NBA Western Conference Finals Preview: Golden State vs. Oklahoma City

Defending champions Golden State Warriors in the first round defeated Houston by 4-1 series score and defeated Portland, 4-1 in the second round on other hand Oklahoma City in the First round defeated Dallas, 4-1 and a shocking series win over San Antonio after defeating them in a series that ended  4-2.

SEASON SERIES: Warriors 3-0.

KEY STATS

The Warriors are the highest-scoring team in the playoffs (114.3), guard Klay Thompson is third in scoring (27.2) and forward Draymond Green is fifth in assists (7.0) and fifth in blocked shots (2.30). Kevin Durant led all players in the playoffs in scoring (27.4), Russell Westbrook led in assists (10.8) and the Thunder were the fifth-highest in turnovers (13.9).

Three of the NBA’s most dynamic and game-altering players will be on display in the Warriors-Thunder series. Stephen Curry, the league MVP and widely considered best shooter in the game’s history, can strike from anywhere on the court for Golden State. The polarizing and sheer force of play from Westbrook and the lethal offense of Durant can take down any opponent for Oklahoma City.

Of course there are other characters in this series — namely Golden State’s do-everything Green and the two-way play and sharpshooting of Thompson and Oklahoma City’s big center Steven Adams and key reserve Dion Waiters — who will play pivotal roles.

The Warriors were supposed to be here, their league-best 73-win season an indication of how dominant they were. The Thunder were not supposed to be here, but Oklahoma City outclassed and out-executed the 67-win San Antonio Spurs in the second round. So this has the makings of an exciting, entertaining and high-scoring series.

PREDICTION: The defending NBA champion Warriors in seven.

NBA Western Conference Finals Preview: Golden State vs. Oklahoma City

Lebron"s Cavaliers Advance to Eastern Conference NBA Finals (Game 4 Highlights)

Lebron James is heading to the Eastern Conference Finals for the sixth consecutive year after the Cleveland Cavaliers beat the Atlanta Hawks 100-99 to complete a 4-0 sweep in the second round playoff series.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nFOm-RzxBYQ

 

Three-point shooting once again led the Cavaliers as they held off a hungry Hawks team in the fourth for a 100-99 win on Sunday in Atlanta.

Kevin Love led the way in Game 4 by making eight threes on his way to 27 points and 13 rebounds. LeBron James added 21 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists and Kyrie Irving had 21 points. The Cavaliers were 16-of-37 from behind the three-point line.

Paul Millsap had 19 points in the loss as the Hawks were swept out of the playoffs by the Cavaliers for the second straight season.

The Hawks offense came out firing in the first. They put up 36 points in the first quarter and went into the half with a 58-56 lead, despite the Cavaliers going 10-of-16 from deep. The shooting didn’t slow in the third, as the Cavaliers made five more threes to take an 81-77 lead.

The Hawks did their best to hang, even briefly taking a lead in the fourth, but the Cavaliers once again proved too strong. Irving and James controlled the offense as the Cavaliers built up a five-point lead, but Dennis Schroder led a 6-0 Hawks run to give the Hawks a 97-96 lead with 1:31 to play.

LeBron James put the Cavaliers up with 1:16 left and Tristan Thompson came up with a huge block on the next possession before James added one more jumper to give the Cavaliers a three-point lead.

Lebron"s Cavaliers Advance to Eastern Conference NBA Finals (Game 4 Highlights)