NBA Playoffs 2012: Thunder Can't Rely on Bench to Take Down Seasoned Spurs

If anyone watched Game 3 of the Western Conference Finals without knowing what outcome of Games 1 and 2, they'd have thought the Oklahoma City Thunder took a commanding 3-0 series lead with their dominating 102-82 victory. 

They were the faster, hungrier, more athletic and more efficient team from start to finish on both ends of the court.  

As we all know, the Thunder simply stayed afloat in the series with their impressive win, but now isn't a time to become complacent or believe they can win in the same fashion with relative ease tonight. 

In Game 3, Oklahoma City made a concerted effort to defend the Spurs daunted pick-and-roll differently and place the bigger Thabo Sefolosha on Tony Parker. 

Sefolosha, the Thunder's bench spark, ferociously frustrated San Antonio at the top of the key all evening and finished the game with six steals. 

His length should pose legitimate concern for the Spurs' point guard and make the running pick-and-roll difficult. But conversely, the Thunder can't expect San Antonio to turn the ball over 21 times as it did on Thursday night. 

Head coach Greg Popovich will institute of variety of adjustments and schematic tweaks that will make it easier for the Spurs to be more careful with the basketball. 

Sefolosha also contributed on the offensive end, scoring 19 points on 7-for-16 shooting. There's a chance his spirited play in Game 3 will necessitate more playing time tonight and for the remainder of the series, but Oklahoma City can't rely on a repeat offensive performance.

He hadn't taken more than nine shots in a single game all season before Game 3. 

What does this all mean? 

It means the team's superstars, Russell Westbrook, James Harden and especially Kevin Durant, have to be spectacular to even the series. 

Durant hasn't been bad by any stretch of the imagination during in the Conference finals, but the three-time reigning scoring champion needs to impose his offensive will and have a breakout effort, as does Westbrook. 

The Spurs are a veteran, championship-caliber club that will be more energetic and crisp tonight than in Game 3. 

Without a sloppy game from San Antonio, the Thunder's star trio has to take over at home. 

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