Dis-man-tle (verb) = raze, take down, tear down; Take apart into its constituent pieces.
25 point deficit.
This is what the Warriors faced by the half of Game 3 of the 2016 Western Conference Finals. You have to think the Warriors PR team were probably a bit reluctant about hitting "Send" on that tweet.
I don't know if the 72-10 Bulls had a deficit like this, ever, at any point during their regular or post season run but at this point, it is besides the point. Will go Stugotz-sian on this and not even look up the comparative stats on that too! No need.
As I sit here at 2:38 a.m. in morning (UK) watching this thrashing by OKC, I unapologetically felt excited and nervous by the fact that this could be a defining moment for these Thunder. Win this game and be completely in charge of this series and maybe the minds of these defending champs...Lose and be the subject of absolute and unrelenting ridicule until Kevin Durant's free agency decision either this summer or next.
3! Another 3 from Dion Waiters, jersey number 3 for OKC in the third quarter, just after Curry missed his attempt a few possessions prior. The Warriors are now being beaten at their own game. Score now? 92-59! Ouch.
What happens immediately after that commercial break is even more of a gut-punch to the Warriors, Andre "Self-Check" Roberson (thanks Bomani Jones, that's a brilliant nickname! Though he's going against it in this series) hits another long range shot to push the lead to 95-59.
Dismantle.
The Warriors are now staring down being another record breaking statistic. Albeit this time being on the opposite end of the outcome. Becoming the 57th team to understandably lose a playoff game after trailing by 25 points at the half.
117-80 at the end of the third. This isn't getting any better for the defending champs. They were definitely taken apart into their constituent pieces. They were the lesser team in field goal effectivity shooting 41% in the game to the Thunder's scorching 50% (was up to 58% at one point in the third)!
They were shut out on the boards 52-38, with Ibaka, Westbrook and Durant all corralling 8, whilst Kanter hauled in another double-digit effort with 12. Not outstanding like the Raptors' Bismack Biyombo's 26 the night prior in the Eastern Conference Finals against the Cavaliers, but enough.
They were also beaten at the free throw line, giving up 37 attempts to their 25.
Out-blocked 8-1
Cameron Payne, Kyle Singler and Anthony Morrow are now on the floor, game is essentially over.
Final score, fits the numerical theme perfectly-133-105. Franchise record for points in a playoff game for the Thunder.
Steve Kerr now has to go back to the drawing board to summon all his knowledge from his 2 years of NBA coaching experience and 15 year playing career to find a way to light a bonfire under his team to get them to play with the requisite focus, energy, poise, urgency and determination. More fluidity in the symphonic ball movement that made them a team for the ages. Less leg flicks to the groin (Draymond Green reportedly told ESPN's The Undefeated that it wasn't intentional and wanted to apologise to Adams after the game; Russell Westbrook in the post-game press-conference believes otherwise- intentional).
The Warriors reverting to their deadly range shooting won't hurt either. But like Charles Barkley says over and over, you either live or die by the three. They've shown they can definitely eat and live by them for the last 2 years, however they'd definitely hope that a reliance on the shot to create space and bludgeon teams into submission will not be a further cause for their demise.
They have got to figure out Westbrook, who again was the sensational half of his Jekyll and Hyde on-court persona (30-8-12); contain Durant (33 and 8 on an efficient 10 of 15 shooting); focus on boxing out Steven Adams and worrying less about getting into his head; getting a hand in Dion Waiters' face (13 points) and rendering Self-Check or The Return of Thabo (Roberson went for 13 points, hitting 3 of 5 from beyond the arc) as the guy who plays defence on himself.
We all want to see a LeBron-Curry rematch in the NBA Finals, it would be the ultimate treat to the fans of this game after being cheated of the opportunity to see what that match-up should have been with everyone healthy. But at this rate a hungrier and more experienced Durant and Westbrook against the Cavs, knowing what's at stake for both LeBron and KD (2-5 Finals record for LeBron versus impending free agency for a future Hall inductee with no ring...yet) has got to have all of us salivating and giddy in anticipation.
The Warriors better be careful though or their season can very possibly end in two games...or three!
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