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Golden State Warriors: 5 Takeaways From Game 6 vs. Thunder

By Gerald Bourguet

May 28, 2016; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Klay Thompson (11) celebrates during the fourth quarter against the Oklahoma City Thunder in game six of the Western conference finals of the NBA Playoffs at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
May 28, 2016; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Klay Thompson (11) celebrates during the fourth quarter against the Oklahoma City Thunder in game six of the Western conference finals of the NBA Playoffs at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports /
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Golden State Warriors
May 28, 2016; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) drives to the basket as Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kevin Durant (35) defends during the first quarter in game six of the Western conference finals of the NBA Playoffs at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports /

1. The Stage Is Set For A Masterful Curry Performance

To be honest, it’s sort of amazing the Golden State Warriors haven’t already lost this series without a game where Curry completely took over with a vintage MVP performance. Everyone figured they needed one in Game 6, but it was Thompson who provided it.

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That’s not to say Curry has been bad in this series by any means; after all, he’s still averaging 26.2 points, 6.5 rebounds, 5.5 assists and 2.5 steals per game on .417/.391/.878 shooting splits.

But for a player who averaged an astonishing 30.1 points, 6.7 assists, 5.4 rebounds and 2.1 steals per game on .504/.454/.908 shooting splits during the regular season, Curry has been comparatively underwhelming. Games 5 and 6 were the only times in this series he’s surpassed his regular season scoring average.

But when he administered the killing blow at the end of Game 6 to force a decisive Game 7, he set the stage for the monster performance we’ve all been waiting for.

To be fair, Curry actually began to heat up in the third quarter when he scored 14 of his 31 points, but he also had three unbelievably clutch plays in the fourth to help the Warriors finish off OKC.

The first came with 2:47 left, when he somehow broke free in transition and drilled a three to tie the game at 99.

The second came on a tough floating layup over Serge Ibaka to put the Dubs up by 5 with 14 seconds left, serving as the proverbial dagger.

The final nail in the coffin was Curry’s steal on Westbrook’s inbounds pass. I guess laughter was not the appropriate response to questions about Curry being an underrated defender.

It says something about the brilliance of Curry that he finished Game 6 with 31 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists on 6-of-13 shooting from long range and we’re still expecting more.

But until Thompson dragged the Dubs back into the game, it looked like an off night from the back-to-back MVP was going to prematurely end the Warriors’ historic season.

More hoops habit: Golden State Warriors: 5 Keys To Beating The Thunder

Curry has been relatively quiet in this series and Thompson carried the Warriors in Game 6. But with the way that Curry built some sustainable momentum in a game that may have swung the series, it’s time for the MVP to deliver the final blow with a monster Game 7.

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