Each week, we’ll ask our stable of scribes to weigh in on the three most important NBA topics of the day — and then give you a chance to step on the scale, too, in the comments below.
Other than injury, what’s the biggest threat to the Thunder — from the Thunder?
Steve Aschburner: Nerves. Or Russell Westbrook. I can’t decide which of those might seize up on the Thunder now that they’ve reached the NBA’s biggest stage. The lights are brighter, and hotter, than any under which Oklahoma City ever has played. That’s not to say they’re certain to wilt but compared to Miami – the most scrutinized team in NBA history – the Thunder has been playing below the radar. On a cool afternoon. At a playground on the far side of town. Any expectations fans have for them, or they have for themselves, haven’t crossed over into the better-not-lose pressure the Heat has faced since Day 1, 2010-11. As for Westbrook, Oklahoma City needs his energy and relentlessness – wonder what Miami coach Erik Spoelstra will call him, after labeling Rajon Rondo an “unpredictable genius” – but too much of both at the wrong times could spell trouble. To me, he’s the X factor for the Thunder in both directions.
Fran Blinebury: I guess this is your sly way of asking if Russell Westbrook can screw this up for the Thunder. He’ll certainly get the lion’s share of the blame for any games the Thunder lose. But I also think he’ll bail them out a time or two.
Scott Howard-Cooper: Turnovers. It was a major problem during the regular season and so it must be considered at least a potential threat in the Finals, even with commendable improvements the first three rounds of the playoffs. There were no serious problems with sloppy ball handling or poor decisions against the Mavericks, Lakers or Spurs. But those teams didn’t have defenders like LeBron James and Dwyane Wade to throw at playmakers Russell Westbrook, James Harden and Kevin Durant.
Shaun Powell: OKC only needs to get a grip on the ball. Turnovers and Russell Westbrook occasionally playing out of control are the only weakness of this crew, and even that is nitpicking at this point, because the Thunder’s many strengths can cover for all that. Miami must beat OKC, the Thunder won’t beat themselves.
John Schuhmann: Fouls. Their big guys – Serge Ibaka, Kendrick Perkins and Nick Collison – tend to foul a lot. Thunder opponents rank fifth in free throw rate in the postseason (32 FTA per 100 FGA) and the Heat would love for LeBron James and Dwyane Wade to get to the line 20-plus times a game. Of course, it all starts on the perimeter, and it’s up to the OKC guards and wings to keep the Heat stars in front of them. They can’t just depend on the frontline to protect the rim.
Sekou Smith: This is just another way of getting us all to bag on Russell Westbrook, isn’t it? Well, I’m not going there. Not until we see a game or two, at least. The biggest threat right now is the pressure. The Thunder can’t succumb to the pressure of being the “favorite” in this series. This team is just three years removed from lottery country. So outside of the Derek Fisher and Kendrick Perkins, they don’t have a wealth of playoff experience to fall back on once this series gets going. I am by no means questioning their toughness, because you don’t vanquish the 13-year power structure in the Western Conference the way they did in the postseason without having some serious chops. It’s just that it’s hard to simulate the pressure The Finals brings until you get there, as a group. And if you need a reminder, just look at the way the Heat crumbled under the weight of expectations last year against the Mavericks.
The Heat got beat by a team game last year. If OKC can continue to move the ball and stay away from the isolation or one on one play then they will win games big. Of all the games played so far OKC always made a run to come back and win or get close. Miami can lose games big, when they get off they stay off, so OKC I think will win a few games big. Home court advantage has been the key over the years, so the Heat have to win one straight off at OKC, must. And to do that they will need intense defensive pressure forcing turnovers. Should be fun, more fun that OKC and the Spurs? Ya!
The biggest threats to my native city’s Thunder is that Perkins and their other centers will get beat on the boards too often and that Serge Ibaka won’t get the minutes he should because Coach Brooks develops too strong a fear of playing him in the Finals. Ibaka has the best chance of any member of that team to keep Udonis Haslem from doing as much damage as he did against the Celtics. Only recently has Ibaka been getting anywhere near as much credit from the national media as I believe he should. Hopefully he will get a lot more now, and that Miamians will soon be cursing when they hear or read about him.
Whoever gets lots of whistles lose games. RIGGED.
some games do look that way. maybe to make money
The NBA has been shoving Miami and Lebron down our throats for so many years hopefully they let them just play in the final so OKC can show they are truely the better team. That second game of the Miami/Boston series was so hard to watch, it was so disgustingly rigged for Miami to win I lost hope in the NBA.
but you still find a way and came here to comment.
winning comment, so much hate on his speech, haha!
Indeed he did, there is no short supply of HEAT haters out there. If only scientist could find a way to harness all their hate and discontent for the HEAT we could have an unlimited source renewable energy. I may be going out on a limb here but, I believe the Heat/LeBron were mentioned because the Heat did play in the championships last year and LeBron became MVP three times in the last four years. Also, if any game in the Miami/Boston series it was rigged it was game four where LeBron was fouled out on some questionable calls. Not mention the overall no call nature of that whole game. The Heat have earned their way here make no mistake about it.
huh?… when did his comment suggest he was lost?…lol
and we all know mr stern would have lost his marbles if it was a spurs v celts final.. did he rigg it?.. i doubt that.. still if one day it came out that stern rigged a series i wouldn’t be shocked at all…
rigged is that they the celtics were in the confrence final. lets build bulls
Heat will win the game much experience than young thunder….
The experience factor is a wash when you consider the PRESSURE on the heat still… they MUST win or Lebron is shamed and spolstra gets the boot (he probably should get the boot anyway)
Biggest threat to OKC:
1. referees
2. Lebron going all game 6 mode the whole series
3. NBA
at the end of the day, the team that puts the basket through the hoop and racks up the most points will win
I hope that there isn’t a HUGE FT differential between the teams in this series IN ANY GAME….just let them play NBA…just let them play ref….don’t ruin this. that ring is up for grabs…let them jump on their own and see who gets it
Thunder got to take it!!!
HOLY **** I LIKED WHAT Sekou Smith SAID FOR ONCE!
I’m Just Happy that they did not put their predictions like what they did in OKC-SPURS Series where they predicted SPURS.. all of them
COMMENTING ON BIG BUSINESSES RIGGING A GAME OR BIG CORPORATIONS SUPPORTING WARS WHEN NOT CREATING THEM IS HEALTHLY JUST LIKE BEING AWARE THAT THERE IS MORE MONEY TO BE MADE WITH BLABLABLA MVP LEBRON VS BLABLABLA MVP SHOOTER DURANT MONEY MONEY AND STERN
You do know your caps lock is on? And that you write like a 6 year old?
OKC in 6, they are too deep for Miami. The biggest threat to OKC is turnovers. Westbrook might lose a couple of games but he’ll also win some. Chris Bosh may also be a threat because of his ability to nock down jump shots, which takes Ibaka out of the lae and gives a clear lanes to LeBron and Wade.
I’m excited about this series. when the season finally began, I don’t think Westbrook is going to do anything but play like he’s been playing. OKC has had an amazing season. On paper, they should win this. But, as we all know, on paper means nothing. Still, it’s going to be a lot of fun watching these two teams going at it.
OKC can win IF and i mean IF, the refs call it fair and serge actually gets some playing time.
dont blame it on the reffs serge thinks he all tht all he can do is block and score a little and he gets hyped up about all the little things.
OKC fans are Lakers fans. Go EAST Teams!
Lebron James. He can personally dismantle any team out there. He is unstoppable! The perfect player!
until the finals that is..
ikr when lebron wants to win he gonna win like did u see the elimination game againest boston?!?!?!?!? he made playoff history plus he forced game 7
The biggest threat to OKC is themselves. They will see Lebron get his numbers because thats what stars and mvps just do. They just cannot sit around on defense or offense and be in awe of the Lebron show. OKC just has to play their game and they will be just fine. If they have mid game anxiety attacks that make them do stupid mistakes then Lebron is good enough to take it to the bank alone. However the collective whole of OKC is greater than Miami’s collective whole. Ibaka and Perkins know their roles….. defend and do the cleanup work. Sefolosha knows he has to defend either Dwade or Lebron and then make open looks. Derek Fisher knows that he is the backup pg that is the steadying influence as well as the clutch 3 baller. Beyond the Big 3 of Miami I do not think that anyone is clear with their roles on that team. Both ways, fouls and turnovers will be the key. Lets go tonight!
easy OKC biggest threats is Joe Crawford, that’s miami’s secret weapon.
Haha Joe Crawford is every team’s biggest threat!
lol ikr
Westbrook reminds me the same kind of player as Allen Iverson was. Too selfish to win a title for anyone else beyond himself. The problem is (as for AI was) that he’s not Michael Jordan and he NEEDS a whole team to grab that ring. Brooks has to manage him wisely. He can definitely be a negative factor for OKC.
Ladies and Gentleman, make no mistake, the game will be played and the victor standing should be MIAMI! If history holds true, Why? Glad you asked! History shows the elite teams of our time had to pay the price of experience to ware the crown- so it will be. The price was seen with the Piston, Chicago, LA and Celtics. You are tested before you WIN- and tested TEAMS wins CHAMPIONSHIP’s. So lets us let the GAMES be played between the LINES this series and the WINNER will be the experienced and tested TEAM. GO OKC and MIA may the BEST TEAM WIN!
HOW ‘BOUT WE TAKE A MOMENT TO REMEMBER THE AMAZING VICTORY FOR THE DALLAS MAVERICKS ONE YEAR AGO TODAY?
Dallas Mavericks-2011 NBA Champions
Amen
The biggest OKC threat may be Westbrook, like I said MAYBE. I think these two teams earned their way to the finals and we will definately see how much LBJ wants that ring. Durant and the thunder will not give it to him. I wish MIami would win the championship to see what all the sceptics will say, but all in all May the BEST team WIN!!!
Miami biggest threat is Lebron in the 4th quarter..we all know what he has done in the 4th quarter of his past two final trips…not just the 4th quarter but the entire game…his numbers are pretty shaky at best..lol
I am expressing my opinion that the Heat will win. If it is KD on LeBron, Sefolosha on Wade, and Chris Bosh vs. Westbrook, Kevin Durant will get worn down by LeBron James and Durant will not be able to contribute on offense. Sefolosha will be one of the bright things for the Thunder, but Chris Bosh will make his shots because of Russel Westbrook’s turnovers
I will have to watch the game muted to keep from hearing things like “And now LeBron James is going to the bathroom,” and “Now we see LeBron James taking off his headband” or “The score is tied at 79 with 4 minutes to go and LeBron is drinking a cup of water!” SHUT UP about LeBron…he is good, but he puts on his shoes one sho at a time, just like all the rest
In my honest opinion, I feel only the Thunder can beat themselves. I think that as long as they at least make things difficult for Wade and LeBron that they will definitely see themselves holding the Larry O’Brien trophy at the end here.
Don’t see how coming back from 0-2 against the Spurs, to win in 6, is a cool afternoon on a playground on the far side of town. Mate these guys get paid for an opinion but half the time they are useless.
What pressure are you talking about? the greatest pressure that the THUNDER faced was winning the series against the spurs. After the conference finals NBA should have handed them out the o’brien trophy because there is no way in hell that those heat will beat the THUNDER 4 out of 7 especially the way how wade is playing right now