NBA Power Rankings: Who are the biggest threats to the Warriors?
By Tony Pesta
3. Oklahoma City Thunder
The Oklahoma City Thunder have begun to look more and more like a legitimate threat come playoff time in the Western Conference playoffs, and it’s come on the shoulders of their emerging “Big Three.”
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Paul George has been MVP-caliber, Russell Westbrook has been historic in filling up the stat sheet, and Steven Adams has emerged as a third star in the making, disrupting opposing centers in the middle.
On the heels of a disappointing playoff performance last season, it seems like OKC has finally found the right chemistry and game-winning formula.
PG is the clear-cut number one scoring option, and he’s been on ta ear the past 10 games, topping over 30 pts in nearly every contest. And though Westbrook has taken a “backseat” due to declining shooting efficiency, he’s more than made up for it with rebounds and assists as a triple-double threat.
Adams is the x-factor, averaging career highs in points and rebounds this season. Especially in the West, having a center is a huge advantage in a team’s quest to take down the heavy favorites in the defending champs.
OKC currently stands in third place with just a game behind the Nuggets, but there’s a great chance they could snag the second seed and be the team to face the Warriors in the Conference Finals.