THUNDER
The 2nd seeded Thunder had a tough seven game series that they barely got through with the Memphis Grizzles. They are led by two of the best players in the NBA including the probable MVP of the league in Kevin Durant. Durant had the second highest average (29.9) during the first round of the playoffs. During the last series against the Grizzles, the pace of the game was a huge factor as well as the time of the game that each team had the lead. During the games that the Thunder had the lead for at least two thirds of the game, the Thunder won. The games that they had the lead for less then 10 minutes they lost. Now they face another team that has a good front court. This time on the other hand they are not as conventional in their approach. However that does not mean that the Thunder's front court can take it easy. They will need their role players to pick up the slack as sometimes Durant and Westbrook do most of the work as the role player stand in a corner and watch. Players like Ibaka and Jackson will have to play well in this series if they want to move on to the Western Conference Finals.
CLIPPERS
The Clippers come into this series coming off of a seven game series of their own. They just had a seven game battle with the Warriors and the "Splash Brothers". Also they Clippers have had to deal with the racist remarks of their owner who was just banned from the all NBA activities by the NBA commissioner. They got by the Warriors by the leadership of their coach and their star point guard Chris Paul. Chris Paul lead the regular season as well as the first round of the playoffs in assists per game. They have many players on their team that are good at shooting especially beyond the three point arc. Also they are known for their high tempo offense that loves to get up and down the court for high flying dunks which got them the nickname "Lob City". The have one of the highest scoring offenses in the NBA if not the highest. Defense will be of the area that will have to be looked at if they want to move on to the Western Conference Finals.
BACKCOURTS:
THUNDER
The Thunder have one of the best scoring point guards in the NBA in Westbrook. He can light up the scoreboard on any given night. However, he need to be more of a passer and get his other teammates involved if he wants to get better as well as get his team to the Western Conference Finals. When he is starts out the game getting his teammates involved in the Game, the Thunder have a better chance of winning. As much as their point guard is great, their starting shooting guard is average at best. He is good for what the Thunder need him to be, but it would help the Thunder out a ton if they either drafted a good shooting guard or got one in free agency.
CLIPPERS
The Clippers also have one of the best point guards in the NBA, but he is more of the conventional style of point guards. He is a pass first point guard, and statistically he is the best in assists in the NBA both in the regular season and in the playoffs up to this point. This match up feature a battle of the two main different styles of point guard play, pass first verses shoot first. Both are great point guards but Paul is the better passer by a mile. Also the Clippers shooting guard is not the best and they have two or three better shooting guards on their bench that they could have starting which would make their starting lineup better, but I am not their coach so I cannot make that change.
FRONTCOURT
THUNDER
The Thunder's front court is one of their weaknesses with the exception of their MVP in Kevin Durant. Durant is one of the best players in the NBA scores over 30 points per game on most nights and can make almost every shot on the floor. However the rest of the Thunder's front court is less than spectacular. Their power forward is really a back up that is starting and is getting older by the minute. Their Center/power forward Ibaka is improving though and is one of the best shot blockers in the game with and improving medium range jump shot. Ibaka will have to have a great series especially on the defensive end when guarding either Blake Griffin or Deandre Jordan.
CLIPPERS
The Clippers have a great front court with the exception of their small forward. Their starting small forward will have a handful with the probable MVP in Durant. He should not be much of a problem for him. However the rest of their starting front court is one of the best and most exciting. The main parts of "Lob City" in Blake Griffin and Deandre Jordan. Blake Griffin needs to be a dominate force in this series if they want to move on. He needs to average at least a double double and stay out of foul trouble if they want to move on.
Bench
THUNDER
The Thunder have an improved bench with experienced veterans. They need to have a good series and average at least 35 points a series if they want to move on. Butler and Fisher will have to have a good series as well as Jackson.
CLIPPERS
The Clippers have a deep bench that can score 50 points a game if they are on their game. They have a bunch of scorers on their bench with a ton of three point shooting. They have one of the best bench players in the league and the probably 6th man of the year in Jamal Crawford. How their bench does they little things such as rebound and play defense could be the difference in the series.
PREDICTION:
The Thunder do not have enough bench play even though it has gotten better to win. If Durant and Westbrook help the role player to do better and get involved they have a chance to win this series. The Clippers have a better bench but will have to play defense if they want to win this series. Clippers in 7.
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