NBA Playoffs 2014: Can Thunder sustain momentum against Spurs?

Sometimes having a superstar is all you need to create the difference between two teams and win a playoff game. Russell Westbrook did just that in Oklahoma City's series-tying victory over San Antonio. But can the Thunder sustain a gameplan like that to advance to the final stage?

Westbrook scored 40, Kevin Durant had 31, and the Thunderous duo combined for 71 points to even up the Western Conference Finals. It wasn't just those two scoring all the time -- with Serge Ibaka back and continuing to improve, the Thunder have gained an 18-4 advantage in blocks in the last two games.

That's also created a better transition game for OKC -- they outscored SA 21-0 in fastbreak points last night. The Spurs also relied on the perimeter to generate offense, but ultimately went 9-of-27 from downtown.

In today's generation, there's no doubt that fans and plenty of sports media outlets will send out that agonizing old question of, "Are the Spurs done?" Trolls and other Skip Bayless wannabes are at their Twitter machines asking where the Spurs fans are at.

You would think that we have finally learned that just taking what happened after one game and running with it is the wrong thing to do. I mean, how many people thought this series was over after the Spurs smacked around the Thunder in San Antonio after the first two games?

The reality is that Oklahoma City is gaining some roleplayers in Ibaka and Derek Fisher -- one of the variables needed to complete the equation to an NBA championship. But the largest part of both Thunder victories are the incredible scoring output of Westbrook and Durant. The problem with that is not being able to rely on that each night to win a title.

San Antonio can easily buckle down and make the adjustments, including an improved performance from Manu Ginobli, and take the momentum in this series after Game 5. Phil Jackson got his title as the "zen master" with the Los Angeles Lakers because they generally thrived in the fifth game of a series, making changes when the national media couldn't wait to shoot them down at a rapid-fire pace even when a series was knotted up after four games.

The same is being done with the Spurs because everyone wants to be the first to write that chapter that the Spurs' ship has finally sank. When it comes to making adjustments and managing a team, it's not a stretch to put more faith in Gregg Popovich over Scott Brooks right now.

Oklahoma City could certainly win the last two games and close this series out with Ibaka's dominance inside and the Westbrook/Durant duo scoring around 70 points a game. But nothing is over, despite claims that will be made on social media and four-letter networks today.

Just like being patient and waiting to see what the Thunder would do at home in the next two games of this series, let's see what San Antonio has for the pivotal Game 5.

WSD Sports Page: Can Thunder defeat the Spurs without Ibaka?

Without the contributions of Serge Ibaka, the Oklahoma City Thunder's defense gave up 122 points against the San Antonio Spurs in Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals. The final presents one major question to us -- can the Thunder compete without the aid of Ibaka?

Since the Spurs are so well-coached under Gregg Popovich, who's been a complete master at running his old crew by playing a lot of younger guys throughout the course of the season and exposing matchups, did just that by ramming the offense in the paint.

The Spurs outscored the Thunder 66-32 inside the paint. Tim Duncan and Kawhi Leonard had a combined 43 points and the three main guards -- Tony Parker, Danny Green, and Manu Ginobli -- had incredibly efficient nights combining for 20-of-31 from the field. Parker dished out 12 of the team's 28 assists.

Without Ibaka, the Thunder's reliance on Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook running the show alone won't be enough. Derek Fisher went 4-of-6 from downtown to keep the Thunder within striking distance, and OKC even took the lead after Westbrook went off at the start of the second half.

But that was the problem. That burst of energy wasn't sustained, and the only two points that weren't scored by Durant or Westbrook in that whole quarter were two Fisher free throws with 53 seconds left in the period.

Without Ibaka's beastly presence inside, and the Spurs nearly coasting with their starters for an entire NBA season, it's going to be impossible for the Thunder to win the series unless they can find a third starter that can actually produce at least half of what Durant and Westbrook do. Basically, You can't have box scores with the dynamic duo taking 40 shots and scoring 53 points while the other three starters shoot the ball 10 times and score five points (and two of them having goose eggs in the points column).

And one of their bigs needs to somehow slow down the Spurs' offensive train. They have the offense, but we've seen how bad this defense is without Ibaka this season. OKC did go 4-0 against SA this season, but that doesn't matter with the current matchups and the Spurs not playing in regular season mode. Now the Thunder are left with having to figure out this puzzle.

Other Headlines

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Today's Slate
(Central times listed)

NBA PLAYOFFS - CONF FINALS
Draft Lottery - 7:00 ESPN
Heat at Pacers (IND 1-0) - 7:30 ESPN

MLB
Dodgers at Mets - 6:10 MLBTV
D'backs at Cardinals - 7:15 FSMW
-Giants at Rockies - 7:40 MLBTV
Twins at Padres - 9:10 FSNO