NBA Finals 2012: 5 Reasons OKC Thunder Will Dominate the Finals

You never forget your first.

This year's NBA Finals features two young squads in pursuit of their first championship as a unit. Aside from Dwyane Wade, Udonis Haslem, Kendrick Perkins and Derek Fisher no other player from these two rosters has tasted the champagne showers after winning it all.  

This series will be a grind from start to finish since both teams love to run up and down the court. There will be no shortage of fast breaks in this series as the youthful legs of the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Miami Heat battle it out for supremacy.

However, the Thunder is poised take over the series due in large part to their stellar free throw percentage and a kid named Kevin Durant.

Continue on for a rundown of why the Thunder will dominate this series.  

5. Controlling the Boards

According to ESPN.com, in the playoffs the Heat and the Thunder are both averaging 40.5 and 40.3 rebounds, respectively.

However, the Thunder out rebounded the Heat in both match ups this season thanks to the exploits of Serge Ibaka, Kendrick Perkins and Nick Collison off the bench. 

Miami let the Boston Celtics, one of the worst rebounding teams in the league, look dominant at times. The Thunder have five players that average five or more rebounds a game in the playoffs which is why they are sure to outrebound the Heat in this series. 

4. Russell Westbrook Is Dangerous

Russell Westbrook is a constant threat on offense despite being well-known for jacking up shots. Much like Durant, he can fill it up fast and really stretch out a lead.

If Westbrook plays efficiently and makes smart decisions he will be too much for the Heat to contain.

Miami had trouble dealing with Rajon Rondo in the Eastern Conference Finals despite his unpolished offensive game. Imagine what a superior scorer like Westbrook could do. 

3. Free Throw Shooting

The Thunder led the league in free throw percentage in both the regular season and the playoffs. 

In this post season the Thunder are shooting an eye popping .835 from the charity stripe while the Heat have shot .723, according to ESPN.com

Not only is this team solid from the foul line, but they also have an uncanny ability to draw fouls with ease. This combination makes them deadly and a nuisance to deal with on both ends of the court. 

2. James Harden Can Provide Spark off the Bench

The reigning NBA's Sixth Man of the Year has not disappointed in this year's playoffs after posting a career best 17.6 points per game. 

His scoring and playmaking ability off the bench is unmatched by any player on the Heat's second unit.

As a shooting guard naturally he'll be matched up with Dwyane Wade, but when Harden and Westbrook are the court together all hell breaks loose. The advantage shifts to the Thunder since Wade can't be in two places at once. He has to pick his poison with this young, dynamic backcourt since both Thunder guards are able to run the point effectively. 

1. Kevin Durant Will Get His

Kevin Durant is the model of consistency in the NBA. The 2012 scoring champion keeps his pace no matter who is guarding him. This season Durant averaged 29 points against Miami, 28 in the regular season and 27.8 in the playoffs.

LeBron James, a member of the 2012 All-Defensive Team heavily guarded Durant in both match ups against the Thunder this season and KD still had his way.

James will make things tough for Durant, but there is no way he'll get shut down in the Finals. He will get his and there's no doubt about that.