NBA Finals 2012 TV Schedule: Thunder Must Seize Momentum Early in Series

The Oklahoma City Thunder have one of the best home-court advantages in the NBA. They shouldn't let it go to waste in the first two games of the NBA Finals against the Miami Heat.

If they do, this will be a very difficult series for the Thunder to win.

Now, I'm not saying they need to win both games, nice as that would be. But a win in Game 1 and the chance to take early control of the series would be huge.

For one, it would put the pressure on Miami early, especially if LeBron James or Dwyane Wade start this series flat. And we all know if that happens, the media speculation will run rampant, and the questions will start flying:

Is Kevin Durant a better big-game performer than James? Are the Big Three enough to win a title for the Heat, or do they need a better supporting cast? Is Erik Spoelstra really the right man for the job? Will the Heat move Dwyane Wade if they don't win this series? Is Chris Bosh overrated?

You know it's true—even with just a Game 1 loss, all of the media's focus will turn on the Heat and all of the team's perceived shortcomings. It's never a bad thing when the opposite team has to answer the annoying questions.

And while the Thunder should be rife with confidence after winning four-straight games against the San Antonio Spurs, a Game 1 win can only boost the team's belief in itself.

They come into this Finals with more confidence, more rest and the home-court advantage—they should be the better team early in this series. How devastating would it be for them to drop the first two games? Could they come back from that?

Sure, they lost the first two games to the Spurs, but those games were in San Antonio. The Thunder were able to come back home and right the ship. But losing the first two games at home?

That would spell doom.

Ultimately, I think this series is bound to go the full seven games, with each team adjusting and counter-punching. I expect this will be a fun, fast-paced, high-scoring series that could be the start of a very fun Finals rivalry for years to come.

Ultimately, I see the Thunder winning in seven on the home court.

But seizing the early momentum in this series will be huge for the Thunder. Keeping the pressure on this Miami team is one of the keys to this series.

Do that, and I expect OKC will be hanging a banner. The full television schedule for the Finals is below.

Game	Date	Time	Network
1	Tuesday, June 12th	9:00 p.m. ET	ABC
2	Thursday, June 14th	9:00 p.m. ET	ABC
3	Sunday, June 17th	8:00 p.m. ET	ABC
4	Tuesday, June 19th	9:00 p.m. ET	ABC
5 (if necessary)	Thursday, June 21st	9:00 p.m. ET	ABC
6 (if necessary)	Sunday, June 24th	8:00 p.m. ET	ABC
7 (if necessary)	Tuesday, June 26th	9:00 p.m. ET	ABC

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