Oklahoma City Thunder players, coaches, and fans have seen its basketball team in this position before. Not that it is any easier to swallow.

In each of its first two series in these 2014 NBA Playoffs, Oklahoma City has found itself playing from behind. Against Memphis, the Thunder was down 1-2 and 2-3 before sending the Grizzlies home. Then versus the Los Angeles Clippers, OKC suffered an embarrassing home loss in game one of that series before dispatching LA in six games.

So is there really any reason for the Thunder to panic after dumping game one to the San Antonio Spurs on Monday?

Not at all. Or is it an emphatic yes? Or both?

To be sure, Oklahoma City is in a more precarious spot than it was against both the Grizzlies and the Clippers. First of all, San Antonio is neither Memphis nor Los Angeles, as neither of those two teams has hoisted a championship banner. The Spurs? Well, they have four of them since 1999, and its big 3 of Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, and Manu Ginobili just tied the record for most playoff wins by a trio in NBA history.

Secondly, Spurs tradition aside, the Thunder has plenty to worry about from a basketball standpoint. Many experts speculated that the absence of Serge Ibaka from the OKC lineup would be an insurmountable obstacle. If Monday is any indication, that could prove to be true. San Antonio was easily able to get past the perimeter pressure of the Thunder and attack the paint without the shot-swatting Ibaka there to dissuade. All told, San Antonio scored 66 points from close range, including 27 from Duncan.

"Serge is not going to be here," an irked Kevin Durant said after the game one loss. "He's injured for the rest of the postseason, so we've got to move past that and just keep playing as a team."

Even though the Thunder players seem keenly aware that Ibaka is not manning the middle, they certainly did not act like it, much like the child who lives freely, and whose parents always bail him out. Make no mistake, Ibaka, by his presence alone, erased a lot of the issues caused by the Thunder's gambling on defense.

At times in game one, OKC experimented with a shorter line-up that featured Durant as the center surrounded by four guards. Not only did that scheme render the Thunder defense essentially worthless, it took away a part of its offense that could be effective against San Antonio - it's inside power game.

Despite losing Ibaka, OKC still features four sizable challenges to the Spurs defense: Kendrick Perkins, Nick Collison, Steven Adams, and Durant, all of whom are at least 6'10" and can score the ball inside to varying degrees. Perkins has the size (girth) to bang with the Spurs' Tiago Splitter. Collison is a wiry and wily veteran who can cause fits for anyone San Antonio throws on him. Adams is coming into his own as a high-energy guy, and Durant can fill it up from anywhere, of course.

One of the biggest adjustments OKC can make for game two is to - ready for this? - slow the game down and let its big front line go to work. While this is the antithesis of Oklahoma City's style and playbook, if it brings wins, who really cares? For further evidence all the Thunder has to do is look at its opponent.

Before Tony Parker came to town, the Spurs resembled the current edition of the Memphis Grizzlies. That is, they were a vanilla, ground and pound ball club that won with offensive execution and supreme defense. After Parker arrived, the Spurs adjusted their offensive attack to take full advantage of his playmaking abilities. Perhaps if the Thunder eased up on the gas pedal, just a bit, it would allow for better offensive and defensive possessions.

And some much-needed rest.

On Monday, San Antonio raced out to a big early lead only to look the Thunder mount a serious comeback and take a third quarter lead. Problem was, OKC was spent. Out of gas. Hitting up against the proverbial wall. Indeed, both Durant and Russell Westbrook have racked up substantial minutes in this postseason, including their three consecutive overtime games against the Grizzlies in round one.

Slowing down its pace will allow Thunder starters more breathers throughout the game leaving them fresh for crunch time situations. Energy and effort saved early is energy and effort in store for later.

"The lineups, there's no magic," Collison said. "I don't think there's any magic lineups if we're not going to have the effort and the concentration. That's our job as players, and then coach will figure out what works for us. But for us we've got to be really engaged and ready to go when the game starts."

That part has not changed for the Thunder, who has been both charmed and opportunistic through its first two series.

"I don't necessarily say we have to be perfect, just get it done," Westbrook said. "Whatever we need to do to get it done. There will be times when they're going to make plays. They're a great team. There will be times that we're going to make plays. But we've just going to continue to stay with it."