Have you ever disagreed with the odds? Things like underestimating your opponent doesn't happen consciously. I'm sure these guys went into game 2 thinking that they are going to give 110%, but in truth Game 2 was the game where they outhustled us more than the other 4 games. It happens. It has happened with Paul in the past. It has happened with Harden in the past. We are at an impasse here if what you're communicating here is that players are always in sync with the level of alertness needed to win a game. It's an estimate based on their plus/minus with KD on the floor and KD off the floor over 4 years. Historical data doesn't always predict future results, but it is evidence. The difference is exactly 5.9% when holding Green/Klay constant and everything else (supporting cast, opponent, year) variable. It's not surprising to me either, championship teams always have great chemistry and are good at going "next man up". We should have been worse with Paul/Capela out in the regular season, but Harden and the other guys stepped up so we didn't go into a negative. These are not legos, they are humans. Curry/Green/Klay are possibly the trio with the most chemistry in the NBA by far, they have routinely produced results significantly greater than the sum of their parts as recently as this season. Luckily, all 5 games have been so close that 5% is enough to put us over the top even if it is a shockingly low figure for the loss of a player of Durant's magnitude. I am confident 5% would be enough to beat them in game 6. However there will be a crazy euphoria for the Warriors in Game 7 and the Rockets might have to put forth their best game of the series to seal it. All in all, it's a good place to be in, can't ask for more.
