OKC Thunder statement win offers ample reason to give thanks – key takeaways

Regardless there are undeniable facts:

The value of Stephen Curry if ever questioned prior, cannot be denied. Without the 3-point assassin, the Dubs ball movement seems non-existent. It’s not just his floor spacing either. It was pointed out to me how the double screen actions GSW run to free up Klay Thompson and Curry are absent within this group.

In fairness, Thompson has always been a player who excelled when shots were created for him. (Remember he scored 60 points dribbling the ball 11 times and had the ball in his hands for all of 90 seconds?)

Yet, pinning this entirely on Thompson’s short comings is also short sighted as last evening when Klay was on the court without Durant the ball moved and in those situations, he was his most successful.

Dare I point out the obvious?

• Kevin Durant reverts to isolation ball when he is captaining his squad and is the primary.
• The Warriors don’t possess the same depth as the past two to three seasons. Well, that is until DeMarcus Cousins returns.
• Their x-factor reserves are beginning to shows signs of age regression.
• And, unlike the two time MVP Curry who sacrificed aspects of his personal game for the betterment of the team, Durant not only expects the ball in his hands he demands it.

I’m not debating KD is an elite top three to five NBA player. Rather, it’s something far more inherent. Most teams take on the persona of their coach or their star. In their best and truest form a combination of both (see Tim Duncan and Gregg Popovich).

At their best, the Warriors are a free-flowing, concert of bodies in constant motion – moving in serendipity. The person who best embodies that and makes the insanely difficult appear simplistic is Stephen Curry. He is the Warriors best player, the orchestrator of their system and the embodiment of their identity.

When Durant becomes the key cog or primary the Warriors lose that ease and suddenly this squad looks pained – work looks like work.