OKLAHOMA CITY -- It feels like a long time ago when the bouncy Oklahoma City Thunder won four straight against the mechanical San Antonio Spurs in 2012 to advance to the NBA Finals in six games. James Harden hit the biggest shot of the series, a dagger straightaway 3 to ice Game 5. Stephen Jackson played 32 minutes in Game 6. Royal Ivey and Lazar Hayward were part of the Thunder's garbage time crew. Tim Duncan was only 36 years old.
That was four years ago, and not much has changed.