“That’s two times in the last two games”. Some of the players on the court had some thoughts about it.
Advertisement
But what stood out to me was what coach Billy Donovan and the Thunder did with their defense to mitigate the Warriors’ weapons and use one of their tendencies against them in taking a 2-1 series lead.
Klay Thompson (18 points) was the only other Warriors player to register double-figure points, a stark comparison to the Thunder, who had six players with 10 points or more.
And it was, with the game all but over after three quarters. If Oklahoma City can complete the series win, the upset could go down as more of a sonic boom than just Thunder.
They have the Warriors in trouble, without question. Do you think Green deserves a suspension?
Green is averaging just 13 points and 5.7 rebounds in the Western Conference Finals after scoring 22.2 points and grabbing 11.2 boards per game in the previous round against the Portland Trail Blazers. He’s hardly a poster child for good behavior; he leads the National Basketball Association in postseason technicals this year, and tied for third-most in the regular season in that department. This stat is a tribute to their mental fortitude and talent; they did not let a loss determine the course of their season.
“You have to move the ball”, Kerr said. Portland did it with a win in the regular season and one in the Western Conference semifinals. He was also a team-high minus-43 in the plus/minus count (score differential while on court). Green’s value to the Warriors is well-chronicled, and the notion of not having him in a crucial Game 4 is nothing short of a nightmare for Golden State.
But it can’t just be the Steph Curry Show against this thriving Thunder squad.
The Warriors, who hit only 19-of-55 shots from the floor in the first half (34%), faced their largest halftime deficit of the season. Offensively the Dubs lacked the poise they so often demonstrate under duress and for whatever reason they were content to continually jack long-range shots early in the shot clock (which only fed OKC’s game plan to score on the break). They’ve played just as well in the two following series, but the Pistons gave the Cavs the best shot they’ve faced in the playoffs. With game four looming, that ruling will not be far away.
The Splash Brothers have been contained, the threes haven’t been falling, the Warriors have been outclassed as a whole, and if they don’t get their act together, this not so surprisingly lethal Thunder team is more than capable of pushing them over the edge. The Thunder also managed to own a clear advantage on the free-throw line with 14 more points from the charity stripe than the Warriors.
Advertisement
Golden State’s Game 2 effort on the glass was a surprising development. In the third quarter, Steve Kerr waived the white flag and subbed out Stephen Curry and Draymond Green for the remainder of the contest. But the Thunder appear to be a growing threat as they head into Game 4.
