NBA Playoffs 2012: Thunder Will Leap Past Lakers and Spurs to Win Title

The Oklahoma City Thunder are not only young and talented, but they're healthy in the 2012 NBA playoffs.

And that is why the Thunder will claim the championship this season.

I've switched my pick for the champion twice already this season. I began the season picking the Miami Heat, thinking another year together would prove to be the difference from last season. Then I picked the Chicago Bulls after it became apparent that their team chemistry was worlds better than the Heat's. Then I went back to the Heat after Derrick Rose tore his ACL in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference quarterfinals.

Now, after Chris Bosh's history, I have decided to pick the Thunder for the long haul.

Such is the way of the NBA. One major injury can turn the tide. Even if Bosh returns before the Finals (assuming the Heat get there), he likely won't be 100 percent, and he needs to be 100 percent for the Heat to topple the Thunder down the line.

The Los Angeles Lakers made things interesting in Game 2 of the Western Conference semifinals against the Thunder. They had a legitimate shot at taking a game in Oklahoma City. But, alas, their inconsistency predictably proved damaging down the stretch.

If (or when) the the Thunder meet the San Antonio Spurs in the Western Conference finals, that will be a fantastic series. The Spurs, with their Big Three veterans, combined with some complementary youth (including Kawhi Leonard), have a legitimate shot at not only making it to the Finals, but winning the whole thing.

But there is so much to like about the Thunder. 

First of all, they have the game's best closer right now in Kevin Durant. He hit a game-winning seven-foot floater on the baseline over Pau Gasol in Game 2 against the Lakers with 18 seconds left. Given what we had seen from him before that point, it almost seemed inevitable that he would close out Game 2 in style.

Secondly, you can't deny how dominant the Thunder were in the regular season. They ranked third in field goal percentage, first in free-throw percentage, fifth in rebounding differential and fourth in opponents' field goal percentage.

And while the Spurs have been more statistically dominant in the postseason, it's worth noting who they've faced. The Spurs have faced the Utah Jazz and Los Angeles Clippers. The Thunder have faced the Lakers and defending champion Dallas Mavericks. It was undoubtedly going to be a more difficult run for the Thunder.

That's what makes the Thunder's run so far that much more impressive. Last season's team may have given Game 2 to the Lakers. This season's team didn't allow that to happen.

The Thunder have two superstars in Durant and Russell Westbrook, two interior post defenders in Serge Ibaka and Kendrick Perkins, a solid defender at shooting guard in Thabo Sefolosha and the Sixth Man of the Year in James Harden.

What's not to like?

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