NBA Western Conference Finals

Game Seven, the two greatest words in all of sports. I had the Thunder in six, which should've worked out but Durant and Westbrook played wild down the stretch, while the Warriors regained their shooting touch. Feels like the Warriors are back, they've got the momentum and the Thunder are backpedaling. But I'm sticking with the Thunder! Don't get me wrong: if Klay and Steph break the record for 3's in a playoff game again, the Thunder don't have much of a shot. But I'm betting the Warriors stumble tonight and the Thunder reclaim the momentum.

In Game Six, I kept waiting for Waiters or Foye or Morrow to make a play or two, I think that's all it would've taken to secure the victory. Instead, Westbrook became turnover prone and Durant kept forcing shots, leaving their teammates to stand around and watch. This is why they lost so many games in the 4th quarter this season. (Their 4th quarter struggles are basic: everyone else's defense tightens up and the Thunder's does not, a step back on both ends of the court) Easy to blame the big stars for the loss in Game Six but I'm gonna go ahead and blame Coach Donovan instead. He failed to rotate Morrow in to get him touches throughout the game, he didn't give Foye enough minutes and he turned his back on Kanter, who was actually effective shooting the ball. It was incumbent on Donovan to remind his big stars to remember the contributions of their teammates and the way to do that was to be more effective in his subs. That becomes less of an issue in Game Seven, when it probably will come down to Durant and/or Westbrook being the hero.

As for the Warriors, its easy to think they're back, that they've shaken off the rust and returned to form. But, except for Klay (who has been pretty magnificent all through the post-season) and Iguodala (whose defense has been superb), I'm not really seeing it. Steph was still tentative to get shots at the basket, Draymond is still being goofy (and one technical foul away from missing a game), Barnes has actually been pretty bad on offense (not bad on D), Livingston and Speights (outside of one good shooting night) haven't given much at all. And you're telling me that the key is Bogut? The Warriors beat people all year long because they can shoot the lights out and pile on plenty of points at a moment's notice. That can still happen, to be sure, but unless it happens, I'm not sure they're the better team.

I think OKC gets over their butterflies and puts the pressure back on Golden State. Unless Klay and Steph are perfect, I think the Warrior swagger might get them into trouble. Westbrook is relentless, he just needs to find his teammates again and Durant just needs a solid shooting night to put them over the top. Don't be surprised if Coach Kerr tightens up and Coach Donovan makes all the right moves. Thunder in 7.