In pretty surprising fashion, the Oklahoma City Thunder stole Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals in Oracle on Monday night. It was surprising because the Warriors completely controlled the first half with a 13-point halftime lead and the Thunder went on to break Golden State’s 37-0 streak when winning a game by 10+ points at halftime.
In that first half, the Thunder turned the ball over 10 times, as opposed to just once in the second half. Russell Westbrook led a monster third quarter and second half, but players outside of the Thunder stars made winning plays as well.
Draymond Green sees a different Thunder team than the Warriors swept in the regular season after Game 1, as he told ESPN’s Tim McMahon:
Draymond Green calls the Thunder a “completely different team” than the one the Warriors swept during the regular season. Green: “KD didn’t play well last night to KD’s standards. Russ didn’t play well last night to Russ’ standards. And yet they won the game. That’s because the other guys are playing better.
The Thunder bench, which only consists of Dion Waiters, Enes Kanter, and Randy Foye, outscored the Warriors bench 21-18. That’s uncharacteristic of the Warriors bench to be outproduced, and by three players no less.
Green’s point is spot on analysis, because that production and those plays made by Thunder players not named Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant gave them the edge in Game 1. The Thunder seemed to show visible growth in their conference semifinals series against the Spurs. After Game 1 against the Warriors, Draymond Green can now personally attest to that growth.
