Lakers in the News 5/13/12: Los Angeles at Oklahoma City

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Los Angeles at Oklahoma City

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) - Metta World Peace made his return from a seven-game suspension in front of a home crowd eager for him to help the Los Angeles Lakers survive a first-round playoff scare and advance with a thrilling Game 7 victory.

His next stop doesn't figure to be nearly so friendly.

The Lakers start the Western Conference semifinals Monday night at Oklahoma City in the teams' first meeting since World Peace - formerly known as Ron Artest - gave the Thunder's James Harden a concussion by hitting him in the head with his elbow.

Oklahoma City has had more than a week to anticipate the matchup after sweeping defending NBA champion Dallas in the first round, giving fans plenty of time to get fired up to welcome a player who became instantly infamous three weeks ago.

"Good, old-fashioned Southern hospitality. That's the type of reception that I expect that he'll get, and that's fair game," said former teammate Derek Fisher, now a bench player for the Thunder. "The fans will be excited. I'm looking forward to being on this side of these fans this time at this point in the season.

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Lakers-Thunder Preview Capsule

By BRIAN MAHONEY, AP Basketball Writer

Sunday, May 13, 2012

Season series: Thunder, 2-1. Oklahoma City won the first two meetings before the Lakers rallied from an 18-point deficit in the second half for a 114-106 double-overtime victory on April 22, a game marred by Metta World Peace's vicious elbow to Thunder swingman James Harden's head. Kobe Bryant averaged 24.3 points but shot 7 of 24, 7 of 25 and 9 of 26. Oklahoma City scored 102.7 points per game, even with Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook combining to shoot 14 of 56 in the finale.

Story line: What already would have been an anticipated postseason matchup added extra intrigue after World Peace's actions in the final days of the regular season. The teams played a good first-round series two years ago when the Lakers were NBA champions, but now the advantage may belong to the younger Thunder, who are well-rested following their sweep of Dallas. Meanwhile, the Lakers were stretched to seven games by Denver in a series that didn't end until late Saturday night.

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The Lakers and the energy tax

May, 13, 2012

Did you see that New York Times story about how the exorbitant cost of higher education is burdening a generation of college graduates with a collective $1 trillion of debt? That’s what the Los Angeles Lakers reminded me of late in Game 7 Saturday night. They finally figured out what they had to do put away the upstart Denver Nuggets, but the price could be seen in the faces and body language of Kobe Bryant, Andrew Bynum and Pau Gasol as they made one of their final trips downcourt.

They were weary. Gasol opened his mouth wide to gasp air. Bynum tilted his head back. Bryant leaned over and grabbed the bottom of his shorts. Through strategy and effort, Denver had nullified the Lakers’ two 7-footers during the middle part of the series. Finally, Gasol and Bynum responded with a higher energy level themselves in Game 7, relentlessly going after offensive rebounds and hustling back on defense.

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First Look: Lakers vs. Oklahoma City

May, 13, 2012

By Brian Kamenetzky
ESPNLosAngeles.com

The prospect of facing the Oklahoma City Thunder in the postseason has for most of the season conjured incredibly pessimistic images for Lakers fans. As the regular season wound down you could practically hear Adrian's pre-Drago speech to Rocky ringing throughout the city as most prayed the Lakers would leap through whatever logistical hoops required to avoid the Thunder until the Western Conference finals. But steadily the Lakers built momentum, solving some of their road woes and finding some actual support in the supporting cast.

Two games into their first-round matchup against Denver, things looked even better. Four games after that, they seemed much, much worse. Saturday, a strong performance pushed the Lakers through Game 7, finally earning a date with those very Thunder, starting Monday night in Oklahoma City. Nobody, save those viewing the world entirely through purple-and-gold-colored glasses, will make them a favorite -- nor should they. But despite the inconsistent effort vs. Denver, it's not out of the question the Lakers, through strong post play, attention to detail defensively, the intensity shown eliminating the Nuggets, and perhaps a healthy dose of ultra-rustic Siberian training can give OKC a genuine test.

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OKC Thunder to face Los Angeles Lakers in second round


OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER -- The Los Angeles Lakers held off Denver Saturday night in Game 7 of the first round of the NBA Playoffs. With the win, L.A. advanced to play Oklahoma City in the second round.

Los Angeles defeated Denver 96-87 on Saturday night in Game 7 of the opening round series between the two teams to advance to the Western Conference semifinals with the Thunder.

L.A. LAKERS: Oklahoma City's Kevin Durant (35) stands next to Los Angeles' Kobe Bryant (24) during an NBA basketball game between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Los Angeles Lakers at Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City, Thursday, Feb. 23, 2012. Photo by Bryan Terry, The Oklahoman

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Thunder ready for playoff rematch against Lakers

By Darnell Mayberry / The Oklahoman, Oklahoma City

The Oklahoma City Thunder will face the Los Angeles Lakers in the second round of the 2012 NBA playoffs.

Los Angeles defeated Denver 96-87 on Saturday night in Game 7 of the opening round series between the two teams to advance to the Western Conference semifinals with the Thunder.


It will be a rematch of the opening round in the 2010 playoffs, when the Lakers defeated the Thunder in six games in the franchise’s first playoff appearance in the Oklahoma City era. The Lakers went on to win the NBA championship in seven games over Boston.

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Will Oklahoma City give World Peace a chance?

By JEFF LATZKE, AP Sports Writer

Sunday, May 13, 2012

(05-13) 13:08 PDT Oklahoma City (AP) --

Metta World Peace made his return from a seven-game suspension in front of a home crowd eager for him to help the Los Angeles Lakers survive a first-round playoff scare and advance with a thrilling Game 7 victory.

His next stop doesn't figure to be nearly so friendly.

The Lakers start the Western Conference semifinals Monday night at Oklahoma City in the teams' first meeting since World Peace — formerly known as Ron Artest — gave the Thunder's James Harden a concussion by hitting him in the head with his elbow.