So much for the basketball world’s dream matchup in the Western Conference Finals. Not that anyone is complaining about the prospect of Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook facing off against Steph Curry, Draymond Green, and Klay Thompson, of course – especially following the absolutely shocking developments of Thursday night.
In a potential passing of the torch in the Western Conference, the Oklahoma City Thunder beat the San Antonio Spurs 113-99 to advance for the the opportunity to play for a championship. The final score doesn’t come close to doing the disparate natures of these teams’ circumstances justice; a fourth quarter run by San Antonio made this game seem far more competitive than it actually was.
Everything clicked for the Thunder in Game 6. Durant and Westbrook were the best players on the floor; Andre Roberson played what may go down as the best game of his career; and in general, it was Oklahoma City which seemed the deeper, more experienced, and better prepared side.
This may be the end of Spurs as we know them. Tim Duncan didn’t start the second half after his team trailed 55-31 at intermission; Kevin Martin and Boban Marjanovic made early, lengthy appearances in this game; and San Antonio looked every bit a team that was forced to rely on so many cogs playing on the wrong side of 30 years old.
It’s hard to feel joy for the Thunder following what was arguably their most important win in franchise history. Why? The Spurs might have just suffered the most course-altering loss in theirs.
Duncan, 40, never looked older than he did against Oklahoma City’s powerful, athletic front line over the past two weeks. In January, Gregg Popovich told USA Today that the the future Hall of Famer would “look” at retirement come summer but “go for another [season].” Why? Because Duncan was making an overtly positive impact on the floor for San Antonio.
That wasn’t the case over the past two weeks. If Duncan really plans to hang it up whenever “he feels like a hindrance to his team,” as Popovich said a few months ago, his final NBA game was on Thursday night – and included a series-high 19 points that helped keep San Antonio’s long-shot hopes alive until the fourth quarter’s final minute. Manu Ginobili may follow Duncan out the door, too.
But that’s a depressing possibility – even likelihood? – to consider for another time.
Remember when the Thunder were absolutely helpless in Game 1? That was less than two weeks ago, and perhaps served as a much-needed wakeup call for a group that finally sensed its mortality – with regard to both this postseason run and many years to come. Oklahoma City might be a different team now; it certainly was for this series’ duration.
As for what that possibility means against the 73-win defending champions? We’ll find out soon enough.
