Western Conference Semifinals – Game Three
It is May 18, 2012 and the (3) Los Angeles Lakers have returned home to battle the (2) Oklahoma City Thunder. Los Angeles did everything right in game two: they did a better job of defending the pick-and-roll play, the big men were involved and the team knocked down perimeter shots.
L.A. was exactly where they wanted to be for 46 minutes of a 48-minute game. The problem came in the last two minutes of the game when the purple and gold made so many uncharacteristic mistakes that they collapsed as if someone had pressed a self-destruct button. Fans and members of the media started playing the blame game immediately and no one was immune from the toxic venom.
The Lakers allowed an excellent opportunity to secure a much-needed road win slip through their fingers in the second game of the series when they gave this one away. The hope is that the purple and gold have not handed this series to the Thunder. The fact of the matter is that on a night when OKC did not play their best, they had an off-shooting night and the Lakers failed to capitalize on the opportunity.
Los Angeles has a huge uphill battle in front of them. Only five percent of teams that are down 2-0 win a best-of-seven series. The record of teams that lose the first two games of a series like this in NBA history is 14-226. Kobe Bryant has suffered a playoff sweep three times.
The Lakers are 2-17 when losing the first two games of a best-of-seven series and are just 1-7 (.125) in the playoffs when trailing 0-2 in the same with Kobe Bryant on the roster. The only time L.A. has won one of these was after (former Laker) Derek Fishers’ shot made the points against San Antonio with .04 seconds.
To win this series L.A. has to bounce back and win four of the next five games.
Everything starts with the first win. It is imperative that the Lakers defend their home court and win the next two games (which also happen to be back-to-back). It is a busy week at The Staples Center with all three tenants (the Lakers, the Los Angeles Clippers and the Los Angeles Kings) all in the post season. The venue will host six games in 80 hours.
Despite the disappointing outcome of Game Two, there were some positives for the purple and gold. The Lakers played solid defensively, they rebounded well, caused turnovers and knocked down perimeter shots. Their backs are against a wall and they are battling for their playoff lives.
Los Angeles has to do a solid job defending the pick-and-roll play. The guards have to fight over the screen or simply trap the pick-and-roll action. L.A. has to stop the dribble penetration of the guards, control the tempo, get back in transition, control the boards and contest shots.
The Lakers have to use solid ball movement, good player movement with the ball moving from the strong to the weak side as well as going to the big players. Andrew Bynum and Pau Gasol have to be aggressive, attack the basket offensively and protect the paint defensively. The team must take care of the ball, play with energy and match the intensity of their opponent. This team has to prove that they want it more than OKC.
L.A. needs a contribution from everyone tonight. To avoid the same fate as last season the Lakers will have to play two of their best games of the season.
Lakers: R. Sessions, K. Bryant, M. Peace, P. Gasol, A. Bynum
Thunder: R. Westbrook, T. Sefolosha, K. Durant, S. Ibaka, K. Perkins
Tip-off: 7:30 pm pst
Television –
- Los Angeles: ESPN
- Oklahoma City: ESPN
Radio –
- Los Angeles: 710 ESPN (John Ireland & Mychal Thompson)
- Oklahoma City: 640 AM & 98.1 FM (Matt Pinto)
Injuries –
Lakers:
- Matt Barnes (Sprained Right Ankle) Probable
- Devin Ebanks (Middle & Ring Finger Contusions, Left Hand) Probable
Thunder:
- Eric Maynor (Torn Right ACL) Out