[Western Conference Finals] (1)Golden State vs. (3)Portland

I think the script will be for Portland to win the next game
A gentlemen's sweep

Rocket River

 

GSW might be stronger without Durant, but that's not the point. Durant was not hired to make GSW play better... he is a disgusting insurance against what happened in 2016 when Curry injured his knee.

Everyone who think Bron outpowered GSW due to the strength of the Cavaliers forgets about the injury Curry got against us. Had Curry be healthy Bron would have left for LA a year sooner.

So they added Durant and now they are legitimately unstoppable in the play-offs unless BOTH of them get injured. And if Durant leaves GSW will still be the best team... but they will be having to "nurse" Curry to the finals. As long as the core three are healthy they will be the strongest team. Durant is a nice bonus.

And that's broken.

 

Actually if they just lose Curry they lose to the rockets imo

But I'm guessing the rockets would lose to the bucks anyway, especially with playoff harden

 

Seems like Portland went into the game thinking "Hey we made it to the WCF, season is a success. We know we'll lose to the Warriors but meh".

 

What kinda BS selective memory is that?

In the 2016 Finals Curry “injured knee” and all was still on the court and played all 7 games. Not only did he play....he played well. What’s more? He played all 7 games against OKC in the WCF and averaged 28/6/6 while looking like his MVP self.

If you want to talk about a real knee injury completely changing the outcome of a series how can you not mention Kyrie?

In case you forgot.... In game 1 of the 2015 Finals Kyrie Irving went down in OT with a fractured knee and was out the rest of the series. Warriors went on a major run when Kyrie went out and closed out game 1. Cleveland should’ve gotten swept but NO. LeBron was still able to win 2 games with Timofy Mozgov as the second leading scorer with 14 ppg.

Had Kyrie not gone down there’s a strong chance The Warriors could be 0-2 in the finals against Lebron and Splash bros would be ringless without Durant. For the last time ... The Warriors are NOT better off without Durant and if he leaves despite how many regular season games the Warriors win or how good they look they become mortal again.

 

Hard to say in hindsight, especially since Klay/Green/Durant are still a helluva team (ugh.....), but I agree.

 

To be fair, Curry went off. It's like Portland would rather shut down those 3 players than the 2-time MVP.

 

Warriors in 4. Can’t beat the Warriors when you’re playing Kanter big minutes. They’ll expose him like they did Capela.

 

Portland's strategy of guarding everyone except Curry was interesting

 

Exactly. And it wasn't even mediocre defense. It was no defense, at all.

 

I don't think they're better without Durant, but the idea that Durant "put them over the top" is absolutely false. Cleveland won that series because Curry was gimpy, Draymond got himself suspended for one of their home opportunities to close it out and they lost Bogut in game 5 and they lost Iguodala in game 6. If Curry is at full strength, they win in 5 or maybe even in a sweep. If Green isn't suspended for game 5, they win in 5. If Bogut and/or Iguodala hadn't been hurt, they win the series.

One thing that is true--Curry is a much better player without Durant. That gains back a lot of what they lose from Durant being out.

 

The Klay Thompson block on McCollum and the fast break curry three killed the blazers second half run.

Then next possession, blazers go into kanter and Thompson turns over kanter.

 

Durant makes them deep team.

Curry isn't necessarily better without Durant.

Thompson might be better without Durant since Thompson becomes immediate second option without Durant.

Thompson is actually better at finding curry more early in the shot clock which sets up more options for their spread offense.

Durant was a for sure bet on the inside but without Durant they're working harder for shots out of their spread offense.

 

Playofff are about matchups and Durant is a nightmare matchup for any team. Warriors are better with Durant than without.

 

Nobody doubts that... a playoff series is not a game. Durant gives you so much more depth that it's broken.

 

Thompson not only playing for super Max but Thompson trying to get FIBA spot locked up.

Thompson went at McCollum.

Shiet it was Thompson versus the world![

 

Of course they are. Anyone who tries to argue the Warriors are better without Durant is insane. Remember the Warriors' playoff runs in 2015 and 2016? They won in 2015 because all their opponents were injured. Memphis would've beaten them had Conley been healthy. The Rockets would've gone more than 5 games had Bev and D-Mo been in the lineup and if Dwight hadn't hurt his knee in Game 1. And Cleveland would won the Finals had Kyrie been healthy. They didn't even need Love, but the Cavs would steamrolled over the Warriors if he'd been available. Then they didn't even win the damn title in 2016 which led to them begging Durant to join them.

And what happened next? They lost a single playoff game in 2017(although they would've dropped a few more had Zaza not gone after Kawhi). And only one team challenged them in 2018. I'm not saying they can't win the title sans Durant this year or even next. But it'll be a much more difficult task. Especially with less depth and an aging Iggy and Livingston.

 

I disagree - You cant eat your cake and still have it.

You cannot point to the opposition being injured in 2015 but then ignore the injuries to Curry, Bogut and iggy, and the Draymond suspension in 2016. Before, they lost those players, warriors were 3-1 up against Cavs and would have won the series.