57: Los Angeles Lakers @ Oklahoma City Thunder Game Thread

[TylersLakers]

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

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!!!!

[Hunter103]

Go Lakers! Must take care of business against the bottom-feeders.

[RASMARX]

Score points.

[hermes]

125-117 i'm feeling it!

GO LAKERS

[magic1fan]

hopefully we take care of business early,so we can give our starters a nice rest in the fourth.

[Kobe_for_3]

a wins a win but we need to start beating these bad teams down!

[Anklebreaker702]

Nice GT TL. No let up! We gotta keep it rolling! Also, I get the strange suspicion we will get Drew back mid March. That's going to be a huge shot in the arm especially if we are still playing well. It'll take us to another level!

[Flipdog69xxx]

Go Lakers!

[lakersfanatic]

I hope we're not trying for another "Best Drama" like what kobe said. The oscars are over...now let's get business done and rout the "fo-sho" wins hehe.

If durant goes on a frenzy.. we might encounter some trouble there, but i doubt we'll allow that to happen.. but judging from the last few games.. i beg to differ .. hehe jk

[DEEP3CL]

Nice GT TL, just win the game...............just win the game, that's all that matters now.

[Individual]

Another win, please. Go Lakers!

[butter17]

Nice GT TL. No let up! We gotta keep it rolling! Also, I get the strange suspicion we will get Drew back mid March. That's going to be a huge shot in the arm especially if we are still playing well. It'll take us to another level!

I Couldn't agree with u more Anklebreaker, i think big drew is coming back in mid march to.Definitely his comeback is going to take us to the next level (CHAMPIONSHIP)! As 4 the game tomorrow, we need to step on their necks early and often. Give them no life!

[Anklebreaker702]

Nice GT TL. No let up! We gotta keep it rolling! Also, I get the strange suspicion we will get Drew back mid March. That's going to be a huge shot in the arm especially if we are still playing well. It'll take us to another level!

I Couldn't agree with u more Anklebreaker, i think big drew is coming back in mid march to.Definitely his comeback is going to take us to the next level (CHAMPIONSHIP)! As 4 the game tomorrow, we need to step on their necks early and often. Give them no life!

No doubt Butter, this is our year & our destiny

[TylersLakers]

Nice GT TL. No let up! We gotta keep it rolling! Also, I get the strange suspicion we will get Drew back mid March. That's going to be a huge shot in the arm especially if we are still playing well. It'll take us to another level!

I Couldn't agree with u more Anklebreaker, i think big drew is coming back in mid march to.Definitely his comeback is going to take us to the next level (CHAMPIONSHIP)! As 4 the game tomorrow, we need to step on their necks early and often. Give them no life!

No doubt Butter, this is our year & our destiny

I would like to think that.. but sometimes I just don't trust this team.

[Lakers4Lyfe]

Hey guys long time reader and new poster.

We should win this one...could be a hard game if we let them hang around but we should win this one. If we don't my friends wouldn't let me live it down haha

[TylersLakers]

Hey guys long time reader and new poster.

We should win this one...could be a hard game if we let them hang around but we should win this one. If we don't my friends wouldn't let me live it down haha

Welcome to the board.

AND Knicks fans? Come on now.

[Lord Thaliontil]

I think the keys are Pau and Kobe,Krstic cannot defend Gasol,and Kobe should destroy Weaver,and with the level Pau is showing,I see him posting up 22-12-5 today. Player of The Month!

[butter17]

I think it's going 2 be another close game tonight, but we will win. That's the way this team is, we play down to our competition.

[Erik Eleven]

The undisciplined perimeter defense can't continue tonight or Durant will go for 60 points.

Don't double hard on the wrong man at the top of the key or we'll lose!!! Hear that, Sasha? You've done it so consistently that the scouting report is now very clear, hence your limited minutes.

Red flag game.

[Gus McCrae]

Really excited about this game, I love watching the Thunder play. They would've been so good with Chandler at the center. Dont' think we need to worry about this being a "trap game" as people often say. The Thunder aren't under the radar the way they were about a month ago. Get ready to watch the next Lebron with KD, though I think Lamar is possibly the best matchup in the league to guard him.