The Golden State Warriors have reached the first challenging stop on their road to the finals.
After allowing the Houston Rockets to take it to a Game 5 despite their staggering effort of competing for the least prepared team in playoff history, and having to rely on MVP Stephen Curry to secure the series against the Portland Trail Blazers in the following round, the upcoming Western Conference Finals against the Oklahoma City Thunder do not have a clear favorite.
Still, the Thunder has some work to do.
It is the fourth time OKC finds itself four wins away from the Finals, yet their fingers remain ring-less.
All stars Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook are impatient and the three close losses to the Warriors during the regular season add to the hunger.
Though Westbrook’s season has been one for the books as he leads the league with 18 triple-doubles, the Thunder need him to limit his overachieving playing style or Curry will make the court his.
Westbrook’s eyes are leaving his matchup for just a slight second too often because of a potential defensive opportunity, but when you are guarding the best shooter in the league, while having to fight through at least two screens every time down, those moments of inattention result in open three’s.
The Thunder’s defense overall has also been questionable. In the teams’ second meeting on Feb. 27, which ended in Curry’s historic half-court, buzzer-beating game winner in overtime, OKC’s decision to switch on every screen was their formula to failure.
If there is one thing the two-time MVP knows to abuse more than the celebrations after splashing three-pointers, it is mismatches.
Westbrook’s lack of fighting screens had Thunder’s small forward Kyle Singler, a 6-foot-8 unathletic, spot-up shooter, guard Curry in key isolation plays as the fourth quarter winded down and OKC’s lead slowly vanished.
The depth of the Warriors and the greatness of Curry neither tolerate inconsistency. With Durant’s remarkable slow start to this year’s playoffs, as he tied Michael Jordan’s record of most missed field goals, shooting 7-of-33 in Game 2 against the Dallas Mavericks on April 18, it is crucial for OKC to keep the Warriors out of rhythm.
GSW’s starting five features triple-double machine Draymond Green, three knockdown shooters and the often dirty, but effective 7-footer Andrew Bogut. In order to gain the most possible advantage, the Thunder has to force either Curry or Green into foul trouble.
Less defensive pressure for Westbrook or Durant will not only lead to the needed offensive contributions by the all stars, but also improve their decision-making.
So far this postseason, Westbrook averages 25.5 points, 10.8 assists and 6.8 rebounds, but also 4.3 turnovers. The incredible numbers overshadow what has been careless basketball by OKC’s arguably most valuable player.
While Durant finished four out of the six games against the Spurs with 5 turnovers, Westbrook contributed with tremendously harming 8 and 6 in the last two of the series.
Those turnovers are welcoming invitations for the Warriors’ perfect transition-game, which more often than not ends in corner three’s and eventually a blowout win.
Monday’s series opener will give answers to the key questions. It will show if Westbrook is ready to face Curry in playoff environment, if OKC adapted its defense to avoid switching on every screen and if the Thunder’s all stars keep turnovers within limits while staying true to their paste.
All three regular season meetings were intense, high-scoring matches. This is a series one cannot afford to miss.