Thunder vs. Spurs: 8 Reasons Why OKC Should Be Considered Favorites

In a blockbuster Western Conference finals matchup, the red-hot San Antonio Spurs square off against the dynamic Oklahoma City Thunder for a chance to advance to the 2012 NBA Finals.

Gregg Popovich's Spurs, led by the old guard of Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili, have been playing brilliant basketball over the last month and deserve loads of respect.

But should they be the favorites?

Kevin Durant and the Thunder have plenty going for them, too. Their athleticism, clutch play and thirst for hardware will put them in a great position to prevail.

Here are eight reasons why Oklahoma City should be considered the favorites in this highly-anticipated series.

Kevin Durant: Best Player on Either Team

The Oklahoma City Thunder have the most dangerous player in the series on their side.

Kevin Durant is in his prime and ready to excel against the best of the West. The three-time NBA scoring king has already proven to be deadly in these playoffs, so Kawhi Leonard will have his hands full.

Durant's 2012 playoff field-goal percentage (49 percent) and three-point percentage (37 percent) are at career highs, and he's more effective on the defensive end than ever.

What's more impressive is his ability to pick up the slack on the road. He carried the Thunder offensively at American Airlines Center in Dallas in the first round and did the same at Staples Center last week.

The Spurs can't get complacent for a second with "Durantula" lined up across the court.

Rim Protection

Scott Brooks can count on his front line of Serge Ibaka, Kendrick Perkins and Kevin Durant to protect the rim. 

Ibaka alone makes it difficult for teams to get clean looks in the paint. The 6'10" leaper blocked 52 shots last postseason, and he's well on his way to eclipsing that mark this year.

It's inevitable that the Spurs will get interior scoring due to efficient spacing and perfectly executed pick-and-rolls. But when it comes to one-on-one action, broken plays and weak-side help, Ibaka will get several blocks on Tim Duncan and company.

Oklahoma City is swatting almost eight shots per game in the playoffs, whereas San Antonio is blocking just five. It's a slight edge that could lead to a couple key stops at the end of games.

Faced Tougher Early-Round Competition

San Antonio has looked incredible this postseason thus far, but that's partially due to their weak strength of playoff schedule.

The Spurs steamrolled the Utah Jazz and the Los Angeles Clippers en route to the conference finals, while the Thunder dispatched the past two NBA champions, Los Angeles and Dallas.

Oklahoma City proved it can handle a team with a big front line and elite playmakers. San Antonio only proved it can stomp a mediocre club like Utah and an injured Chris Paul.

The Spurs' double-digit wins against middleweight opponents aren't going to come in handy against the Thunder, but OKC's battles against Dallas and Los Angeles have strengthened them.

Athleticism

Athletically, Oklahoma City is miles ahead of San Antonio. Danny Green and Kawhi Leonard are the only Spurs that have physical gifts comparable to the Thunder's stars.

Russell Westbrook's speed is going to put pressure on Gregg Popovich's defense and create fast-break buckets. His vertical allows him to pull up for shots any time he wants.

He's the most athletic Thunder star, but the rest of them are close on his heels.

James Harden has sneaky athleticism, with the agility to get past guards and the explosiveness to finish at the rim over forwards. Serge Ibaka's aforementioned leaping prowess will give the Thunder extra possessions, and Kevin Durant's agility allows him to make unbelievable shots.

Bench Value

The Thunder bench isn't as deep as the Spurs', but it still packs a punch and will hold its ground against anyone.

James Harden gives the whole team a boost of energy partway through the game—but he's not your average sparkplug. He brings production that most starters are jealous of: 17 points, five rebounds and three assists per game and a 24.3 Player Efficiency Rating in the playoffs.

Nick Collison has the best shooting percentage on the team, and he'll crash the boards and hold his own against Tim Duncan, Tiago Splitter and Boris Diaw.

Lastly, Derek Fisher will do a decent job defending Tony Parker and Gary Neal while efficiently running the offense. 

OKC's reserves aren't plentiful, but they're valuable.

Perkins and Sefolosha Set Physical Tone

They aren't on the billboards, highlight reels or post-game press conferences, but gritty defenders like Thabo Sefolosha and Kendrick Perkins give the Thunder some clout to accompany their teammates' skill and athleticism.

Sefolosha will slow down Spurs forwards Kawhi Leonard, Boris Diaw and Matt Bonner, while Perkins will help clog the paint.

In his Western Conference finals preview, Sports Illustrated's Britt Robson notes that the Thunder held the Spurs to 48 percent shooting in the paint during their regular season meetings. That's 13 percent lower than their season average of 61 percent.

The length and physicality of Oklahoma City will bother San Antonio much more than the Jazz or Clippers.

Hungry for Their Turn

The core group of the Thunder have endured the transition from Seattle to Oklahoma City, gradually working their way to the playoff ranks and reaching the conference finals a year ago.

They know they're ready to take the next step and claim the throne of the Western Conference.

Russell Westbrook knows he's good enough to compete with Tony Parker. Kevin Durant knows he's the best player on the floor. James Harden knows he's tough to handle.

I don't want to underestimate how hungry San Antonio is, but I'd venture to say the Thunder have just enough hunger to overcome them.

Closing Argument: The Closer

At the end of tight games, it's good to know you have a world-class player who can bury clutch shots.

Tony Parker and Tim Duncan are capable finishers, but Kevin Durant is on a whole different level. Oklahoma City's megastar relishes the opportunity to put the city on his shoulders and deliver in crunch time.

His most recent late-game marksmanship came last week against Los Angeles, as Durant hit the game-winning shot in the waning seconds of Games 2 and 4 against the Lakers in the Western Conference semifinals.

If a couple games in this series are nail-biters, OKC can rely on their cold-blooded closer.

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