All signs indicate we now have a series in Oklahoma. First and foremost I want to make it absolutely clear that I’m a Los Angeles Laker fan. Now that we got that out the way coming into this season I picked San Antonio to make it back to the finals and avenge their loss against the Miami Heat. A free throw by Manu or “Sugar K” or a missed three by Jesus Shuttlesworth and it’s 5 rings and counting for Timmy. The past is the past and right now we’re deep in the middle of the Conference Finals.
In games one and two the Ibaka-less thunder were simply beat in every facet of the game. The trainers in OKC just 2 weeks ago declared Serge Ibaka’s season over. Not only was that untrue but he also affected the game more than anyone anticipated with 15pts, 7rebs, 4blks and altered countless other shots. With him back and some changes to the starting line up the Thunder now look too athletic for the old Spurs. They have now beaten the Spurs 6 straight times with Ibaka in the mix.
Pop is the best coach in the league in my opinion and Tim Duncan is the best power forward of all time in my opinion, but the common denominator in their losses notoriously has been Tony Parker. If you neutralize him the savvy Spurs unravel. I’m sticking to my pick, but this does not appear to be just a walk through the park anymore.
