OKLAHOMA CITY — The San Antonio Spurs have seen this nightmare before.
In 2012, the Spurs won the first two games of the Western Conference finals against the Thunder, then
lost four straight and were bounced out of the playoffs. This season, the Spurs were cruising in the
West finals, winning two blowouts against Oklahoma City before Thunder defensive wiz Serge Ibaka
unexpectedly came back from a left calf strain. With renewed confidence and energy, Oklahoma City’s
youngsters rolled past their veteran counterparts in Game 3, and the reminders started coming.
The Thunder dominated Game 4 to tie the series, and now, the Spurs again face a most uncomfortable
scenario. They host Game 5 on Thursday in danger of falling behind 3-2. If they lose, they’ll travel to
Oklahoma City on Saturday facing elimination.
Just like in 2012.
“Reminding people about what happened in the past helps in some way, but we have to go out there and
execute and do things,” Spurs forward Tim Duncan said.
The Thunder also have tried to distance themselves from their rare comeback, though they said it helped
them remain hopeful when they were down 0-2.
“We can’t think about the past,” forward Kevin Durant said. “We have to focus on right now. This team
(San Antonio) is well-coached and has a great group of guys. They’ll make it tough. We have to worry
about getting better and having our focus and energy on every single play.”
Duncan, Manu Ginobili, Tony Parker and the rest of the Spurs must match the intensity of their youthful
opponents. Russell Westbrook, just 25, was all over the place in his 40-point, 10-assist, five-steal
effort in Game 4.
“It doesn’t matter what we do tactically if we don’t up that determination, that attitude, that
persistent, aggressive, ugly, hard-nosed attitude and I think that was embodied in them in Russell
Westbrook,” San Antonio coach Gregg Popovich said. “He played like it was his last game, and that’s the
way it’s got to be.”
Oklahoma City looks like a new team. The Thunder lost the first two games of this year’s series by a
combined 52 points, and a 112-77 loss in Game 2 left them embarrassed. Now, the Thunder appear to have
things figured out. The Thunder played a more physical defensive style in Games 3 and 4 and used their
length and athletic ability to disrupt the Spurs’ normally precise offense.
“I don’t think there’s no way we can match their athleticism, so we’ve got to play smart and take
advantage of a few situations, because that athletic part is not going to be matched.” Popovich said.

Ibaka has provided a morale boost with his play. In the two games since his return, the 6-foot-10 power
forward has averaged 12 points, 7.5 rebounds and 3.5 blocks. San Antonio shot at least 50 percent in the
first two games, but with Ibaka back in the lineup, the Spurs have shot just below 40 percent the past
two games.
“They’re up in the passing lanes, they have starters and they have Serge (Ibaka) in there and their big
guys back there who are protecting the rim, so they’re gambling a little more,” Duncan said. “They’ve
turned that gambling into turnovers and took some fast-break points and gave them a big boost in that
area.”
On offense, Ibaka has created spacing with his shooting range while giving Westbrook and Durant a trusted
third option. He also gives Brooks options.
“We can use a lot of lineups with Serge out there and play different ways,” Durant said. “I’m glad he’s
healthy, he’s back, and we’re going to need him to continue to bring that energy and effort every time
down the court.”
The Spurs had the best record in the NBA this regular season and are tough at home.
“We have to make it happen,” Duncan said. “We’ve played all year to have this home-court advantage. It’s
a three-game series now, and we get to play two of them at home at least. So we’re going to go in there
and try to right the ship a little bit.”
Notes: Thunder guard Reggie Jackson sprained his right ankle Tuesday night after seven points, three
rebounds and three steals in 19 minutes. Coach Scott Brooks said Jackson felt good during practice on
Wednesday. He also said Ibaka is holding up well after playing 30 minutes on Sunday and 35 on Tuesday.