A worker changes a banner reading "The playoffs" to "The Finals" on a hotel across the Chesapeake Arena in Oklahoma City June 11, 2012, as the Oklahoma City Thunder get ready to play the Miami Heat in the NBA Finals series. STEVE SISNEY/REUTERS/Newscom. Find it on Newscom.com: rtrlfive297931
The road to the NBA Finals was not what fans and experts were predicting but the teams are what many expected and wanted. The Finals will start in Oklahoma City tonight where the Western Conference Champion Oklahoma City Thunder will host the back to back Eastern Conference Champion Miami Heat.
The Thunder continued to build on their playoff experiences over the last two years starting out the playoffs winning eight of their first nine games beating the defending champion Mavericks and the Lakers. Then when facing the San Antonio Spurs it looked like they were still not ready to make the jump to the Finals as they fell into a 2-0 hole to start the Western Conference Finals. Then the Thunder were able to do what no one had done in months, they beat the Spurs then they did it again, and again, and a fourth time to earn the team’s first Finals appearance since 1996 when the team was still in Seattle.
Oklahoma City Thunder player Kevin Durant (R) gets the ball stolen by San Antonio Spurs player Kawhi Leonard (L) in the first half of game one of the Western Conference Finals round game at the AT&T Center in San Antonio, Texas, USA, 27 May 2012. The winner of the best-of-seven series will go on to face either the Boston Celtics or the Miami Heat in the NBA Finals. LARRY W. SMITH/EPA/Newscom. Find it on Newscom.com: epaphotos419060
Oklahoma City Thunder player Russell Westbrook (L) goes to the basket against San Antonio Spurs player Manu Ginobili (R) from Argentina in the first half of game six of the Western Conference Finals round game at the Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA, 06 June 2012. The winner of the best-of-seven series will go on to face either the Boston Celtics or the Miami Heat in the NBA Finals. LARRY W. SMITH/EPA/Newscom. Find it on Newscom.com: epaphotos431907
San Antonio Spurs point guard Tony Parker (R) drives to the basket against Oklahoma City Thunder shooting guard Thabo Sefolosha during the first half of Game 6 of the NBA Western Conference basketball finals in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, June 6, 2012. STEVE SISNEY/REUTERS/Newscom. Find it on Newscom.com: rtrlfive288361
Oklahoma City Thunder fans wear fake beards as they emulate guard James Harden before the start of Game 4 of the NBA Western Conference basketball finals against the San Antonio Spurs in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma June 2, 2012. JIM YOUNG/REUTERS/Newscom. Find it on Newscom.com: rtrlfive279971
The Miami Heat dominated most of the Eastern Conference and it looked like they would sail to the Eastern Finals where they would face Chicago. Then Derrick Rose got hurt and it looked like it was the Heat’s championship to lose – which they tried to do. After making quick work of the Knicks the Heat were matched up against Indiana where, without an injured Chris Bosh, they dropped two games before getting the four wins needed to advance. Then Boston stood in the way of the Heat and pushed them the full seven games before the Heat managed to earn their second finals appearance in as many years.
Miami Heat's Dwyane Wade celebrates during the fourth quarter against the Indiana Pacers in Game 6 of their NBA Eastern Conference second round basketball playoff series in Indianapolis, Indiana May 24, 2012. BRENT SMITH/REUTERS/Newscom. Find it on Newscom.com: rtrlfive262424
Miami Heat's Mario Chalmers drives to the net on Boston Celtics' Rajon Rondo during the second half in Game 4 of their Eastern Conference Finals NBA basketball playoffs in Boston, Massachusetts June 3, 2012. JESSICA RINALDI/REUTERS/Newscom. Find it on Newscom.com: rtrlfive282217
Miami Heat power forward Chris Bosh (1) defends on Boston Celtics small forward Paul Pierce (34) during second half of Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Finals playoff series, Heat at Celtics at the TD Banknorth Garden, Boston, Massachusetts, USA. Mark Halmas/Icon SMI 483/Mark Halmas/Icon SMI/Newscom. Find it on Newscom.com: iconphotosthree253874
The Miami Heat host the Boston Celtics for game seven of the Eastern Conference finals at American Airlines Arena. LeBron James prepares to make a move on Boston's Brandon Bass. Robert Duyos/ZUMA Press/Newscom. Find it on Newscom.com: zumasportsworldtwo216279
The matchup fans are most excited to see is the three-time scoring Champion Kevin Durant vs. three-time MVP Lebron James. One of the two all-stars will earn their first championship ring and, with the talent on both teams, it could be the first of many.
Oklahoma City Thunder small forward Kevin Durant (35) defends Miami Heat small forward LeBron James (6) as he shoots during their NBA basketball game in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma March 25, 2012. BRYAN TERRY/REUTERS/Newscom. Find it on Newscom.com: rtrlfive148232
After the Finals many players will have to put the rivalry behind them as they will quickly have to become teammates when they prepare for the Olympics.
For more photos from the NBA Finals check out Newscom.
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Tags: Kevin Durant, lebron james, Miami, Miami Heat, NBA Playoffs, OKC, Thunder