57: Los Angeles Lakers @ Oklahoma City Thunder Game Thread
Posted: Mon Feb 23, 2009 6:57 am
Los Angeles Lakers (46-10) Vs. Oklahoma City Thunder (13-43)
VS: 
Game Information
Who: The Oklahoma City Thunder
When: Tuesday, Feb. 24th 2009
Time: 5:00 PM Pacific (7:00 CT)
Venue: Ford Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
TV: KCAL 9
Radio: AM 570 KLAC
Oklahoma City Thunder Starting Lineup

PG: Russell Westbrook
15.3 Points Per Game
5.1 Assists Per Game
1.4 Rebounds Per Game

SG: Kyle Weaver
4.1 Points Per Game
1.9 Assists Per Game
2.2 Rebounds Per Game

SF: Kevin Durant
26.2 Points Per Game
6.6 Rebounds Per Game
2.9 Assists Per Game

PF: Jeff Green
16.9 Points Per Game
6.9 Rebounds Per Game
2.1 Assists Per Game

C: Nenad Krstic
8.6 Points Per Game
5.1 Rebounds Per Game
1.2 Blocks Per Game
Key Bench Players

SF: Nick Collison
8.1 Points Per Game
6.8 Rebounds Per Game
1.0 Assists Per Game

C: Joe Smith
6.6 Points Per Game
4.5 Rebounds Per Game
0.7 Assists Per Game
Los Angeles Lakers Starting Lineup

PG: Derek Fisher
10.5 Points Per Game
3.6 Assists Per Game
1.3 Steals Per Game

SG: Kobe Bryant
27.5 Points Per Game
5.1 Assists Per Game
5.5 Rebounds Per Game
1.3 Steals Per Game

SF: Luke Walton
4.6 Points Per Game
2.4 Rebounds Per Game
2.4 Assists Per Game

PF: Lamar Odom
10.7 Points Per Game
7.6 Rebounds Per Game
2.4 Assists Per Game

C: Pau Gasol
18.4 Points Per Game
9.4 Rebounds Per Game
3.6 Assists Per Game
Lakers "Bench Mob"

PG: Jordan Farmar
7.5 Points Per Game
2.1 Rebounds Per Game
2.4 Assists Per Game

SF: Trevor Ariza
8.8 Points Per Game
4.5 Rebounds Per Game
1.5 Steals Per Game
Key Matchup of the Game
Vs:
Lamar Odom vs Jeff Green
There's not a lot of great matchups in this game. Kobe Bryant against Kyle Weaver isn't a great match up for the Thunder. Kevin Durant squaring off against Luke Walton is a clear mismatch with the huge advantage to Durant. This matchup however, is interesting. Jeff Green is a mismatch for usually any power forward he goes against.. but not LO. There's a lot of similarities between Odom and Green. Both are versatile players, able to shoot outside, drive and post up. Both are pretty strong defenders. Lamar needs to continue the way he's been playing and he has to hold Jeff Green from having a big game. Offensively, Green might be a "more explosive" scorer than LO, and the Lakers can not afford to let him get hot. When Jeff Green has a great night offensively, it really makes Oklahoma's chances a lot better of pulling out a win. If we can keep the Thunder to being a one man show with Kevin Durant, we should not have too many problems.
Keys To A Lakers Win

GO LAKERS!!!!


Game Information
Who: The Oklahoma City Thunder
When: Tuesday, Feb. 24th 2009
Time: 5:00 PM Pacific (7:00 CT)
Venue: Ford Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
TV: KCAL 9
Radio: AM 570 KLAC
Oklahoma City Thunder Starting Lineup

PG: Russell Westbrook
15.3 Points Per Game
5.1 Assists Per Game
1.4 Rebounds Per Game

SG: Kyle Weaver
4.1 Points Per Game
1.9 Assists Per Game
2.2 Rebounds Per Game

SF: Kevin Durant
26.2 Points Per Game
6.6 Rebounds Per Game
2.9 Assists Per Game

PF: Jeff Green
16.9 Points Per Game
6.9 Rebounds Per Game
2.1 Assists Per Game

C: Nenad Krstic
8.6 Points Per Game
5.1 Rebounds Per Game
1.2 Blocks Per Game
Key Bench Players

SF: Nick Collison
8.1 Points Per Game
6.8 Rebounds Per Game
1.0 Assists Per Game

C: Joe Smith
6.6 Points Per Game
4.5 Rebounds Per Game
0.7 Assists Per Game
Los Angeles Lakers Starting Lineup

PG: Derek Fisher
10.5 Points Per Game
3.6 Assists Per Game
1.3 Steals Per Game

SG: Kobe Bryant
27.5 Points Per Game
5.1 Assists Per Game
5.5 Rebounds Per Game
1.3 Steals Per Game

SF: Luke Walton
4.6 Points Per Game
2.4 Rebounds Per Game
2.4 Assists Per Game

PF: Lamar Odom
10.7 Points Per Game
7.6 Rebounds Per Game
2.4 Assists Per Game

C: Pau Gasol
18.4 Points Per Game
9.4 Rebounds Per Game
3.6 Assists Per Game
Lakers "Bench Mob"

PG: Jordan Farmar
7.5 Points Per Game
2.1 Rebounds Per Game
2.4 Assists Per Game

SF: Trevor Ariza
8.8 Points Per Game
4.5 Rebounds Per Game
1.5 Steals Per Game
Key Matchup of the Game


Lamar Odom vs Jeff Green
There's not a lot of great matchups in this game. Kobe Bryant against Kyle Weaver isn't a great match up for the Thunder. Kevin Durant squaring off against Luke Walton is a clear mismatch with the huge advantage to Durant. This matchup however, is interesting. Jeff Green is a mismatch for usually any power forward he goes against.. but not LO. There's a lot of similarities between Odom and Green. Both are versatile players, able to shoot outside, drive and post up. Both are pretty strong defenders. Lamar needs to continue the way he's been playing and he has to hold Jeff Green from having a big game. Offensively, Green might be a "more explosive" scorer than LO, and the Lakers can not afford to let him get hot. When Jeff Green has a great night offensively, it really makes Oklahoma's chances a lot better of pulling out a win. If we can keep the Thunder to being a one man show with Kevin Durant, we should not have too many problems.
Keys To A Lakers Win
- Defense: It seems like every Laker fan has been talking about this forever. Against Minnesota, we gave up too many open looks and do many easy drives to the basket. We have to limit transition opportunities and not let Oklahoma's crowd get into it.
- Limit Turnovers: We have to keep the turnover count low. We can't let Oklahoma City and their crowd get into it early. We have to jump on them early and keep the foot on the throat throughout the game. Letting the Thunder get a mentality that they have a "chance," is not a good idea. Kevin Durant has hit a couple game winners this season.

GO LAKERS!!!!