2016 NBA Playoffs WESTERN Conference Discussion

Man, what a game 7. Great stuff. This game I don't feel like OKC choked it as much GS just took it in that second half. Fine by me. Go Warriors for the Finals. Beat Lebronze once again, please.

 

That would be good...close it out in their place. Again...

 

He does indeed have that "it". Something Lebron doesn't.

 

I don't necessarily disagree with anything you said, but how does that not make them chokers? They were up 3-1 after back-to-back blowouts and they lost.

In the last three games Kevin and Russell had:
60/157 or 38.2% from the field
12/45 or 26.7% from deep
-48 net (-11.3 and -4.7 average from Russell and Kevin respectively)
Russell had 16 turnovers from games 1-4 and 15 turnovers in the last three games

I like both these players, but they're chokers right now. I honest to goodness thought they'd figured it out finally after those two huge blowouts. I thought they'd done it, but they cracked. This is going to haunt them for a while and it should. They need Championship experience this summer.

 

The worst part to me was seeing them quit at the end. That was horrible form. You're down with 40 seconds left and you let Curry dribble literally through your entire team and then hit a three in your face? Awful. That's LeBron level quitting. I'm not sure I could be more disappointed in Russell and Kevin for that. I thought they had more heart than that.

 

This.

In fact, I know some will think I'm crazy, but it makes me question if I trade Ingram for Durant now. Does Durant really have that killer instinct that wills your team to a championship like Kobe or even what Curry has shown so far, or is he another LaBron that shrinks at the moment, and is going to rely on empty stats that didn't actually win you the series.

I've watched a hell of a lot of playoff basketball over the years, and the one truth that always gets exposed is teams not only need a play maker that will make key plays, they need play makers that will make plays any way they can. If they aren't shooting well, they are making steals and defending, blocking shots, etc. The talent level is so high in the NBA, you have to have a second mental gear to fall back on when your first option fails.

I always assumed Durant just needed the right complementary players around him to show that second mental gear, but he didn't make it happen in a situation where he had every opportunity to make it happen. Now I question if he has that second mental gear in him at all.

 

Prime example of how Westbrook hurt the Thunder and how his defense is just really, really bad:

 

I think he still CAN be that guy, but boy... what would it take to get him there? I hope it's as simple as giving them the right veteran. Golden State's ascension has a LOT to do with Iguodala and how calm he is under pressure. It helped Klay and Curry to have a guy like him around who taught them how to be calm too. I think Oklahoma needs that guy so they can learn that too because the fear in them has been evident since they lost Game 5 in Oakland.

I still want Durant on my team no matter what, but that fear has a way of compounding when you keep losing. For instance, if Durant went to Golden State I think that fear evaporates and he wins a ring or two and the narrative goes away. If he stays in Oklahoma long term with no one to show them the way to win under pressure, they're going to be Chris Paul who desperately wants to win but doesn't know how.

I always thought Durant was different, but seeing the fear in him pop back up again was disappointing and seeing Russell's was even more disappointing. I thought they had more Kobe in them than that. Heck, Russell, Clarkson, and Randle have more heart in them than that. Maybe they're too young to know better, but still... Not a good look and by far the most disappointing thing I've seen from them.

 

I think by now Durant, Westrook, one or both, should be mature enough in the league to have at least as much poise as Iggy. It's not like Iggy had even been deep into the playoffs before joining GS.

They both just really disappointed me with how they shrunk at the end of this series. I thought they both had more heart than that.

I still trade Ingram for Durant, but it's now with much more doubt regarding the stuff Durant is made of.