Oklahoma City Thunder vs. L.A. Lakers 11/03/09

[wiff]

I like the Thunders chances.

I have a feeling Durantula is going to go ballistic. 3 for 21 won't be coming back around for a long time. Plus I think since the game is against the Lakers, Durant is going to be motivated to make a statement game after a speed bump.

Due to the fact that the Lakers are the world champs I think the Thunder are going to be amped up and energetic.

And due to the fact the Thunder are the Thunder I think the Lakers won't really take them seriously which leaves open a nice opportunity for a win. Hopefully the point was driven in that they had a very winnable game against Portland and let it slip away.

Portland was without Aldridge most of the game. He only played just shy of 12 minutes. You have to capitalize on opportunities. They let a wounded animal get away.

Westbrook should have a field day on Fisher or Farmar. I simply think Russell is just such a better athlete than either on of these guys. I can't see either one of these guys being able to keep up with Russell's speed and quicks.

I think Jeff Green has looked pretty good so far I hope he covers Odom. I don't really want to see him try to cover the long Gasol in the post.

Maybe we see Durant matching up in length?

Gasol isn't exactly a banger, but he is tougher than when he first came into the league. But Durant is slightly bigger this year.

And although the Lakers have superiority in talent pretty much down the line.
Kobe>Durant
Gasol>Westbrook
Artest>Green
Bynum>Nenad
Odom>Harden

It should make a decent game
the Thunder played great against two bad teams. They beat bad teams the way a decent team should be bad team. But they stumbled against Portland but hung around until late.


Eventually the Thunder will catch lightning in a bottle against an LA or a Boston. I think tommorow has a good shot as being the first.

[slick_watts]

Russell Westbrook / Thabo Sefolosha / Kevin Durant / Jeff Green / Nenad Krstic

VS.




Derek Fisher / Kobe Bryant / Ron Artest / Lamar Odom / Andrew Bynum

Matchup

Los Angeles is coming off a high scoring win against the Hawks; everyone here knows how OKC looked last game. This will again be a significant test for the front court as Lamar Odom and Ron Artest are both veteran players with big size advantages over their OKC counterparts and Andrew Bynum has looked great scoring the ball so far for LA. OKC cannot allow Andrew Bynum to get easy shots off and get into a rhythm.

If they want to win this game OKC will have to get off to a better start offensively as LA is going to get their point. They are definitely not as formidable without Pau Gasol, but it's still an offense to be reckoned with. Getting Andrew Bynum into early foul trouble would be a good idea, as their bench is thin up front without Gasol.

Some Numbers

In one game, OKC's 'top half of the league' offensive rating dropped firmly into 'bottom half of the league' offensive rating, which should not be a surprise. OKC only had six total assists against Portland, which is almost half of what Russell Westbrook was averaging in the previous two games.

Like Portland, Los Angeles is shooting an uncharacteristically low FG% for the season. Ron Artest is off to a brutal start offensively, but Kobe Bryant and Andrew Bynum have helped pick up the slack averaged more than 50 points a game between them.

A Question

Which OKC team will we see play tonight?

[dre_1614]

Id also like to add even though this might be a small thing.................................

The night before we played Portland, Durant was out late watching the Longhorns beat down OK State in college football. I'm sure he was on a emotional high and pretty tired.

Notice last night on twitter? Nobody really said anything, far cry from what they usually type on twitter. Maybe its nothing but I expect them to come out blazing and get the shocking win IMO>

[KidDelicious]

hopefully the one we saw against detroit. if russell can abuse fisher and durant can find a way to escape kobe and artest's defensive death grip we should be fine, or and hopefully jeff green can have a big game, we really dont have anyone that can stop bynum if he gets going so lets hope that nenad and etan can keep him locked down at least to where he only hurts us a little.

i think this is our chance to take out the lakers, while they are still meshing with their new team and gasol is out. GO THUNDER!

[Clangus]

I wonder if we will see Ibake tonight? We could use some athleticism against thier bigs.

[dre_1614]

yech, what a horrible start.

[slick_watts]

9-0 not even two minutes in. Bricking jumpers.

[slick_watts]

Nenad Krstic playing horrible defense against Bynum.

[slick_watts]

Kevin Durant is playing a lot like he did at the beginning of last season. Shooting too many threes and not getting points in the flow of the offense.

[KidDelicious]

ugh how are you watching the game. my leaguepass says blackout...

[dre_1614]

ugh how are you watching the game. my leaguepass says blackout...

NBA TV

btw I am really liking James Harden's game. He does a great job of faking his shot and passing......

[slick_watts]

The inconsistency of this team is so maddening.

Jeff Green was great defensively against Portland but he's been a bonehead so far. Nice to see it only seven points, the easy baskets in the paint have to stop make the Lakers a jump shooting team.

[slick_watts]

James Harden sure misses a lot of easy shots.

[slick_watts]

The game completely changed when Etan Thomas replaced Nenad Krstic.

[slick_watts]

Krstic comes back in and airballs a shot then turns it over; six quick points for the Lakers.