Only one week ago, the Spurs were on a cloud riding a 20-game winning streak. Little did they know that the cloud concealed a coming clap of Thunder. Now, following three consecutive defeats - their longest losing streak all season - after serving as a paragon of playoff perfection, their postseason is practically gone. The Thunder followed up the Thablowout with a power Serge in game 4, when Serge Ibaka set a career high in points and was flawless from the field in the process, nearly notching a playoff record for most baskets without a miss. However, the role players receded into the background in game 5, as the Thunder's scoring came from the standard sources.
Kevin Durant, the beanpole bucket burier, is indubitably a fearless leader, but lately he's been a downright dictator*, seizing control of the series, averaging over 28 ppg in the wins on 55% shooting, dominating the formerly dominant. Like the ATM conveniently located in DeShawn Stevenson's kitchen, Durant's been money^. Having gained Oklahoma court advantage, the Thunder can close it out Wednesday. They're banking on another total takeover in the fourth from Durant, something the Spurs simply can't afford to allow.
*All he has to do is sprout James Harden's whiskers and he can appear alongside Sasha Baron Cohen's latest character.
^Psychologists agreed that should Stevenson ever remove the machine, he'll go through serious withdrawal.
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