NBA Playoff Schedule 2012: What Thunder Must Do in Game 3 to Salvage Series

Even though Game 3 isn't officially a must-win situation for the Oklahoma City Thunder, it's as close as it gets. Beating the San Antonio Spurs four straight times would take a miracle, so the Thunder must salvage the series with a victory tonight.

Let's take a look at three keys for Oklahoma City. If the Thunder execute them, it will put the young contenders back on the right track to make it a tight series.

For a complete look at the remaining playoff schedule for the third round, click here.

Shut Down Role Players

The Spurs have been through enough battles over the years to understand star players are always going to get their points. That's why you see Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook and James Harden doing all the heavy lifting for the Thunder.

San Antonio is going to let those three players do what they do while also making sure none of Oklahoma City's role players are able to have a significant impact. The Thunder must have a similar approach on the other end of the court.

Tony Parker, Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili will find ways to score. Therefore, it's all about making sure secondary scorers like Danny Green and Kawhi Leonard aren't able to get wide open looks from the outside to hit big shots.

Protect The Paint

Parker and Ginobili have been able to attack the rim with relative ease in the first two games. When you give the Spurs layups, they become almost impossible to beat because they aren't giving up those same easy looks on the other end.

The Thunder have to adjust their pick-and-roll defense to turn that guard duo into jump shooters. Yes, they are capable of knocking those down too, but it's a lot better to force Parker into 16-footers instead of a constant barrage of runners in the lane.

Whether that means switching on every pick or simply backing off to protect the paint, it's the only chance they have to slow down the well-oiled offensive machine of the Spurs. Clearly what they were doing in the first two games didn't work.

Maintain Focus

There have been stretches during the first two games where the Thunder were far and away the better team, most notably in the middle of Game 1 and late in Game 2. However, a couple of stretches of great play isn't enough. They need to maintain that high level of play for all 48 minutes.

The home crowd should help. Young players tend to feed off that excitement level more than a veteran team like the Spurs. Getting off to a quick start to send the fans into a frenzy will set the tone for the next two games.

Oklahoma City has enough talent to hang with the Spurs. The Thunder just need to avoid the mental lapses that have cost them so far. If they don't step up tonight, they'll likely have an entire offseason to think about it.