vs. 
LA Lakers (2-0, 0-0 road) vs. Okla. City Thunder (0-2, 0-0 home)
TV: TNT (Cox 31, HD 730)
Stream: Click here
Radio: WWLS The Sports Animal (98.1 FM, 640 AM, 97.1 FM Tulsa)
Time: 8:30 CDT
Series: Lakers lead 2-0
View from the enemy: Forum Blue and Gold
We know the breakdowns and the matchups. We know what works and what doesn’t. There’s nothing really new here. Kobe is good, the Lakers are big inside and OKC has to play better offense to win. But there’s a new thing thrown into the equation tonight: Us.
It’s time to make a difference. I don’t think there is any way to game plan for us. Phil Jackson said today he doesn’t think it could be any louder than it was when OKC stomped the Lakers here a few weeks ago. I beg to differ. I beg to differ a lot.
I have no idea what to expect tonight. I wondered last night if fans would stand for the majority of the game. Will anyone leave their seats? Will we be reserved, not really sure of ourselves and when to explode? Will we be loud from the outset or will we wait for a big run? I don’t know. But I’m so stinking stoked just thinking about it.
However, I think back to opening night where there was a real buzz. The arena was packed and ready to explode. But the team played poorly from the tip and I think part of that reason was because they felt the pressure of the evening. They knew how big it was and they wanted to perform. I almost fear that this homecourt edge could hurt these young Thunder players in a backwards way. I said I fear it, not that I think it will really happen.
Tip at 8:30 CDT. Go Loud City.
Anybody following Lakers blogs? I would love some tasty tears before I call it a night.
@J.G.
I'm with you, bro...GO THUNDRER!!! let the cheese run like rivers...
@Yoni from Israel
Much love, brother. Cheers from OKC!!!
Go Thunder!
Just got back from the game everyone and I can't describe how unbelievable the crowd was tonight. That was, hands down, the loudest and most consistently revved up crowd/atmosphere/arena I've ever experienced (and I'm including Gallagher-Iba during Bedlam in that). My ears are still destroyed and I might not be able to talk again by Saturday night.
Royce will be handling the recap for this historic night (little jealous, I'll admit it) but I just wanted to thank everyone who comes to this site and everyone who was a part of tonight and the Thunder in general, in any way at all, for making all of this possible and for supporting the DT and the Thunder. Thanks, everybody!
And yes, it's going to be cheesy, but man, I really do love this game.
Woke up at 4 in the morning to watch the game and after the first i was about to jump back into bed but belief is a strong thing!!!!Even got my mom to watch the final quarter with me.AMAZING !This probably the best morning ive had in years.i just hope this isnt the last win of the series.
Go Thunder Beat L.A!!!!!!!!
BTW...
I saw a bang of DT shirts! Very Nice...
ps I'm gonna watch the replay on FSOK now...
Eff it!!
It's not often that I can say I was hungover cause I watched our team beat The Lakers in a playoff game. I'm partying til I pass out.
GO THUNDER!!!
f5alcon :
the crowd was deafening it was awesome
reached at least 109 decibels
wd123 :
justin :Russ is averaging 23 points, 5 assists, 6 boards, and only 2 turnovers a game in this series and is shooting 63.3% TS. Unbelievable.
i gotta say while i think durant is amazing and is by far my favorite player, i think westbrook has a fiery side to go along with his talent that’ll see him being just as big/if not more so in a leadership role for this team in the years to come..
I think Russ is like the little brother that gets overlooked and then one day the coach is like "Whoa! Where did you come from?" Only, we've seen it all year and yard-birds *cough-cough* were saying he's not a PG in this league. In fairness to the yard-bird, the yard-bird has previously said that he thinks Westbrook is an incredible athlete, but just not a PG.
Yard-bird: n. Over-sized, under-achieving mamal of the Idiotiformes order, moronidae family that constantly fluffs its feathers and declares how smart it is to birds from New Jersey; commonly found with its feet in it's beak attempting to still sound like it knows what it is talking about; Often mistaken for an Oriole; One Yard-bird was released in the wild of Japan, except it proved to be overly aggressive, charging after and trying to fight others so it returned to its native lands.
*i cried a little
There.
I can't spell and don't act like I can...and I drank a lot...
GO THUNDER!!!!
the crowd was deafening it was awesome
soooo is it cheating on your girlfriend if its with the thunder?
there was a lakers fan in my row who was rowdy til we took the lead
I also teared up (a number of times) at how far we've come and where we're going! I'm sooooo happy to call myself a Thunder fan...and so you should be.
ps THAT WAS THE SHIZZNIT!!!
It was nice of Harden and Green to show up tonight. They were the difference in the game.
BTW, Durant totally beasted up and shut down Kobe in the 4th. Why don't we let him guard Kobe more often?
justin :Russ is averaging 23 points, 5 assists, 6 boards, and only 2 turnovers a game in this series and is shooting 63.3% TS. Unbelievable.
Are any PGs playing better right now? What is his ceiling for next year?
A mere 13 ozs Jim Beam Choice and I was so happy I was teary eyed. Effing Awesome!
I just got back home! That was the shiznit!!!! I'm so proud of our peeps! My mom was honking in traffic and saying "GO THUNDER!!" and she's old!! GO THUNDER!!!
justin :
Russ is averaging 23 points, 5 assists, 6 boards, and only 2 turnovers a game in this series and is shooting 63.3% TS. Unbelievable.
i gotta say while i think durant is amazing and is by far my favorite player, i think westbrook has a fiery side to go along with his talent that'll see him being just as big/if not more so in a leadership role for this team in the years to come..
Gosh I'm so excited
Russ is averaging 23 points, 5 assists, 6 boards, and only 2 turnovers a game in this series and is shooting 63.3% TS. Unbelievable.
You all realize that for as many Laker Lovers as there may be around, there are also TONS of Laker Haters that are very happy tonight for the Thunder...but I guarantee those Laker Haters turned to their friends seconds after the game was over and said "Yeah, but can they do it twice in a row?"
If we can win #4 I believe we can win the series. We are Borg, we assimilate!!!
Lucho :
Is it too early to start flipping over cars? Or is a championship required? Pumped!
I'm there with you!!!!
@j-mo
Hmmm...there seem to be two Josh's commenting in this thread now. Not that I am a regular commentor (I check the site everyday but don't comment too often) or that anyone cares but I am changing my handle to Joshau.
Joshau has no opinion on the Kobe rape thing.
I'm on my way to Bricktown to start the looting!! :)
Is it too early to start flipping over cars? Or is a championship required? Pumped!
that was by far the best thing i've ever seen in person in my life. my voice is gone right now. I've never been a part of something like that in my life. i'm glad i saved enough battery life on my phone to record the end, it was insane.
Josh :@j-moThat came across bad; I didn’t mean that to be rude. I was being serious. I thought I heard something about that years back, when I was a kid.
Kobe was accused of it by a chick in Denver. Kobe's response was "We had sex. It was consentual." I believe him. I don't think it would be easy to admit to infidelity...but sure would be easier when on the other hand is a potential rape charge.
j-mo :
Josh :Isn’t Kobe Bryant a rapist or something?
Dislike
dislike the fact that he could actually be a rapist or dislike the fact that someone would bring it up? It does say something, I think, that in a million years I could not see a situation like that happening with KD (KNOCK ON EVERY TYPE OF WOOD EVER).
@j-mo
That came across bad; I didn't mean that to be rude. I was being serious. I thought I heard something about that years back, when I was a kid.
i like this game's minute distribution a lot more than the first two games'. Ideally green would play a couple more minutes and KD would play a couple less (in a regular season matchup). But other than that, I think that is a rotation that we could hope for during most of next year.
Josh :Isn’t Kobe Bryant a rapist or something?
Dislike
Haven't watched the game but i've been following it on ESPN Gamecast and this feed. I have one question abotu tonights game:
The stats look a little strange in the 3PT and FT numbers with the lakers shooting 10-31 from 3PT, and only getting to the charity strike 12 times. It seems to me like the Lakers were choosing outside shooting this game, rather than attacking the ring.
Where most of these 3PT shots at least contested shots? or desperation 3's to beat hte expiring shot clocks?
@Josh
both on and off the court
something about this pic makes me a little uncomfortable.
http://a.espncdn.com/photo/2010/0421/la_g_powell_kobe1_576.jpg
Looks like vegas had it pretty dang close
I just hope thabo can keep some resemblance of an offensive game going to keep the lakers honest and prevent kobe or fisher from essentially playing zone all game
@Josh
Probably... All i know is his gunning really helped us tonight
Isn't Kobe Bryant a rapist or something?
andrew :
wow i didnt know scotty roomed with chuck in college..
It was at Philly I think.
I can't wait till the Thunder are on TNT during the season on a consistent basis. It's so much fun!
shiki=4 seasons :
I dont believe I am awake?Is it a dream?We did a bad game but win at last.I dont know how to say.
KD and Russ is increadible
There's nothing more to say. GO THUNDER!!!
wow i didnt know scotty roomed with chuck in college..
@The DON
I disagree. Example of tonight, who had our first 6 or 7 points? Jeff Green. And right now, both Ibaka and Collison get fouls easily. If we started them earlier, they'd get their fouls earlier. I think right now, with the skillsets we have, this is a good rotation.
Just heard how did LA get out rebounded when they have two 7 footers on the floor!
I swear to god, if Brooks would just start Ibaka and collison instead of green and kristic we can get off to good starts the rest of the series and have a better shot
Because of green and kristic we are always in a position where we have to fight from behind
I love watching post game, "In 3 Years, Kevin Durant will be the best player in basketball"
I am enjoying the complaint from laker fans.they never lose any team but ref
are you kidding me :
Hope the Thunder make is 2-2 saturday and the spurs make it 1-2 tomorrow!
As in 2 games to one for the Mavs!
I had to miss this game due to illness but I could feel the energy coming through my screen. You know you're loud when TNT's announcers have to stop talking!! I'll be there Saturday and I know that I won't be able to talk at all come Sunday morning.
Huge win. Let's get another one on Saturday!