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Oklahoma City Thunder
vs
Los Angeles Lakers
Preview
TheLakers views
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The History
Last year the Lakers swept the series, not really surprising considering the Thunder was a team in flux. This year the Thunder have gotten off to a good start, having already matched last years win total through Dec 16th, and are playing much better basketball. The Lakers also will probably be missing Pau Gasol which for the Thunder is both good and bad. Good because 22 and 14, 14 and 8, and 14 and 14 were the boxscores the last three times we played Pau. Bad because this would have been another chance to see how improved Jeff Greens defense really is, I think Green has really made huge strides on the defensive side of the court and while last sunday night against Roy he held his own, in limited action, I wanted to see more of Green on the big 7fters to see if he has what it takes.
The Matchups
Derek Fisherv Russell Westbrook
Westbrook is coming off a poor last game where he turned it over 9 times. The Thunder need Westbrook to take care of the ball above all else. Monday night Krstic, Durant, and Harden all struggled shooting on nights like that each possession is important and turning it over 9 times may have cost us a close one that we could have won on defense. The silver lining in this cloud of doom and gloom Westbrook did go 8-12 so he shot a great percent from the field if he can continue to score efficently and start taking care of the ball like he did in the first and second games then he can help get some wins. Fisher is a vet and after watching Blake get into Westbrooks head a little last game is sure to have a couple of tricks up his sleeve. However he is also not as quick as he used to be and really doesn't appear to be playing very well the last couple of games.
Edge
Kobe Bryantv Thabo Sefolosha
Thabo just came off a very impressive defensive outing against Brandon Roy aka Kobe lite but much like the NFL is now protecting quarterbacks for the sake of offense so to the NBA protects scorers. This will be an interesting matchup particularly without Gasol in the game the way to beat the Lakers, in theory, was to make Kobe a volume scorer frustrate him, let him take shots, but don't foul. Roy did not get to line until there were less than 5 minutes left in the fourth quarter mainly due to Thabo staying on the ground and not jumping into him to challenge shots, as long as he plays the same kind of disciplined defense tonight he can limit Kobe.
Edge
Ron Artestv Kevin Durant
That last game was hard to watch, 3-21 from Durant one of the best pure scorers in the league. Fortunately we probably won't ever have to see it again; unless Texas beats Oklahoma State again, so for the good of the Thunder Gundy beat Texas. Thats right I am blaming the once in a lifetime poor shooting on excessive celebration of Texas's second national title, yes I said national title. Ron Artest is the Lakers Thabo Sefolosha only he shoots a little more and is a lot crazier. I am one of those crazy people that thinks the Artest is really freakin nuts and will mess with the Lakers in ways that only karma explain. I realize now that most of this section doesn't make sense so I will use a clever math equation to explain how I got to the conclusion that this matchup the edge goes to the Thunder.
Durant > Artest
Edge
Lamar Odomv Jeff Green
Okay so another tough matchup for Green, at least on paper. Aldridge went out early with a knee injury but it really didn't matter because Green frequently was matched up both on offense and defense with Oden. Nothing really spectacular happened Green very quietly had 19 and 11 which was a good performance considering rebounding was one of the areas most people agreed Jeff Green needed to improve. Defensively he held his own but the offense of Oden is nothing like the the offense of Odom. I actually think Green is athletic enough to force Odom to work forhis points and with Gasol out that might be enough to get the win.
Edge Push
Andrew Bynumv Nenad Krstic
Before last game I would have given the edge to Krstic and called it a day, but the struggles he had last game give me pause.I really think the issue last game was more about Westbrook not being able to get the ball to Krstic than anything else however I am still stuck thinking he was largely invisible out there. And Bynum to be honest with you I hear all about how great he is but I have never seen him play except the playoffs last year and thats hard to judge because he was going up against Howard.
Edge ?????
Bench v Bench
Super sub is now starting and I am wondering where all the depth went; Powell, Morrison, Vujacic, Walton, Mbenga, and Farmar. Farmar was struggling with his decison making which could be trouble against a team that has deflected alot of passes the past couple of games. Walton is getting back to full speed after an injury early. Vujacic I thought was a shooter but hasn't shot much this season. Maybe I am wrong but if Josh Powell is your best bench player thats not good. Perhaps its just me not being as in touch with the Lakers as I should be, I hate Kobe, but I just dont see it.
Would you trade Collison, White, Ibaka, Livingston, Weaver, Ollie, Thomas, and Harden for those guys? I wouldn't. I know Livingston and Weaver haven't seen any game time yet but since I think both those guys give you something Kevin Ollie doesn't I just don't understand it. I love Scott Brooks, I always have and probably always will, I think he is capable of doing something amazing with this group. I think the defense system the past couple of games has been superb, but Kevin Ollie? Really? Weaver is miles ahead in defense, Livingston is miles ahead in offense, and the decision is to play Ollie who ranks, in my book, slightly less than craptastic in both? He is a point guard that doesn't bring the ball up the court on most possessions. During the last game the guys over at Bustabucket said on twitter any possession where Kevin Ollie dribbles for 14 seconds is great in my book, Bustabucket is a Portland blog.
Edge
The Prediction
Durant will figure it out and start scoring, sometimes we need a challenge to get truely motivated Ron Artest will prove a challenge tonight. Green and Odom will battle it out and fight to a near draw. As long as Westbrook takes care of the ball and makes good decisons this one should be there for the taking. 98-96 Thunder win.
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