Oklahoma City Thunder @ Los Angeles Lakers 01/17/2011

Post #1 » by **slick_watts** » Mon Jan 17, 2011 5:47 pm

Another big road game.

The Lakers have had a cupcake schedule recently, winning seven in a row before losing to the Clippers last night.

The Lakers have the best offense in the league but have been somewhat vulnerable defensively.

Sinant · Post #2 » by **Sinant** » Mon Jan 17, 2011 5:48 pm

Will Durant get revenge for the playoffs and come out with a huge game? Or will Artest shut him down again?
Who's guarding Westbrook?
Will Jeff Green get a rebound?

Lots of storylines.

bbms · Post #3 » by **bbms** » Mon Jan 17, 2011 7:09 pm

Pau Gasol is gonna set carreer highs.

Jimmy76 · Post #4 » by **Jimmy76** » Mon Jan 17, 2011 7:38 pm

bbms wrote:Pau Gasol is gonna set carreer highs.

not if green has something to say about it

oh wait...

should be a winnable game lakers are coming off a back to back

have my eye on that 2nd spot, utah down right now on that note

bbms · Post #5 » by **bbms** » Mon Jan 17, 2011 7:48 pm

We can win. But Ibaka has to play.

dream_catcher_9 · Post #6 » by **dream_catcher_9** » Mon Jan 17, 2011 11:27 pm

Interesting game. If we come out with the same effort and focus vs Orlando it will be a good game. With it being on TNT they should be up for it.

Post #7 » by **slick_watts** » Tue Jan 18, 2011 12:11 am

I don't think we'll beat the Lakers if we play the same game we played against Orlando. The defense wasn't very good.

dream_catcher_9 · Post #8 » by **dream_catcher_9** » Tue Jan 18, 2011 12:23 am

slick_watts wrote:I don't think we'll beat the Lakers if we play the same game we played against Orlando. The defense wasn't very good.

lol at thinking the defense wasn't very good. They hit a lot of lucky 3 pointers, and they have Dwight. We shut everything down for the most part.

Post #9 » by **slick_watts** » Tue Jan 18, 2011 12:40 am

dream_catcher_9 wrote:lol at thinking the defense wasn't very good. They hit a lot of lucky 3 pointers, and they have Dwight. We shut everything down for the most part.

We gave up a season high 3PM on 50% 3P%. 8 of Orlando's 14 makes from three point (and several misses) by my count were wide open. For a team that struggles defending the 3PT line (OKC) to give up a season high in 3PM to the best 3PT shooting team in the league (ORL), PLUS give up a marquee game to its best player (Dwight Howards) - I think it's safe to say the defensive objectives were not met.

We won that game because we shot the lights out of the ball (eFG% 60%+, first time I can see that this happened since the team moved to OKC). Claiming that we 'shut everything down' when they had an ORTG of 137 is just silly... the team did a poor job after the initial few minutes of defending the perimeter, which was a defensive goal judging by the initial defense.

Lakers are a better offensive team - play that way against them and you'll probably lose.

Trip · Post #10 » by **Trip** » Tue Jan 18, 2011 12:47 am

We play really well in nationally televised games so it will be a game. I think we need Russ to attack much like the playoff series and see if we can get KD going.

They are going to have a field day inside as expected but I would be more comfortable with them putting the game in Kobe's hands much more than previous years.

Post #11 » by **slick_watts** » Tue Jan 18, 2011 12:53 am

The boards will be the most important part of this game. Lakers Top Four in offensive rebounding, Thunder average to below average on the defensive boards. The Lakers turn the ball over the least in the league, so when you give them offensive boards / extra FGA it's tough to make it up elsewhere.

I'd like to see a lot of Collison / Ibaka.

wiff · Post #12 » by **wiff** » Tue Jan 18, 2011 1:41 am

The Lakers lost yesterday to their little brother and the red headed step kid.

I have a feeling they are going to want to get a good win against the Thunder. The Thunder are getting it done this season. Don't look now but OKC is 3rd in the conference.

This could definitely be a statement game by OKC if they come away with a win. Tonight is a great chance to pop the champ in the mouth and let him know there is more coming this may and possibly June.

So how many trips down the court before the Lakers post Gasol up on Green?

Trip · Post #13 » by **Trip** » Tue Jan 18, 2011 4:01 am

Looks like the plan is to make them stop Russ. They are countering by actually using their size.

Poo...

Post #14 » by **slick_watts** » Tue Jan 18, 2011 4:20 am

Good end to the quarter. Would like to see the team stay with the big lineups and avoid Green at PF as much as possible. Lakers too strong inside.

bbms · Post #15 » by **bbms** » Tue Jan 18, 2011 4:26 am

I love Ibaka and Collison.

Trip · Post #16 » by **Trip** » Tue Jan 18, 2011 4:30 am

Decent d on Gasol from green but yeah id like to limit that. Good news is we are still finding our way inside and holding up nicely during the break for kd and westbrook.

Trip · Post #17 » by **Trip** » Tue Jan 18, 2011 4:33 am

The matchup of Ibaka on Odom out on the perimeter isn't pretty at all. The one place where he fails to contest early enough.

Post #18 » by **slick_watts** » Tue Jan 18, 2011 4:46 am

So tough to guard the Lakers when you only play one real center, and he's not really that physical a center.

bbms · Post #19 » by **bbms** » Tue Jan 18, 2011 4:47 am

Odom has enough skills and experience to explore Ibaka's weakness.

inquisitive · Post #20 » by **inquisitive** » Tue Jan 18, 2011 4:54 am

Laker's size is a bit too much for the Thunder, but i think the Thunder will clamp down on defense in 2nd half. Still, Thunder will need to trade for a big good center before the deadline to compete in the playoffs.