San Antonio Spurs' winning formula isn't all that surprising - NOLA.com

What did the first two games of the Western Conference finals tell me? It told me if the San Antonio Spurs win Game 3, they’ll sweep the Oklahoma City Thunder in four. What if the Thunder wins Game 3? The Spurs will win in seven games.

Eric Gay /The Associated PressSaid San Antonio Spurs Coach Gregg Popovich, shown with guard Tony Parker: ‘I didn’t have to deal with a star ego. I deal with grownups who had character and prioritization in their lives already set.’

Right now no one needs a home court more than the Thunder needs Oklahoma City, if only to see if home can play a role in bringing San Antonio back to earth.

In winning the first two games the Spurs were making history, stretching their winning streak to an NBA record 20 in a row. They did it with a breathtaking exhibition of ball movement and shot-making that was pure magic.

The sight of Tony Parker taking it inside, for a jumper or an assist, the sight of Manu Ginobili making a 3-pointer or hitting the open man with a bounce pass, was too much for the Thunder to handle over four quarters.

In Game 1, the Thunder let a nine-point, fourth-quarter lead slip away.

In Game 2, a fourth-quarter tear whittled a 28-point Spurs lead to six before San Antonio restored order.

It was the first time the Thunder lost two in a row since early April.

In the playoffs, meanwhile, the Spurs are averaging 102 points, shooting 49 percent â€" connecting on 42 percent from 3-point range.

When Coach Gregg Popovich listens to all the applause for the unselfishness of his Big Three, he points to his good fortune in having guys like Parker, Ginobili and Tim Duncan.

“I didn’t have to deal with a star ego,” Popovich said. “I deal with grownups who had character and prioritization in their lives already set. I never had a talk, never had a discussion, a meeting or anything with any of those guys about that. It was because of their character that we were able to do it.”

When you ask Duncan to explain last season’s major disappointment, when San Antonio lost to the Memphis Grizzlies in the first round of the playoffs after having the best regular-season record, he shrugs his shoulders.

“We were not a healthy team last year going into the playoffs,” he said. “We’re healthy now. We ended the season a little stronger. There’s not much more than that, and for a little bit of luck.”

As for the job of having to deal with 23-year-old Kevin Durant, the Thunder’s biggest gun, it wasn’t a case of silencing him but making the 6-foot-9, 235-pounder earn the 27- and 32-point games he had in San Antonio.

Durant was frustrated by the amount of pressure he received from Stephen Jackson and Kawhi Leonard, who seemed to be stationed on the top of Durant’s right shoulder regardless of where he was on the floor, forcing him weakside. When Durant went baseline, it usually was Duncan’s job to meet him at the rim.

Thunder fans are expecting big noises from Durant in Games 3 and 4. After he made a winning 25-footer to beat Los Angeles last week, the Lakers Coach Mike Brown compared him to Kobe Bryant.

“A guy can be talented and have all the tools, but sometimes it can go out the window when it comes to making a big shot,” Brown said. “That stuff doesn’t go out the window when it comes to Kevin. He wants the ball. He’s going to beat you by putting the ball in the bucket. I don’t care if you’ve got one guy on him, two guys on him or three guys on him. He’s still going to have a chance to get a shot off.”

Durant has had three winning shots in eight playoff games, which left Thunder fans wondering why he took only two fourth-quarter shots against the Spurs in Game 2.

After watching the Thunder’s big three (Durant, Russell Westbrook and James Harden) go 22-for-57 in Game 2, Popovich was quick to praise the trio.

“These guys are the best players in the world at this level,” he said. “Durant is exceptional. You have to keep in mind he’s only in his fifth season. He’s going to score no matter what. All you can do is try to make it as hard as possible.”

Ginobili joined the chorus.

“I find it hard to believe Kevin Durant is only 23,” he said. “He’s got the moves, and he plays under control. He has a tremendous upside. Down the road, looks like he’s going to be part of a championship team. I’m just hoping we can win a fifth before he wins his first.”