NBA: Players to watch in the Western Conference Finals
The NBA Western Conference Finals just got started and the Oklahoma City Thunder keeps on surprising everyone, this time taking Game 1 from the Golden State Warriors. The star power in this matchup is undeniable and crazy enough that basketball fans easily forget those who play the supporting roles. No one's going to get awed by the one diving for the ball since it is more fun to see half-court heaves and rim-rocking dunks.
No doubt this series is a showcase of the battle between Steph Curry and Russell Westbrook, along with stars in Kevin Durant, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green. But just like last season's finals, there is a tendency for a role player or an unheralded one to rise to the occasion. Veteran Andre Iguodala took home the Finals MVP last year. Can somebody else steal the spotlight this time?
Let's take a look at those who have the potential to make the difference or even become the key factor in giving his team the ticket to the NBA Finals.
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OKC Thunder
Dion Waiters
According to recently retired NBA star Shane Battier for The Players' Tribune, Waiters is the kind of guy that provides instant offense that nobody, apart from Durant and Westbrook, can give. Billy Donovan's squad is a potent offensive machine, but the majority of the points come from its two superstars. So when they're resting on the bench, the team could bleed for points. If and only Waiter can be more consistent and average at least 20 points, the Warriors could find themselves in serious trouble.
Steven Adams
NBA.com's Fran Blineburry was on point when he said that Steven Adams has the potential to punish Golden State's trademark small ball strategy. Well, we all saw how Adams performed in Game 1. However, this shouldn't be a total surprise since the big man did hold his ground against Tim Duncan and LaMarcus Aldridge in the Spurs series.
Golden State Warriors
Andre Iguodala
The truth is Andre Iguodala is a safe bet in choosing someone who can give his team major contributions on both ends. The guy's a veteran and has proven in last year's title run that he deserves recognition, too. According to Battier, Iguodala is a "glue guy," which means he's always there, sticking to whatever he's assigned to do. He can make threes and is, in fact, a streak shooter himself. But the biggest difference he can make in this series is his defense against Durant. If he can contain KD, the rest of the backcourt can focus on stopping Westbrook.
Shaun Livingston
Golden State's big point guard owns one of the best stories of resilience and commitment in all of basketball. He finally found a home with the Warriors and a perfect backup role for Curry. And while the offensive production substantially dips when he's on the court, it's not actually because he can't score; it's more because no one can become Steph Curry. But if the Warriors want a return trip to the NBA Finals, Livingston must play a big part of it, particularly in the aspect of clamping down Westbrook, who by the way has been tearing defenders apart in the playoffs.
