DALLAS — Kobe Bryant and Tim Duncan have been through so many playoff series, they would be good sources to discuss the prevailing themes in the Western Conference finals, like how valuable experience is at this stage and whether there’s such a thing as too much rest between rounds.

Only, Bryant and Duncan aren’t around. For just the second time since 1998, neither the Lakers nor the Spurs will represent the West in the NBA finals.

Instead, it’ll either be Dirk Nowitzki, Jason Kidd and the aging-but-rested Mavericks, or Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook and the rapidly maturing Thunder.