The 2016 NBA Playoffs… actually the entire 2016 NBA SEASON has been a huge disappointment to me.   From the lack parity to the resting of star players, it has been a real challenge maintaining a “basketball high” this year.  Of course there were a lot of great games this year, but overall… the season was just plain wack.  Bad TV scheduling (shout out to the Dame and the Blazers, one of the best teams to watch throughout the season) that led to watching blowouts on ESPN and TNT, the Farewell Kobe thing was pathetic (Kobe has always been one of my favorites, but I never wanted to see his career end with a charity game against the Utah Jazz), and overall lack of fire from players all influenced this forgettable season.  BUT… It’s all about to change with this upcoming series.  The Oklahoma City Thunder versus the Golden State Warriors.

My preseason pick for the Western Conference finals was the Thunder and the Warriors.   I don’t really care about credit for predicting the matchup, because I make a vast MAJORITY of my picks based on what I would WANT to see.  This is it… 3 of the top 5 players in the league in a 7 game series.  The versatile warriors and Steph Curry against THE Dynamic Duo, Durant and Westbrook.  The well-organized, efficient, defensively disciplined defending champions against the unpredictable iso duo with limitless talent.

So here’s the case for the Warriors:

• Experience – they’ve been here before, defending champs remember?
• Defensive versatility – statistically one of the best defensive teams in the league
• Offensive versatility – multiple scorers in various positions
• Season matchup – warriors won all 3 games against the thunder this season
• 73-9 – this team is historically great, 73 wins is incredible
• Death Lineup – hasn’t been neutralized this yet
• Steph – yup, if all else fails they have him, MVP aka the Chef

…and the Thunder:

•  Guess what… EXPERIENCE – 2012 Western Conference Champions
• Rebounding – often, whoever wins the rebound battle wins the game
• Season matchup – Thunder showed they have the ability to matchup well
• Iso ball – everyone says it’s a weakness, but it’s their greatest strength
• Rus – career year, continues to improve, unstoppable 1on1
• KD – coming off injury, playing great, but still seems like he’s saving some

I have the Thunder in 7, but even the last game will be close.  I think it’s going to come down to Durant.  Essentially I have Curry and Westbrook canceling each other out and Durant being the uncontrollable variable.  The Warriors are going to try to use Iggy and Draymond, but neither has the combination of length and athleticism to bother KD.  Coming off a series where he was being guarded by the best defender in the league and experiencing the help defense of the statistically best defense in the league, I think Durant will be unfazed by everything the Warriors send at him.  I will note that I think the referees let Draymond Green get away with way too much contact on a regular basis, which could help deter KD, but it probably won’t.

The Warriors have an overall better game plan and a better system.  If the series was 2 or 3 games, I’d pick the warriors… but in a 7 game series? I think talent overtakes any system.  The San Antonio Spurs system is historically elite.  It showed in the first couple games against the Thunder, but once Rus and KD became comfortable with what was going on around them… series was over.  Can’t wait for this matchup.  Hope it’s as good as advertised.