( Photo credit: Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times / May 21, 2012 )
The Oklahoma City Thunder took care of the Los Angeles Lakers and sent them fishing for the remainder of the postseason and beyond by winning the series 4-1 after last night's Game 5, 106-90. The game had played out like most of the Lakers losses in the series. They were competitive and kept the game close by controlling the tempo in the first half only to fade in every way in the second half. The Thunder went on a big run to open the fourth and never looked back.
Kobe Bryant looked the sharpest he probably has looked since Game 3 scoring 42 points using dunks, 3-pointers, one-legged fade-away jumpers, free throws, etc. He looked very spry but his effort was not enough. Pau Gasol did have 14 points, 16 rebounds but the majority of that was in the first half. Andrew Bynum because of foul trouble was virtually a no-show with 10 points, 4 rebounds. The bench chipped with an anemic 5 points.
The Lakers still have a hole at point guard as the man expected to provide quickness and penetration with consistent scoring, Ramon Sessions, played horribly. He had 8 points on 1-6 shooting and committed 6 turnovers. Two of those turnovers helped spark the Thunder surge in the fourth. His defense on Russell Westbrook was as effective as a turnstile. In all fairness, Sessions was not prepared for this level of scrutiny on a stage this large. He was acquired late in the season and his raw talent wasn't enough to match the pressure of Laker playoff basketball.
The Thunder was led as usual by their big 3, Westbrook, Kevin Durant and James Harden who combined contributed 70 of the team's 106 points. Westbrook once again kept the Thunder in the game in the third quarter with his energy and shooting. Durant came out firing from long range in the fourth to extend their lead over the Lakers. Harden wreaked havoc all over the floor on defense and in the lane offensively. It was just a repeat of Games 2 and 4.
Thunder will face the San Antonio Spurs in the Western Conference Finals. Lakers will seek answers this off-season. The Lakers have a lot of money already committed to seven players for next season so answers won't be easy to come by. Pau seems like the obvious piece to be moved. Perhaps it'll actually happen this time. He's owed $38 million over the next two years and is there a buyer out there after his lackluster playoff performance? There's a team option on Bynum for $16 million which is expected to be picked up but there's still some uncertainty.
"It's going to depend on what the team wants to do," Bynum said. "I definitely want to stay. I really think I'm going to be back next year. I can't say the same for everyone but I do know that I'm going to come back and be a better player."
The Lakers options are limited. Trades with willing partners may be the only real option. Management is trying to lower their costs so it would be hard to imagine a team already over the luxury tax will be willing to go much higher. With low-money exceptions to offer and the last pick in the draft the Lakers will have to be as creative as they've ever been to steal away some talent to help return to the Finals.
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