Perimeter match-ups for Round 2

[snaquille oatmeal]

MWP-KD
Kobe-Westbrook
Barnes-Harden

[jigga_man]

Kobe on Westbrook can work in spurts but Kobe is needs to play great on offense if the Lakers has a chance, especially considering how inconsistent drew/pau are. Sessions played awful D on Lawson, I think Fisher could have guarded him better, but he's the only option for Westbrook

[Jajwanda]

The key will be Bynum/Gasol/Hill help D if/when Westbrook and Harden penetrate.

Starters
Westbrook vs. Kobe
Sefolosha vs. Sessions
Durant vs. Metta
Ibaka vs. Gasol
Perkins vs. Bynum

+When Harden is in for Westbrook Kobe should take him

->If they go Westbrook, Harden, Durant I'd bring in Barnes on Harden. Metta can't guard Harden or the refs will take another pound of flesh. Barnes on Harden may be a really good answer if Matt can keep moving his feet.

You can't have Kobe play the point, score, and guard Westbrook. They'll have to pick their poison. I would go by whether or not Westbrook's outside shot is off.

[Tee212]

i would double off of selfo all day and make him beat us all series. force the guys that arent offensive minded to score (out of comfort zone).

[TylersLakers]

There are two keys for this series that absolutely have to happen for us to have a chance.

1) Gasol, Bynum Have To Win vs Ibaka and Perkins: This has to happen. If we let Ibaka and Perkins outplay our bigs, we have no chance in the series and they'll either sweep us or win in 5. Pau and Drew have to step up and dominate these two. If we can cancel out the front court at the four and five spots, I feel with comfortable with Metta guarding Kevin Durant and Kobe against Westbrook. Sessions can switch over to Thabo Sefolosha and we'll be fine.

2) Matt Barnes and the Bench: We match up very well with Oklahoma City with the starting five. The key and what makes Oklahoma City so good is James Harden and the rest of their bench. So, when Harden comes in and Matt Barnes and Steve Blake come in for us... Matt Barnes has to knock down his open looks and play Harden tough on D. If Harden comes in off the bench and gives them energy and production it's going to put a lot of pressure on our starters to come back in and get a lead back. Matt Barnes is lucky his s**t didn't cost the Lakers in Round 1 as Metta came back just in time. If Barnes can knock down his jumper.. he'll likely get fourth quarter minutes when OKC goes to their Westbrook/Harden/Durant/Ibaka/Perkins lineup.

[Kupchak9]

Its pretty obvious that Steve Blake will be guarding Durant this series. Cmon Mike Brown.

[Jajwanda]

I just don't get it. Why do people believe Ibaka is a young Garnett on D? I'm looking at some Garnett stats right now and is his post D is good, really good. It's not the same for Ibaka.

Go after Ibaka again and again and again.

[tugs]

I like most posters' suggestion of putting Sessions on Thabo first and switch it later with Kobe when Harden comes in.

anyone think Hill will be utilized more for P and R defense?

[Jajwanda]

I like the idea of HIll cutting off their P and R game.

[Tee212]

imo i think hill is good for put backs and rebounding energy. his offensive game is tooo raw and hes very clumsy catching the ball during pnr situations, its almost like a turnover/brick.

[Asianiac_24]

We need to play Hill more or else Harden/Westbrook would just kill us on P&Rs. Harden is lethal in P&R situations, so we need to have Hill on whenever Harden is playing.

[milesfides]

MWP-KD
Kobe-Westbrook
Barnes-Harden

This seems the most logical, but I don't trust Matt Barnes after his injury.

I think our best pick and roll defenders are Ron Artest and Kobe (the way he fought through the screens to stay with Ty Lawson was remarkable). They need to cover Harden, imo.

I think putting Barnes or Ebanks on Durant might be a good idea. Durant is more of a jump shooter anyways; I really don't think Durant's penetration would be among our biggest problems, so I say put a long defender on him, discourage the drive but challenge the jumper.