The Role Players Matter
If something is reoccurring it must be important, right? In both Western Conference Finals games, the main key ingredient to victory has been the play of the role players. Game 2 was no exception. The Warriors put seven guys in double figures and compared to their four in Game 1, and Thunder had only two guys in double figures compared to their five from Game 1.
Durant and Westbrook combined to go 17-51 from the field in Game 1, which is horrendous, but the excellent play of the role players who went 22-38 helped them prevail in that game. Game 2 for the Thunder was a different story. It seemed as if they said,” We won Game1; so, we did all we needed to do.” When in reality this game could have put the nail in the coffin for them.
The Thunder were not the only team that was impacted greatly by their role players. The Warriors in Game 1 saw only 28 points from players not name Draymond Green, Klay Thompson, or Stephen Curry. They got their act together in Game 2, though. Those same players decided to play tonight, and they had 65 points, which is a 37-point swing from Game 1.
Yes, each game a superstar had erupted, but they have only done this behind a tremendous cast that have let them put their dominance on display.
Look for the key role players to be a big game breaker in the following games of this Western Conference Finals.
Next: Extra Possessions