4/24 - 1st round - Game 4 -LAL @ OKC - 6:30pm

[semi-sentient]

So if they have been shooting poorly all season you think going up against the best perimeter "D" in the league is going to be the alixer?

Are you watching the games? Artest, Farmar, Brown, and Odom have been bricking wide open 3-pointers. At worst, they have had guys close out on them, but these aren't rookies that get shook when an opposing players run at them. They are just not hitting shots this year. They are ranked 24th in the league (just ahead of the Thunder), and that's especially pathetic when you consider teams regularly pack the paint against the Lakers because they know they can't hit from the outside.

The Lakers have two regular rotation players shooting above 35%: Ron Artest (.355) and Jordan Farmar (.376).

In short, they are a very poor 3-point shooting team considering the amount of great looks that they get.

Now I'm not saying the Thunder aren't a good perimeter defense team, but the Lakers are missing a ton of wide open shots -- the same kind of shots that the Thunder are making. That was pretty evident from this last game.

How about you tell your team to learn how to shoot a free throw. Your team gave the game away at the line last night.

False. The Lakers shot 3-10 in the 1st half, and even had they hit 80% of their foul shots they would have still been down by 8 points. In the 2nd half, when they got blown out of the water, they hit 14-18 from the charity strike. I would really love to know how that translates to giving away the game at the line...

That is when they decided to take it to the rack instead of settling for outside shots with a hand in their face.

Did you even watch the game? Seriously. The Lakers were pounding it inside in the 1st half and that resulted in 10 free throws. In the 2nd half, they didn't start getting to the line until the game was already decided, and even though they were 14-18 it had little impact since they were sending the Thunder to the line relentlessly due to playing stupid.

The Lakers lost because they played poorly on the defensive end and didn't execute on offense, which is the opposite of the Thunder who played well on both ends.

[wiff]

So if they have been shooting poorly all season you think going up against the best perimeter "D" in the league is going to be the alixer?

Are you watching the games? Artest, Fisher, and Farmar have been bricking wide open 3-pointers. At worst, they have had guys close out on them, but these aren't rookies that get shook when an opposing players run at them. They are just not hitting shots this year. They are ranked 24th in the league (just ahead of the Thunder), and that's especially pathetic when you consider teams regularly pack the paint against the Lakers because they know they can't hit from the outside.

The Lakers have two regular rotation players shooting above 35%: Ron Artest (.355) and Jordan Farmar (.376).

In short, they are a very poor 3-point shooting team considering the amount of great looks that they get.

Now I'm not saying the Thunder aren't a good perimeter defense team, but the Lakers are missing a ton of wide open shots -- the same kind of shots that the Thunder are making. That was pretty evident from this last game.

How about you tell your team to learn how to shoot a free throw. Your team gave the game away at the line last night.

False. The Lakers shot 3-10 in the 1st half, and even had they hit 80% of their foul shots they would have still been down by 8 points. In the 2nd half, when they got blown out of the water, they hit 14-18 from the charity strike. I would really love to know how that translates to giving away the game at the line...

That is when they decided to take it to the rack instead of settling for outside shots with a hand in their face.

Did you even watch the game? Seriously. The Lakers were pounding it inside in the 1st half and that resulted in 10 free throws. In the 2nd half, they didn't start getting to the line until the game was already decided, and even though they were 14-18 it had little impact since they were sending the Thunder to the line relentlessly due to playing stupid.

Yeah I didn't see a single Thunder player running out on a 3pt shot. They were all camped underneath the hoops daring them to shoot it from three. Because instead of busting their butts on "D" the Thunder just camp undrer the rim and hope the opposing team misses.

[RocketPower23]

If Kobe wasn't so banged up, I would suggest, at least for stretches, for him to guard Westbrook ala his defense against Rondo. Dare him to shoot jumpers 18 feet and out, and disrupt any kind of penetration and passing into the paint.

[semi-sentient]

If Kobe wasn't so banged up, I would suggest, at least for stretches, for him to guard Westbrook ala his defense against Rondo. Dare him to shoot jumpers 18 feet and out, and disrupt any kind of penetration and passing into the paint.

Yeah, that would be ideal. His length will bother his outside shooting, and I think he can stay with Westbrook better than Fisher even with his injuries.

What Kobe has to do, more than anything, is play better on offense. Better efficiency, less scoring/shooting, and more play-making.

[RocketPower23]

I think the end of game 3, and in game 4, Kobe, more or less, had the right mind-set. He's just gotta pick his spots, see what the defense is giving him, and go from there. Let the game come to him. Plus, a little perimeter shooting from our "shooters" would be nice.

[iamworthy]

The officiating will be alot different in Los Angeles.

[kobeaki]

where is minhee? shouldnt she be here after all catastrophic losses?

[iamworthy]

Thunder took approximately 40 more freethrows in the last 2 games. That wont happen in LA

[wiff]

Thunder took approximately 40 more freethrows in the last 2 games. That wont happen in LA

Don't you think some of that has to do with Kobe looking to pass the ball instead of taking it to the rack?

Sure I understand the whole home court advantage. But OKC was WAY more agressive last night.

Plus OKC gets to the line, after all Durant led the league in free throws attempted and made.

[DEEP3CL]

I don't know why you guys are even giving this intruder the time of day. Let's just stay silent over the next few days when it comes to these dudes.

[iamworthy]

Thunder took approximately 40 more freethrows in the last 2 games. That wont happen in LA

Don't you think some of that has to do with Kobe looking to pass the ball instead of taking it to the rack?

Sure I understand the whole home court advantage. But OKC was WAY more agressive last night.

Plus OKC gets to the line, after all Durant led the league in free throws attempted and made.

We will see next game. I just think it has to do with home court. Look at the numbers.

[DEEP3CL]

The officiating will be alot different in Los Angeles.

No it won't Big Game, reason being is because the league mostly Stern-Vader is hell bent on shutting Phil up once and for all. For as smart as Phil is, he just needs to cool out and see what happens. If Sperm head thinks his NBA Finals will be great with just Orlando ( cause the Cavs ain't gettin there) then more power to him.

But once he sees what little advertisement money he's going to make during a sucky ass Finals, he'll have his dumb ass refs to thank. I don't think none of us here are whining about the refs, but this whole series has been shady from the start.......I mean the Thunder are shooting 130 something free throws to our 80 ? OKC fans have come here raving on "we drive to the rack".......BS.

We have too, plus we have two post guys getting beat up and nothing is called. I willing to bet if you took Drew and Pau's attempts at the line they probably won't equal 25.......hell like I said we've only been 80 times total.

[iamworthy]

The officiating will be alot different in Los Angeles.

No it won't Big Game, reason being is because the league mostly Stern-Vader is hell bent on shutting Phil up once and for all. For as smart as Phil is, he just needs to cool out and see what happens. If Sperm head thinks his NBA Finals will be great with just Orlando ( cause the Cavs ain't gettin there) then more power to him.

But once he sees what little advertisement money he's going to make during a sucky ass Finals, he'll have his dumb ass refs to thank. I don't think none of us here are whining about the refs, but this whole series has been shady from the start.......I mean the Thunder are shooting 130 something free throws to our 80 ? OKC fans have come here raving on "we drive to the rack".......BS.

We have too, plus we have two post guys getting beat up and nothing is called. I willing to bet if you took Drew and Pau's attempts at the line they probably won't equal 25.......hell like I said we've only been 80 times total.

Have faith my bratha.

[BLKMAMBA1]

Game 3&4 was a bunch of bull Lakers new they werent getting any calls thats why i think they just sat back and let the thunder do there thing hopefully we will get the same fouls they got because we are at home now GO LAKERS!

[countrybama24]

We'll looks like the Jazz are gonna win, at least thats probably a way better matchup for you all next round.

How much do you think the last two games in OKC were just fatigue? You just looked tired / lazy out there.... Obviously FTs had a part to play, but just in general you didn't look like the lakers Ive usually seen.

I think both teams are playing excellent defense in general, the Lakers offense just is sputtering too much to overcome the FT disparity.