I really don't get the fan/media reaction to this game. The Thunder were missing James Harden, he of the 21 PER and essentially their version of Manu Ginobili. Neither of Durant or Westbrook could buy a basket, the latter putting up a shot line that would make John Starks blush. Kobe made almost every shot down the stretch, including a blind luck heave off his left foot. And the Thunder still took the Lakers to 2 OT, in Los Angeles. Missing a star player and with almost every variable going against them. In terms of predictive value, that tells me the Thunder are going to be ridiculously tough to beat four times out of seven - especially by the Lakers.
Matchup-wide, OKC is the Lakers worst nightmare. Perkins and Ibaka are the antidote for the twins towers in the post. Thabo and Harden do well against Kobe. On the other side of the ball (assuming KD & WB don't have nearly their worst shooting games of the year), the Lakers don't have enough answers. I'm with you Icehouse. I want this to be a 2nd round series in the worst way.
Recently? In their last 10 games, other than today, they've had one game that came down to the wire - a loss to the Clippers. I wouldn't say that two games qualifies as a lot, especially with the unique circumstances (no Harden) of today's game. Not saying they're flawless, but after this, fairly certain they'll take out the Lakers in 5 games - maximum 6.
Within the last 10 games, not including today? http://espn.go.com/nba/team/schedule/_/name/okc/oklahoma-city-thunder Along with the Clippers and Lakers losses, got to include the 3 game losing streak to the Grizzlies, Heat, and the Pacers too..all close losses.
The Pacers loss is the only one of those in the last 10, and OKC was down 24 late in the third. Never got closer than 5. Not really an example of them failing to close out. The Pacers just outplayed them.
Well the Heat game is included if we're not including today which I thought we weren't. Grizzlies game if we're including 11 games..but 9,10,11 whatever those games were in this month.
Kobe: 9-26 Bynum: 5-15 Durant: 11-34 WB: 3-22 Damn what a brickfest. And Kobe/KD/WB made some ridiculously bad shots or else their fg% would be even worse.
And most of those were ridiculously bad shots; hell 2 of them were lucky when he hit them off of one foot. But when you're that good of a scorer, and keep jacking it up, you're bound to make some. I mean, he did jack up 26 shots. Anyways, the Lakers have no chance of beating the thunder. They'll be ousted in the 2nd round once again.
lol the Lebron jock lover still hating on Kobe? you going to cry again when Lebron has a 4th quarter finals average of 2.2 again? if they make it that far?
The Thunder loss is HUGE. If Miami wins out, they'll have HCA v. them if they meet the Thunder in the finals. And HC will matter in that series.
I don't think they want HCA in the East. With the #2 seed, they will play NYK/Philly (most likely NYK) and then Indiana. A very easy path to the ECF. Bulls will have to face Boston and then Miami in the ECF. They just need HC v. OKC. OKC is the only team that can match up with Miami athletically.
