{"id":2372,"date":"2016-04-30T08:52:46","date_gmt":"2016-04-30T13:52:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/fredsportsextra.com\/?p=2372"},"modified":"2017-07-08T13:14:23","modified_gmt":"2017-07-08T18:14:23","slug":"thunderspurs-preview","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fredsportsextra.com\/?p=2372","title":{"rendered":"Thunder\/Spurs Preview"},"content":{"rendered":"
The longer the series, the better the chance that the Oklahoma City Thunder take the 2nd round Western Conference match-up between these two outstanding combatants.\u00a0 The reasoning?\u00a0 San Antonio has a base of older players that would feel the wear and tear of a longer series.\u00a0 The fact of the matter is that OKC might\u00a0wear down the likes of\u00a0 Tony\u00a0Parker, Manu Ginobili, and Tim Duncan\u00a0.\u00a0 Fresher legs in the\u00a0names of Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, Dion Waiters and the rest give the Thunder\u00a0an advantage in a longer run in\u00a0this knock-out round in the West\u00a0<\/span><\/h5>\n

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Things to take into account:<\/span><\/h5>\n

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    \n
  1. \n
    Can Kawhi Leonard, the best player on the Spurs, shut down Kevin Durant?<\/span><\/h5>\n<\/li>\n
  2. \n
    Can Russell Westbrook dominate his point guard position over Tony Parker?<\/span><\/h5>\n<\/li>\n
  3. \n
    Will the bigs of Enes Kanter, Serge Ibaka and Steven Adams\u00a0of OKC take the day over the bigs of the Spurs?<\/span><\/h5>\n<\/li>\n
  4. \n
    Will the home court be the difference in a seven game series?<\/span><\/h5>\n<\/li>\n
  5. \n
    Does the injury card play a significant role in the final outcome of this spectacular\u00a0meeting?\u00a0<\/span><\/h5>\n<\/li>\n
  6. \n
    Because both teams are familiar with each other, will the coaching edge of Greg Popovich and his staff be the deal breaker for the Thunder?<\/span><\/h5>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

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    The answers to these questions will have been answered in a couple of weeks or less.<\/span>\u00a0The winner gets to take their abilities\u00a0into the next round against the Golden State\/Portland winner. To predict a Spurs win would tell me that Parker is effective and the defense of the older team has won the day in the final minutes of four games.\u00a0 And San Antonio stays healthy.\u00a0 For OKC, they have to win on the road, and they might have to do it twice.\u00a0 The Spurs will challenge OKC on Reno Street.\u00a0 Durant and Westbrook are key, but not in just scoring.\u00a0 Westbrook needs to approach a triple double in each contest and Durant can’t allow Leonard to take his game away, especially in crunch time.<\/span><\/h5>\n

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    The case can be made for either team in this series. \u00a0I like younger legs and will go with OKC in seven.\u00a0<\/span><\/h5>\n

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    Feature Photo:\u00a0 San Antonio Spurs forward Kawhi Leonard, right, drives around Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kevin Durant, left, in the fourth quarter of an NBA basketball game in Oklahoma City, Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2015.\u00a0 Photo: Sue Ogrocki, AP<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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    The longer the series, the better the chance that the Oklahoma City Thunder take the…<\/p>\n

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