Really Lookin’ Forward To Spurs-Thunder, You Guys.
How often do we get the two best teams in a conference play in the conference finals?
I’m not talking about the top two seeds, because that can be misleading. I mean the two, honest-to-God best teams, laying it on the line for a trip to the Finals?
It happened last year with Chicago-Miami in the east and we may have gotten the same showdown had it not been for Derrick Rose’s ACL injury.
In the west last year, the Spurs played over their heads in the regular season, but were ousted by the Grizzlies in round 1, making for an entertaining, but disjointed western finals between Oklahoma City and Dallas. In all honesty, the Thunder probably got there a year too early in 2011, but they’re ready now.
In 2010, we were treated to Lakers-Suns, which was awesome, but Phoenix peaked at the absolute perfect time and were a non-factor entering the playoffs. In the east, Boston caught fire and beat Cleveland in round 2 ahead of an awesome Celtics-Magic conference finals, but everyone wanted Lebron and the Magic, part 2.
In 2009, we were robbed of a Celtics-Cavs slugfest when Kevin Garnett was injured and the Magic made the Finals. In the west, the Lakers won their second straight conference title, but had to get past the Nuggets rather than the Mavericks, as everyone readied itself for a Dirk-Kobe shootout.
By my count, the last time we saw it was in 2008, when both conference finals featured the four best teams in basketball going head-to-head with Lakers-Spurs and Celtics-Pistons. Both series were well-played, physical and set the stage for the resurrection of Lakers-Celtics.
When you see good basketball, America wins and I’m here to tell you that as a country, we’ve won the lottery by seeing the Spurs and Thunder get to the conference finals unscathed. If the Heat and Celtics play in the east, our Finals will be absolutely fantastic, whether you love or hate the participants.
But first thing’s first: OKC-San Antonio. Kevin Durant and Tim Duncan, Russell Westbrook and Tony Parker, James Harden and Manu Ginobili. You can get high just by reading these names! The best 6th man of the previous decade meeting the kid who looks poised to win the next six awards if his situation remains the same. Parker and Westbrook, two of the most underrated point guards in the game today butting heads for at least four and maybe seven games.
I doubt Duncan and Durant will be guarding each other, but those are two names that can inspire any hoops fan. “Hey man, Duncan and Durant are playing tonight.”
The Spurs have underwent a bit of an identity change lately, from a shut-you-down defensive juggernaut, to a high-flying offensive machine. It took about two seasons, but here they are, 8-0 in the playoffs and staring at home court advantage through the rest of the playoffs. They shoot the ball well, they pass the ball well, and they defend well enough to get timely stops when they need them.
Most importantly for the Spurs is that Tim Duncan is moving better than he has since 2008. It’s incredible that a guy that was drafted in 1997 is as healthy at this point in the season as he’s ever been and while he’s not the same athletic beast that he was when he first entered the league, his smarts more than make up for it.
The Thunder made it this far just last season, but as we referenced, they caught a few breaks in making it there. Most teams just don’t go from losing in the first round to within three wins from the Finals. Was it impressive? Of course it was, but it was also out of the ordinary.
Make no mistake, OKC is ready this season. As awesome as the Spurs have been in going 8-0, the Thunder have been almost as sterling, posting an 8-1 record, with the lone loss coming against the Lakers in the last round in a game in which L.A. shot 40 free throws.
This series will also be a testament to people who doubt whether basketball can work in small markets. San Antonio is the 4th smallest market in the league and Oklahoma City is the 3rd. While it’s true that both teams have gotten lucky in the lottery (San Antonio with Tim Duncan and Oklahoma City with Kevin Durant) that also ignores the other good work that the teams have done in the draft outside of the lottery.
The Thunder had the sense to grab Durant when he fell to 2 for them in 2007, but Russell Westbrook and James Harden were considered reaches when they were drafted in 2008 and 2009, respectively. Nobody really thinks that anymore for some reason.
I didn’t even know who Serge Ibaka was in 2008, but the Thunder did.
You know the old saying about “fool me once”? What happens when a team fools you three times?
The Spurs found their all-star backcourt late in the draft, as well. Parker and Ginobili were picked 28th and 57th overall, respectively. Those guys may be hall of famers one day and they were taken at a time when most teams are hoping to get a rotation player, maybe. The Spurs got a future Finals MVP and perennial 6th man of the year candidate. Not too shabby, Spurs.
These are the two best, most intelligent franchises in the NBA and the winner will have home court advantage in the NBA Finals. Obviously the Miami Heat will be favored over these two teams if they win the east, but they shouldn’t be. These two teams have spent the better part of two years getting ready for this moment, while Miami has slopped through two entire regular seasons trying to discover it’s identity. Is it Wade’s team? Lebron’s? Chris Bosh’? Nobody really knows, least of all the guys from South Beach.
The western conference teams know who they are and why they’re where they’re at. They don’t care about ego and just want to play ball. It’s sad that it’s a novel concept, but if you’re a basketball fan, you won’t want to miss it.
My Prediction:
Spurs win series 4-2.