Oklahoma City Thunder are desensitized to road games now.

[Aiolos]

Not saying this automatically means they will win the series but this is a huge mental edge that I believe the Thunder have acquired since basically beating 2 teams that were a combined 79 - 3 at home at their own building. Not to mentioned they did that IN THE PLAYOFFS not the overrated regular season.

I'm pretty sure the whole Thunder must feel super confident after a crazy feat like that.

Looking at Vegas and their odds the Warriors are like at like -460 for the money line in most of their big casinos which tells me Vegas aint buying the BS media narrative that this team is damn near unbeatable.

Considering this is a HUGE GAME that basically if the Warriors drop will mean that its over, I would have thought Vegas would have the Warriors like at -1000 or -1500.

To be honest it wouldnt surprise me if the Thunder sweep the Warriors.

[SilkkTheShocker]

Wouldn't be shocked if Gs gets swept either. People keep saying OKC won't win another game in GS. But they literally won twice in SA. The same team that lost one game at home all year.

[PP34Deuce]

I expect the Warriors to come out guns blazing... Green will facilitate and pass up shots to create more shots for others.

The big thing I saw was 20 shots from Green. When Harrison barnes plays well, it hurts to lose a game and waste an actual good all around game from him.

I predict you will see more Andy V than Speights. You need someone to outhustle a hustler and Andy V in stretches will be better defensively and on the boards.

I expect Golden State to try and take the ball out of westbrooks hands...Curry will not be guarding him at all.

OKC

Ibaka will hit 2-3 3's and provide good minutes. He's good for a good game every 2 games.
Donovan has realized that Curry doesn't expend much energy defending nor does he play 40 minutes a game like Westbrook and Durant can. I see Donovan putting Curry in positions where must actually play defense. Waiters is strong bigger and quick so I see pressure being put on Curry to match physicality.

[OKC Adonis]

I expect the Warriors to come out guns blazing... Green will facilitate and pass up shots to create more shots for others.

The big thing I saw was 20 shots from Green. When Harrison barnes plays well, it hurts to lose a game and waste an actual good all around game from him.

I predict you will see more Andy V than Speights. You need someone to outhustle a hustler and Andy V in stretches will be better defensively and on the boards.

I expect Golden State to try and take the ball out of westbrooks hands...Curry will not be guarding him at all.

OKC

Ibaka will hit 2-3 3's and provide good minutes. He's good for a good game every 2 games.
Donovan has realized that Curry doesn't expend much energy defending nor does he play 40 minutes a game like Westbrook and Durant can. I see Donovan putting Curry in positions where must actually play defense. Waiters is strong bigger and quick so I see pressure being put on Curry to match physicality.


Pretty good thoughts. This is a must win for GWS, but not for the Thunder. The Thunder still have a decent shot if they lose this game, GWS has 0 shot.

Could be a blowout GSW win or a close OKC win. I have no clue whats going to happen lol.

[Aiolos]

I expect the Warriors to come out guns blazing... Green will facilitate and pass up shots to create more shots for others.
Maybe but Green might still want to take Kanter or Adams off the dribble just enough to ruin some critical possessions for them. I think Greens ego will get the best of him considering he knows he can beat these guys off the dribble.



I predict you will see more Andy V than Speights. You need someone to outhustle a hustler and Andy V in stretches will be better defensively and on the boards.
Did Andy even play at all Game 1?


I expect Golden State to try and take the ball out of westbrooks hands...Curry will not be guarding him at all.
Curry's ego I think will not allow him to handle that. He is not stupid and knows one of the biggest criticisms he has is that he cant guard a telephone pole so by him not guarding Westbrook it will solidify that criticism and I'm not sure Curry can handle that.


OKC

Ibaka will hit 2-3 3's and provide good minutes. He's good for a good game every 2 games.
Donovan has realized that Curry doesn't expend much energy defending nor does he play 40 minutes a game like Westbrook and Durant can. I see Donovan putting Curry in positions where must actually play defense. Waiters is strong bigger and quick so I see pressure being put on Curry to match physicality.
Not only that but I noticed on stretches Durant was given the assignment to guard Curry and his length definitely bothered Curry so much so that he decided to blow by him but Donovan will rather turn Curry into a slasher in those situations than a 3 point shooter because Curry also is not a legit slasher like prime Wade, Lebron, A.I, etc.

Great game coming up but I would not be shocked at all if the Thunder take Game 2.

[PP34Deuce]

Maybe but Green might still want to take Kanter or Adams off the dribble just enough to ruin some critical possessions for them. I think Greens ego will get the best of him considering he knows he can beat these guys off the dribble.



Did Andy even play at all Game 1?


Curry's ego I think will not allow him to handle that. He is not stupid and knows one of the biggest criticisms he has is that he cant guard a telephone pole so by him not guarding Westbrook it will solidify that criticism and I'm not sure Curry can handle that.


Not only that but I noticed on stretches Durant was given the assignment to guard Curry and his length definitely bothered Curry so much so that he decided to blow by him but Donovan will rather turn Curry into a slasher in those situations than a 3 point shooter because Curry also is not a legit slasher like prime Wade, Lebron, A.I, etc.

Great game coming up but I would not be shocked at all if the Thunder take Game 2.

Andy V is like glass. Kerr really doesn't want to use him unless he has to but the perfect guy to combat Kanter/Adams is Andy V in stretches. Even 13-15 minutes will get you 1-2 second chance possessions since he's the ultimate hustler and IQ guy. He can't play long stretches, but the mins given to Speights should be given to Andy V.

Currys ego I can understand but he can't guard westbrook. I don't even think Curry is a bad defender but Westbrook is faster,stronger,bigger, and more physical.

I noticed Donovan funnels Curry to penetrate inside. Curry is a great finisher in transition but he doesn't quite have the strength of even say a Kyrie to consistently finish with bodies at the rim. Nor does he want to.

[Unreal234]

they have an idgaf attitude on the road this season

beating two historic teams is crazy

[KiiiiNG]

Thunder might win tonight. Everything golden state has worked for is literally on the line. If they lose its all over.

[sportjames23]

Pretty good thoughts. This is a must win for GWS, but not for the Thunder. The Thunder still have a decent shot if they lose this game, GWS has 0 shot.

Could be a blowout GSW win or a close OKC win. I have no clue whats going to happen lol.

True, this is a must win for GSW, but the Thunder should have the mentality that it's a must win for them, too.

[PP34Deuce]

True, this is a must win for GSW, but the Thunder should have the mentality that it's a must win for them, too.


To me this Thunder team playing tonight will say a lot about them. If they are just happy to split, that's not a championship team.

They should want to be up 2-0 to take the home advantage completely away. the Warriors are a great road team especially Curry on the road.

[lilteapot]

True, this is a must win for GSW, but the Thunder should have the mentality that it's a must win for them, too.
I don't see how this isn't a must win for the Thunder. IMO, if they take both games on the road, they are favorites to come out of the series winners.

[ArbitraryWater]

I don't see how this isn't a must win for the Thunder. IMO, if they take both games on the road, they are favorites to come out of the series winners.

okay but now were just splitting hairs on the definition of must win.. its not literally a must win, but Im sure they will still try to go and take it....

even then this series isnt 100% over, GSW can win any time and anywhere... but its definitely a huge cushion.

[lilteapot]

okay but now were just splitting hairs on the definition of must win.. its not literally a must win, but Im sure they will still try to go and take it....

even then this series isnt 100% over, GSW can win any time and anywhere... but its definitely a huge cushion.
my point is this is the perfect opportunity to develop that cushion. If they lose this game I don't think they will be able to go up by 2 games again.

[Kiddlovesnets]

Its true, beating the best home teams in the league and its impressive. Thunder in 4, they will sweep GSW.

[sportjames23]

okay but now were just splitting hairs on the definition of must win.. its not literally a must win, but Im sure they will still try to go and take it....

even then this series isnt 100% over, GSW can win any time and anywhere... but its definitely a huge cushion.

That's why it's a must win for OKC, too. GSW could win any time and anywhere just like you said. You NEVER want to give the defending champs, especially one so explosive as GSW, any hope when you could put your foot on their throat and choke them out.

[sportjames23]

my point is this is the perfect opportunity to develop that cushion. If they lose this game I don't think they will be able to go up by 2 games again.


Exactly. Plus, you put that doubt in their heads and make them desperate. And desperate teams tend to make more mistakes.

[GrapeApe]

Its true, beating the best home teams in the league and its impressive. Thunder in 4, they will sweep GSW.

I'll say it again, there's a better chance of a back-door sweep than the Warriors getting swept. A team that only lost 9 games all season (and never back-to-back) isn't losing 4 in a row. They will win comfortably tonight.

[CJ Mustard]

Home court advantage has always been grossly overrated in basketball. It literally doesn't mean shit to great teams. Teams that get rattled by playing on the road are simply not contenders anyway.

[ArbitraryWater]

Home court advantage has always been grossly overrated in basketball. It literally doesn't mean shit to great teams. Teams that get rattled by playing on the road are simply not contenders anyway.

Not true... even in the playoffs teams almost always have a higher win rate at home

N

[ImKobe]

Thunder is peaking at the right time as a TEAM, it's not because KD and Russ are going off because KD is having his worst Playoff run with how he's shooting, they can easily win Game 2 if the rest of the team plays like they did in Game 1 and KD gets hot and drops 40...

OKC fans should be confident because their team is the best rebounding team in the league and arguably all-time by the differential numbers in the RS IIRC. That is a big quality to have because they aren't giving up 2nd chance points and are getting 2nd chances themselves because Russ has been going crazy on the offensive boards and KD/Ibaka/Adams are also doing a great job on the glass. That makes it tough on GS because they can't dictate the tempo of the game all that well when they are not the ones dominating the glass, OKC gets more possessions and kills their flow of the offense.

[WolfGang]

It's mostly because of Goatbrook. He is a heartless machine and the only way he can survive is by feasting on the souls of superstars. Even KD, his own teammate gets affected. I just wish he wasn't so dumb.