But as important as it is to get their bodies prepared, it’s going to come down to the mental side of grinding through a game that will help determine the fate of these 73-win Warriors. The Thunder committed six turnovers in the final 2:55, and Westbrook had three in the last 55 seconds.
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Thompson did, to the tune of 19 points in the fourth quarter, as Golden State overcame an eight-point deficit to start that period. He has been every bit as great as the unanimous MVP.
“For me, I like to think it’s a matter of time before I knock a few in, and when that happens, my confidence is back, and tonight in Game 7 there was no time to be down on yourself if you miss your first seven”, Thompson said.
“Oh, Klay was off the charts”, Barry said.
Curry looked a heck of a lot better and his production from inside the arc was huge.
Barry’s memories of Games 7 on the Coliseum grounds are mixed.
TNT commentator and retired National Basketball Association baller Charles Barkley was in awe during the broadcast, saying, “That was one of the best shooting performances that I have ever seen”.
The Thunder really tried to stop Klay, but they simply couldn’t. You can see it when you watch the game.
That leads us to one of the more compelling strategic moves on the Warriors.
Mychal said he recorded the game and put his phone face down to avoid seeing texts or notifications about Klay’s game. “Ever since I was a kid, I’ve been able to run all day”.
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It all changed lately, especially in the last two. The following year, they lost Game 7 in Oakland against Phoenix. The Lakers went to the NBA Finals four times while he was there, producing two championships. Roberson’s length and quickness was effective slowing him in stretches, but he couldn’t hang with him the entire game. The Warriors didn’t use that lineup against the Cavs during the regular season, though. In a plot twist nobody could’ve predicted, Oklahoma City’s role players were all fantastic, from Dion Waiters to the big men and even Andre Roberson. In the playoffs past year, the Dubs had a ton of success against the Cavs with that lineup. Thompson’s contract extension kicked in this season, making him the Warriors’ highest-paid player at $15.5 million. He saved his best performance for last, a Game 7 gem in which he set up a launching pad from behind the arc. That should be a similar plan against LeBron James. The problem was his three-point shooting. Keeping them out of the lane will be a chief concern to prevent defensive breakdowns. Remember, Curry and Thompson did not have the luxury of a consistent Draymond Green this series. Considering how perimeter defense will be key, Barnes should still get plenty of minutes.
