- Commissioner’s statement on Ventura, Marte
- Ronnie O’Sullivan: Masters champion ‘felt so vulnerable’ in final
- Arron Fletcher Wins 2017 WSOP International Circuit Marrakech Main Event ($140,224)
- Smith challenges Warner to go big in India
- Moncada No. 1 on MLB Pipeline’s Top 10 2B Prospects list
- Braves land 2 on MLB Pipeline’s Top 10 2B Prospects list
- Kingery makes MLB Pipeline’s Top 10 2B Prospects list
- New Zealand wrap up 2-0 after Bangladesh implosion
- Mathews, Pradeep, Gunathilaka to return to Sri Lanka
- Elliott hopes for rain for Poli
Golden State Warriors Facing Terrifying New Brand of Adversity vs. OKC Thunder
- Updated: May 23, 2016
The Golden State Warriors have been down before, but never like this.
A 133-105 demolition by the Oklahoma City Thunder has the defending champions in a 2-1 hole that feels distinctly deeper than any the Warriors have faced before. Golden State trailed earlier in this series after dropping the opener, and it faced 2-1 disadvantages twice in last year’s playoffs—to the Memphis Grizzlies and Cleveland Cavaliers.
Share Tweet
In those previous instances, there were still adjustments to be made. The Warriors made them, won the ensuing games and, in the cases of Memphis and Cleveland, went on to take the series. Game 2 of this engagement made it seem like the Warriors would do the same thing.
But the Thunder, in smashing Golden State to pieces Sunday, became the first opponent to absorb a Warriors postseason adjustment and counter with one of their own. Except, for Oklahoma City, the answer was less about strategy and more about a forceful, committed reliance on the things that made it so dangerous in the first place.
The chess match of this series turned into a prize fight, and OKC did all the punching.
This…this was different, as Andrew Bogut pointedly explained to Phil Barber of the Santa Rosa Press Democrat:
#Warriors center Andrew Bogut: “This season and last season, we haven’t lost wire to wire like this, where they absolutely kicked our ass.”
— Phil Barber (@Skinny_Post) May 23, 2016
Head coach Steve Kerr was similarly direct, per Tim Bontemps of the Washington Post:
Kerr: “I didn’t have them ready to play, obviously … we got what we deserved.”
— Tim Bontemps (@TimBontemps) May 23, 2016
That’s not to say the Dubs were knocked out immediately. They missed quality looks in the first quarter—many from the corners—and actually tied the score at 40 with a talent-deficient bench unit on the floor.
Oklahoma City’s first haymaker landed shortly afterward, though, fueled by fast-break points and whatever high-pitched rallying cry arises after a play like this:
Share Tweet
Draymond Green’s second low blow on Steven Adams in as many games earned a flagrant-1 designation and could warrant scrutiny …
continue reading in source www.bleacherreport.com
