5 reasons Oklahoma City Thunder can win the NBA Finals without Kevin Durant

5 reasons Oklahoma City Thunder can win NBA Finals without Kevin Durant

May 30, 2016; Oakland, CA, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kevin Durant (35) reacts during the second quarter in game seven of the Western conference finals of the NBA Playoffs against the Golden State Warriors at Oracle Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /

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OKLAHOMA CITY, OK – MAY 8: Billy Donovan of the Oklahoma City Thunder watches game action against the San Antonio Spurs during Game Four of the Western Conference Semifinals during the 2016 NBA Playoffs at the Chesapeake Energy Arena on May 8, 2016 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by J Pat Carter/Getty Images) /

4. Billy Donovan is a great coach

Donovan got a lot of hate throughout the regular season of his rookie campaign. He had never dealt with the rotations or staggering minutes before and many thought he was lost in how to learn. Then came the playoffs. It started against the Spurs, but ran into the Warriors series.

He was facing two of the more prominent names in the game, Greg Popovich, and Steve Kerr. What he did in those playoffs was out coach both of them. He remained flexible in his rotations, and all of a sudden became the master of the counter-attack.

He was praised for bringing in Enes Kanter against the Spurs. Kanter is a big man who can move and score, but has little defensive ability. It was perfect because he made the slow, defensive Spurs turn into a team that was forced to run. He pushed Popovich out of a comfort zone and nobody does that.

Entering the Warriors series many expected him to stubbornly hold onto Kanter and try to out run the run and gun Warriors. He did the opposite, hardly playing Kanter and electing for Dion Waiters, Andre Roberson and Serge Ibaka to rotate instead. It put more perimeter defenders on the floor, which is the perfect answer for a team so infatuated with living on the perimeter.

It will take a whole new bag of tricks, but Donovan still has a roster with a ton of possible lineup variations. If he can pull the right strings one more time, he gives his team an advantage that many would assume they did not have.

Next: 3. The Thunder have the size

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