NBA Playoffs 2012: Will James/Wade or Durant/Westbrook Win a Title First?

Being a true NBA zealot, I'm often engaged in a lot of heated conversations pertaining to the league.

Who's the best current player? Which team is the greatest of all time? Who is the greatest player other than Micheal Jordan? These are just some of the questions I am constantly trying to bring into people's consciousness.

Since 1975, when I was a mere 12 years old, I have fervently followed the NBA with great passion. I consider my basketball acumen to be on the same level with people like ESPN's NBA insider Stephen A. Smith.

After watching the Miami Heat lose to the Indiana Pacers 94-75 in Game 3 of their 2012 NBA Eastern Conference semifinal game on Thursday night, a question arose in my mind that I couldn't help but wonder. The question was, which dynamic duo will win an NBA title first: Miami's LeBron James/Dwyane Wade or Oklahoma City's Kevin Durant/Russell Westbrook?

Arguably, the two best duos in the league, I found myself  seriously asking which tandem will lead their team to a championship first. Now, the duo in South Beach is without a doubt the most talented, but does that constitute the right ingredient for winning an NBA title?

James and Wade are currently feeling the Heat as Miami trails the Pacers 2-1 in their best-of-seven series. Meanwhile, Durant and Westbrook have propelled Oklahoma City to a 2-1 lead over the Los Angeles Lakers in their Western Conference semifinal matchup. 

Some league analysts had the Heat and Thunder meeting in the 2012 NBA finals. However, the dream title match between Miami and Oklahoma City might not never come into fruition, meaning NBA aficionados will have to wait another season, or we may never see the two teams in the finals; especially if the Heat trades away either James or Wade.

What a shame that would be for basketball fans who enjoy watching those four players play in the open court. If you like watching a basketball game being played at a frenetic pace, Miami versus Oklahoma City is your cup of tea.

Although neither team has either won or lost their series yet, the question I pose to insightful NBA fans is, which duo will win the title first?

I will have to go with Durant and Westbrook, and here's why.

Yes, James and Wade may be the better of the two tandems, but other than forward Chris Bosh—who is currently injured with an abdominal strain—no one else on the Miami roster, except maybe, guard Mario Chalmers, scares anyone on the opposition.

In Oklahoma City's case, the Thunder have better complementary players who fit the scheme of the franchise.

Before Bosh was lost for the rest of Pacers series, I would have gone with James and Wade winning a title first. However, it is obvious that Bosh's absence has been felt in a huge way. Miami is struggling to find an offensive identity, and with Wade coming off his worst playoff performance ever (five points in Game 3), the Heat have an even bigger worry now: their mental focus.

And second, Durant and Westbrook are in the playoffs for the third consecutive year and appear to be on the brink of greatness. The two have grown together and play the game with great passion. If Oklahoma City does not win the title this season, it will in the next two seasons because of aging teams in their conference.

In the West, more experienced teams like the Lakers, San Antonio Spurs and Dallas Mavericks are maybe one more season away from fading, while in the East, Miami will have to deal with the up-and-coming Pacers, a young Philadelphia 76ers team and the Chicago Bulls—who will be a totally different team when Derrick Rose returns from his torn ACL in his left knee.

James and Wade are two of the top five players in the game right now. In just their second season together, they are still learning how to play together. At times, James and Wade confound their opponents with amazing athleticism, while other times, the two seem to get into each other's way.

However, with Oklahoma City, the conversation begins and ends with Kevin Durant. A player like Russell Westbrook knows his role and does not get in Durant's way. Even when the two are struggling together, their egos are not a problem—so it seems.

And, because of that, I would have to say Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook will lead the Thunder to a championship before LeBron James and Dwyane Wade help Miami win.