WESTERN SHOWDOWN
The up-and-down Thunder is still an intriguing matchup for the Warriors
The Thunder had just blown a 19-point lead against the Pacers on the road. Why would it feel confident going into a game against the defending NBA champions? As Steven Adams sat at his locker following the Thunder's disappointing loss to Indiana, the focus shifted forward. Russell Westbrook blew off the Warriors question completely, but the oft-introspective Adams gave a peek into what has helped the Thunder against Golden State's machine. “I think the way we play defense, the pride every individual takes,” Adams said. “Especially against them – because they're bloody good, they're a good team – we do a pretty good job of stepping up in that sense.” Despite inconsistent play since the All-Star break, the Thunder is still widely viewed as formidable matchup against the Warriors, maybe their best challenger in the Western Conference. It's no mystery now that the Thunder has a propensity to gear up for name-brand matchups. While not disinterested the way it was last season against the league's lower-tier teams, the Thunder gets up, in particular, for Golden State and Houston. A disappointing aspect of the Thunder's 108-106 loss to Indiana on Thursday was Paul George admitting that OKC “played with the game a little bit.” “We didn't stick to putting the game away,” George said. Win or lose, that's rarely happened against the Warriors in the last two seasons, as the Thunder has gone 3-3. Even before Kevin Durant's departure in free agency, the Thunder labored to construct a team that could switch defensively at all five positions. The versatility has proven invaluable against Golden State, whether it's Westbrook fronting Kevin Durant in the post or George or Jerami Grant switching onto smaller guards.
It's one reason why despite the Thunder being just 4-6 in its last 10 games, there's a contingent that is still high on how OKC matches up with the Warriors. “I think they're one of two teams in the Western Conference that could beat the Warriors in a series,” ESPN's NBA analyst Jeff Van Gundy told The Oklahoman. Van Gundy picked Houston as the other. “To me, as important as those guys (George and Westbrook), Markieff Morris would have to have a big series. Steven Adams would have to be great. Then someone in that fifth spot – (Terrance) Ferguson, Grant – would have to make a shot. Schroder is always a focal point in their best games. “Offensively they would have to get major performances from their best players.” The Thunder has shot poorly this season (42.6 percent) in two meetings, including 31.9 percent from 3-point range. Those numbers also came before the Thunder had its offensive power surge in January. What the Thunder did do well in those two games is force turnovers (11.0 steals per game). In six meetings against Oklahoma City since the start of the 2017-18 season, Golden State has averaged 16.3 turnovers per game. NBA TV analyst and Basketball Hall of Famer Kevin McHale said the Thunder can cause problems for the Warriors defensively, but much has changed in the past two months. “At their best, when OKC is switching everything and being really aggressive defensively, they match up really well,” McHale said. “I really like OKC best when Russell's driving, kicking, getting in the paint. “They have the potential to be (the best matchup for Golden State), but Denver is going to be a tough out. Houston is playing really well. I don't think it's as clear cut.” Currently, getting to the Warriors in a series is a dream. Advancing past Utah, Portland or Houston in the first round isn't a guarantee, let alone facing the Warriors in the second round or the Western Conference finals. OKC has also regressed offensively as George has struggled post-All-Star break. Houston's offense hums and can deploy a switch-everything defense that pressed the Warriors to seven-game in last season's Western Conference finals. Adams even said there are teams that match up with Golden State better. Yet, there's still an edge against the Warriors the Thunder possesses – one you'd like to see more consistently against the rest of the NBA. “They (other teams) don't do as well because you've got to still have the communication part, being on the same page as one another,” Adams said. “It's that more so than a matchup. “You can have the same
Three things to know
• The season series between the Thunder and Warriors is tied at one apiece, after Golden State beat a Russell Westbrook-less OKC team in the season opener, and the Thunder beat a Stephen Curry-less Warriors team in November. • Saturday marks the first time the Thunder will play Golden State since DeMarcus Cousins returned from a torn Achilles tendon, making his Warriors debut in January. Cousins is averaging 15.2 points in 20 games this season. • The Thunder has held its opponents to 110 points or fewer in its past three games. height, same talent or whatever, but without communication on defense – no one knows what they're doing – they're going to get open somehow. I think it's more so that than anything else.”