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Oklahoma City Thunder: Can They Do The Unthinkable?

By James D. Tillman III

May 22, 2016; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder bench reacts during the third quarter against the Golden State Warriors in game three of the Western conference finals of the NBA Playoffs at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports
May 22, 2016; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder bench reacts during the third quarter against the Golden State Warriors in game three of the Western conference finals of the NBA Playoffs at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports /
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May 22, 2016; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder head coach Billy Donovan reacts during the first quarter against the Golden State Warriors in game three of the Western conference finals of the NBA Playoffs at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports
May 22, 2016; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder head coach Billy Donovan reacts during the first quarter against the Golden State Warriors in game three of the Western conference finals of the NBA Playoffs at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports /

3. Can Billy Donovan Continue To Make The Right Moves?

Against the San Antonio Spurs, first-year NBA coach Billy Donovan went with a bigger lineup that featured Steven Adams and Enes Kanter on the floor in various stretches.

Sure, LaMarcus Aldridge played well in the first two games, scoring a total of 79 points on 75 percent shooting, however the Thunder beat the Spurs at their own game, slowing down the tempo and aggressively crashing the glass before eventually winning the series in six games.

After beating the Warriors in the series opener with the big lineup that was successful against the Spurs, Donovan went with a small-ball lineup in Game 3 and the results were nothing short of phenomenal.

Using a lineup that featured Serge Ibaka as the only power forward/center on the court, this unit shot 71 percent (25-for-35) from the field while limiting the Warriors to just 33 percent.

In addition to that, the five-man lineup of Russell Westbrook, Andre Roberson, Kevin Durant, Dion Waiters and Ibaka finished with a plus-30 rating and connected on 64 percent of its attempts, per ESPN Stats and Information.

So far, Donovan has found multiple ways to beat the Warriors in this series. The question is: can he continue to outwit Steve Kerr in what has become a compelling chess match between these two ball clubs?

Next: No. 2

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