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
No comments:
Post a Comment