New Zealand vs Australia: Steven Adams against Andrew Bogut with the Western Conference title on the line

Steven Adams Elbows Shaun Livingston in the Face | Thunder vs Warriors | Game 5 | 2016 NBA Playoffs

Last August, the FIBA Oceania Championships took place with a spot in this August"s Olympics on the line.

Australia was the overwhelming favorite. But New Zealand stood as optimistic challengers, hoping that its young, giant phenom could neutralize Australia"s massive longtime advantage in the matchup Andrew Bogut.

"On paper, Steven Adams is the only Tall Black who could reasonably be expected to tussle with Bogut in single coverage," a New Zealand news report read in late July.

But Adams chose not to compete and Australia rolled to two straight double-digit wins, securing the automatic bid.

Nine months later, on the other side of the world, that anticipated clash of centers from rival countries has materialized in the opposite hemisphere. The young Adams has morphed into a vital piece for the Thunder. The aging but cagey Bogut proved huge in the Warriors Game 5 season-saver.

An Olympic bid isn"t at stake, but a Western Conference title is on the line. There are plenty of factors to follow on Saturday night in OKC. But one of Game 6"s biggest storylines: the battle down under between a New Zealander and an Australian.

These two countries, separated by a three-hour flight over the Tasman Sea, have peaceful relations. Except when it comes to sports. They are heated rivals in everything, but particularly rugby and cricket.

Made fun of him when we won in cricket a while back, Adams joked of Bogut. But that was my first year. Last year we got kicked (in cricket) so I didn"t talk to him from then on. We got destroyed. It"s bad stuff.

Despite being from a similar area of the world, the two don"t know each other. They"re nine years apart. Bogut is 31, Adams is 22. When Bogut was drafted first overall in 2005, Adams was a 12-year-old with little to no basketball knowledge or experience.

I just know he"s from New Zealand, Bogut said. That"s about it. We didn"t play against each other or anything like that.

After one year at Pittsburgh, Adams was the 12th overall pick in a thin 2013 draft. The selection didn"t generate buzz around the league, but it was a national story back in New Zealand. Adams became the country"s first-ever first-round pick.

Despite the proximity, though, that meant little to Bogut.

Is it good for Australia that a New Zealander got drafted? Bogut said. I couldn"t really care. He"s not from Australia. That"s like asking if it"s good a Canadian got drafted for America.

Adams" growth was steady through his first three seasons in the league. But in these playoffs showing improved touch and admirable toughness Adams has burst into the national spotlight.

He dominated an overmatched Mavericks frontline in the first round, then completely outplayed Tim Duncan in the Spurs series, possibly ushering one of the league"s most legendary players to his retirement.

So many positive factors have collided for the Thunder during this surprising postseason run. Dion Waiters is more reliable than ever. Andre Roberson is hitting 3s. Billy Donovan has pushed all the right buttons. The two stars have committed to the defensive end.

But perhaps most influential is the evolution of Adams from a promising young talent to a physically imposing, suddenly polished two-way force at the center spot.

That emergence continued in the first four games of this Warriors series. Adams averaged 11.0 points and 8.5 rebounds, while anchoring a strong defensive effort. Meanwhile his Australian counterpart, Bogut, was basically a non-factor, averaging 3.0 points, 4.2 rebounds and 3.2 fouls.

Before Game 5, Steve Kerr publicly called out Bogut. In Game 5, Bogut responded, going for 15 points and 14 rebounds, while patrolling the paint and forcing a ton of errant Thunder layups.

The big fella was amazing tonight, Draymond Green said. At both ends of the floor.

Adams gave decent minutes, but battled through some early foul trouble and was beat to a few rebounds by Bogut. For the first time this series, Australia outplayed New Zealand.

As this clash shifts to Game 6, the Thunder looks to flip that back in its direction. The battle down under will be crucial.

Source: http://newsok.com/article/5500876

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The Steven Adams Encyclopedia, Mate

Steven Adams Tosses Fastball Pass to Andre Roberson

The most entertaining media presence in the NBA might be Adams, whose mustache, tales from New Zealand and wonderful accent have regaled us for three full seasons now. Here"s an incomplete list of all the ways we has impressed us.

Steven Adams is a 22-year-old starting center for the Oklahoma City Thunder who was born in New Zealand, is the youngest of 18 children, looks like a caveman, has a full-sleeve of tattoos,has his own brand of mustache wax and is generally an absolute fan favorite for anyone who has ever had contact with him. While that applies to Thunder fans, it also applies to media members. I spent a couple weeks covering the Thunder"s second-round series against the Spurs and believe it"s officially time to declare Adams the most entertaining interview in the NBA. I could listen to him answer questions about basketball for hours, probably.

There are hundreds of moments from Adams" three-year career, but all the ones listed below are from these 2016 playoffs. That"s all we need to prove my case.

Accent

We must start here. Adams is a 7-foot behemoth who has only become more terrifying while growing his hair out and adding a violent mustache to complete the look. Yet his accent is perhaps the most disarming, enchanting accent I"ve ever heard. Just listen to him talk for a couple minutes. It"s wonderful.

Duncan

Before the series, Adams told this story about Tim Duncan.

And he talked more about it at the end of the series, too.

Dunking

"Those are quite painful, actually," Adams said. "I"ve done more damage to my hands."

Now I feel the tiniest bit bad for being so excited every time he dunks. As basketballs can attest, though,rims are not pleasant.

Fart town

A loving nickname for his hometown.

Fans with orange mustaches

There apparently was a group of superfans who wore orange mustaches in support of Steven Adams. He loves them.

Asked if he would ever consider dyeing his mustache orange, Adams was very against that idea.

"I would have no friends," he protested. "I would lose the two friends I have right now!"

Let the record show that Adams definitely has more than two friends.

Forgetting his rookie seasonHating bread

I asked Adams about the Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook"s off-court relationship, and he responded like this: "If you can break bread with a guy, you will actually go the extra mile on the court, that just happens."

Don"t mistake that for thinking Adams would break bread with anyone, though.

"Hate bread. Too many carbs," he said, walking away.

Introductions

For reasons I don"t remember, a television guy started introducing Adams every time he was about to start his media appearances. You know, just like this: "Ladies and gentlemen, Steeeeeven Adaaaaaams!"

Later on, the same television guy wasn"t there.

"No introduction?" Adams asked, genuinely sad. Someone else filled in and gave him one, and Adams" day was saved.

"Mate"

He may say "mate" every other sentence. Here"s a brief supercut.

Migraines

Adams gets migraines, evenplaying through one during the Thunder"s series-clinching Game 6 win over the Spurs.

I asked him what those foods that he"s "off for life" as he walked away, and he just got sad.

"I can"t tell you," he said. "It just cuts me."

Nooooothing?"Swinging at the knees"

That"s two examples, but he has used this more than twice.Yes, this is a euphemism for having a big s*****g.

Testicles

Draymond Green"sinfamous kick to Adams" nuts was the biggest story in sports for a couple days. There was a certain poetry to it ...

Tiny doppleganger"That"s about it"

No supercut, but this is the other fallback for Adams. "So yeah, that"s about it," or "Yeah mate, that"s pretty much all." He"ll end every other answer with this.

This faceVoodoo

Source: http://www.sbnation.com/lookit/2016/5/25/11643976/steven-adams-thunder-encyclopedia-accent-new-zealand-mate

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There Are No Words To Describe This Little Steven Adams Fan

Draymond Green Kicks Steven Adams in the Groin | Warriors vs Thunder | Game 3 | 2016 NBA Playoffs

Look at this little girl. She is almost too amazing. She is, of course, in costume, pretending to be the Oklahoma City Thunder"s Steven Adams, the seven-foot sensation that has helped push the team to a 3-1 series lead over the Golden State Warriors. You may see her as cute, and she most certainly is that, but we prefer to see her first and foremost as tough.

Look at her glorious mustache. Take in her intimidating sleeve. Weep at the altar of her bun. She is and always will be a Lil" Stache Bro, ready for the world, just as her own personal hero will be ready for Game 5 on Thursday.

Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/steven-adams-fan_us_5745a0c8e4b03ede441357b3

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