NBA Playoffs 2012: Thunder's Lack of Post Presence a Problem for NBA Title Hopes

The Oklahoma City Thunder sport many of the ingredients needed to contend for (and win) an NBA title.

They have two dependable superstars (Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook) and a third (James Harden) who'd probably be considered in their category if he played more minutes. They're young, but they've won playoff series as a group before, as they did on the way to the Western Conference Finals last year.

And, as they showed in Game 2 against the Los Angeles Lakers on Wednesday, they have the collective poise, grit and determination to play well under pressure and beat good teams even when things aren't always going their way.

What the Thunder lack, and what will likely come back to bite them at some point soon, is their lack of a reliable offensive option down low. The Thunder are fantastic on the fast break, wherein their speed and athleticism are almost impossible to stop.

However, get OKC in the half court and watch their offensive efficiency plummet. Westbrook, Durant and Harden are all solid ball-handlers capable of running the pick-and-roll, but the Thunder don't have anyone who truly demands defensive attention to pair with them.

That mediocrity in the middle also often forces OKC's Big Three to jack up jump shots from the perimeter in the half court when they might otherwise drive the lane. Without a big man who can score, the opposing team's pivot is free to patrol the lane and contest whatever drives might come through.

This proved to be a problem against the Lakers, who were able to stifle the Thunder's offensive production for most of the game by limiting turnovers, controlling tempo and bodying up Durant, Westbrook and Harden on the perimeter.

Of course, OKC was able to win anyway, but it may not be so fortunate in the rounds to come, be it against the San Antonio Spurs in the Western Conference Finals or, say, the Boston Celtics or Indiana Pacers in the NBA Finals thereafter.

The Thunder have the heart, hustle, talent and desire to win, but a lack of inside-out balance on the offensive end can only take you so far.

Unless you're fortunate enough to have Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen on your team, but that's another story for another time.

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