4 Quarters - Western Conference Finals: Thunder vs Spurs

2. Thunder vs 1. Spurs

1. Could this be the best Spurs team under the Popovich-Duncan Era? - Well this is the deepest and youngest team under Popovich. As far as the best, this may rival the '99 team largely because that team won during a shorten season, just as this team would if they we're to win it all. I guess the only way to answer this question is the ask it again, after this series and after the NBA Finals. Stay Tuned.
2. Will the Thunder take the step of being the new alpha team of the Western Conference? - This could be the year that the Thunder could put themselves as the "team to beat" for the next few years in the Western Conference if they can get past the Spurs, who use to be that team that everyone had to beat in the West.
3. Durant/Westbrook vs Duncan/Parker - These match-ups can and most certainly will help decide this series. The Spurs are not Parker's team to command, but the old veteran Duncan is still playing at an high level during these playoffs so be careful not to count him out as of yet. As for Durant, he is the scoring leader of this team and most be able to get at least 25 points in each game for the Thunder to have success int this series, but Westbrook could be the overall key for this team advancing or going home. He must play at an high-level in order for this team to be champions.
4. With this being 2012, can the Spurs win a championship in a even-numbered year? - Tricky question, considering that the Spurs won in 99, 03, 05, and 07. This is 2012, so certainly this would be against their norm for winning. But then again, when you're hot, you're hot.

The "X" Factors - Manu Ginobili vs James Harden. Battle of the left-handed Sixth Men. These two players are pretty much alike in a lot of ways. These two are the 6th man of their teams and this will be the spark that comes off the bench to aid the starters of each team. The question is which one will be the difference-maker in changing this series around for their team. Harden must provide the level of play he did to help win him Sixth-Man of the Year this year in order to keep up with that deep Spurs bench.

Series Prediction: Very tough, but Thunder in 6

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