Ranking the 5 key players to impact the NBA Western Conference Finals

1) Stephen Curry

Could Stephen Curry lead the Warriors to another NBA title?

When you are the reigning two-time league MVP and the first ever unanimous choice, you are without a debate the most impactful player in the series, for that matter in any series. Given how Stephen Curry’s 2015-16 season transpired he should have been legitimately in the race for the Most Improved Player Award.

Other than extending the range of his shooting, Curry also seems to have mastered the art of balancing his scoring and getting his teammates involved over the course of this season. His shooting craves so much attention from the opponent’s defence that it gravitates the defence towards him, leaving his teammates wide open for good shots.

Curry can hurt an opponent in a number of ways and restricting him is going to be a lot tougher for OKC than just assigning their best defender in Roberson to guard him. He is always looking to score whether it’s with his own shot or by dishing it out to an open teammate for a better look, so OKC will have to dig in defensively if they have any intentions of being competitive in this series.

It’s his improved shooting that has made the Curry-Green pick and roll absolutely unstoppable. Almost any trick you use against that play, the Warriors seem to have the advantage anyway. OKC must find a way to combat that otherwise they will find themselves playing catch-up all the time.