NBA Western Conference Finals: Spurs vs. Thunder, Tale of the Tape by Position

The experts will have you believe we are in store for an epic Western Conference Finals.

The Spurs entered their first two series with their brooms firmly in hand, pushing their winning streak to nineteen straight as they swept the Utah Jazz and Los Angeles Clippers eight games to zero.

Meanwhile, the Thunder disposed of their first two opponents, the Dallas Mavericks and Los Angeles Lakers, in similar fashion, suffering only one loss in eight games.

The Spurs and the Thunder are clearly the hottest teams remaining in the playoffs, and the winner of this series has to be considered the favorite to win it all. 

Surely we are in for a "Thrilla in Manila" type slugfest bound to go seven games, right? Not necessarily. A head-to-head tale of the tape between the players and coaches of the Spurs and Thunder paints a completely different picture.

Who Will Dominate the Point Guard Position

Point Guard

Tony Parker vs. Russell Westbrook

Each of these All-Star point guards is pivotal to his team's success. Parker and Westbrook are two of the most effective scorers in the paint at their position. Expect both of them to get their fair share of highlight-reel dazzling drives to the basket.

In their three head-to-head regular season meetings, Parker edged Westbrook averaging 23 points and seven assists a game to Westbrook's 21 points and five assists. This one is too close to call.

Advantage: None

Who Will Stand out in the Battle of the Shooting Guards?

Shooting Guard

Danny Green vs. Thabo Sefolosha

Green, once thought of as a place-warmer for Manu Ginobili, has emerged as a bona fide starter at shooting guard. Both he and Sefolosha possess excellent defensive skills and will be called upon to defend the opposing team's point guard for stretches throughout this series.

Danny Green’s ability to knock down the three gives him the edge in this head-to-head matchup. In their last regular season meeting, Green dropped 21 points to lead the Spurs to victory.

Advantage: Spurs

Will Kevin Durant Rise to the Occasion?

Small Forward

Kawhi Leonard vs. Kevin Durant

Kevin Durant is coming off his third consecutive scoring title. He will be the main catalyst toward the Oklahoma Thunder having a successful campaign against the Spurs. In the three regular season meetings with San Antonio, Kevin Durant had subpar performances in each outing, averaging 22 points per game, which is well below his season average.

Since being inserted into the starting lineup, Kawhi Leonard has steadily improved. He is shooting 40 percent from beyond the arc in the playoffs. Leonard hopes to slow Durant down offensively while making him work just as hard on the defensive end.

Advantage: Thunder

Is the 5th Championship Within Duncan's Reach?

Power Forward

Tim Duncan vs. Serge Ibaka

Serge Ibaka has emerged as a leading shot-blocker in the NBA, helping him to secure second place in the Defensive Player of the Year race. He will have his hands full facing arguably the greatest power forward to play the game and who appears to have found the fountain of youth.

In their head-to-head matchup, Duncan has outscored and out-rebounded his counterpart, averaging 13 points and 13 rebounds per game to Ibaka's 11 points and seven rebounds. With increased minutes in the playoffs, Duncan’s numbers continue to climb toward his career marks of 21 points and 10 rebounds. He averaged 20 points and nine rebounds in the previous series against the Los Angeles Clippers.

Advantage: Spurs

Who Will Contribute from the Center Position?

Center

Boris Diaw vs. Kendrick Perkins

Kendrick Perkins had an abysmal performance against the Spurs in the regular season, averaging just one point and three rebounds per contest. Conversely, DeJuan Blair, the Spurs' starting center before the arrival of Diaw, averaged 11 points and six rebounds. 

How will Perkins fare against the more versatile Boris Diaw? Given Diaw’s performance in the Clippers series and his ability to hit the three, Perkins will face his most difficult opponent to date in the playoffs.

Advantage: Spurs

Will the Real Manu Appear for the Conference Finals?

Bench

Led by Manu Ginobili and James Harden

Both the Thunder and the Spurs possess outstanding bench play led by former Sixth Man of the Year Manu Ginobili and the current Sixth Man of the Year, James Harden.

The Spurs' bench lead the league in point production in the regular season and throughout the playoffs. It has been fortified with the arrival of Stephen Jackson and Patty Mills. In fact, the second unit has been just as potent as the first unit during the playoffs, and there does not appear to be any let-up for this group anytime soon.

Advantage: Spurs

Gregg Popovich Is Head of the Class Amongst Active Coaches

Coach

Gregg Popovich vs. Scott Brooks

Scott Brooks has compiled an impressive 152 wins to 78 losses over the course of three full years at the helm of the Oklahoma City Thunder. During that stretch, he also earned the Coach of the Year award. Brooks is off to a great start toward one day becoming a future Hall of Famer.

By contrast, Gregg Popovich’s marble bust is probably already in the back storage room at the NBA Hall of Fame in Springfield, Massachusetts, waiting to be rolled out front and center the day he retires from the game.

Popovich is the longest-tenured head coach in all of pro sports and is considered one of the greatest coaches of all time. His four championship titles represent his ingenuity and adaptability, which has kept the San Antonio Spurs relevant every year of Tim Duncan’s career.

Brooks won’t be able to compete with the silver and black chess master.

Advantage: Spurs

Prediction: This will be a very entertaining series and possibly the best matchup of the 2012 playoffs. If David Stern is wise, he will make sure the Spurs and Thunder occupy the prime-time TV slot each time they play. The Spurs' depth and veteran experience will guide them to a victory over the Thunder in six games.