As the OKC Thunder prepare to face off with a San Antonio Spurs juggernaut in the 2016 NBA Playoffs, here are the five keys to winning the series.
With one Western Conference semifinals matchup all but shot to hell because of injuries to Stephen Curry, Chris Paul and Blake Griffin, NBA fans still have one thing to look forward to out West: yet another high octane playoff matchup between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the San Antonio Spurs.
While the Golden State Warriors needing one more win to advance and the Los Angeles Clippers-Portland Trail Blazers first round series is a 2-2 toss-up, Thunder vs. Spurs Part 3 is already set in stone.
San Antonio is coming off a franchise-best 67 wins and a four-game sweep of the Memphis Grizzlies in the first round, while the Thunder are finally healthy at the right time (knock on wood) — making this a star-studded series between two championship-caliber teams.
Unlike in years past, the Spurs are the overwhelming favorites in this head-to-head matchup. But with OKC coming off a similarly dominant first round series against a better opponent in the Dallas Mavericks, nothing is set in stone.
Heading into this highly anticipated matchup, here’s a look at what the Thunder have to do in this series to beat a historically great 67-win team and advance to the Western Conference Finals.
Next: No. 5