Game 4 is a must win if the Thunder are to return to the NBA Finals. Based on how bad Draymond Green played in Game 3, it’s yet to be seen if the NBA’s ruling on his bush league antics will imprint this game and ultimately the series.
The roadmap for OKC is simple. Win Games 4 & 6 at home before raucous crowds and the Thunder advance to the NBA Finals for the second time in their short history.
The Thunder are coming off a near perfect Game 3 where they literally ran the Warriors out of Chesapeake Energy Arena. Durant and Westbrook have never been better. They dominated the game from start to finish as OKC’s role players all followed suit and played well.
When Andre Roberson outscores Draymond Green and shoots threes like Steph Curry, you know it’s a good night for the Thunder.
Billy Donovan has been solid this series in that he’s stayed away from being predictable going either small or big depending on the moment. In essence, he’s been the anti Scott Brooks in this regard. More of changing on the fly will be required as this series moves along.
Dion Waiters has once again played some excellent minutes in this series giving the Thunder a reliable Sixth Man and someone who can aid Russell Westbrook with ball handling duties from the point.
Serge Ibaka finally showed up in Game 3 after a longer rest between games. With less rest time between games tonight—Ibaka’s energy could be a key. Circle Ibaka in this one as in which one shows up to play.
The playoff math is simple, if OKC wins this game they have control of their destiny by only having to win Game 6 at home. Lose this game and it becomes an uphill battle for the Thunder to beat the media darling Warriors.
Two things haven’t changed in this series amidst all the excitement about Draymond Green touching basketball boys between their legs and then saying he never touches boys there, namely the team which wins the boards and takes care of the ball wins the game.
OKC can’t get caught up with this Draymond Green hoopla tonight. Just control the boards, get out in transition as in Game 3, and the Thunder should be up 3-1 heading back to Oakland where Draymond’s adoring fans wait. Don’t win the boards and don’t take care of the ball and the Thunder could be in a for a rough night.
As has been the case in every Thunder home game versus the Spurs and Warriors this post season—Vegas has the Thunder listed somewhere around a 2.5 underdog. This despite the fact the Thunder are a combined 6-3 versus the Spurs and Warriors this post season. At home so far against these two historic teams the Thunder are 3-1 in the playoffs.
Every game in a series like this one is huge, but this one is especially because if OKC takes care of business tonight, the odds of a return to the NBA Finals tilt greatly in their favor.
Tonight isn’t about Draymond Green as much as it is about rebounding, taking care of the ball, and not allowing Steph Curry to go off.