despite its best two players going 10 for 30 and 7 for 21. If you saw that in the boxscore, you'd just assume that OKC got blown out, but b/c of their good defense, Westy's run at the end, and the play of their role-players, they never trailed in the 4th quarter and ultimately won the game. Their best 2 players played like crap almost the entire game and they still beat the Warriors on the road. I still barely believe it.

 

[CitySushi]

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?

I think he's probably at around 75%. It may not be noticeable to most, because in general he's not the fastest guy (more quick than anything), but he seems a step slow on everything. Even when he's on offense, coming off a screen or trying to shake a defender, you can see he lacks explosiveness. I think that's really a big reason he was hovering around the 3 point line last night more than you normally see him do. He didn't have that extra bounce to take it to the basket. His first step wasn't very good.

 

[ATL96Steeler]

I can agree that KD was off a little bit in the 4th, but when we look at a lot of their games the reason he isn't affective is because he isn't getting touches due to RW doing too much. Last night just happened to be one of the times when RW being out of control worked in their favor.

LOL...so you're saying that RW can shoot you in or shoot you out of a game...I played with a guy like that...helter-skelter, except he wasn't the PG. We rode him when he was hot, froze him when he was not.

I wouldn't say out of control, but I get your point. On this night he did shoot them back in it...they way OKC is made up though...either KD or RW has to go off or they're going to lose against this level of talent.

On the road especially, they got a big bonus with Waiters knocking down some shots....kicking to Ibaka deep on the wing or corner doesn't scare me.

Westbrook shooting is one thing...his drives are another...he makes Adams, and Kanter effective on OFC, whether off the dish or getting a rebound put back because somebody had to help against Westbrook.

 

[ATL96Steeler]

GS has reasons to feel good about the loss—even though they shot rather poorly, they had a double digit lead at halftime and it was a 1 possession game with 30 seconds left. Not to mention that the Ws tend to make great adjustments from one game to the next, so game 2 should be very telling.


Having said that, OKC beat the best team in the NBA despite its best two players going 10 for 30 and 7 for 21. If you saw that in the boxscore, you'd just assume that OKC got blown out, but b/c of their good defense, Westy's run at the end, and the play of their role-players, they never trailed in the 4th quarter and ultimately won the game. Their best 2 players played like crap almost the entire game and they still beat the Warriors on the road. I still barely believe it.

Nah...you don't win 70+ games and take out HOU & POR in 5 and feel good about a loss at home.

They needed that game...of course they're capable of winning in OKC to get the home court back, but they need to take of biz in game two something fierce.

 

[Mecca of the “B” Team]

I agree that the media stirs things a bit until it's completely out of control. But, there has to be some self awareness on the parts of these athletes and other famous people. Having the media thrust every comment you make onto the internet or front pages of magazines is something they signed up for-whether they like it or not.

So while you may not think it was stupid I do because they have to know everything they say/do will be scrutinized. It may not have been offensive to you or I, but to someone else it might be which is the reason the media puts it on blast in the first place.

Yeah, that's fair.

 

[LAD]

Yeah, that's fair.

think both of our points are valid in this case.