Oklahoma City Thunder (0-1) vs. Los Angeles Lakers (2-1)
Time: 7:30 CST
Watch here
Laker roster
Thunder roster
After that disaster Sunday night against Memphis, let’s hope for a slightly better effort tonight. No Russell Westbrook this evening for Oklahoma City, but everybody else should be good to go. I’d like to see James Harden assert himself a little more in the offense and hopefully Serge Ibaka plays a little more like he did in Orlando.
The team was clearly tired Sunday night after five games in five days and then a trip cross country. If anything, you just want to to see them get their legs back under them and compete. Wins don’t matter one bit in Summer League, but getting better sure does. And going through games half-way doesn’t get you any better.
Also Oklahomans that prefer orange may take more interest in this game than most as it could feature three former Cowboys: Marcus Dove playing for the Thunder and Terrel Harris and David Monds for the Lakers.
Recap
Lakers, Vegas
I know that right now, actual basketball being played on an actual court with actual NBA players is probably pretty far back in Thunder fans’ minds. I think the Thunder fan thought flow right now goes: “Draft-Draft-James Harden-Ricky Rubio-Food–Work–Draft-Sleep-Trades-Food-Draft-NBA Finals-Hasheem Thabeet.” Or something like that.
But the truth is, the Finals are what we all want. I may be totally crazy here, but I’d much rather have won a title than won the lottery. Heck, I’d rather have gotten swept in the Western quarterfinals than been in the lottery. But that’s me. I’d rather be playing than watching and wishing. The Finals are the reason we all care so much about free agency and the draft. Because you know, we want players that can help us get there.
Anyway, so with the Finals starting this week and I was thinking: What can Thunder fans and/or players take out of this? Here’s five things:
1. A superstar is needed, but the other four guys are just as important. Watch the way the Lakers maneuver with Kobe Bryant. He’s the unquestioned MAN of that team, but there’s a reason they are here and the Cavs are not. Those reasons are Andrew Bynum, Trevor Ariza, Lamar Odom and Pau Gasol. Kevin Durant is already a fantastic - I say FANTASTIC - player, but he can’t do it on his own. Nor could Russell Westbrook or Jeff Green. It’s got to be five guys working as one. Or at least three or four. Kobe doesn’t have to take every shot. He’s perfectly content scoring 18 on 6-11 shooting. He just waits and strikes when needed. Nobody does it better.
I remember some of my favorite basketball the Thunder played this season was while KD was out (don’t read anything into that). The team swung the ball side-to-side, made crisp cuts and moved the ball everywhere. It was beautiful basketball. They didn’t have the out of KD standing on the wing. They couldn’t just toss it to him and hope for the best. They all had to contribute. That’s the type of basketball is really takes to win, but insert a superstar player into the middle of it and you’ve got something special. It’s harder to figure out than you think though. The Magic understand Dwight Howard’s abilities and deficiencies and adjust accordingly. Same with the Lakers. You have to understand how everything works around your best player. Both these squads have that figured out pretty well. Read more…
Commentary
Lakers, Magic, NBA Finals
How about some random Royce ruminations for this lovely Thursday afternoon?
- We’re all kind of wrapped up in the upcoming draft and what Oklahoma City will do. I understand. It’s kind of a big deal. But for some reason, I wondered to myself recently (very quietly, mind you): Whatever happened to DeVon Hardin? So with the help of this really cool thing called the Internet, I found out. Hardin was the 50th overall pick in the 2008 draft, but didn’t make the team. Though he wasn’t signed to a contract, the Thunder still owns the rights to him. Hardin suffered a stress fracture in his right foot in late 2008 and was released by the Turkish team Mersin BB for not recovering properly from it. He was then signed in February by Egaleo AO, a team in the Greek league and played in 11 games, averaging 6.3 points and 6.3 rebounds per game. It’s doubtful that we’ll ever see him, but he’s 6-11, extremely well built and very athletic. He just doesn’t have the whole, “good basketball player” thing down.
- Watching the Lakers literally turn it on in the fourth quarter was like watching Mine That Bird wait in the back and then kick it into high gear to win the Derby. They waited, sitting calmly in the middle of the pack, even letting Denver stretch out a little lead. Then when it was time, they got spurred and boom! they erupted to take the lead. Really something to watch. Bold prediction: The Lakers finish off the Nuggs in Denver this weekend.
- Since everybody is making ridiculous trades, how about Kevin Durant, Jeff Green and Russell Westbrook for the No. 1, 2 and 3 picks so that OKC can take Blake Griffin, Ricky Rubio and James Harden. Just wipe the slate clean and start over with a new Big Three. But seriously, all this trade talk is getting a little ridiculous. Every writer in every market is throwing out outlandish deals that brings Griffin to OKC. And the worst part is, just because someone has a “bright” idea, it then gets regurgitated as a “trade rumor,” when it was nothing more than just talk. But I’ll admit, I spent a solid 30 minutes on the Trade Machine today wheeling and dealing. I don’t plan on posting a trade speculation column, but I’m not making any promises. Ah, who I am kidding – get ready for one. Probably next week. Try not to hate me.
- At this point, I don’t think we’re that far off from someone suggesting Earl Watson straight up for Blake Griffin. People are just nuts with this stuff. On one end they want WAY too much (see: Ted Green of the LA Times) and on the other, they are talking about a bag of rocks for the top pick (see: local sports talk radio callers and hosts).
- Speaking of trade talk, yesterday when I saw the proposed trade by D.J. Foster of Clipperblog that included Thabo Sefolosha, I was actually kind of mad at it. Trade Thabo? NO WAY! My initial reaction to seeing Thabo’s name in a trade told me that I think he’s more untouchable in my mind than Jeff Green. Is that weird? Or maybe crazy? There’s just something I really like about Thabo and I highly enjoy employing a nasty defensive stopper. Obviously, Uncle Jeff is a better player and a much better asset, but I guess I’m just trying to say I’d rather not trade Thabo Sefolosha. Read more…
Commentary
DeVon Hardin, Lakers, Rumblings, trades
There’s a reason Kobe Bryant is like, awesome. On two separate occasions the Thunder closed to within 
one of the Lakers, but somebody was inconspicuously missing from the court. Like a coiled snake, Kobe sat patiently, waiting to get his chance to strike again. The camera flashed over to him and with the Ford Center rocking and the Thunder riding a monster wave of momentum, Kobe’s face was expressionless almost like he was saying, “It’s cool. I got this.” And when the Mamba returned, L.A. scored on nine straight possessions and took control of the game, pulling away to a 107-93 win. It’s just what he does.
One big thing to take from this game for OKC – and it’s been a theme in other games as well – is to seize the moment. Kobe Bryant is sitting on the bench and you’ve closed to within one. The crowd is ROARING and you’ve got the ball. Realistically, you could maybe go ahead four or five points, forcing Phil Jackson to reinsert Bryant well before he wants to. But instead, OKC throws the ball away, kicks it out of bounds and misses wide open jump shots. It’s like they sensed the urgency of the moment and tried too hard to make the big play. It’s one of those things that you snap your fingers and just chalk it up to the youth of the team. At least that’s what I’m telling myself.
The most major key in the game: The Lakers hit open shots and OKC didn’t. Simple stuff. But that’s why they’re the best team in the league and OKC is third worst. The Thunder shot 42 percent and L.A. hit 53 percent. Jeff Green was off (4-14), Earl Watson was himself (0-4) and Nenad Krstic was off (2-8). Kevin Durant and Kyle Weaver were the only Thunder-ers to consistently hit shots (another 32 for KD along with 10 rebounds and six assists, making that nine of 10 he’s scored at least 30). OKC missed a ton of open looks and I counted 11 point blank misses at the rim with most of them being clean looks. That’s a potential 22 points. I just headbutted my coffee table. Read more…
Recap
Lakers
vs. 
Los Angeles Lakers (46-10, 20-6 road) vs. Thunder (13-43, 10-19 home)
TV: FS Oklahoma (Cox 37, HD 722)
Radio: WWLS The Sports Animal (98.1 FM, 640 AM)
Time: 7:00 CST
Offensive Rating: Thunder: 103.7 (27th), Lakers: 114.2 (1st)
Defensive Rating: Thunder: 110.3 (24rd), Lakers: 105.5 (7th)
Pace: Thunder: 94.0 (7th), Lakers: 94.7 (5th)
The Lakers are the league’s best team. There’s no doubt in my mind (or many other’s for that matter). And the Thunder are record-wise, one of the three worst. The Lakers have won 15 of 17 and OKC has lost eight of its last 10. The teams are sort of headed in opposite directions currently. But you know what? For some reason, I’m feeling a big Thunder win.
You crazy?
1) They’re hungry. The Thunder have been playing so much better in 2009 but not many outside of this state seem to notice. They want respect and they think they could earn a little tonight. And you see it all the time in sports with long seasons – one team comes out unfocused and flat, going through the motions and expecting to win while the other comes out with fire because it has something to prove. I’m banking on this. Read more…
Other
Lakers
