2012 NBA Playoffs - Western Conference Semifinals

The Western Conference provided us the only Game 7s of the 1st Round. Both teams that call Los Angeles home walked into the Semis with victories. The Spurs and the Thunder both got the maximum amount of rest. San Antonio and Oklahoma City both swept their opening opponents while the Lakers and Clippers were both pushed to the brink of elimination. Will the Western Conference Finals go through the Southwest or the City of Angels? Below are the positional matchups of each series with the person/team with the advantage in bold. Here is how I think things will play out.
Western Conference Semifinals



1 San Antonio (-2500) vs. 5 LA Clippers (+1250)

PG - Tony Parker vs. Chris Paul
SG - Danny Green vs. Randy Foye
SF - Kawhi Leonard vs. Caron Butler
PF - Boris Diaw vs. Blake Griffin
C - Tim Duncan vs. DeAndre Jordan
Bench - San Antonio vs. LA Clippers
Coach - Gregg Popovich vs. Vinny Del Negro

The San Antonio Spurs were dominant in their opening round victory over Utah. They proved that their strong play during the regular season could carry over into the postseason this time around. The Spurs just might be the best team in the NBA. Now they get a matchup with the NBA's feel good story, in the LA Clippers. The Clippers outlasted Memphis in 7 games to advance into the Conference Semifinals for just the third time in franchise history. Chris Paul has been a difference maker since moving to the West Coast, and he proved to be once again in getting the Clippers to a place they have rarely been. Can he also lead them to a place they have never been? Not this year. The Spurs use their mix of youth and experience to advance to a place they are very familiar with.

Prediction - San Antonio over LA Clippers 4-2



2 Oklahoma City (-450) vs. 3 LA Lakers (+350)

PG - Russell Westbrook vs. Ramon Sessions
SG - Thabo Sefolosha vs. Kobe Bryant
SF - Kevin Durant vs. Metta World Peace
PF - Serge Ibaka vs. Pau Gasol
C - Kendrick Perkins vs. Andrew Bynum
Bench - Oklahoma City vs. LA Lakers
Coach - Scott Brooks vs. Mike Brown

Everyone has deemed the Thunder the team to beat in the West for most of the season. The Lakers are out to prove that their window has not closed yet. Oklahoma City made huge strides with their trip to the Western Conference Finals last season. They are looking to get one step further in 2012. The Lakers have been contenders since the franchise was founded. This year is no different. Though, the Lakers are a bit more under the radar this year. They nearly lost to the Nuggets last round, but Kobe and the Twin Towers of Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum came through to extend their season. This series could go either way. I expect to see OKC prove to be the new kids on the block and advance to their second consecutive Conference Finals.

Prediction - Oklahoma City over LA Lakers 4-3