What do you make of today’s debate and which side of the fence are you on?
Share with us your thoughts on the topic by using #360fans across social media or commenting below.
Jay Asser, reporter, says YES
Depending on how much you want to read into a regular season game played in February, the Oklahoma City Thunder either proved they can hang with the Golden State Warriors in the 116-108 loss on Saturday, or simply became another top team that failed to defeat the defending champions.
Counting an eight-point loss as a moral victory seems like a stretch, but it’s justifiable when you consider San Antonio and Cleveland lost by 30 and 34 points respectively in their past two meetings with Golden State.
Besides, the eight-point margin doesn’t tell the whole story. The Warriors led by 20 at one point and have won 97 straight when leading by 15 or more, but OKC fought back to tie the game late in the fourth quarter. They had three possessions to take the lead down 105-104 with 3:25 left to play but couldn’t capitalise.
The comeback was thanks to the Thunder’s turnaround on defence as they held Golden State to 43 points in the second half after allowing 73 in the first half.
Take another look! KD's game-winning 3 with .05 seconds left. #ThunderUP https://t.co/eFNObReSsU
— OKC THUNDER (@okcthunder) February 4, 2016
Part of it was the Warriors missing shots they’re capable of making, but it was also due to OKC playing fundamentally sound defence.
Maybe the most encouraging sign for the Thunder was Enes Kanter not being run off the court. There were serious concerns whether the defensive-challenged centre could even be on the floor and survive against Golden State, but he finished minus-one in plus-minus and had a defensive rating of 95.6 for the game.
OKC coach Billy Donovan hid Kanter, who scored 14 points in 19 minutes, on perimeter guys like Andre Iguodala and Shaun Livingston, rather than have him guard players who could be used in the pick-and-roll with Stephen Curry.
The Thunder’s biggest trump card though, continues to be Kevin Durant. He dropped 40 points in the loss and it doesn’t look like anyone on Golden State can guard him. One game is a small sample size, but some of the ingredients needed to beat the Warriors were there for OKC.
Winning a title means inevitably going through the Warriors and the Thunder showed in one game they have as good a shot as anyone.
James Piercy, deputy editor, says NO
There is no questioning the sheer power of OKC’s weapons with Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook comfortably among the NBA’s top 10 offensive players. We can then bring in the presence of big men Serge Ibaka, Steven Adams and Enes Kanter (who was fantastic against the Warriors) plus useful backcourt bench players Cameron Payne and Dion Waiters.
They were very good at the Oracle Arena and gave the Warriors a real test, particularly in the fourth quarter, but at the same time at no stage did Golden State ever really look like losing it. And this was on a night when Steph Curry shot 10-26 from the field, including 1-9 from beyond the arc. The fact they couldn’t seal the deal speaks volumes.
A number of factors go against OKC, however talented they are, because firstly there are two better-balanced teams than them and they both reside in the West. Assuming OKC finish third they will almost definitely have San Antonio in the second round and the Warriors in the Conference finals.
Forgive me for doubting if they can win eight games against both those before Cleveland or Toronto come into the equation. Okay, in isolation, their last 10 games against the Spurs they’re 6-4 and in 10 versus the Warriors it’s 4-6, but to beat both back-to-back, without homecourt advantage…
We can also factor in, and this can be viewed as a positive or a negative, coach Billy Donovan still doesn’t quite know his best rotation. Adams or Kanter to close? Waiters or Roberson at shooting guard? How to maintain offensive efficiency when both Durant and Westbrook sit? No doubt come playoff time he’ll have found answers but the Spurs and Warriors are settled, and developing plans B, C and D.
We then come to Donovan – a coach with zero playoff experience against Doc Rivers, Gregg Popovich and Steve Kerr. It’s a monumental ask even with all that talent at his disposal. And then Durant and Westbrook. Assuming both are healthy come April – which isn’t a given – the Thunder just lean too much on them.
While defensively OKC have the 18th ‘best’ record in terms of points allowed. What’s that old adage again?
