Golden State Warriors: Potential First Round Playoff Matchups

Oklahoma City Thunder:

Mar 8, 2015; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard

(0) reacts to a play against the Toronto Raptors during the fourth quarter at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports

As mentioned before, if the season were to end today, the Warriors would play the Thunder in the first round of the 2015 NBA playoffs as the one-eight matchup. If this were to happen, the sporting world be overjoyed and excited. Both the Warriors and the Thunder love to play up tempo on offense, and both teams have player that play their best under the spotlight. While, the series might be fun to watch, it would be a tough one for Golden State.

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Oklahoma City, can beat you in so many different ways. Whether its their depth and size or the explosiveness of Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant, the Thunder have a number of weapons they can employ to devastating effect.

The biggest challenge for the Warriors would be shutting down Westbrook, and containing Serge Ibaka, Enes Kanter, Steven Adams and Mitch McGary down in the post. All four of these players, 6-10 or taller, can eat up rebounds, get blocks, and score the easy baskets on other end of the floor.

The Warriors really only have two big players in Andrew Bogut and Festus Ezeli, both of whom, have trouble staying healthy. However, if both Bogut and Ezeli can be healthy for the playoffs this time around, then containing the size of the Thunder should be a little easier.

However, protecting the rim is only half the battle against the Thunder. Guards Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson will need to find a way to hold Westbrook on the perimeter and force him to take long range shots. Westbrook, this season is averaging about 27 points a game, but is shooting only 28 percent from three-point range.

Over the course of his recent offensive outburst though, Westbrook has been averaging a triple-double, with about 34 points, 11 assists, and 11 rebound per game.

Mar 4, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors center

(12) high fives guard

(30) after a basket against the Milwaukee Bucks during the second quarter at Oracle Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports

Should Westbrook keep up this torrid pace, Curry and Thompson would need to play lock down defense, and force Westbrook to pass the ball more. Also, the Thunder, will have the reining league MVP Kevin Durant back by the time the playoffs roll around, so the defense cannot focus solely on Westbrook.

The biggest flaw with both of these teams, is that they are both jump shooting teams. Jump shooting teams might score a lot of points, but that also means they take a lot of shots.

Often with teams like the Thunder and the Warriors, they can shoot themselves out of games because they do not take it hard to the hoops and try to go for the foul.

If the Warriors were to play the Thunder in a seven game series in the first round, the Warriors have the edge, winning the series four games to three.

Next: New Orleans Pelicans