Bill will get into early foul trouble and KD will get another 30 pts going 5 for 10 from the field. The rest of his points will be free throws. _________________ Thank you, Kobe. We love you.
Neither team has gotten much their role players. In game 1 Kobe/Pau and Durant/Westbrook basically canceled each other out. Drew made an impact while no other player on either team really did much, which is what ended up being the difference in the 1st game.
Last night, no role players on either team really stood out, but Kobe/Pau outplayed Durant/Westbrook just enough to win the game.
Tomorrow, I think we can expect Kobe/Pau and Durant/Westbrook to continue to produce for their teams. Assuming that both tandems are relatively even in terms of production, it's going to come down to which role players step up. Fish, Artest and Odom have been atrocious from the field, and Green and Sefalosha have been equally atrocious.
Unless Kobe/Pau or Durant/Westbrook seriously outplay each other, it's going to come down to which role players can hit jumpshots.
I wouldn't be shocked if we lost....and I wouldn't be shocked if we won. I do think Artest will get into quick foul trouble....probably on a ticky tack call or two. I also hope the Laker bigs realize that the Thunder are looking to block every shot in sight and adjust their game to that fact. _________________ The killer in me is the killer in you!
Just take 1 of the next two and it's pretty much off to the next round. 3-1 lead, especially against a young inexperienced team will do wonders psychologically.
I think I'll have to go with popular convention in this thread and say the Thunder have a very good chance of taking this one. They played LA close at home and now with their fans involved, they'll be riding a lot of confidence into this game. I can see the Lakers taking it easy tomorrow, and against a team that's working hard to avoid 0-3, that probably won't cut it. Also, the poor outside shooting won't do this team any favors.
Definitely would love to be proven wrong, but I can easily see the Thunder putting together a great game tomorrow, and I question if the Lakers will match that intensity.
Odds are going to be heavily stacked against us. Expect the ref line-up from hell _________________ "It was tough," Kobe Bryant said. "But when it got really tough for me, I just checked myself in."
Joined: 10 Jun 2009 Posts: 15000 Location: Retired Moniker
Posted: Wed Apr 21, 2010 8:55 pm Post subject:
I just want the Lakers to withstand the flurry in the first quarter and to fight back to win it. If it's anything like Houston I expect them to be down by 20+ at some point and claw back.
Joined: 07 Oct 2009 Posts: 7271 Location: Pico / Olympic
Posted: Wed Apr 21, 2010 10:07 pm Post subject:
Lakers will probably lose this next game. Hopefully we can win one in OKC tho, and just finish it off at home in 5. I seriously doubt they will sweep.
My guess is that the thunder come out hot, amped up by the crowd and we go down by double digits, then slowly fight our way back into it, have a chance to win, but wont be able to pull it off.
Joined: 04 Nov 2009 Posts: 3626 Location: Valencia, CA
Posted: Wed Apr 21, 2010 10:09 pm Post subject:
If the Lakers win Game 3, I will have confidence in them winning the championship this year.
Like last year, nobody expected the Lakers to sweep the 6 game road trip WITHOUT Bynum and that was what made everyone realize the trophy is ours. This year, nothing like that has happened, everybody expects a loss for Game 3 and if the Lakers pull a W out of this game (somehow) I believe it will give not only the fans confidence, but themselves. _________________ Phil Luke
As long as the refs call it fair and square, I like the Lakers chances. _________________ 2008-2009 NBA CHAMPIONS ------Your LOS ANGELES LAKERS!!
2009-2010 NBA CHAMPIONS ------Your LOS ANGELES LAKERS!!
Joined: 17 Jun 2003 Posts: 6292 Location: Central Coast
Posted: Thu Apr 22, 2010 1:10 am Post subject:
We could get run over in this game if we get jobbed on the reffing, and they steamrolling us on offense. We will need more than just Kobe and Gasol shooting the ball in this one; somebody is going to need to score more than 6 points for us to win.
Conventional wisdom is we lose this one and take the 4th game. Now if we come out really strong in this game, especially from sources other than just Kobe and Gasol, I'll take that as a possible sign of us having the heart of a champion this year. _________________ LAKERS 2019-2020: NBA World Champions!
I agree with the comment about OKC being a very good 8th seed. Also, we've historically lost Game 3's on the road after being up 2-0. We did it last year in the 1st Round, (Finals too) to a team that I don't think was as good as the #8 squad that we're facing this year.
Exactly, same record as the Celtics-they'd be a 4 seed in the East and that's playing all the Western monsters multiple times. OKC is not a bad team and anyone watching these games can tell they play hard, disciplined athletic basketball.
Thisis not the Leastern conference.. all Western teams that make it to the playoffs are good teams!!! Not like the east when an under.500 team gets a shoo-in... _________________ New Beginings
Lakers have been less than impressive. I'm guessing the Thunder actually have some confidence going back home, because the Lakers haven't played worth a damn except for maybe a quarter and a half. _________________ "It's just a job. Grass grows, birds fly, waves pound the sand. I beat people up."-The Greatest
I think that tonight will be a big foul trouble night for the Lakers. Artest will probably be victim of very early foul trouble. I wonder how the Lakers will adapt to that.
Lakers have been less than impressive. I'm guessing the Thunder actually have some confidence going back home, because the Lakers haven't played worth a damn except for maybe a quarter and a half.
Exactly, hence the reason why tonight would be the good time to really thump on em and show them they really should not get too big for their britches in a hurry!!!!
Kind alike the Smeltics did to the Heat!!! Give em a sound thrashing.. _________________ New Beginings
Joined: 10 Dec 2006 Posts: 52723 Location: Making a safety stop at 15 feet.
Posted: Thu Apr 22, 2010 7:44 am Post subject:
pkflyers wrote:
oklahoma is 50 win team, they're not the bulls
They're also a team that may be in the 8th seed, but was in a tight battle with 2 others teams for a possible 6th seed.
A lot of people assumed this series was going to be easy because the Lakers are defending Champions and playing an 8th seed. The reality is the Lakers haven't been playing like a championship team by any stretch and the Thunder are a solid WC team with the one of the leagues top players.
People who expected a sweep are in for a big surprise, because that's not going to happen. The Lakers will be lucky to come back 3-1, but don't be surprised if it is 2-2 by the end of Saturday night. _________________ You thought God was an architect, now you know
He’s something like a pipe bomb ready to blow
And everything you built that’s all for show
goes up in flames
In 24 frames
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