The Golden State Warriors and the Oklahoma City Thunder are set to play the first game of their Western Conference Final battle. Join The Roar for our live blog and scores from the match, starting from 11am AEST.
While it might not be the match-up we all expected at the end of the regular season, the one we’ve got ahead of ourselves has us all salivating and counting down for the first tip.
There are crazy matchups as far as the eye can see; Curry vs Westbrook, Thompson vs Roberson, Barnes vs Durant, Green vs Ibaka, Bogut vs Adams and so on and so on.
Golden State put together the greatest season in NBA history on their way to a 73-9 record and so far in the Playoffs they’ve shown us all glimpses as to how they were able to pull together that many wins. They lost their two time MVP Steph Curry for a couple of weeks due to injury, but he came rampaging back and helped finish off the Blazers in the second round.
With the only injury concern belonging to the big man from our shores in Bogut, the Warriors come in extremely formidable and will like their chances against the Thunder after winning the season series 3-0.
The Thunder will be full of confidence after sending the San Antonio Spurs packing in their second round series. During that series the Thunder experimented with a few different line-ups and had great success in doing so.
While the NBA movement has been to that of small ball the Thunder went against this and used big men Steven Adams and Enes Kanter together for long stretches against the Spurs. Unfortunately for the Thunder, this tactic may not work against the incredibly versatile Warriors.
It will sound weird to say and even hear, but the Thunder may be better suited to try to slow the pace of the game down and make this a half court battle. In doing so they can allow their big men time to use their bodies against the Warriors small line-ups.
Here is where the problem lies, the Warriors can match up with big line-ups just as well as they can with small ball ones.
Yes it’s a tough situation to be in however this won’t phase the Thunder and it shouldn’t. When you boast a team that has two of the top five players in the league, you should go into any battle with a little bit of swagger.
Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook will need to play the series of their lives if the Thunder are to advance to the NBA Finals.
The keys to victory for both sides will lie outside of the marquee players and sit on the shoulders of the bench. Whichever bench unit can bring the most to the table along with whichever team can control the pace will determine the victor for what should be an epic encounter.
Prediction
The Warriors will be out to prove a point and yes the Thunder took apart the ever-impressive Spurs, this is a whole new beast and in front of their home crowd I’m expecting nothing but the best from the Warriors.
Golden State by 13
Be sure to join The Roar for the live blog and scores of this match from 11am (AEST) and don’t forget to add your own comments in the section below.
Cassie
Guest
Golden State want to play dirty and I think Green is playing like a punk what man kick another man in his private because he got fouled. Such a childish move I don't like Golden State. Let's go OKC . They don't want Westbrook to turn up !
Steele
Guest
Their bench has really come along, meanwhile Golden States is stagnating. This was actually meant to be the difference. Westbrook often has a good game regardless of his shooting percentage. His ability to drive to the basket is insane. He's just so quick and explosive.
James McKern
Roar Guru
The Thunder bench has really come along during these playoffs and it's crazy the KD & Russ had such a poor shooting game yet they've come away with the win. Excited to see what happens during Game 2 and the changes that the Warriors will make, I'm thinking they go with a different starting lineup
Steele
Guest
All the talk has been about the thunders lack of depth, yet Golden State had little support outside their own big three. Thunder Up!
Scott Pryde
Expert
Cheers James, What an upset.
James McKern
Roar Guru
Thanks for tuning in Roarers. The NBA Eastern Conference Finals kick off tomorrow between the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Toronto Raptors. Be sure to join us from 10.30am (AEST). Until next time
James McKern
Roar Guru
Match Report It was a complete game of two halves, the Golden State Warriors could do no wrong in the first half and behind the stellar start from Harrison Barnes who had 8 first quarter points (2 threes) they raced away to an early 6 point lead. In the second quarter it was much of the same however this time behind the dynamic back court of Curry & Klay and with a 13 point lead going into the halftime break it felt like it was much more. Behind plenty of turnovers and the Warriors defense forcing the Thunder into mid range jump shots, a lot of people had this one being over. During the halftime interval Thunder coach Billy Donavan stressed to his side that they've been in this situation before and to just chip away at the lead. It was the Thunder of old in the first half but it was the 2016 Playoff version of the Thunder that showed up in the second. The defense begun to lock in and on the offensive end things started to click. Behind an enormous 19 point quarter from their star point guard the Thunder cut the 13 point deficit to 3 with one to play. All season long there has been talk about how poor OKC have been in the fourth quarter of close games. Oh how the shoe was on the other foot today. With the game in the balance the Warriors went cold, they shot a dismal 26% in the fourth and Steph went 1 of 6 from the floor. Whilst Durant missed 8 shots in a row during a stretch in the fourth, he came up big when it mattered and helped seal the Thunder victory. As I wrote in my pre-game preview, whichever team could control the tempo and enforce their game plan would win this game. Who would have thought that the Thunder big man line-up would prove to be the difference and outwork the Warriors small ball line-ups. With his side now finding themselves behind for the first time in these Playoffs, Steve Kerr will have to make changes to try and level this series in Game 2. When you factor in that Oklahoma stars Durant & Westbrook went a combined 17/51 from the floor, the answers won't be easy to come by. Game 2 is Thursday at 11am back in Oracle Arena, can the Oklahoma City Thunder ride their incredible wave of form into another road victory or can the Warriors respond?
James McKern
Roar Guru
After that game it's hard to argue that they don't deserve to be there. They're on an incredible run of late, Warriors have TO RESPOND IN GAME 2 and in a big way.
James McKern
Roar Guru
Full Time Stats FG GSW: 40/91 (44%) OKC: 39/89 (43%) 3PT GSW: 11/30 (36%) OKC: 8/17 (47% FT GSW: 11/17 (64%) OKC: 22/32 (68%) Rebounds GSW: 44 (8) OKC: 52 (10) Assists GSW: 26 OKC: 22 Blocks GSW: 4 OKC: 6 Steals GSW: 8 OKC: 12 Turnovers GSW: 14 OKC: 11
Benny
Guest
Gotta say, it would be nice to see GSW complete this season with a championship but OKC vs Cleveland is a pretty epic match up as well if that eventuates. To have 3 of the best 5 players in the league in an NBA finals series, that's what it's all about
Scott Pryde
Expert
wow.
James McKern
Roar Guru
Game Over Oklahoma City Thunder 108 defeat Golden State Warriors 102. They march into Oracle Arena and steal homecourt advantage in these Western Conference Finals. What a game!
James McKern
Roar Guru
Q4 0' GSW: 102 OKC: 108 Curry misses the three of the curl and the Thunder get the rebound. Westbrook back to the line, makes both. The Thunder have done an incredible job in this second half
James McKern
Roar Guru
Q4 0' GSW: 102 OKC: 106 Iggy gets to the paint for the two and then off the inbounds Westbrook scampers across halfcourt and travels but the refs don't call it. Thunder timeout. I HAVE NO IDEA HOW THAT WASN'T CALLED, WHAT A MISTAKE!! Thunder get the ball in and Russ is fouled, makes 1 of 2.
James McKern
Roar Guru
Q4 0' GSW: 100 OKC: 105 Westbrook missed an open alley oop pass but Adams makes it count off the scrappy play, goes to the line and makes 2. Thompson misses the layup attempt and Durant comes the other way and finally knocks it down. That might be the game folks
James McKern
Roar Guru
Q4 1' GSW: 100 OKC: 101 Durant staying aggresive but he is struggling, has now missed his last 7 shots. Thunder come up with the ball and call a timeout. 1:12 to play
James McKern
Roar Guru
Q4 1' GSW: 100 OKC: 101 After the timeout the Thunder swing it to Durant who cannot hit a shot. Missed his last 6 now. Barnes makes a tough fadeaway on the other end, 1 point game
James McKern
Roar Guru
Q4 2' GSW: 98 OKC: 101 This is coming down to the wire. Who you got?
James McKern
Roar Guru
Q4 2' GSW: 98 OKC: 101 Warriors have their offense back and off a Barnes miss Iggy rose up to throw it down but is fouled by Waiters, not sure why that wasn't a shooting foul. Durant blocks Curry and then misses on the other end. Curry drives in but misses the pass by a big margin. Warriors turnovers hurting them here. Timeout
James McKern
Roar Guru
Q4 4' GSW: 96 OKC: 101 Westbrook falls over but gets the ball to Adams who lays it in, Curry finaly hits a three. Crowd on their feet