The Western Conference Semifinals could come to an end tonight, as the Oklahoma City Thunder take on the San Antonio Spurs. The Thunder are looking to close out the Spurs at home holding a 3-2 series lead. The winner of the series will then take on the two time MVP, Stephen Curry, and the Golden State Warriors.
Before the playoffs started, several sport analyst thought the best team to challenge the Warriors would be San Antonio. Both teams went on to make history in the win – lose columns, with a 73-9 and a 67-15 record. Kawhi Leonard has anchored the Spurs to being the number one ranked defense in the league, allowing below 94 points per game during the season and playoffs. Curry’s team doesn’t even come close to that, allowing over 100 points per game, but averaging 114 points per game on offense.
So the table is set, right? The Spurs will grind their way to a game seven and oust the Thunder to the Western Conference Finals? Not exactly. Tim Duncan has really fallen the past two games and has put the team in a corner. In game four, the three time MVP committed four fouls in the first half and went scoreless in 12 minutes. Game five was even more difficult to fathom, as he went 1-6 on the night, adding up to five points in 28 minutes. LaMarcus Aldrige has also been doing poorly the last two games, shooting 36.7 percent. This is all do to the efforts of Steven Adams and Enes Kanter, who have really done a great job of slowing down the Spurs frontcourt.
Another teams loss, is another teams gain as the Thunder are capitalizing on the opportunity. Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook have gotten hot in the last two games, with Durant scoring 41 points in game four and Westbrook going for 35 in game five. The Thunder have out rebounded the Spurs in four of the five games, and have averaged over seven rebounds in the series. Perhaps father time is catching up to San Antonio, and all the weight is on the young core of Leonard and Aldridge. If the Spurs lose tonight, it will be due to the lack of contribution of the teams veterans: Manu Ginobili, Tony Parker, and Tim Duncan.
Lets say the vets turn it on the next two games and win the series, there’s no way the Spurs will win against a high powered offense like Golden States. The defensive differential is impressive, but going against Stephen Curry, Draymond Green, and Klay Thompson? It’s impossible to see them win with a high chemistry team who can beat you in different ways. It would be an old dynasty going up against a new dynasty, and the throne will be passed on.
OKC can match up against Golden State perfectly! The Thunder’s big men can give headaches to the front court of Green and Andrew Bogut, and Durant and Westbrook can go on a scoring night just like Curry and Thompson. Rebounding is a factor. If OKC can rebound like they have this post season, this could be one of the best match ups in NBA Playoffs history. The Thunder have statistically rivaled the Warriors on offense and defense. Adding with their style of play, and the weapons they posses on both sides of the court, the Thunder might have been the right team all along to dethrone reigning NBA Champions.
Game six of the Spurs and Thunder tips off tonight at 7:30pm CST on ESPN!
