NBA Playoffs 2012: Thunder Beat Spurs, Advance to NBA Finals

Everybody, shut up.

You said the Thunder had no chance. You said the Thunder were too young and inexperienced. You said the Spurs' veterans would dominate.

So please stop criticizing the Western Conference champions.

Durant scored 34 points, Russell Westbrook tallied 25, and the Thunder beat the Spurs 107-99 to advance to the NBA Finals. San Antonio led by 18 in the first half, but OKC came back.

Thabo Sefolosha played great defense on Tony Parker (in the last three quarters), as he continued to force turnovers and disrupt San Antonio's system. On offense, he scored points as well. Sefolosha hit a big three in the third quarter to cut the Spurs' lead to two points.

In the fourth, the Thunder continued to be clutch. Derek Fisher hit a huge three from the left corner to put OKC up 96-91, then James Harden caught a pass from Durant and fired from the left wing...

Oklahoma City then led 99-93. I think you know if he made or missed the shot.

Westbrook made a huge layup, only to have Tony Parker answer on the other end. Derek Fisher banked in an 11-footer, only to have Parker answer again. However, that would be all San Antonio did.

Stephen Jackson and Parker both got great three-point looks, and Jackson, who was 6-for-6 from beyond the arc, seemed like a lock to make the shot. However, they both missed.

With San Antonio desperately trying to foul, Durant found Kendrick Perkins down low for a dunk, which basically sealed the deal. Harden hit two free throws to officially end the game, and the Thunder were officially in the Finals.

And to think their star is only 23 years old.

Durant continued to attack the rim, which is why he shot 15 free throws. Kendrick Perkins struggled against Tim Duncan, but Duncan couldn't lead the Spurs to victory. Serge Ibaka blocked the paint well, but he forced passes to Stephen Jackson at the wing, which wasn't good news.

But despite all of that, the Thunder still won. Sefolosha turned the tide by disrupting San Antonio's system, which he did by guarding Parker very well and forcing him into bad passes. OKC found a way to win close games, and they found a way to have a better shooting percentage than the best shooting team in the NBA (for Game 6).

So, while you may not like it, the Thunder truly are the best in the West. And probably the best in the NBA.

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