Wow. I'm surprised so many of you are calling GS in 5 against OKC. I'm going to go out on a limb (if you can even call this one), but I'm going OKC in 6.
the emergence of Steven Adams will be a big factor in the WCF Golden St has a lot of firepower but i saw them struggle a wee bit with a Portland team that wasn't exactly world beaters..this will be a fun series to watch Golden St will probably win but i'll be rooting for OKC to pull the upset the 'Greatest' team in history with their unanimous MVP getting booted out? too much good crying Jordan memes to pass up
I'd rather see the Warriors get to the Finals and beat the Cavs. The crying Jordan memes look much better on LeBron, I have no hate for the Warriors at all, but I want the Cavs to lose at all costs. The Cavs would beat the Thunder IMO, LeBron already got those guys once.
i'm not sure that this cakewalk that the Cavs are having in the East is a good thing sweep a super green Detroit team, sweept he usual mediocre Hawks team then get to beat up on whichever gimpy team makes it to the ECF Golden St is a better bet to beat them but if OKC beats the Warriors, they will have slayed both the 'mighty' Spurs and Warriors and i would like their chances vs the Cavs as well
I think people tend to over hype a team because a good series. GS is clearly the far superior team. OKC has a lot of holes. GS will win, and easier than people think.
Only way in my opinion for okc to win the series is Durant and Westbrook play over 40 mins a game because once the second unit for the thunder come in. Warriors gonna run up the score. Thunder gonna have to get tricky with the substitutions to have Durant or Westbrook on the court at all times
Westbrook will have to be a disruptive force playing defense on Curry like never before in his life, while also playing other worldly on offense and getting teammates involved while being guarded by Klay. I'm hoping he makes it tough on G.S. But no way am I betting against 73-9 champions who are mostly healthy. Donovan has his work cut out for him for sure.
Warriors are so versatile on both ends of the floor from perimeter players to interior ones ... It's not fair Warriors will go on runs everytime KD and Russ are not on the floor together . Donovan should play them 45 minutes .. I'm not joking Some stats in the 3 regular season games between the two teams
I can't wait to see Westbrook on Curry. Russ will be spent and probably suck "a little" on O but he's still the closest thing to Kobe we have seen.
I think the Thunder are a match up nightmare for the Warriors, much like the Cavs, they are clicking at the right time and have found a way to not choke away their 4th quarter leads. Russell is balancing being a scorer/attacker and a passer, and K.D. has found his fire. And their role players haven't even been at their best yet they blew out the second best team in the league with one of the best records in history, the Spurs. I hope people aren't underestimating OKC. They can win this series, and they match up better with the Cavs imo with the athleticism and speed.
Even if OKC wins a title I don't think it's a given that Westbrook stays. I don't think he's as attached to that city as KD is and he could just pull a LeBron and go back home after having won his first ring.
I would be THRILLED if GS went Lakers-01 vs Spurs on the LeCavs with Curry doing his best Kobe impersonation.
Got to admit I'm a little disappointed it's not SA that made it through to the WCF against the Warriors. To me those were the two best teams in the league this season. But it is what it is. Should be a very exciting series. I still say GS in 6.
San Antonio was probably a better team than Oklahoma City. Problem was they don't have Russell and Kevin. These two are nuclear weapons. They're so dynamic, so explosive, two alpha males. Something we haven't had in the NBA since Shaq and Kobe.
I'm thinking the same thing. OKC has been awesome... but I think the Warriors take this. Imo, Westbrook's defense has been poor the entire playoffs. He can't keep trying to crash the board (and maybe get 2 or 3 offensive rebounds) and rely on AR to cover for him on defense. The Warriors will kill them. Westbrook can't keep gambling against them either because the Warriors will punish any mental lapses / failed gambles. Also, since Klay will be paired up against Westbrook, RW will have to work on both ends of the ball whereas Curry can rest on defense. I can see Westbrook missing a lot of jumpers with some tired legs. Thunder have also been poor this entire season in closing out games whereas Curry has been absolutely killing it in the 4th. Bogut's injury is a concern. Without him, I can see the Thunder bigs giving them some issues, but I think GSW still takes this in 6.
I agree with what Chuck said that I don't think OKC can play the Warriors small. They have to use that big lineup with Kanter and Adams. They just have to pack the paint and live with Barnes or Draymond shooting the three. If they go small then the Thunder will take away their own biggest advantage on those offensive boards.