West Finals showdown

It took the San Antonio Spurs and the Oklahoma City Thunder seven games to advance past their first-round opponents.  At one point it seemed as if both teams were on the brink of elimination in a year in which the eight seeded Dallas Mavericks won 49 games.

San Antonio is hungry to get back to the finals.  Greg Popovich admits to still having nightmares about the 2013 NBA Finals.  For the first time in his tenure as coach of the Spurs  Popovich walked away from the final round as runner-up.



Tony Parker left game five of the Spurs second-round series with an injured hamstring.  Tony won finals MVP the last time San Antonio captured the NBA championship in 2007.  The Spurs are going to need him at full strength to beat OKC and move on to the NBA Finals.

OKC has had San Antonio's number of late.  The Thunder swept the defending Western Conference Champions 4-0 during the regular season. 


The last time these two teams met in the conference finals the Spurs jumped out to a 2-0 series lead.  The Thunder answered with four consecutive wins to take the series.  Serge Ibaka was the difference maker in the series.  His perfect 11-11 performance in game four set the tone for OKC's big men.  When OKC's front-court is playing well the team is extremely difficult to contain.  If Ibaka is indeed out for the remainder of the postseason Scott Brooks must find a way to make up his production.  His presence will be missed on the defensive side of the ball.


The Thunder are looking to start a dynasty.  Kevin Durant is not that skinny kid fresh out of Texas anymore.  He is the reigning NBA MVP, looking to supplant his name as the best basketball player on the planet.  Even Russell Westbrook appears to have matured a tad bit.  His shot selection has improved this postseason.


San Antonio is looking to get back to the big dance once again.  This group of rugged veterans was supposed to be finished four years ago.  All good things must come to an end.  In the Spurs case, it doesn't seem like that will be happening anytime soon.  Every time you make the mistake of counting them out they come up with a 60 win season.


This series is the result of one of the most competitive Western Conference Playoff's since the league expanded to 16 playoff teams.  Whoever wins this series will be heavy favorites in the NBA Finals.