Oklahoma City versus Golden State: The NBA needs this
By Joshua Lea
The Oklahoma City Thunder are one win away from facing Golden State in the Western Conference Finals. The Thunder are looking more like a team that a can finish strong, which may lead us to one of the greatest series of all time.
Oklahoma City versus Golden State in the western conference finals. I have always told myself never to jump ahead when it comes to the Oklahoma City Thunder. As soon as I do, it comes back and bites me and they lose in the second round. However, when it comes to the possible match-up of Thunder versus Warriors, I just can’t help it.
One of the biggest games of the year was when Golden State played against the Oklahoma City Thunder at the Chesapeake Energy Arena. Ultimately, Stephen Curry blasted a 3 from Norman to win the game in overtime by a score of 121-118. A play that would later used to promote the NBA app in a commercial.
Right now, Oklahoma City is up 3-2 on San Antonio and Golden State won their series with Portland. The table is almost set for a possible and likely #OKCvsGSW hashtag posted all over twitter. OKC versus GSW could be one of those 30 for 30 series you’ll see on ESPN like 5 years from now. As fans of basketball, we need this series and we deserve it. Let’s face facts, the 2016 NBA playoffs have disappointing.
Cleveland is sweeping through the east, Toronto and Miami is a complete snooze fest, God loves Portland because the NBA doesn’t, and Golden State just isn’t as much fun to watch without Curry on the floor. The Clippers and Mavericks both had injuries, and Charlotte was just there. The only series that has been remotely exciting is currently Oklahoma City versus San Antonio.
You’d have to assume that if either Toronto or Miami (it really doesn’t matter which) met Cleveland, the final result would be a sweep or a 4-1 series win for Cleveland. So, we can presumably predict a Golden State versus Cleveland NBA Finals rematch. However, if the Oklahoma City Thunder played Golden State in the Western Conference Finals, it could be the highest rated series in the entire playoffs and would be the first real test for Golden State in the post season.
The Oklahoma City Thunder played Golden State three times during the regular season. While the Warriors won all three games, they literally came down to the wire. Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook were both on the NBA’s biggest stage against the Splash Brothers and Draymond Green.
Now, as far as the Spurs are concerned, I can understand the fans of San Antonio. They are a great team; however, they don’t have the drama or the inconsistencies than that the Thunder possess. San Antonio is a well oiled machine, which in layman’s terms equals boring. Admit it, you don’t want to see a San Antonio versus Cleveland NBA Finals again, do you? We’ve been watching the Spurs in the postseason since David Robinson was their star player.
The NBA deserves a series between Golden State and Oklahoma City, there will be drama, excitement, buzzer beaters, and let’s not forget Westbrook. I mean, God only knows what he’ll do in this series. He could literally try to match Curry shot for shot. Which would be way more exciting than San Antonio and Golden State. Durant is liable to go nuts and start bombing three’s like Reggie Miller versus the New York Knicks in the early 90’s.
If you’re an NBA fan, regardless of your favorite team, you need to pray to the basketball Gods and ask them to please let the stars align for a Oklahoma City versus Golden State series. It could very well be one of the greatest Western Conference Finals in the history of the NBA.