{"id":2465,"date":"2016-05-25T17:16:06","date_gmt":"2016-05-25T22:16:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/fredsportsextra.com\/?p=2465"},"modified":"2016-09-20T00:14:36","modified_gmt":"2016-09-20T05:14:36","slug":"2465","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fredsportsextra.com\/?p=2465","title":{"rendered":"Thunder good enough to win either in Oakland or in OKC; Warriors on brink of elimination"},"content":{"rendered":"
As I wrote on May 20th, just before games three and four\u00a0in the Western Conference Finals moved to Oklahoma City, \u201cany thought of\u00a0this team\u00a0off Reno Avenue winning their Western Conference Finals series with the Golden State Warriors hinges on the\u00a0winning out in home games\u00a0in the Chesapeake Arena.\u00a0 That, in all seriousness,\u00a0 says that games three and four in Oklahoma City must be won by the home team.\u201d\u00a0 I would have added that winning game six back in OKC would also be a must, as I did not\u00a0expect the Thunder to win another game in Oakland against the great Warriors, especially a game seven on the road in the Oracle.<\/h6>\n
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After watching the Thunder destroy the Warriors on Sunday and Tuesday in the Chesapeake Energy Arena I have come\u00a0an educated\u00a0conclusion.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The Golden State Warriors could and can be beaten by Russell Westbrook, Kevin Durant and company, either in OKC or in Oakland, in upcoming games five, six and seven.\u00a0 The difference in teams on this day are vast, and the invincibility of the west coast NBA champions is no longer an issue. The team from the southern plains is better and it is not even close, especially away from the Warriors home court.\u00a0 Yes, Golden State might win the series, but they also can be beaten in game five on \u201ctheir\u201d hardwood, or could get run out of the Peak in game six, and again, could get taken by OKC in game seven back in the Oracle.\u00a0 Do not think Golden State is the best in the Association on this fine day in May.\u00a0 The Thunder is now the dangerous wild thing, and the hunter, not the Warriors.\u00a0 Good luck Stephan Curry and Klay Thompson. If you can put together three\u00a0straight wins over OKC, you will truly be considered great.\u00a0 You get your chance.<\/strong><\/h6>\n
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As I wrote, again, back in the early part of this season:<\/strong><\/p>\n
In my analysis, if the Warriors and Thunder meet in the 2016 playoffs, the Westbrook\/Curry match-up will be\u00a0a significant\u00a0determining factor for that series. As great as MVP Steph Curry\u00a0is, Westbook devastates the smaller less athletic guard when they match up (on either side of the ball.)<\/strong><\/h5>\n
Feature photo:\u00a0 Players wait for a rebound in the second half as the Golden State Warriors played the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 4 of the Western Conference Finals at Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City, Okla., on Tuesday, May 24, 2016. The Thunder defeated the Warriors 118-94, to take a 3 games to 1 lead.\u00a0\u00a0 Photo: Carlos Avila Gonzalez, The Chronicle<\/span><\/p>\n