The Lakers are in ‘The 405’ to Decrease the Sound of the Thunder by Jeff Little

Western Conference Semifinals Game 1

It is May 14, 2012 and the (3) Los Angeles Lakers are set to battle the (2) Oklahoma City Thunder tonight at Chesapeake Arena. The Lakers are facing an uphill battle dealing with a talented, young and rested OKC Thunder team. This second-round match-up is the first series in which the Lakers are the underdogs since power forward Pau Gasol came to L.A. in 2008.

The Lakers lost the season series to the Thunder (1-2) this season. Here is how both teams match up:

Tip-off: 6:30 pm PST

Television –

• Los Angeles: TNT
• Oklahoma City: TNT

Radio –

• Los Angeles: 710 ESPN (John Ireland & Mychal Thompson)
• Oklahoma City: 640 AM & 98.1 FM (Matt Pinto)

Injuries –

Lakers:

• Matt Barnes (Sprained Ankle) Probable
• Devin Ebanks (Middle & Ring Finger Contusions, Left Hand)

      Thunder:

• Kendrick Perkins (Strained Right Hip) Day-to-Day (Game-Time Decision)

Starter Match Up’s

Lakers’ PG Ramon Sessions 6’3” 190 lbs. 4^th Year, Avg.11.3 Ppg, 5.5 Ast, 3.3 Reb, 0.7 Stl.

vs.

Thunder PG Russell Westbrook 6’3” 187 lbs. 3^rd Year, Avg. 23.6 Ppg, 5.5 Ast, 4.6 Reb, 1.7 Stl.

Sessions vs. Westbrook is a match-up of two athletic veteran guards. Both bring speed and quickness, the ability to be dangerous on the pick and roll play, attacking the basket or shooting from the perimeter. Sessions will have his opportunities to penetrate the painted area to set up teammates, attack the basket or score in the mid-range game. All-Star Westbrook has taken his talent to the next level by being able to use his speed and quickness to score on the perimeter, knock down mid-range shots, attack the basket and finish with the best in the league. Slowing him down will have to be a Laker team effort. Advantage -Thunder

Lakers’ SG Kobe Bryant 6’6” 205 lbs. 16^th Year, Avg.27.8 Ppg, 4.6 Ast, 5.4 Reb, 1.2 Stl.

vs.

Thunder SG Thabo Sefolosha 6’7” 215 lbs. 5^th Year, Avg. 4.8 Ppg, 1.1 Ast, 3.0 Reb, 0.9 Stl.

Kobe vs. Sefolosha is always a good match-up to watch. Sefolosha is a solid wing defender with good size and lateral movement. He is a very good rebounder. Although known mostly for his defense, Sefolosha can score. Bryant is a devastating post-up guard who knocks down mid-range jump shots over the top of the defense and is an excellent ball handler for his size. He sees the floor and is a natural scorer who can create and finish. Advantage – Lakers

Lakers’ SF Metta World Peace 6’7” 260 lbs. 12^th Year, Avg.7.7 Ppg, 2.2 Ast, 3.4 Reb, 1.1 Stl.

vs.

Thunder SF Kevin Durant 6’9” 235 lbs. 4^th Year, Avg. 28.0 Ppg, 3.5 Ast, 8.0 Reb, 1.3 Stl.

MWP vs. Kevin Durant is another excellent match-up to watch. Metta World Peace stepped his game up, improved his shot selection, started knocking down shots and finished the season strong; raising his scoring average to 15.1 points in the last nine regular season games. He is an elite one-on-one wing defender with quick hands, superior strength and good feet.

Kevin Durant is a problem for everyone. He is a tall, long-armed scoring prodigy with an unblockable release who is deadly in transition. He has a good handle for his size and is a strong foul shooter who won the NBA scoring title – again – this year. Advantage – Thunder

Lakers’ PF Pau Gasol 7’0’ 250 lbs. 10^th Year, Avg. 17.4 Ppg, 3.7 Ast, 10.4 Reb, 1.4 Blks.

vs.

Thunder PF Serge Ibaka 6’10” 235 lbs. 2^nd Year, Avg. 9.1 Ppg, 0.4 Ast, 7.5 Reb, 3.7 Blks.

Pau Gasol and Serge Ibaka were teammates on the Spanish National team, the reigning European champions that won Eurobasket 2011. Ibaka’s game has progressed leaps and bounds in his two-year NBA career and he is destined to continue to improve. An athletic, long-armed shot-blocker, Ibaka was a key component for a Thunder team that recorded the highest blocks per game (8.2) by a team in the NBA in nearly 20 years. This power forward is the NBA leader in blocked shots.

Pau Gasol is a long, highly skilled post scorer and a dexterous, big man with range. He is a smart player that sees the floor well and can score with either hand. An excellent rebounder and shot blocker, Gasol has added the role of part-time facilitator to his bag of tricks. Advantage – Lakers

Lakers’ C Andrew Bynum 7’0” 285 lbs. 6^th Year, Avg. 18.7 Ppg, 1.4 Ast, 11.8 Reb, 1.9 Blks.

vs.

Thunder C Nazr Mohammed 6’10” 250 lbs. 13^th Year, Avg. 2.7 Ppg, 0.4 Ast, 2.7 Reb, 0.7 Blks.

Nazr Mohammed will probably start due to teammate Kendrick Perkins’ injured hip. Mohammed is a clever big man and a solid reserve with above-average footwork.  A good positional rebounder, he has uncanny ability at short-range scoring. All-Star Bynum is a dominant scorer inside, a solid rebounder, an excellent shot blocker, a good passer, a good post defender and basket protector. Advantage – Lakers

Bench

The Thunders’ bench is deep and talented and includes the reigning Sixth Man of the Year James Harden, Derek Fisher, Nick Collison and Daequan Cook. The Lakers’ bench production has been an issue all season, but Steve Blake, Jordan Hill, Matt Barnes and Devin Ebanks have done the heavy lifting and need to continue to be a factor in this series. Advantage – Thunder

Predication: Thunder in Six

The outcome of this series is not a forgone conclusion. The Lakers have a puncher’s chance. They have to control the tempo, control the glass, do a solid job of defending the pick-and-roll play, stop the dribble penetration of the guards, get back in transition and protect the paint.