The San Antonio Spurs took care of game five at home and now they’re in perfect position to have a chance at exacting revenge on the Miami Heat in the 2014 NBA Finals. They have to get there first.

While the Spurs dominated three of five games in this Western Conference Finals series, they have yet to win in Oklahoma City, where Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook have been on top of their game.

The return of Serge Ibaka lit a fire under OKC in game three, too, helping their defense rise up, as well as execute more smoothly on the offensive end.

On the flip-side, the Spurs have been touch and go in this series on offense, as center Tiago Splitter has been utterly useless and their “big three” of Tony Parker, Manu Ginobili and the ageless Tim Duncan have run hot and cold on the offensive end.

For the Spurs to end the series tonight, all of their collective pieces will need to be on top of their game and they’ll need to win their first road contest of the series.

Ibaka is still a major match-up problem down low with his ability to shot blocks, while San Antonio can’t bank on stopping Westbrook and Durant in their own town. For the Spurs to close this series out, it’s likely going to come down to their bench.

San Antonio’s bench is easily what made them the best team in the league this year, and what has so far allowed their star players to avoid full minutes and extreme fatigue. Those role players that pick their spots and come in and do damage when you least expect it will need to take it to another level tonight, while Duncan and co. will need to stand calm in the storm to finish the job.

The Thunder will absolutely have more to say here than the Indiana Pacers did in their game six last night. Durant and co. won’t lie down at home and take a beating. But in the end, the Spurs know they need this one win to reach the Finals for the second year in a row, while OKC can merely force a game seven and head back to San Antonio, where they’re 0-3 in this series.

Pick: Spurs 93, Thunder 89

The Indiana Pacers live to see another day in these 2014 NBA Playoffs. It took arguably the worst playoff performance of LeBron James’ career to help make it happen, but here they are, gearing up for a crucial game six contest in the Western Conference Finals.

Lance Stephenson continued his mind games, James sat out most of the game with foul trouble and the Pacers did just enough down the stretch to hold off the Miami Heat at home in game five.

The Heat will say it was almost over. Despite James sitting with five fouls and Paul George going nuts in the second half (he finished with 37 points), they were still one Chris Bosh jumper away from going to a fourth straight NBA Finals.

Bosh has said tonight’s game six is Miami’s “game seven”. There’s no more time to waste on either side. A win for Miami puts them back on the biggest stage in the NBA. A win for Indiana gives them their first road playoff game against the Heat in this series and sends them back to their home court for a decisive game seven.

The question, then, is will we get there?

The recipe going into game five was for Roy Hibbert and Paul George to show up and for Indiana to get back to the defense that got them here. That fabulous trifecta is exactly what got them the win, and it’s precisely what needs to take center stage in game six, as well.

The Heat seem to play their best basketball when the pressure is on, but it seems that could be said for the Pacers, as well. Ultimately, this game is a toss up. Indiana is slowly stealing the momentum back, as they know forcing a game seven would give them a major advantage and a real shot at upsetting the Heat.

On the flip-side, Miami is still arguably the better team, can still afford to lose tonight’s game and knows they’re one win away from moving on. They just have to press the pedal to the floor and not look back.

Miami should be the favorite tonight and very well might win, but something tells me that the Pacers aren’t going to lie down and roll over. If they were going to, this series would have ended in game five. They might still fall short at home in a epic game seven, but they didn’t go through the entire year as the East’s top seed to get back to the Eastern Conference Finals and lose in six games.

Look for another big performance from Paul George as the Pacers narrowly send this series to a full seven games and back to Indiana.

Pick: Pacers 96, Heat 94

The San Antonio Spurs were in complete control, having just gone up two games to none against the Oklahoma City Thunder in the Western Conference Finals. The games were even won in such convincing fashion that some NBA analysts thought the Thunder were over-matched.

Could this series be over in five games? Could it even be a sweep? Or did the Thunder just miss Serge Ibaka’s presence that badly?

Despite supposedly being lost for the remainder of the playoffs, Ibaka made a return in game three and the Thunder haven’t lost since. Heading into a crucial game five, will the Spurs prove that most of their trouble was simply a two game road trip, or that Ibaka really does provide this much of an issue down low?

If the latter is the case, the Spurs may have to worry about more than a potential game five loss. They may have to look back to a similar series with this same OKC team from two years ago, when they blew another 2-0 lead and dropped the final four games to lose the series.

The good news is San Antonio gets to find out who they really are back on their home floor in a big game five.  Even if they split the next two games with the Thunder, they can hang their hats on knowing the deciding game seven would take place in their hometown, as well.

All that being said, the Spurs need to find a way to neutralize Serge Ibaka’s impact on the game. He’s going to get his shots offensively, but going to work quick in the post and getting him into early foul trouble is a key way to minimize his impact.

Look for Tim Duncan and Tiago Splitter to get to work early, which should help open things up for Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili on the outside. If the Spurs can get back to their inside-outside game and also clamp down on the defensive end, they should rise to a 3-2 lead at home.

Pick: Spurs 101, Thunder 98

The Indiana Pacers are exactly where they thought they’d be. After earning the top seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs, they aimed for a return to the Eastern Conference Finals and thought now would be their time to get past the Miami Heat.

Unfortunately, some things never change. Indiana has accomplished most of it’s goals and has toughed out two series to get back to where they were a year ago. They just might not be able to escape the same fate they experienced last season, when they lost to the Miami Heat at the same stage.

This time it just might go quicker.

The Pacers have their backs firmly planted against the walls heading into game six, as the Heat carry a commanding 3-1 series lead heading back into Indiana.

Indiana has talked a lot about the reffing, saying the Heat had been getting “home cooking”, and there has also been a lot of talk involving Lance Stephenson trying to get inside LeBron James’ head.

So far, it’s all been talk. The Pacers won game one and looked like they might be up to the task of dethroning the mighty Heat. Instead, they’ve dropped three straight games and are looking at a possible fourth on Wednesday night.

It’s entirely possible the Pacers execute better and cure what ails them on their home floor. After all, that’s what home court advantage is for – to aid the better seed when they’re struggling.

It just doesn’t seem likely anymore. The Heat have been the better team the past three games and can taste their fourth straight trip to the NBA Finals. Ultimately, they’re going to bite in and savor it and tonight will probably be the night.

Pick: Heat 99, Pacers 95

The Miami Heat just opened up a commanding 3-1 series lead over the Indiana Pacers in the Eastern Conference Finals. The San Antonio Spurs aim to do the very same on Tuesday night against the Oklahoma City Thunder.

The only question is, was Serge Ibaka’s game three return the turning point of the Western Conference Finals, or is it simply too little, too late?

Ibaka showed no ill effects of a calf strain that kept him out of the first two games, while his debut in the Western Conference Finals led to 15 points, seven rebounds and four blocks.

Needless to say, that potential edge everyone was talking about was most certainly there. Not only did Ibaka provide timely offense, but the intimidator factor was alive and well down low on the defensive end. That equated to just 10 points for Kawhi Leonard and a mere combined 10 points out of Boris Diaw and Tiago Splitter. Ibaka’s presence also helped keep Tony Parker at bay when it came to lane penetration, and undoubtedly contributed to his cold 4-of-13 shooting night.

The return of Ibaka also clearly opened things up for the Thunder’s two big stars, as Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook both dropped in at least 25 points.

Suddenly we were seeing the Thunder again. Their offense was much more cohesive, they were playing with visible confidence and their defense had some actual life.

Was this the impact of Ibaka in 29 minutes, or was it just OKC being OKC at home?

Game four will inevitably clear that picture up, but the odds are leaning toward it being a mixed bag. With that said, it’s a good mixed bag for the Thunder, as Ibaka is still ready to go again and game four is at home.

San Antonio will surely be itching to keep pace with the Heat in a bid to make it back for a rematch of last year’s NBA Finals. OKC just might have something to say about it, first.

Pick: Thunder 104, Spurs 101

Despite winning game one of the Eastern Conference Finals and appearing to be in control against the Miami Heat, the Indiana Pacers enter Monday night’s game four with their backs against the wall.

The Pacers have dropped two straight, one on their own floor and the most recent in Miami, and will have to find a way to steal a road win to pull the series to a 2-2 tie.

It won’t be easy, as the Heat simply don’t lose at home very often – especially not in the playoffs. However, recent history is somewhat on Indiana’s side, as they have stolen two games in Miami over the past two years. To win this series, they might have to do that twice.

That’s not their line of thinking going into game four, however. Rather, the Pacers are approaching a must-win game with confidence like a seasoned group of veterans.

‘We’re pretty upbeat,” Indiana big man David West said. ”We don’t get down on ourselves. The next game is a different game.”

It’s true, too. Indiana had game one in full control and could have stolen game three had they not gone cold down the stretch. That, and Ray Allen came alive for the Heat at the exact right moment late in the game.

Indiana knows there is a lot at stake in this crucial game four, but they also see the benefit of gritting out a tough road win. A 2-2 series tie could have them returning to their home court with a  major advantage in game five, potentially allowing them to take a commanding 3-2 lead in this series.

You won’t catch them looking that far ahead, though, as they know full well how good and determined this Heat team is.

With that said, the recipe for success remains the same: play gritty defense and get solid output out of their big players. The icing on the cake, however, needs to be a big game from star forward, Paul George. George shined in the game one win, but has been subpar at best since.

If George can catch fire and the Pacers play the defense they’ve come to be known for, this series should be tied up and be as intense as ever.

Pick: Pacers 103, Heat 99

The story of the Western Conference Finals between the San Antonio Spurs and Oklahoma City Thunder, at least to this point, has been about dominance. The story going into a crucial game three is just how much OKC can get out of big man Serge Ibaka – if anything.

The Thunder have sorely missed Ibaka’s presence in the paint, both as a timely producer of steady jumpers, as well as a shot-altering and shot-blocking headache. Usually a sizeable thorn in the opposition’s side, the mere presence of Ibaka was supposed to give Oklahoma City that slim edge they needed to find a way to sneak past the Spurs and get to their second NBA Finals in three years.

Without him, however, the worst has come to life, as the Thunder can’t control the paint, which has in turn led to two disastrous outings.

It’s not all about not having Ibaka, though, as San Antonio has been more than on top of it’s game, while their depth is clearly better than the Thunder’s.

There is also the coaching debate, as the predictable Scott Brooks is light years behind the great Gregg Popovich and everyone knows it. Even worse, it’s painfully visible in this series.

With all that being said, Ibaka just might suit up for a heroic showing in game three and the Thunder still have a dynamic duo that can go off at a moment’s notice in Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook.

Despite the odds being against the Thunder and their first two games being trainwrecks, it’s still hard to see them going down 3-0 in such a huge series with their backs against the wall. They’re at home and could get an emotional lift from Ibaka, so let’s give them a shot to keep this series alive.

Pick: Thunder 105, Spurs 99

The Eastern Conference Finals are set up to be a dogfight. If you didn’t know it already, perhaps it all became clear when Indiana Pacers star Paul George received a concussion in a game two loss. And he’s still going to play in game three.

George knows the magnitude of game three, which will tip off at 8:30 PM ET on Saturday night. The only question is, will his presence make a difference with the series shifting to Miami? If he plays anything like he did in game two on offense, perhaps not. But if he can keep up his intensity in his coverage of LeBron James, then he just might.

George is just the tip of the iceberg with the Pacers, however. We usually know what we’ll get out of him. The real question comes down to center Roy Hibbert and George’s supporting cast. That, and whether or not the Heat are going to go nuts now that they’re at home.

We’ve seen two different games so far in this Eastern Conference Finals series. We saw the Pacers do as they pleased inside and out in a relatively easy game one win, and then we saw them lose a low-scoring battle of their own liking in game two.

Indiana could easily be up 2-0 in this series, but here they are, facing a potential 2-1 hole with a trip to Miami in game three.

Preventing a fall into that hole won’t be an easy task, either, as the Heat have gone 5-0 at home during these playoffs and haven’t lost a playoff game on their home court in eight straight tries. In fact, since King James came into town, the Heat are a remarkable 35-7 on their own floor during the playoffs.

With that said, Indiana is responsible for two of those home playoff losses, and remains one of the few teams that can get the better of Miami.

How does Indiana do that tonight? It’s going to have to start on the defensive end. The Heat shot 50% from the floor in game two, and they understandably won. Roy Hibbert must continue to be a factor on offense to keep the Pacers balanced, but he also will need to find ways to be a thorn in Miami’s side inside the paint.

If the Pacers can execute on offense better than they did and game two and play their usual solid defense, they just might be able to snag one of those rare road wins in Miami tonight.

Pick: Pacers 95, Heat 93

Despite reports earlier in the week that Oklahoma City Thunder big man Serge Ibaka would miss the remainder of the 2014 NBA Playoffs, there are new reports that suggest just the opposite. According to reports, Ibaka’s calf strain has “rapidly progressed” to the point where he is now taking part in light basketball drills.

Ibaka had previously ruled himself out for the Western Conference Finals series with the San Antonio Spurs, and the power forward was widely expected to sit out the rest of this year’s playoffs, altogether. However, his calf has healed much quicker than anyone could have hoped, and instead of being written off for this playoff run, he is now being regarded as “day to day”.

This news still doesn’t mean Ibaka is a lock to play in game three or at any point in this series for the Thunder, but it at leasts gives the team and their fanbase some realistic hope.

Ibaka’s presence has certainly been missed to this point, as a normally stout OKC defense has been ravaged on the road through town games. San Antonio is naturally going to be more efficient at home, but they’ve had very little trouble working their way inside the paint via Tim Duncan, Tiago Splitter and Boris Diaw.

Ibaka was initially looked at as the difference-maker in this series, as his presence as a physical body and shot-blocker has given the San Antonio big men problems in the past.

If the Thunder are going to pull off a miracle and come back from a 2-0 hole, they’ll almost certainly need Ibaka to return in their game three in Oklahoma City. The San Antonio Spurs and Oklahoma City Thunder square off again in Oklahoma City on Sunday, May 25th.

The Oklahoma City Thunder ran out of gas in their game one showdown with the West’s top-seeded San Antonio Spurs. Now they enter a must-win game two in the Western Conference Finals with their backs against the wall.

Undermanned without big man Serge Ibaka, the Thunder relied on Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook more than ever in game one. The two teamed up to erase an early 19-point deficit, but scored just nine total points over the final 17 minutes as they fell flat in the final period in a 122-105 series opening loss.

The biggest thing that needs to change heading into game two? Consistency.

OKC has to find a way to come out playing their best basketball right away on both ends, and that will naturally include playing better interior defense and getting off better shots.

It won’t be easy to tame Tim Duncan and Tiago Splitter without Ibaka, but that’s exactly what the Thunder will have to try to do. If they can’t, however, they’ll surely need much better and more complete performances out of their two scoring studs.

In that same breath, the Thunder’s “big two” need to also find a way to get their teammates involved. Their other three starters in game one – Steven Adams, Kendrick Perkins and Thabo Sefolosha – combined for five points through the entire game.

That can’t happen again.

Reggie Jackson should provide a spark off the bench, but OKC needs more from the rest of their starting five – specifically their bigs down low. There is also the chance the Thunder simply give more minutes to guys like Caron Butler and Derek Fisher off their bench, but the key is getting more out of the bigs that have to handle San Antonio’s bigs. If they can provide a spark and make the Spurs’ post players foul and exert energy on the defensive end, it will go a long way to help Durant and Westbrook toward the end of the game.

The good news is that Oklahoma City hasn’t brought the Spurs their best ball yet. In game two, they’ll be much more likely to do so.

Pick: Thunder 111, Spurs 106