Monday night will be Game 1 of a very anticipated Western Conference Finals between the defending champion Golden State Warriors and a surging Oklahoma City Thunder team. After the way the season shaped up, a matchup between the Spurs and Warriors was inevitable but the Thunder impressed beating the Spurs in six games.
With Russel Westbrook and Kevin Durant playing together better than we’ve seen before, they’re sure to give the Warriors a great series; if they don’t win it themselves. Accounting for 53 percent of the Thunder’s points in the series against the Spurs, the duo seems to be peaking at just the right time of the season. They aren’t the only two playing some of their best ball though. Down low Steven Adams has been huge throughout the playoffs averaging 10 points and 10 rebounds per game. He’s constantly making his presence felt down low getting a big basket or clutch rebound when they need. The defense has been solid also holding San Antonio to under 100 points in four of their six games.
The key for the Warriors will be if their unanimous MVP, Steph Curry, can stay healthy after being sidelined for six of the Warriors ten playoff games with ankle and knee injuries. He came back guns smoking; however, scoring 40 points against the Trail Blazers in game four including a NBA record 17 in overtime. He’s averaged 38 points in three games against the Thunder and there’s no proof he’ll do any less this series. Even without their MVP the Warriors have played like the best team in the NBA. Klay Thompson has picked up the slack averaging 27 points per game throughout the playoffs. Draymond Green has also kept up his great play from the regular season leading the team in rebounds, assists, steals and blocks. The Warriors are certainly primed to get their second title in a row but the road gets a lot tougher.
Which brings us to who will likely come out of the east -- the Cleveland Cavaliers. They’ve swept the Pistons and a Hawks team that looked much more prepared after last years sweep. Game one of the Eastern Conference Finals will be Tuesday giving them a full week without playing a game. The team they’ll be playing, either the Heat or the Raptors, will be coming off a physical seven game series and in desperate need of rest. Their big three in LeBron, Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love is playing up to their potential with big help from J.R. Smith and Iman Shumpert.
We’re guaranteed to have two great series out of the last three of these playoffs. The Western Conference Finals, between the defending champs and two best players in the league. Then the Finals, between one of these two and LeBron trying to bring a championship to his hometown.
