This weekend, two teams with stars of opposing styles will collide in what is expected to be an epic contest in the NBA
I’m not talking about Peyton Manning and Cam Newton in the Super Bowl.
On Saturday, the Oklahoma City Thunder will meet the Golden State Warriors in a critical clash with playoff implications.
Taking center stage will be Stephen Curry, or “the future shaping golden boy” as so eloquently put by David Fleming in ESPN magazine last year.
Guarding him will be OKC dynamo Russell Westbrook whose eight triple-doubles is the second most in the NBA this season.
Of course, they will have plenty of help. Westbrook will have 2014 NBA MVP Kevin Durant to help carry the workload.
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Curry will have his splash brother Klay Thompson and newly minted All-Star Draymond Green and co.
To date, the Warriors have annihilated their competition cross the NBA, destroying the Cavaliers, Bulls, and Spurs by margins of 30 points or more.
The Thunder are third in the West and roughly three games behind the Spurs for second place in the standings.
When looking at the point-guard matchup between these two teams specifically, it’s easy to see the two as opposites of each other.
Curry’s game is finesse on a basketball court as his ability to shoot from anywhere on the floor is rivaled only by his ability to handle the ball with almost supernatural ease.
Westbrook is arguably the most athletic player the game has ever seen behind LeBron James. His ability to viciously penetrate the defense and finish at the rim is unmatched. When combined with his ability to create his own shot on the perimeter, it is arguable that Westbrook is the toughest guard in the NBA to defend.
Even in terms of marketing, the two sit on opposite ends of the spectrum. Westbrook is the premiere athlete of the Jordan brand and is the player chosen to wear the latest signature model on the court. Keep in mind, he holds the distinction over other Jordan athletes like Blake Griffin, Chris Paul, Kawhi Leonard, and Jimmy Butler.
His flare for outrageous off-court style has garnered a level of notoriety that is spoofed in ads for Mountain Dew.
Common sense says that the Warriors multi-pronged attack will overpower the Thunder on Saturday night. But there’s the nagging notion that Durant and Westbrook could go off for a special performance that throws a wrench in Golden State’s perfect script
As for Curry, he has single-handedly brought Under Armour from an overlooked athletic brand to one of the hottest names in the sportswear market today. His signature shoes sell at a rate that rivals any of the biggest releases from Nike, Jordan, and other brands.
His clean-cut persona as a family man has generated plenty of money as well. His modeling campaign for Express can be seen in malls across America. His popularity as a family man is even making his daughter a star as Riley is now a spokesperson for children’s shoes.
On the court, there is no telling how the game will play out. The Thunder are on a five game winning-streak and coming of a game where Durant scored a blistering 37 points.
The Warriors are on an eight game win-streak of their own. In the last week, Curry had a jaw-dropping 51 point performance against the Wizards and joined his teammates on a trip to the White House.
Last season, the Warriors won three of the four meetings with the Thunder with their only loss coming at OKC.
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As the league waits to see if the Warriors can challenge the 72-win record, the question remains of whether or not a team exists that can challenge them. They’ve made Eastern Conference powers like the Cavaliers and Bulls look foolish.
In a single night, they seemingly erased the title aspirations of the Spurs in a 30 point blowout.
The Thunder are having their own championship or bust season. Durant hits free-agency at the end of this year and Westbrook follows the year after. Both players will be fielding incredible offers from across the NBA.
Since being together, the Thunder have been to the NBA Finals only once, losing to the Heat in 2012. They’ve been dealt a second round loss to the Grizzlies, a Conference Final loss to the Spurs, and missed the playoffs completely since then.
As the end of this season approaches, it remains to be seen if the pair has what it takes to get over the hump, though finally healthy this is their best bet.
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Common sense says that the Warriors multi-pronged attack will overpower the Thunder on Saturday night. But there’s the nagging notion that Durant and Westbrook could go off for a special performance that throws a wrench in Golden State’s perfect script.
As if any other Super Bowl parallels need to be made, Steph Curry will likely be warming up in a Cam Newton jersey. Westbrook and Durant intend to play spoiler and let the Warriors know that there’s a new sheriff in town.