There are no two words more dreaded in a student's vocabulary than "Final Exam". A time where all your hopes, dreams and hard work go into one basket and the results can change your life in an instant. Leading up to the exam one often becomes paranoid and withdrawn, filled with a nauseating sense of nervous anticipation, a feeling that this time of year is slowly seeping into the fragile psyches of students around North America; a feeling the Seattle Supersonics can relate to right about now.

This is only a test… Repeat that to yourself often to maintain your sanity.

They can understand the emotions of students across the continent because the Sonics themselves have "finals" looming. A test will come into Seattle Friday night in the form of a black and silver bullet that has been the hottest thing in the NBA since a small lava incident involving the league's long-lost Pompeii franchise. In the next week the lucky Sonics get to take a turn with the NBA powerhouse Spurs, not once, but twice.

The San Antonio Spurs have been a ball of fire since the All-Star break having gone 18-5 and skyrocketing themselves up the standings in the Western conference. The team, as always, has been led by the ever astonishing play of Tim Duncan who this year ranks overall, 1st in rebounds per game, (12.7), 4th in points per game, (25.4), 2nd in free throws attempted (of which he has increased his average to 80% accuracy this year), 6th in blocks per game, (2.39), and 1st in double doubles, (57); without a doubt an MVP caliber season.

The Spurs though bring to the game much more than just Tim Duncan. David Robinson is still one of the most imposing big men in the league, the former league MVP, Defensive player of the year, rebounding title holder, scoring title holder, rookie of the year, honored as one of the 50 greatest of all time, and all-around perennial All-Star still has the legs to carry a team when necessary.

Outside of the Spurs' dominant big men tandem of Duncan and Robinson, is a parade of talented riflemen lurking around the three-point line keeping opposing teams honest on defense. Steve Smith at .486% behind the arc is the league's best deep threat. But he is only the tip of the iceberg in San Antonio, which also boast Terry Porter, and Danny Ferry at .415% each along with Bruce Bowen .386%, and Tony Parker .342%, all haunting the outside waiting for the defense to leave them in order to double down on the twin towers in the middle.

These hot hands are the true source of power behind the Spurs; a team that epitomizes the inside out offense that Nate McMillan tried unsuccessfully to utilize in Seattle. But San Antonio can bury teams on defense as well; only very brave men dare try to post up on the twin towers. Attempting to exploit the Spurs by working under the basket usually leads to as much success as owning a citrus farm in the Yukon. And it is not that much easier the further out from the paint you get, in Bruce Bowen, Malik Rose, and Tony Parker the Spurs have players who lead by example working hard and hustling on defense causing an endless amount of problems for opposing teams.

An unstoppable offense, a gritty hard working defense, pure outside shooting, and absolute interior dominance, it is a small wonder no one is hoping to draw the Spurs when the playoffs start. Getting stuck with San Antonio is a reality though that the Sonics are going to have to start getting used to. With each passing day it looks more and more like Seattle is soon to be Texas bound.

This past week Seattle made a huge leap forward in their bid to grab the Western Conference seventh seed when they finally ended their drought against the Utah Jazz. The Jazz game was a turning point; it freed the Sonics from a dark cloud that had been hanging over them for two years and finally made the team and fans feel like Seattle was ready for anything.

After the Jazz game, the seventh seed seems to belong to Seattle as long they can hold onto it. This has caused them to look towards the Midwest Division, whose champion Seattle will square off against in the first round of the playoffs. If the season continues as it has, recently the favourite to win that division has to be the Spurs. The Mavericks are barely holding onto a half game lead while trying to adjust and find their rhythm after their mid-season acquisitions. With the Spurs hot in pursuit having won 13 of their last 14, and owning the tie breaker against their cross-Texas Rivals, it appears the Western Conference's second seed is destined for San Antonio.

Remember this is only a test.

The Sonics looming final exam against the Spurs takes on a whole new sense of urgency when their impending collision in the playoffs is taken into account. If the Sonics are going to beat the Spurs come late April, they need to show they can do it now; Seattle needs to build up their confidence in the face of one of the NBA's most intimidating forces.

It won't be easy with an injured Vin Baker and a foul-prone Jerome James being asked to match up against Tim Duncan and David Robinson. It won't be easy getting Seattle's poor perimeter defense out on Steve Smith and company at the three-point line. In fact it will be down right impossible to climb the mountain that is San Antonio once the playoffs start without an emotional boost from a solid performance against them now down the stretch.

If Seattle can stay tight and play the Spurs hard in these upcoming two games it will prove that they can go into the playoffs and not be completely embarrassed. If Seattle can somehow win against the blazing hot Spurs in one of these two games it will give the Sonics a chance to win in the first round. Their lone victory over the Spurs this year came a long time ago, and a lot has changed since then. It does not mean all too much anymore, but a win Friday or next Wednesday will be a message to the rest of the league.

In professional sports, a player's state of mind is equally as important as their state of body, and a lack of confidence is every bit as harmful to a player's game as a sprained ankle or cracked rib. The Spurs are a team that can definitely inspire a crisis of confidence, and for all intensive purposes the Sonics are embarking on a seven game series starting Friday in Key Arena and going down 0-2 early could prove to be insurmountable.

In the next week it will become clear exactly how much this overachieving Sonics squad is capable of; if they are happy just to make the playoffs, or looking for more than that. The answer will soon be clear enough if Seattle is, or is not, good enough to pass the test.

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All opinions expressed in this column are solely the views of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of other columnists or staff of Sonicscentral.com