Lakers at Thunder game thread

[LkrFan]

If I know my Lakers, we're gonna give up a wide open 3 on this next play

You were right - the Thunder just choked at the end!

[Killakobe81]

The Thunder are completely overrated. How many good teams have they actually beaten this season?

Celts (without durant) in boston ... which spurs could not do ... TBH ..

[namlook]

All Ball! Shut up Kobe lovers!

[tlongII]

True, but Okafor is back and the nets have won their first two games after the break pretty easily and Landry gives them a strong backup in the frontcourt. Plus, their schedule is much easier than Portland's in the 2nd half and if they beat Portland in NOLA in the final meeting, it gives them the tiebreaker. Okafor may be the most important player on that team.

The key will be CP3. If he can get back to form, then the nets will stay ahead of Portland and maybe pass OKC.

D'oh!

[Venti Quattro]

Tough game for LA but Gasol and Bynum made the win possible. Double-double for both of them.

[Kobe_5_Duncan_4]

And that's why the Thunder are still a year or so away, even taking into consideration they were without Perkins.

The way you beat LA is attacking in transition and not letting their length take over in the half court. The Thunder were content to wait for the troops and not attack in transition late, which allowed LA to do what they do best - play in the half court.

But they also need better floor generalship, whether that means Westbrook continues to grow or a savvy playmaker has to be added. ... And Durant is too good to be that ineffective.

He's either going to get it with a little more time and experience or the talk's going to start about how he's just not that kind of player . . .

Because that's real championship basketball?

Spurs fans talking like Suns fans now and don't even realize their own self transformation.

[Blackjack]

Because that's real championship basketball?

Spurs fans talking like Suns fans now and don't even realize their own self transformation.

Yes. You attack your opponents weaknesses and exploit your strengths.

Pretty easy concept.

The Lakers were pretty good before Shaq came to town. They did some stuff. They even had a nickname.

[DJ Mbenga]

kind suprised westbrook just didnt do a thing in the second half. i knew scrubs like cook had to come down to earth and the thunder couldnt keep up their 61% pace but westbrook just didnt bother shooting. they blew a great opportunity. the refs were prepared to let anything go against kobe, making it an easy game or the thunder to steal.

[Blackjack]

kind suprised westbrook just didnt do a thing in the second half. i knew scrubs like cook had to come down to earth and the thunder couldnt keep up their 61% pace but westbrook just didnt bother shooting. they blew a great opportunity. the refs were prepared to let anything go against kobe, making it an easy game or the thunder to steal.

That's part of the problem I had with Westbrook. He ain't gonna run the show like a true point and his strengths offensively are almost all in early offense and in transition. He shoots his jumper better in rhythm in transition and his athleticism is freakish when in transition.

But true to what's been form, instead of attacking in transition, hitting the seams or taking his best shots, he was pulling the ball back out and waiting to run sets in the halfcourt. That ain't gonna fly against that kind of length.

But that's what young teams and players do. Game gets tight, they need a bucket and they start squeezing the ball and trying to be perfect. No mistakes, one good shot and let the chips fall where they may.

You gotta be you down the stretch. Take your shots and play to your strengths. You can't start playing away from your strengths or not to lose.

That's why they're still a year or two or more away . . .

[crc21209]

kind suprised westbrook just didnt do a thing in the second half. i knew scrubs like cook had to come down to earth and the thunder couldnt keep up their 61% pace but westbrook just didnt bother shooting. they blew a great opportunity. the refs were prepared to let anything go against kobe, making it an easy game or the thunder to steal.

Surprised? It's what Westbrook does. He's gone off in ALOT of 1st halves of games this season and then totally dissapeared in the 2nd half of those games...

[Venti Quattro]

Surprised? It's what Westbrook does. He's gone off in ALOT of 1st halves of games this season and then totally dissapeared in the 2nd half of those games...

The Lakers are torched by spitfire point guards almost every game that we don't even know if they've already slowed down or not.

[LkrFan]

Championship highlights. Enjoy

[TampaDude]

True or False:

The Lakers can go into San Antonio and take a game or two.

False

[Kobe_5_Duncan_4]

Yes. You attack your opponents weaknesses and exploit your strengths.

Pretty easy concept.

The Lakers were pretty good before Shaq came to town. They did some stuff. They even had a nickname.

Yup. And they had the one player in the history of the NBA that could do that successfully in Earvin Magic Johnson.

Not to mention a dynamite half court set with Kareem in the low post and Worthy in the high post.

Very comparable to the teams of today. Brilliant comparison.

[Kobe_5_Duncan_4]

True or False:

The Lakers can go into San Antonio and take a game or two.

Easily.

[Giuseppe]

HCA is not the death knell it once was. Is it highly preferable? Without a doubt.

[Blackjack]

Yup. And they had the one player in the history of the NBA that could do that successfully in Earvin Magic Johnson.

Earvin "Magic; the defensive juggernaut" Johnson

Not to mention a dynamite half court set with Kareem in the low post and Worthy in the high post.

Tim Duncan's pretty good.

Very comparable to the teams of today. Brilliant comparison.

Phoenix didn't event transition basketball. And the Spurs aren't a one-trick pony.

Never go Full Re .