Oklahoma City Thunder: 5 Reasons They’ll Beat The Warriors

4. Adams’ Arrival

It’s still a bit too early for anyone to say the James Harden trade was the “best” move for the Thunder, but because of Steven Adams, we can certainly say it wasn’t the unmitigated disaster we’ve made it out to be for the last few years.

Simply put, the Khal Drogo of Oklahoma City has been the best center in the 2016 NBA Playoffs.

Through the first four games of the series, Adams is averaging 11.0 points, 8.5 rebounds and 1.0 blocks per game while shooting 59.1 percent from the field. At the tender age of 22 (I know, Steven Adams does NOT look like he’s 22 years old), he’s made Andrew Bogut and Festus Ezeli look like complete scrubs.

His presence on the offensive glass has been a major thorn in Golden State’s side, his screens are like running into a wall of concrete, he’s been a consistent alley-oop threat out of pick-and-rolls and he’s done all the little things right to help this team win.

As OKC’s X-factor since the last round, Adams is making free throws, moving the ball where it needs to go, finishing around the rim and giving the Thunder a physical, skilled interior presence they’ve never had during the prime days of KD and Westbrook.

With Golden State’s small-ball lineup getting roasted by OKC’s own “Lineup of Death,” which we’ll cover in a bit, the Warriors need someone to step up at center. The only problem is, they’ll have to get through Steven Adams in order to do so.

Next: No. 3