Sports fans, especially those that belong to the Oklahoma City Thunder nation, any thought of this team off Reno Avenue winning their Western Conference Finals series with the Golden State Warriors hinges on the winning out in home games in the Chesapeake Arena. That, in all seriousness, says that games three and four in Oklahoma City must be won by the home team. I might add, forget about using the word “stealing a game” if the Warriors upend “Big Blue” on Sunday or Tuesday night. The finely tuned team from the Bay in Oakland will not steal anything. Winning either game, or both, will be there for the taking, as Stephan Curry and company have the firepower to put the Thunder down with superior play that can come in short but deadly sprits in the forty-eight minute NBA game.
Losing a game on their home court would put theThunder in a must win again situation in the Oricle in Oakland, something that might be just too much for them to pull off. Sure, I recognize the fact that Oklahoma City has fared well on the road in these 2016 playoffs, taking two wins each against Dallas and San Antonio, but a second win on the Warriors floor in the Oracle in Oakland would be a daunting task, one that I would say is not going to happen. The fact of the matter, Oklahoma City’s first game win in this series has put the Thunder in a winning situation if they can hold serve at home. The game on Sunday put pressure on both teams, unlike game one where Golden State failed a test on keeping home court. Game two was again a pressure game for the Warriors as they could not go down two games with three of the next five in Oklahoma City. Sure, Golden State has to win a game in OKC, but does anyone really think that the 73-9 regular season Warriors are now doubting they can’t do that? No, pressure is squarely on the Thunder the next two games, both must win contests for them.
Don’t look for a blowout by either team on Sunday night, but if the Warriors win, the Tuesday game will put the pressure on OKC unlike any game in this series. It would not surprise me to see Golden State take both of these two upcoming games. As already stated, Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant have to get their best playing shoes tied up for coming through with two straight wins in OKC. A telling fact that if they do pull off the double, it will be the first time this season the Warriors will have lost two straight. A game three or four win could be enough for Golden State to take this series and meet the Cleveland Cavs in the NBA Finals. For Oklahoma City, a sweep in these two games are a must for them to move on.
