Western Conference Finals 2012

The NBA conference finals are well on their way with both series at 3-2 and the Spurs and Heat on a surprisingly brink of elimination and thus having to go home for the off-season. It's very interesting and exciting to see the momentum ebb and flow between each game, as both favorites of respective conferences were up 2-0 but the "underdogs" have risen to the challenge and have taken 3 games back. Here's an interesting statistic: only seven teams have been able to erase the 2-0 deficit from 1969 to 2003. However, since the change of a seven game series playoff, the deficit has been less daunting. From the 2004 Lakers, 7 teams have been able to do what the other 7 teams did over the previous 35 years. This trend is definitely following what the Thunder and Celtics have been able to do. 84% of teams who win game 5 in a 2-2 series go on to win the series.

Another commonality is that between each series, there is an old and experienced veteran team desperately clinging on for one more chance at the title. On the other hand, there is the younger team that has proven itself for the past couple of years but yet has fallen short of glory and the championship. If the older team wins, they call it experience; if they lose, they call it age and frail bodies. If the younger team wins, they call it hunger and strength; if they lose, they say it's their youth and lack of experience.

Western Conference: San Antonio Spurs vs. Oklahoma City Thunder

Did anyone else feel uncomfortable whenever Fisher was on the floor for the Lakers the past two seasons?? I would scream at the television, wondering why coach Phil Jackson would give him so many minutes. He took bad shots, airballed his three pointers, missed layups, and was too short to guard the younger point guards. Not anymore, though. Derek Fisher, playing possibly out of anger, vengeance, and a chance to prove himself, has been playing phenomenally better with the younger Thunder team. He still struggles on the floor, but he did have an exceptional night, scoring 13 points on 6-8 shooting in the game 1 loss.

Don't leave this guy open. Ever.

The bench has been key for this series. In games 1 and 2, the Spurs bench was overwhelming. Stephen Jackson, Matt Bonner, Manu Ginobli (debated whether or not I should include his name on here), Gary Neal, Matt Bonner and Tiago Splitter all gave meaningful minutes to rest the starters. Let's also not forget their shooting, especially from the three point line. In game 1, the bench hit 7 out of the 8 three point shots made for the Spurs. As a team, they were 8/24. In game 2, the bench hit 4 out of the 11. In game 3, the Spurs hit 8 of the 11 made. In game 5, the bench hit 5 of the 11. However, in the losses, the starters have looked lost and out of sync. Tony Parker, who was on fire for the first two series, could not hit his usual mid-range. He has only been 39% from the field in the subsequent losses. The bench for OKC, though they have been subtle in their scoring, make up for their size and toughness. I have seen Nick Collison dunking over the Spurs twice now. Derek Fisher, again, has been a leader and taking decent shots. If yet the OKC Thunder need another shooter, Daequan Cook will be there. Harden has been reliable, hitting 50% in the series so far. He is known as a shooter but in a game 2 loss, he was 10-13 and only attempted one three pointer.  Harden can definitely finish at the rim, it's amazing how he can blow by so many defenders and lay the ball in like it's a warmup with grace.

Ginobli scored 34 points in the game 5 loss.

For game 6, Popovich needs to start Ginobli again at the expense of Danny Green. Green has not been playing well at all in this series and Ginobli gave the 3rd quarter spark to get the Spurs back in, finishing with 34 points and 17 apiece per half. The Spurs need that "nasty" they had in games 1 and 2, as well as making those extra passes. Tony Parker cannot continually to drive in in the fastbreaks because the Thunders defense can easily pick him up in transition. Kevin Durant has been phenomenal in his mid-range and simply does not miss. Westbrook has been a little too crazy and looks like a former version of himself, but if he can calm down and hit his jump shots, that'll be good enough. Ibaka has been working on that jumpshot as well, and it looks like the Spurs are going to have to put a body on him to prevent the easy scoring.