NBA Playoffs Fail to Follow Script

For those who think the NBA is rigged, it’s difficult to believe that even the most creative writers would get this far off script.

It was supposed to be the Golden State Warriors and the San Antonio Spurs butting heads in the Western Conference finals. Many expected that matchup to decide the NBA championship.

However, the Oklahoma City Thunder screwed up the plot by eliminating the Spurs in the second round and throwing Tim Duncan an earlier than expected retirement party.

Now, it looks like the Thunder are about to throw NBA fans another plot twist.

Oklahoma City takes a 3-1 lead over the 73-win Golden State Warriors into Game 5 of the Western Conference finals on Thursday, May 26 in Oakland, Calif.

Yes. The record-breaking Warriors could be watching the NBA Finals on TV.

Luckily for the NBA, it at least looks like LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers will hold off the Toronto Raptors in the Eastern Conference finals. Cleveland took a 3-2 series lead Wednesday night, likely preventing the NBA’s worst nightmare of the Thunder and Raptors facing off in the finals.

It’s not as if Oklahoma City is a team full of nobodies. Durant and Russell Westbrook represent one of the best one-two punches in the NBA. However, it would still be a huge upset if the Thunder were to advance to the finals by knocking off the Spurs and Warriors, who were largely considered the best two teams in the NBA this regular season.

Few expected the Thunder to beat San Antonio let alone have a chance to beat the seemingly invincible Warriors.

But so far, Oklahoma City has shown that Golden State can be vulnerable. The Thunder dominated Golden State 133-105 in Game 3. Durant and Westbrook combined for 63 points, and Oklahoma City held Curry to 3 of 11 shooting from 3-point range. During the Thunder’s 118-94 win in Game 4, Durant and Westbrook combined for 62 points, 22 rebounds, 15 assists, eight steals and three blocks. Curry was only 6 of 20 from the field and 2 of 10 from the 3-point line.

The Warriors were truly historic in the regular season. They will need a historic comeback in order to get past Oklahoma City.

Mark Schremmer has been a sports reporter since 2000 and has covered games at the professional, college and high school levels for The Topeka Capital-Journal and The Joplin Globe.