vs. 
OKC Thunder (46-17, 21-11 road) at Los Angeles Lakers (40-24, 25-7 home)
TV: ABC (Cox 8, HD 705)
Stream: Click here
Radio: WWLS The Sports Animal (98.1 FM, 640 AM, 97.1 FM Tulsa)
Time: 2:30 CT
Offensive Rating: Thunder – 109.8 (2nd), Lakers– 106.1 (11th)
Defensive Rating: Thunder – 102.9 (9th), Lakers – 104.3 (13th)
Pace: Thunder – 93.0 (6th), Lakers – 90.5 (20th)
View from the enemy: Forum Blue and Gold
There are multiple storylines to focus on in today’s Thunder-Lakers matchup. The scoring race. The fact this game is on national TV so it’s a last chance for KD to make an MVP statement. The Lakers are clinging to third while OKC is trying to catch the Spurs for No. 1. That the Thunder could sweep the season series against the Lakers.
Here’s something though: With an eye towards matchups, if you’re of the belief the Thunder match up better with the Lakers than Clippers, it might be in OKC’s favor to drop this game today. The Clippers are nipping at the Lakers heels and a win for the Lake Show would greatly help them hang on to third. I’m not of that mindset because I think it’s more important to win your games now and then worry about beating whoever you play later. Trying to tank for a matchup is silly to me, because if you want to win an NBA title, you’re going to have to beat good teams you might not match up favorably anyway. It’s better to be playing good basketball and feeling good about yourselves heading to the playoffs.
The Lakers coming in: The Lakers last played Friday getting worked by San Antonio.
Three Big Things
1. Scoring title. Both Kobe and KD have said they don’t care about the scoring title, but let’s be honest here, they both would like to win it. I don’t think it will factor in to how either plays the game today, but it certainly will be something we’re all paying attention to. Assuming Kobe hits his average of 28 points, KD would need 35 to take over the lead. How do you like that?
2. Inside. The Thunder have done an outstanding job defending Andrew Bynum and Pau Gasol in the first two meetings. Perk and Ibaka have been fantastic protecting the paint and making the Lakers rely on jumpers from Kobe. Here’s something: With Ibaka on the floor, the Lakers offensive efficiency is 86.7. Without him, 108.6.
3. Kobe. He’s gone 14-49 in the first two games. I don’t think that’s an accident or two off nights. Both Thabo and James Harden do an outstanding job of crowding Kobe so that every jumper is extremely contested and often off balance. He’s Kobe and so there’s always the chance he hits a few and heats up and starts hitting jumpers there’s no defense for, but so far, the Thunder have figured it out.
Tip at 2:30 CT. Go Sweep.
"WITHOUT A LOW POST SCORING PRESENCE THE THUNDER WANT WIN A CHAMPIONSHIP, YOU LIVE BY THE JUMP-SHOT, YOU DIE BY THE JUMP-SHOT" ~CHARLES BARKLEY!
@kdub spurs are the same
@kdub Yeah except for the fact the Mavs rode jump shooting to a ring and the Spurs may do the same this year. But hey who needs facts right?
@SB718 I don't necessarily disagree. However, the Mavs did go to Dirk a ton in the mid-post last year in the playoffs. He was incredibly effective at backing his man down and then using that one-foot fade away shot. Obviously he's not an overpowering low-post player, but he uses his height advantage well. He used to rely too heavily on jump-shots and would be pestered by smaller defenders on the perimeter. He became unstoppable last year when he added that mid-post game.
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@kdub Duncan can still score in the post but he doesn't require consistent double teams. If they win it all he'll obviously be a factor but it won't be on his back. The 2 NBA finalists from last season don't have this low post presence. Dallas is REALLY a jump shooting team and the Heat are similar to OKC.
@SB718 my badd for the fool, deleted that...but for you not to consider Duncan, how be it an aging Tim Duncan, not being a low post presence is a ridiculous comment in my opinion...he is old but still effective on the block! But you are right they are a very perimeter oriented squad with the penetration of Parker and Ginobili always kick the ball out to open shooters...Dujuan Blair is a beast down low too...
@kdub No need to call me fool. As far as Duncan, this isn't 2005. We're 1st or 2nd in FT attempts. You need paint points not a back to the basket scorers. There's only about 3 of those in the league...fool.
@SB718 @kdub If this is the case, the Heat aren't winning a title either. The game has changed Chuck, it's not 1987 anymore.
@kdub unless he just now said this get this outta here...we get easy baskets
"James Harden does have a concussion. He will travel back to to OKC with the team, but his status for the final two games is uncertain."
@OBoymuzik FOR REAL? LINK??? BEEN LOOKING FOR AN UPDATE!
@kdub darnell just tweeted it..i'm sure he'll have a full story later
Everyone climb off the ledge. This was a bad loss but when was the last time KD and Russ shot this bad? And if you're questioning KD's heart you might as well leave. Honestly, the dude ABSOLUTELY DOMINATED Denver when he needed to last playoffs, he fought through Tony Allen and Shane Battier to help us pull through Memphis, and when Dirk was lighting everyone up, KD ASKED TO BE PUT ON HIM? If that's heartless, I'll take it every single time
@FREE_COLE I would agree. But as fans from Oklahoma, we don't care about what happened LAST YEAR. We care about HERE and NOW. It's not "What have you done for me lately?" it's "What are you doing currently?".
@C_Dub From oklahoma? That doesn't matter at all. Think you're entitled to something? Get over it, no one is entitled to anything in sports. And if you really think last year doesn't earn KD some respect or people not questioning his heart, you are the worst kind of fan.
As for what he's doing currently, over the past 10 games he is averaging 29-7-3 with 1 block and 1 steal. Against sacremento last game, HE WAS THE GAME LEADER IN POINTS, REBOUNDS, AND ASSISTS! He's also leading the league in scoring and leading our team in rebounding. If you think he's not doing his part lately, you have absolutely zero clue what you're talking about. Zero
@FREE_COLE People have real short memories. Some "fans"
Can we just start the playoffs already??? Lol...
@kdub no,we need some days for Harden and Russ to rest
@kdub Why they won't get far playing like they have been.
@shotboro1 True...
@shotboro1 @kdub dislike,
@dollarbillrussell @FREE_COLE @shotboro1 @Legendary_dork Yea but Brooks seem to sit him down too long at times!
@FREE_COLE @shotboro1 @Legendary_dork Serge is starting to play scary good and I like it.
@shotboro1 @Legendary_dork Harden is hitting his absolute stride not counting that dirty hit today. KD over the past 10 games is averaging 30 points, Serge is playing better and better.
@Legendary_dork Give me facts and I'll listen.
i have questions about durant's heart. where is the need to impose his will and dominate? i know he can hit a shot. i know he can take over by hitting shots. but when the game gets tough for him, ive seen him fade way too many times.
@kdisblackjesus If you're seriously questioning KD's heart, allow me to ponder yours in the style of Dr. Seuss:
These fans hated basketball! The whole basketball season!
Now, please don't ask why. No one quite knows the reason.
It could be that their heads weren't screwed on quite right.
It could be, perhaps, that their shoes were too tight.
But I think that the most likely reason of all
May have been that their hearts were two sizes too small.
@ThunderChick2010 @kdisblackjesus whoever questions kd's heart and clutch is either clueless or not a real okc fan
@kdisblackjesus Its true, at least Russ is fearless and will take it too the hole...Russ kept us in the game at the end while KD was acting like a wuss with damn Devin Eubanks guarding him...where is the Rucker Park KD when we need him? At least Russ is fearless...KD is butter soft at times is true...hey Dirk used to be like that for a long time and when he got tough, he won a title!
@kdisblackjesus Get outta here LOL
@kdisblackjesus I can't even believe that's a real question
@kdisblackjesus Really?
Sort of amazing to me that it was as close as it was with KD and Russ going 5 for 7,658
1. We're better than the Lakers, the blown lead is bothersome but this game changes nothing about that fact.
2. Do the people complaining realize this team only has 3 scorers and 1 almost got murdered in the 2nd quarter? Think that makes it even a little harder on KD and Russ with a collapsed paint?
@SB718 And god forbid we put another shooter on the floor.
@dollarbillrussell @SB718 Love it!!!
@dollarbillrussell I don't have the energy to complain about Brooks. I'm so over the regular season. Maybe in a week.
from darnell "James Harden was not made available to the media. He walked out of the arena appearing to be OK and teammates said he was fine."
@OBoymuzik figured he was. beard is a tough one. Not many people in the damn MMA could take an elbow like that and still be fine.
@OBoymuzik thank goodness he is fine
Stephen A. Smith on Metta World Elbow:
http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=7843503
@ThunderChick2010 Didn't Bynum get suspended for 4 games for his hit on Barea? Artest should get at least 5
@dollarbillrussell @ThunderChick2010 it was 5 but because of the lockout it was move to 4 the elbow was worse ton james harden
@dollarbillrussell @ThunderChick2010 I'm in total as greement with you on this. It was obvious he wanted to hurt James.
World Peace Apologizes about his action today
@tydude for his "unintentional" action
@OBoymuzik @tydude It was probably an unintentional apology. . . .
Championship teams normally don't lead the league in turnovers....any response too that Coach Brooks?
@kdub The 08 Celtics who won the ship were 4th in turnovers, a couple other teams made the finals being in the top 10. Those jason kidd nets teams were always middle of the pack. Iverson's 01 team was 6th. Also the 7SoL suns were a hard foul away from the finals imo. Bottom line, turnovers while not helpful are not a necessarily a good indicator of playoff success. You know what is? Past playoff success, which we showed last year.
@FREE_COLE Hush Cole....good facts but we "lead" the league.....we most do a better job in the playoffs this year since we will be one of the hunted!
@kdub Last year we were second in the playoffs behind boston but we still made the WCF. I'm not saying we don't need to tighten up but this is a small issue compared to a lot of things like a love of small ball and harden's pending concussion
@kdub cause scotty's out there throwing tough passes in crowded space to serge "no hands" ibaka under the basket
@OBoymuzik @kdub At least we're persistent