In a playoff run that has seen these OKC Thunder dispatch of the defending NBA champion Dallas Mavericks, the Kobe Bryant led LA Lakers and the fine oiled machine that was the San Antonio Spurs, this young and talented group may finally be feeling the pressure that is the NBA Finals.

Trailing two games to one entering game four Tuesday night in Miami, this Thunder team is showing their age and inexperience on the big stage. Poor starts, foul trouble, bad free throw shooting and mental mistakes late in games 2 and 3 have cost this usually calm, cool and collected threesome of Durant, Westbrook, and Harden. Which begs the question: Has the stage finally become too big?

Is it simply too much to ask for any team to have to beat four NBA franchises in a row (who have accounted for 11 of the last 13 NBA championships) on their way to a title themselves? Lebron James, Dwayne Wade, and the Miami Heat look focused and determined and believe the NBA championship is their destiny. OKC still has something to say about that, but it starts with game 4, a must win for the Thunder. These kids have the talent, that's never been in question, but will the moment prove to be too much. It should be fun finding out.

 

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