Reflection Of NBA Playoff Games In The West

       One series in the West done, and another one to go.

       The Thunder lost to the Grizzles in five games, but was anyone really surprised by the outcome? It took the Thunder six games to get past the Rockets even though their answer to stopping Kevin Durant was Francisco Garcia. Really? Francisco Garcia? Has he had a relevant moment in the NBA? Anyway, I like many others, had the thought that the Thunder weren't making it past the Grizzles. They weren't a good match up. Let's look at the Thunder's flaws before we get to the good things about the Grizzles.

       First off all, don't blame this on Kevin Durant. What was he supposed to do with a back-up point guard playing 40+ minutes a game? Don't go around and say Durant isn't everything he's supposed to be just because of this series. Everyone needs help. LeBron's run in 2007 was an anomaly (He had Eric Snow, Big Z, Larry Hughes, and Drew Gooden). But I think we should look at just how inept Durant's supporting cast is. Kevin Martin is only a shooter. If his shot isn't falling down then he has no other way of contributing. Reggie Jackson is a very poor man's version of Russell Westbrook. He does the same thing's as Westbrook, but not nearly as well. Serge Ibaka is a good asset on a star studded team. He is a great defensive player (he averaged 3+ blocks a game). The problem is he doesn't have another gear. When Westbrook went down, the general though was that Ibaka was going to step up and take up some of the shots that Westbrook would have taken. After watching him play without Westbrook it's clear to me that Ibaka is the same player night in and night out. He will get you transition and other easy buckets, but don't expect him to make moves in the post and put it in the basket. I do have one burning question though? Why is Kendrick Perkins still in the league? His one job is to defend the big centers (Dwight Howard, Marc Gasol, Roy Hibbert, etc.). But he can't even do that anymore. It's annoying to me that Scott Brooks continued to play Perkins when he wasn't effective at either end of the floor all series long. It didn't help either that the Thunder's bench was very weak. Thabo Sefolosha who started, but might as well have been a bench player is a good defensive player, but he can only make lay ups and very, very wide open 3's. Derek Fisher's 38 and playing significant minutes. Nick Collsion plays hard, but can't really do much of anything. The rest of their bench is either young and needs to develop, or young and they can't play.

        But enough about the Thunder, let's give some credit to the Grizzles.  Zach Randolph has been playing fairly well. He's not exactly the guy he was in 2011, but he has been going 110% and banging bodies night in and night out. Marc Gasol has established himself as the top big guy in the game since Dwight Howard has been either unhealthy or unengaged. Not to mention, he won Defensive Player of the Year and he is the best passing big man in the game today. Tony Allen has been one of, if not the best wing defender in the NBA. Mike Conley is showing everyone watching that he is worth every penny that the Grizzles paid him two years ago. Tayshaun Prince has filled in nicely, and their bench as been as solid as they can possibly be. Credit the Grizzles to playing an old school type game with
two big men and filling the gaps everywhere else. I like how they play even if it's not the flashy way to play in the NBA today. I feel like the Grizzles will beat either the Spurs or the Warriors and move on to the NBA Finals. Although, that remains to be seen. Let's talk some Warriors - Spurs.

       The Spurs are up 3-2 over the Golden State Warriors. I think this series goes 7 if the Warriors have a semi-healthy Stephen Curry. Let's look at the Warriors first. I love, love, love watching Stephen Curry when healthy. That's the problem with Curry. You always have to say "if he's healthy" when talking about how good he is. Aside from having to worry about his ankles, he has been the best player to watch in the playoffs. Well, at least from a come out party point-of-view. Klay Thompson has been fun to watch, too. His Game 2 performance was amazing to watch. If he develops the confidence to go to the hoop more instead of just shooting his way out of trouble, I think that he could become a top 5 shooting guard in the league. Harrison Barnes has been fun to watch more so then not. I really like the move for him from the 3 to the small ball 4. He is the kind of stretch 4 that gives your offense room to move. It really gives their offense another dimension that they didn't have with David Lee in the starting lineup. I wonder what would have happened if David Lee never got hurt in the Denver series? It might have kept them from advancing past the Nuggets , but who knows? Andrew Bogut has been playing more like the Bogut of 2010 and that has really helped the Warriors interior defense. Jarrett Jack and the rest of the Warriors bench has been very key for them in winning games against the Spurs.

      The Spurs have been playing very well in their own right. I must admit, I've never really liked the Spurs. Maybe it's just because they win every year. But as I've grown older, I've grown to appreciate Tim Duncan. He's been in the league forever and he just keeps doing what he does. He's solid on both ends of the floor every single night. There's not very many people in the league you can say that about. Tony Parker has done what he can even though he's fighting through injuries. Danny Green. Yes, we're going to talk a little about Danny Green. A few years ago, he was out of the league. He was never really given a chance on the LeBron James Cavalier team's, but once he found he's fit on the Spurs he has been a great guy for them. He has just two jobs: make open 3's and play solid defense. And he has done just that especially when guarding Stephen Curry. Manu has done everything Manu is supposed to do. He had a terrible game 1, but all was forgiven when he made the three to beat the Warriors in game 1. And don't forget about Kawhi Leonard. He has been the Spurs most important player not named Tim Duncan. The Spurs bench has done what it can, but they usually only have Manu and sometimes Tiago Splitter as useful guys off their bench.

       As much as I want the Warriors to win. I think the Spurs will win in 7. If the Warriors were healthy, I would give them a punchers chance in game 7. With Curry injured, it simply kills the Warriors chances of getting to the Western Conference Finals.

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