vs. 
Lakers (30-30, 10-19 road) vs. Thunder (43-16, 26-4 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 CT
Offensive Rating: Thunder – 112.8 (1st), Lakers– 107.7 (8th)
Defensive Rating: Thunder – 102.9 (8th), Lakers – 106.4 (16th)
Pace: Thunder – 93.8 (8th), Lakers – 94.8 (3rd)
View from the enemy: Forum Blue and Gold
It’s pretty clear: This game is definitely more important for the Lakers than it is the Thunder. Not to say it’s meaningless for OKC, but the Lakers aren’t going to be able to survive many more losses. They’re basically in the playoffs already, forced to compete with their lives on the line. The Thunder, they just don’t want to lose at home, don’t want to drop a game in the loss column to the Spurs and don’t want to blow any positive momentum.
There’s going to be a lot of attention on this game because a) it’s on TNT; b) because Serge Ibaka is playing and c) because it’s a huge one for the Lakers and a chance for them to really declare they’ve righted the ship. The Thunder on the other hand can make a firm statement of who is in charge here, and quite frankly, they should. It’s at home, a place the Thunder have won 18 straight against Western opponents.
Lakers coming in: The Lakers topped the Hawks on Sunday and have won seven of 10.
Shootaround Sound
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Three Big Things
1. Kobe. He chewed OKC up as a distributor in the last meeting, but has reverted mostly back to his scoring ways. He’s been excellent though as of late scoring the ball and he’s still capable of completely carrying LA offensively.
2. Transition and bench work. The Thunder often play much looser and freer at home, getting out on the break and running less athletic teams out of the building. Doing that to the Lakers would be wise. Get the crowd energized, make the Lakers feel that energy and it could be quick work. On that same front, OKC’s bench plays considerably better at home and in the last meeting with LA, got worked over. Granted that was with Pau Gasol coming off it, but the Thunder need production from Kevin Martin tonight.
3. Russ. The Lakers just don’t have an answer for him. Kobe will likely guard him, which means he’ll have to spend a huge chunk of the game working his tail off defensively. OKC’s got to exploit that matchup as much as possible.
Tip at 8:30 CT. Go Serge Ibaka.
http://dailythunder.com/2013/03/thunder-stave-off-desperate-lakers-122-105/
HERE IT IS!!!!!
@booles zzzz... everyone fell asleep already.. haha
Laker fan on Laker line complaining that Kobe doesn't get calls and the host agrees with her
@ICan'tGetNoSatisfaction Kobe went to the line 12 times, most in the game. Give me a break.
@Daniel Hawaii @ICan'tGetNoSatisfaction Lot of ticky tack fouls on Thabo too.. Refs were generous to him tonight
Royce must be too excited about Collison going +9 after two -10 games to write the recap.
@OKC035 I think he's still trying to process how THIS TEAM had only 2 turnovers. I know I am.
Ronnie Brewer @RonnieBrewerJr 1 minute ago
Good win tonight fellas. Loved the atmosphere from the fans.
@OKC035 Dat was me! I was the fans!
@AIaska @OKC035
Did you get any autographs, Alaska?!
@AIaska @ThunderChick2010 Sell it to Royce for 1,000,000
@ThunderChick2010 @OKC035 I sure did! NICK COLLISONS
reggie>maynor at his peak
@Lost Ones Reggie rebounds, defends and finishes at the rim better. He is also just as good a shooter as Maynor was. I now only worry that Fisher is going to get minutes that should go to Reggie.
@Lost Ones grassho...oops
no recap tonight?
Reggie is all like wow now that he is getting minutes and shit
I just saw this posted on another site. As much as I love Westbrook, this is still funny.
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-t930LcyQA24/T-FYdYk7EDI/AAAAAAAAAUc/n0VN6NCg0fE/s400/ip7tCn1KGSMPH.gif
@OKC035 Haha, I remember that Fresh Prince episode. Poor Carlton.
Metta's put on so much weight they r callin him Santa Clause/But playing so badly they changed it to Amnesty Clause/Hey-yo!
On a serious note, I hope KD doesn't get to 16 techs..
I just found out what the Shammgod is.... I feel ashamed for not knowing it.
Too sleepy to wait for the recap. Good night all!
That was a very solid win. I don't like the fact that the Lakers scored 100 on the Thunder. They need to tighten up their defense. They stopped attacking the basket again in the 3rd quarter. That is always annoying. There was a Thabeet sighting, and it was glorious. Just the length he brings alters a lot of shots and paths. I do like that he's studying under (over?) Perkins. If he can box out better he could be really deadly rebounding. Russ just needs to allow Thabeet to get set in the middle so he can get offensive rebounds
@thelaughingwiseman The uncontested 3's were a big problem...
@thelaughingwiseman Sometimes I wish we could skip half time. Always feels like we end the second quarter doing great but something about the break always just drains our guys of momemntum
@OKman That's why I think the Thunder should have Collison start the 3rd. He is a hustle guy and would keep that energy going along with Russ
@thelaughingwiseman We came out with no energy in the 3rd that's the only thing i can complain about (besides Serge leaving guys open). The Lakers played better in the 2nd half though.
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@MJOKC They got into the bonus quicker because of lazy defense. Bumping or running into the shooters. Lazy defense leads to 40FT's
@OBoy @MJOKC There were some questionable calls that didn't go the Lakers way either. It's not only about the FT's.
@thelaughingwiseman @MJOKC Kobe+Joey Crawford = 40 FTs
Conspiracy alert - Kobe is a Laker for life and he knows Westbrook is an LA kid. Is he laying the early groundwork to try to lure him to LA when RW becomes a UFA?
@FF_pickups Isn't that in like 4 years? I know Kobe is immortal but do we think he's going to be playing still?
@OKman @FF_pickups he will be a big part of there franchise still
@Lost Ones @FF_pickups That's probably true good point
@FF_pickups most likely, that's why we need to win a ring and offer westbrook whatever when it comes to extension
@FF_pickups Lets hope not. Nothing would hurt more than seeing Russ in a Lakers jersey.
@OKC035 It would be pretty devastating
@FF_pickups probably, he tried to convince Russ that he was better than Durant this summer. Not gonna work as long as we're contenders.
@OBoy @FF_pickups Didn't Russell make a statement recently about spending his entire career in OKC?
@qrex @neo12 @FF_pickups yeah james just talked about sacrifice and said there was a 90% chance he'd stay with the Thunder.
@neo12 @OBoy @FF_pickups Don't think JH said that. only that he would sacrifice too
@qrex @FF_pickups he said at all star weekend that staying with one organization was something he thought was important.
@qrex @OBoy @FF_pickups Didn't JH say that too.. doh..
@OBoy @FF_pickups he is better than durant
@OKC035 @OBoy @FF_pickups dont be so serious. Id personally take him but point taken
@DanielLawler @OBoy @FF_pickups He's been better than Durant. He's not better though.
All 6 teams that played tonight reached triple digits. Weird?
@duhsweetness Only because the celtics played
@AIaska Sixers also.