With the Raptor’s two game road sweep in Oakland against the injury riddled Warriors the series is now firmly in the grasp of the Toronto Raptors as they are back home with a 3-1 series lead.
No Klay Thompson or Kevon Looney in Game 3 was too much. We’ll never know if the absence of Kevin Durant alone would have doomed the Warriors in a six or seven game series, but in the pivotal Game 3 at home the Warriors at home without the three looked like the Thunder did the year after Durant’s departure. Basically–it was Steph Curry playing hero ball while the other players watched.
I thought Jeff van Gundy was right on when he said the Warriors team on the floor for Game 3 would have probably finished the season as the No. 8 seed in the West.
Meanwhile—the Raptor’s support cast around Kawhi Leonard came alive in Game 3 and then in Game 4 Serge Ibaka played one of the best games I’ve ever seen him play in post season.
It’s been a big off season for bigs Sam Presti has discarded this spring. First…Enes Kanter played a solid role for Portland as they easily eliminated the Thunder on their way to run to the Western Conference Finals. And now Serge Ibaka is one win away from having a ring which ironically hasn’t been sniffed by Russell Westbrook and Paul George.
Maybe Steven Adams should be hoping he’ll be traded as well to a legit contender this summer. Thunder big man coach Mark Bryant has left the Thunder and you have to wonder if Adams will be back as Sam Presti tries to put more shooters around Russell Westbrook next season.
Anyway…kudos to Serge for the two games in Oakland–especially Game 4. It’s nice to see former Thunder players competing for rings even if it isn’t for the Thunder.
Agreed!
I love Serge. Toronto is the perfect city for him. Google some of his cooking videos. He’d be a great neighbor.