Spurs vs. Thunder: Complete Western Conference Finals Positional Breakdown

The weak have been eliminated, the strong have been established and the very best in the West have emerged: It's time for the Oklahoma City Thunder to play the San Antonio Spurs in the Western Conference finals.

The top two teams in the Western Conference have made quite the statement en route to this showdown of epic proportions, combining to go 16-1 against their Western Conference foes. Both teams have received major contributions from their stars, setting up a true past versus present showdown.

Just don't make the mistake of telling the Spurs their glory days are behind them.

The Thunder's Big Three of Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook and James Harden will square off against the Spurs' Big Three of Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili.

It will be a combined 10 rings against a combined zero. At the end of the war, once the dust has settled and the calm has risen, we will learn who will get the chance to add to their collection.

Here's a position-by-position breakdown of how we will get there.

Point Guard

One of the most highly anticipated matchups of the 2012 NBA playoffs will see young gun Russell Westbrook of the Oklahoma City Thunder go toe to toe with postseason MVP candidate Tony Parker of the San Antonio Spurs.

As Chris Paul will tell you, Russell Westbrook is in for a war.

In the Spurs' series against the Los Angeles Clippers, Tony Parker held Chris Paul to 36.8 percent shooting from the floor and 4.5 turnovers per game. In the Thunder's series against the Los Angeles Lakers, Westbrook averaged 25.6 points on 48.5 percent shooting and turned the ball over just 0.8 times per game.

Something's got to give. And it will.

Advantage: San Antonio Spurs

Shooting Guard

This position battle will be decided by an attack of combinations.

The San Antonio Spurs will deploy a three-headed monster of veteran Stephen Jackson, budding star Daniel Green and the original Sixth Man master, Manu Ginobili. The Thunder will respond with a trio of defensive guru Thabo Sefolosha, three-point killer Daequan Cook and reigning Sixth Man of the Year James Harden.

In other words, we have as even a battle as you will see at any position this season.

While the contemporary fan would suggest Oklahoma City has the advantage, the difference between James Harden and Manu Ginobili is slim to none. In fact, one might be inclined to grant Ginobili the advantage due to the stage they'll be playing on.

As for the other two men involved in this battle, Sefolosha and Jackson offer yet another even split.

Daniel Green, however, has a distinct advantage over Cook. In other words, this close battle has been won.

Advantage: San Antonio Spurs

Small Forward

Kevin Durant is the clear-cut winner in this position battle, but don't count the tandem of Kawhi Leonard and Stephen Jackson out. Just don't expect them to match Durant's 25 to 30 points per contest.

Durant has firmly established himself as one of the NBA's best, pairing his dominant scoring with a finally discovered ability to dominate the boards.

He's also one of the most dynamic athletes we've ever seen in the NBA due to his unbelievable length and unexpected quickness.

On the opposing end, rookie Kawhi Leonard will be tasked with slowing down the former Texas Longhorn. While he's unlikely to do so, he's a very strong player who possesses adequate quickness, making him an ideal defender against Durant.

He's also found his stroke from distance, which will present Durant with his first legitimate defensive matchup of the postseason.

That being said, Durant will get his in a one-on-one matchup. Almost every time.

Advantage: Oklahoma City Thunder

Power Forward

Arguably the most intriguing position battle outside of the realm of point guards will see young, shot-blocking master Serge Ibaka take on one of the greatest to ever play the game of basketball, Tim Duncan.

Before you get it into your head that the high praise is of the past tense, understand that Duncan has controlled Al Jefferson, Paul Millsap and Blake Griffin en route to this battle.

The old man still has some life in those legs.

Ibaka, meanwhile, has picked up where he left off, averaging 3.7 blocks per game, an identical mark to his league-leading regular-season average.

The 22-year-old from Congo is also averaging 9.8 points per game on 53.8 percent shooting from the field, displaying an expanded offensive arsenal in the process.

Tim Duncan has the clear advantage at this position, but don't be shocked to see Ibaka make a major impact on the outcome of this series. This one will be as thrilling as any.

Advantage: San Antonio Spurs

Note: Tim Duncan, by position, would be the 5. Expect Duncan to match up with Serge Ibaka and vice versa.

Center

Much like the Spurs' claiming of Boris Diaw off of waivers, this position battle will go by as one of the more under-reported, but influential, matchups.

The reason being a showdown between two playoff veterans, Diaw of the Spurs and Kendrick Perkins of the Thunder.

Diaw offers the Spurs yet another brilliant passer from the low post as well as one of the better close-to-the-basket scorers in the NBA. Perkins, a former NBA champion with the Boston Celtics, will offer the Thunder very little offense but plenty of defensive stops.

This will be a battle of finesse against power, with power owning the slight edge.

Advantage: Oklahoma City Thunder

Bench

As previously outlined, the Oklahoma City Thunder's second unit will be headed by the Sixth Man of the Year, James Harden. The San Antonio Spurs will counter that with 2008 Sixth Man of the Year Manu Ginobili.

Beyond those players will be where the game is decided.

The combination of Stephen Jackson, DeJuan Blair and Tiago Splitter will offer the Spurs a very solid front line, as Ginobili and Gary Neal split the ball-handling duties.

The Oklahoma City Thunder will attempt to counter these players with an effort squad of Nick Collison, Nazr Mohammed and Daequan Cook.

And some Spurs killer who goes by the name of Derek Fisher.

With all things weighed, embattled star and former NBA champion Stephen Jackson may just be the separating factor. Who would have thunk it?

Advantage: San Antonio Spurs

Head Coach

The reigning Coach of the Year, or the leader of an upstart Oklahoma City squad that, by merit of age and experience, has no business being as mature as it is?

Not as easy a choice as it once seemed, is it?

Scott Brooks of the Oklahoma City Thunder has done a masterful job with the team, whose four key players are all under the age of 23.

Gregg Popovich, meanwhile, has won four NBA titles with the Spurs, the most recent coming in the not-so-distant 2007 season.

Root for the underdog. Acknowledge the master.

Advantage: San Antonio Spurs

In Conclusion...

Two evenly matched teams with just the slightest separation at each position will prove to the world why they're deserving of the spotlight. More importantly, they will battle it out with the chance to be forever remembered as the 2012 Western Conference champions.

Legacies will be made, Hall of Fame resumes will be altered and the best of the West will be decided by the slimmest of margins. Margins that will favor the San Antonio Spurs.

Due to the playoff experience and fresh legs of the San Antonio Spurs' Big Three, as well as key mid-season acquisitions such as Boris Diaw and Stephen Jackson, the Gregg Popovich-led squad will emerge victorious. Look to Daniel Green to play the role of the deciding factor.

Great back-and-forth series but this just isn't Oklahoma City's year.

Positional Advantage: San Antonio Spurs 5, Oklahoma City Thunder 2 

Series Outcome: San Antonio Spurs In Seven