The Golden State Warriors have steamrolled their way to the Western Conference Finals despite having Stephen Curry for only a few games, and now they get a matchup with the red-hot Oklahoma City Thunder. Golden State won all three regular season meetings between the two sides this season - and there's more than enough reason to think that will continue. Here are three reasons why the Warriors will make their second straight trip to the NBA Finals:
3) Winning chemistry
A recurring theme in the Warriors' 73-win season was their ability to edge out games in situations where most other teams would have folded. Being down double-digits in the fourth quarter means little to a group with the 3-point shooting prowess of Golden State, particularly when Curry or Klay Thompson is pulling the trigger. In games decided by five points or less in 2015-16, the Warriors went 13-2, showing their ability to come through in clutch situations. In the pressure-packed playoffs, the intangible will to win often makes the difference in a close series.
2) Mental edge over Oklahoma City
The Thunder had a fourth-quarter lead in every regular season game against Golden State - and the Warriors won all three games. OKC gave them their best shot on three separate occasions, and they came up short each time. The Warriors know they can handle whatever the Thunder throw at them, and they won't panic.
1) Stephen Curry is healthy
Curry is now finally at full strength, and even when he wasn't, he was still playing like the MVP. In the two games he played against the Blazers, he averaged 34.5 points, 9.5 assists, and seven rebounds per game.
Curry also had an extreme amount of success against the Thunder this year, averaging 35 points and 6.7 assists per game. Safe to say the MVP is gonna put up monster numbers again in this series while leading Golden State to victory.
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