Oklahoma City Thunder: 5 Adjustments For Game 3

Oklahoma City Thunder: 5 Adjustments For Game 3 vs. Warriors

May 18, 2016; Oakland, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green (23) passes the basketball against Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kevin Durant (35), center Steven Adams (12), and guard Andre Roberson (21) during the first quarter in game two of the Western conference finals of the NBA Playoffs at Oracle Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /

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May 16, 2016; Oakland, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors forward Andre Iguodala (9) dunks the basketball against the Oklahoma City Thunder during the second quarter in game one of the Western conference finals of the NBA Playoffs at Oracle Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /

5. Limit Warriors’ Second Unit

In Game 1, the Warriors’ bench was nearly a non-factor, scoring just 16 points. In Game 2, however, to say they made timely contributions would be an understatement.

Andre Iguodala led the second unit with 14 points, and this play was one of several that helped the Warriors turn a one-point deficit (47-46) into a 57-49 advantage heading into the break.

Marreese Speights and Festus Ezeli also contributed with 14 and 13 points, respectively. All in all, the Warriors’ bench scored 50 points and hauled in 21 rebounds.

To be fair, a majority of this unit’s production came after the outcome of the game had already been decided. However, it is also worth mentioning that the second unit scored 22 points in the first half, surpassing its 16-point effort in Game 1.

While the Big Three of Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green is difficult to contain, the Thunder must do a better job of limiting the contributions of the supporting cast. As this game demonstrated, when the second unit gets rolling the Warriors are next to impossible to beat.

Next: No. 4

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