After the Lakers finally dispatched the Denver Nuggets in seven games, thanks to their front court waking up and realizing they were over seven-feet and All-Stars, they head to Oklahoma City to face the Thunder in round two of NBA Western Conference playoffs. It took the pressure and urgency of a Game 7 to milk every ounce of effort from the Lakers and it will be the same effort required as a minimum to have a chance against the Thunder.
Facing a faster, younger, more talented and well rested team in OKC is one thing but fatigue and the playoff schedule will probably be an obstacle as well.
Here Britt Robson from SI.com aptly puts it in perspective:
By Monday night's series opener, it will have been nine days since the Thunder finished a first-round sweep of the defending champion Mavericks -- and less than 48 hours since the Lakers endured a seven-game dogfight against the speedy, undersized Nuggets in their first-round matchup. The disparity might initially help the Lakers as they try to steal home-court advantage by riding the momentum and relief of their dramatic win over Denver against a Thunder squad that will have to knock off some rust to regain its postseason rhythm and intensity. But with the first four games of this series taking place over a six-day period, the advantage increasingly swings to Oklahoma City, which usually has four players 23 years or younger on the floor in crunch time, and runs an offense that ranked sixth in pace and second in points per possession during the regular season. The Thunder will be increasing the tempo against the more-veteran Lakers, who were run ragged by the Nuggets and ceded more fast-break points than every team except the Kings, Bobcats and Timberwolves.
This is quite the daunting task and we still need to break down the game. Lakers have to find a way to slow down the fast-paced Thunder and force them to play half-court basketball.
GUARD PLAY
Without question OKC's Russell Westbrook is one of the fastest guards in the NBA. He is deadly in transition and can finish big around the rim. Limiting bad shots by the Lakers can help not give the Thunder a chance to run. Lakers' Ramon Sessions is pretty quick himself but isn't physical enough to keep Westbrook out of the lane. Sessions will need to stay in front of him because he is a scoring point guard so more likely to shoot or attack the rim than pass. This is why Kobe Bryant takes Westbrook on because he can stay with him in the half court and force him to pass. However, when Westbrook passes he does so to Kevin Durant. The sharp-shooter is long with undying energy. For a Lakers team that left perimeter shooters wide open in the Denver series it would be suicide to do the same with the Thunder. Westbrook, Durant and even James Harden off the bench can drain a jumper from anywhere on the court. Kobe will draw plenty of attention but generally does well against tough defense from Thabo Sefolosha. He will have to earn every point. Sessions will have to be aggresive to warrant some attention. He can't hesitate like he did against Denver. He will have to take that open jumper from 15 feet away or behind the arc.
FRONTCOURT
The Lakers big men will have to play big. Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum cannot have a night off. Gasol will have score consistently and even if Bynum can't score it's imperative to try and control the rebounding advantage. The Thunder's Kendrick Perkins and Serge Ibaka will quickly feed Westbrook or Harden to run a fast break. Perkins plays bully down low trying to use his big body to intimidate and push players off the block. Ibaka is a shot-blocking machine out of the weak side defense. There are usually few easy baskets on the inside. If any duo of big men are equipped to overcome the Thunder's inside presence it's Gasol and Bynum. Gasol can draw a big away from the middle with his mid-range shooting and Bynum has some room to post up and impose himself on the shorter Perkins. The effort has to be consistent and accurate.
GAME CHANGERS
Now that Metta World Peace has returned from his seven-game suspension for shooting an elbow at James Harden's head he proved his value in Game 7 against Denver. Besides providing some much needed offense his dogged defense and intangibles make the Lakers a better team. Poking at the ball, causing turnovers, frustrating the opponent, and consistent energy inspire the team to bring the same kind of effort. He is not afraid to scramble on the floor for a loose ball or post up a larger defender. If he can keep his head on right Metta could give the Lakers an edge.
James Harden's play has been exceptional this year. So much so that he earned the Sixth-Man Award. However, in this realm of playoff basketball no one knows this environment better on the Thunder than Derek Fisher. The Lakers former point guard and heart and soul has helped the Thunder with some good play but more importantly a championship mindset. The 5-time champ knows what it takes to get it done and he's shepherding the young Thunder with his knowledge and inspiration. When the going gets tough they'll look to Fish to get their minds right. And a chance to stick it to the Lakers with a clutch 3 somewhere down the line no doubt.
PREDICTION
My heart say Lakes in 7 but my betting mind says Thunder in 6.
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