Prior to Monday’s 108-102 loss in Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals, the Warriors had a flawless 6-0 record in the first game of a playoff series during the Steve Kerr Era. The towering duo of Steven Adams and Enes Kanter forced them to take ill-advised shots.
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The Thunder ultimately showed more resiliency, resolve and poise than the Warriors though. “I do think we lost our poise a little bit”.
Adams was a key figure in Oklahoma’s come-from-behind 108-102 win with 16 points and 12 rebounds. Yes, they combined for nearly half the team’s points, but they also only shot a combined 17-51 from the field. The Thunder had done the unthinkable, winning its third straight road playoff game against two teams that went a combined 79-3 at home in the regular season, but Durant and Westbrook acted as if it were a February win in Milwaukee. The Oklahoma City Thunder are averaging 106.1 points on 46.1 percent shooting and allowing 98.3 points on 44.8 percent shooting.
Adams was the difference maker. The Warriors were pointedly silent about the no-call after the game, and from an objective standpoint it’s tough to get too bent out of shape over it-that part of the rulebook is notoriously pliable even in the best of times. “We’re just a resilient group and keep fighting ’til the end”.
Draymond Green of the Golden State Warriors shoots in Game One of the Western Conference Finals during the 2016 NBA Playoffs. “But I definitely overstepped them (Monday night)”.
It happened against the San Antonio Spurs in the prior round, coming back after a 32-point loss in Game 1. “And that had a lot to do with the quick shots”. “Right now they’ve just mastered it more than we did”.
This Western Conference Finals matchup between the Warriors and the Oklahoma City Thunder was expected to be a competitive one. But golden boy or not, his team got outplayed in the second half and especially in the fourth quarter by two players, and especially Westbrook, often criticized for not delivering in the clutch.
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Actually, the Warriors were playing just fine for two quarters, harrying Thunder superstars Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook and working efficiently enough on offense to grab a 60-47 halftime lead.
