Lakers vs. Thunder: Don't compare it to last year's Rockets series

Thunder has a chance to beat Lakers this year because they have Durant and Westbrook, plus that this year Lakers are not good as last year. Last year, the rockets had Artest, who could give you five to ten points per game at any given night, so Thunder is a better team to match up Lakers this time.

 

OKC has had Durant since its inception. I don't think Kobe has any counter for Durant and the Laker team just plain sux at this point. Durant is not only the longest defender Kobe has ever faced but close to he quickest. It's about age and health something that is working against the Lakers and not allowing them to impose their will.

 

The only difference is the Lakers are actually trying this year than last year.

Don't kid yourselves. The Lakers last year played with us. They're takin the Thunder a lot seriously more than the Rockets.

 

Are you joking? Have you seen Westbrook play?

 

A lot of people seem to think Westbrook is going of just because he is playing against Derek Fisher.

Westbrook has been playing like this for most of the 2nd half of the season. He went head to head with Deron Williams in some of their matchups towards the end of the season.

 

About westbrook, if all star weekend is any indication, Durant exploded there last year and look at how he performed this year. Westbrook exploded in rookie-sophomore game(40+ pts just like Durant did) this year...

 

But you're missing the point though. I'm strictly talking about the Lakers on the defensive end. If your back court is getting torched on the perimeter, there's a likelihood your front line is going to be in foul trouble unless they are quick on their feet. Lakers front line are the best in the business but they aren't the fastest in the business. It puts them at a disadvantage when they have to play timid on offense when they're in foul trouble.

I agree with you though. The Lakers should be pounding that ball as much as they can.

 

Westbrook is the real deal. He played great for OKC last year towards the end of the year. Most fans don't realize how good this player is going to be. He needs to cut down on his TO's and work on his jumper. His size and speed are his biggest strengths. If he learns how to hit the open jumper, he'll be in the conversation as one of the top PG's in the league.

 

Anybody can put up big numbers during the allstar game but yeah he's the real deal.

 

Funny thing is... we beat this Thunder team 3 out of 4 times this season.

 

I don't think brooks is better than westbrook.

 

Exactly, that guy is like a D-Wade lite, I'll take him over Evans or Brooks anyday

 

More funny is we didn't make the playoffs, oh snap, not really

 

I would be so happy if the Thunder win the series. I hate the lakers with a passion after they played dirty last season.

 

I agree. Once the Lakers got home court advantage back. They were on auto pilot. In games 4 and 6, the rockets were able to do anything they wanted, because the lakers was playing no D. In games 5 & 7 they shut them down, no easy baskets. Notice how when they wanted the home court advantage back they came to play in game 3. I think it had to do with the high ratings that series was getting.

 

Tell that to those who still think Yao is better than Dwight Howard.

 

Yao is better than howard.

 

It's hard to say, because both teams are better in certain areas.

The Thunder: Have a great athletic team, a go-to superstar wing, great fast break offense, and physically (though undersized) aggressive big men.

The Rockets: Had a well-discipline defense, great half court offense (and great running offense w/o Yao), experience, and Yao Ming (briefly).

I think the Rockets were slightly better than this year's Thunder. Especially, given the Rockets were not 100% (no Yao or Mutombo). If we went into a series and stayed the course with all of our horses, no way we lose that series.

 

you would have to assume we met LA in the first round with a healthy deke n yao. we would've beat LA in 6 games. then lost in the second or third round.

 

with Yao.. hands down last year houston squad better than this years thunder