The Golden State Warriors (led by their supernova that keeps climbing, Stephen Curry) have made a mockery of the other 31 teams within the NBA this season. Fresh off a championship and well on their way to breaking the 95-96 Chicago Bulls record of 72 wins in 82 regular season games, they've consistently bested their competition, contenders and pretenders alike. One of those contenders includes the Oklahoma City Thunder, a team with arguably two of the top five players in the world (Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook) and the second-highest payroll in the league.So what's preventing the Thunder from making the leap they have longed to make?
Here are four solutions that go a little deeper than, "stop Stephen Curry".
1. Dominate the Rebounding Battle
In the now famous 121-118 OT victory for the Warriors against the Thunder on February 27 where Curry casually stepped into a 35 footer to win the game, the Thunder outrebounded the Warriors 62-32, capitalizing on their opposition's perimeter-oriented lineup that relies on taking and making a lot of shots. Traditional bigs that hoard rebounds for Oklahoma City such as Serge Ibaka, Steven Adams and Enes Kanter can generate extra possessions and take away more from the smaller Golden State team. The Warriors routinely counter this advantage by forcing those bigs to move in pick and pops, switching on to Curry or taking them away from the basket by stretching Draymond Green. The Thunder have to crash the boards and not wait under the rim for balls to come to them, as long shots usually result in long rebounds.
2. Put Durant in Spots Closer to the Basket
Many naysayers of the Thunder criticize their isolation-heavy offense, especially late game. However, when you have two of the best five players in the world that excel at creating their own shot and drawing fouls, that's not necessarily a bad thing. This is especially true when playing the Warriors, who thrive in a windshield-wiper game with their pair of world class shooters and assembly of intelligent cutters and playmakers that fill in the holes. The Thunder use the Westbrook-Durant pick and pop often in the fourth quarter, and against the Warriors it's no different. However, rather than Durant setting the screen and fading out past the three point line, I'd love to see him turn and find his defender's body (often times it's Klay Thompson, thanks to Golden State's switching defense) and drive him into either elbow of the lane. This would allow Durant to catch and attack from a spot where the whole defense can't sag a step and have time to step in when he drives to the rim.
3. Combat the, "Lineup of Death"
The Warriors' lineup of Curry, Thompson, Harrison Barnes, Andre Iguodala puts a group of players on the court between the height of 6'3" and 6'8" who can all pass, shoot, defend, rebound, and handle the ball. It's an extreme model of the revolution Golden State is leading across the NBA, and right now it is murdering teams whenever coach Steve Kerr chooses to unleash it. Oklahoma City can counter with their own lineup by placing Westbrook, and two of Andre Roberson, Dion Waiters, Kyle Singler, Randy Foye or Cameron Payne, along with Durant and Ibaka to provide just as much versatility. That requires the two guys on the court other than the big three of Westbrook, Durant and Ibaka to play within themselves, not do too much, and don't make mistakes, but they have the versatility to match up as good as anyone with that group.
4. Westbrook Has To Accept the Challenge
Westbrook certainly has the physical ability to go toe to toe with Curry, but his mentality has to match his athletic talents. Too many times Westbrook has been exposed ball-watching or relying on his God-given abilities to play defense for him. This cannot happen with Curry, who commands being inside his jersey as he crosses half court. We've seen players who can shoot the lights out and players who can break guys down by putting the ball on a string- never both in one player, at least not to this extent. Guarding Curry out to half court opens the court for driving and cutting lanes, not to mention the countless screens Golden State runs him off that requires unrelenting discipline and attentiveness, but if anyone has the tenacity and ability to make it a hard series for Curry in May, it's Westbrook.
