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

By Gerald Bourguet

May 24, 2016; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (0) reacts in front of Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) during the first quarter in game four of the Western conference finals of the NBA Playoffs at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports
May 24, 2016; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (0) reacts in front of Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) during the first quarter in game four 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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Oklahoma City Thunder
May 24, 2016; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (0) and the Thunder bench react during the first quarter against the Golden State Warriors in game four of the Western conference finals of the NBA Playoffs at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports /

2. Russ-Stoppable

Kevin Durant’s commitment on the defensive end has been exemplary, especially when you consider he hasn’t really had a “standout” offensive game. He’s averaging 28.5 points per game, sure, but he’s only doing it on .448/.313/.912 shooting splits.

To spare you the suspense, there’s another Thunder superstar who’s arguably been the best player in this series with the way he’s wreaked havoc on Golden State’s top-five defense.

Remember when they said Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant couldn’t play together? That Russ wasn’t a true point guard? That his desire to take over late in games would doom the Thunder? That KD would be better off playing somewhere else?

El. Oh. Freaking. El.

In four games against the defending champs, Westbrook is averaging 27.3 points, 11.8 assists, 6.5 rebounds and 3.8 steals per game. I’ll pause to give you a minute to read those numbers again and soak them all in.

Russ is only shooting 42 percent from the floor and is committing 4.0 turnovers per game, but he’s also converted an efficient 36.4 percent of his three-pointers and singlehandedly took over in the third quarter of Game 1.

Oh, and he also played a major role in blowing Game 3 wide open before dropping a 36-11-11-4 triple-double in Game 4.

In a head-to-head matchup with the league MVP, Westbrook has absolutely dominated. He’s stayed disciplined on defense while also somehow enhanced his psychotic drive for loose balls and steals that have led to quick OKC points.

Aside from a few brief stints in the first two games where Klay Thompson shut him down — a matchup Kerr desperately needs to get back to in Game 5 — Westbrook has been the catalyst behind this shocking upset-in-the-making.

If Kerr doesn’t find a way to limit Westbrook with Thompson and/or Andre Iguodala soon, the killer mentality that has defined Russ throughout his career is ready to reach its peak moment.

Next: No. 1

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