NBA Playoffs 2012: The Tables Have Turned in Both Conference Finals Series

After two games in each conference finals, people were already getting prepared for a San Antonio Spurs vs. Miami Heat NBA Finals.

Critics began listing reasons why neither the Oklahoma City Thunder nor the Boston Celtics could come back in their respective series.

The Thunder were believed to be too young and too inexperienced. There was no way they would be able to compete with the Spurs. The Spurs just had too much depth and their big three accumulated three championships together. Parker, Duncan and Ginobili were seasoned vets, while the Thunder's big three of Durant, Westbrook and Harden were mere infants in comparison.

While the Thunder were thought to be "too young," people were claiming that the Boston Celtics were "too old" and "too injured" after they went down 2-0 to the younger and more athletic Miami Heat team. With Paul Pierce's knee injury and Ray Allen's ankle injury, it seemed reasonable to assume that they had no chance to come back. Even Wally Szcerbiak was taking his shots at the Celtics, and especially Kevin Garnett.

Both teams sure have proven people wrong. The Celtics have taken three straight from the Miami Heat, and the Thunder have won three in a row against a Spurs team that had won 20 straight before Game 3. 

This is the beauty of the the NBA playoffs and sports in general. Things can change rapidly and in less than a week, the Celtics and Thunder are now in the driver's seat.

Momentum is one of the most overused words in sports, but if any team has momentum right now, these teams sure do as they both head to Game 6 at home in their respective series with the chance to head to the NBA Finals.