Western Conference Finals 2012: Ranking the Most Crucial Players in the Series

The two best teams in the NBA will meet in the Western Conference finals in a series that should be so hard-fought and exciting, it just might overshadow the NBA Finals.

Though both teams are very different—the Thunder are young and aggressive, the Spurs are battle-tested, dominant veterans—the one thing they have in common is their talent is the best of the best.

Here's a rundown of the top five most important players in this series.

5. James Harden

The NBA Sixth Man of the Year had that distinction long before the league officially awarded it to him. As we've seen with so many other teams in the playoffs, an electrifying bench player is hard to come by, and the Thunder have the best one there is.

In 21.13 minutes per game, the guard averages 16.8 points, 3.7 assists and 4.1 rebounds, and he'll prove to be even more crucial facing the Spurs, against whom he's averaged 19.3 points per game throughout his career.

But for Harden, it's not necessarily about the points he puts up or his stat line at the end of the night; it's about the energy he brings to the game and the emotional boost he gives his team when he comes in. 

4. Russell Westbrook 

This season, he has emerged as the kind of player who can make all of his teammates better, including Kevin Durant. He can always be counted upon to bring energy and fire into the game, and can also be counted on to make a big play at the most crucial times.

Westbrook came through in OKC's series-clinching win over the Lakers in Game 5 of the conference semis. He got a steal and took the ball all the way to the hoop, plowing through Ramon Sessions for an underhanded jumper/layup hybrid.

Westbrook is by far one of the most athletic players on the court at any given time. For him, it just comes down to making the right shot selection and keeping his game—and his emotions—under control.

3. Tony Parker

Westbrook's kryptonite in this series will be his counterpoint.

Both are All-Star point guards, but Parker is a three-time NBA champion and has more experience and more control over his game. He'll also be the first point guard Westbrook has faced in this postseason who is skilled enough and aggressive enough to hang in there with him.

Parker leads the Spurs in scoring with 19.1 points per game and will be much more difficult to defend than Ramon Sessions or Jason Kidd.

Parker plays an extremely important role in this series because if he can neutralize Westbrook, he takes away one of the Thunder's biggest X-factors.

OKC can't win a series with only Kevin Durant putting up the points.

2. Tim Duncan

Duncan has been here and done that plenty of times before, which puts him leaps and bounds ahead of the rest. It also doesn't hurt that he's won four NBA championships—the only current member of the Spurs to accomplish that feat.

Duncan is too smart to get excited that the Spurs are halfway to a fifth championship, and he's in better shape physically than he's been in years.

Duncan is the rock of this team and is coming off a terrific showing against the Clippers where he shot 59.4 percent from the field and averaged 21 points, 9.3 rebounds and two blocks. It's always dangerous for opponents when the best player on the team is playing his best basketball of the year.

1. Kevin Durant

And speaking of being at his best, there's Durant, who finally has a team around him that will allow him to excel.

He proved in the conference semis he can outplay Kobe Bryant, and now Durant's out to prove he can be good enough to take his team to the NBA Finals. When Durant guarded Kobe in the semis, Kobe shot 1-for-10 from the field—and 41.7  percent otherwise.

That's how crucial Durant's impact can be.

Durant averaged 26.8 points per game against the Lakers in the last round and 6.4 transition points, which is what really killed the Lakers, who were mentally and physically exhausted at the end of the season.

If he can have the same impact on the veteran Spurs, the Thunder stand a chance in this matchup.