Don't take the cork off the fork: Lakers at Thunder game chat
Where are the Lakers playing tonight?
And despite the Thunder's 20-50 record, that's not as easy a proposition as you might suspect. While some of the deets have changed since the first time these teams tussled, the big picture stuff hasn't. As I mentioned this morning, OKC has shown growth over the last few weeks and months. In a 2-13 December, their point differential was a shocking -11.2. This month, during which OKC has gone 6-5, it's a far less obscene -1.6. (Their best figure of the year came in January, at -.8.)
But while the Thunder have the horses to demand LA's attention, something the purple and gold didn't necessarily give with consistency in either of the first two meetings this year, there's no question the Lakers are a vastly superior team. Will the Lakers make smart decisions (in this case, play disciplined defense rather than gambling in pursuit of turnovers and stops while minimizing their own giveaways and bad shots, the better to keep the Thunder from running) because they should, rather than because absolutely they have to?
We'll find out. For more pregame reading, check Forum Blue and Gold and The Daily Thunder. Chat box below.
BK
Durantula will be scary once he gets his mind focused on playing D. He'd be like Tayshaun Prince but once step up the evolutionary ladder. Definitely in the mold of those long lanky players that Wooden always loved.
Posted by: lakers_sth | March 24, 2009 at 04:41 PM
I laughed out loud for about 10 seconds upon seeing that clip.
Lakers Today... Lakers Tomorrow... Lakers Forever.
GO LAKERS!
Posted by: Jon Kavulic | March 24, 2009 at 05:18 PM
41% is great defense and 89 points is great considering it was the Thunder.
Now on to Motor City to break that streak.
Posted by: Kobeblitz | March 24, 2009 at 07:15 PM
lookin' good...
who has complaints with this one?
Posted by: mud | March 24, 2009 at 07:17 PM
Where are the Crabaliers in the standings regarding road wins? I know we've got the best road record but where are they?
Posted by: justanothermambafan | March 24, 2009 at 07:21 PM
A good win. Not a perfect win. But a good win.
What do we play for? RINGS!!!!
Lakers Today... Lakers Tomorrow... Lakers Forever.
GO LAKERS!
Posted by: Jon Kavulic | March 24, 2009 at 07:25 PM
Great Defense Lakers!
Next up detroit.
Posted by: Laker Fan 24 | March 24, 2009 at 07:26 PM
great win just like it should have been. Now we have to beat detriot they just lost to chicago so there is no reason for us not beat them.
Posted by: omega | March 24, 2009 at 07:29 PM
By the way, am I the only person who caught that weird, almost "neck beard" thing Sasha's got growing? It's worth reconsidering on his part.
Was it just me?
AK
Posted by: kambrothers | March 24, 2009 at 07:51 PM
maybe he just forgot his razor?
Posted by: socalife | March 24, 2009 at 07:58 PM
About that Ryan Hollins quote: I think he has a point, and I don't think his statement was inflammatory at all. I'm a Laker and Mamba fan, and I think he has issues trusting his teammates sometimes. Key word is 'sometimes'. Most of the time, he gets everyone involved beautifully, but every now and then in the 4th quarter he'd try some double-pump 28-foot three or triple-teamed fadaway(then raise his hands at the refs trying to get a call when it misses), and I wish he'd set up the O first, get some motion going. He does make those hero shots more often than others, but he does miss a bunch, too.
Posted by: buddy monk | March 24, 2009 at 08:01 PM
@buddy monk
if i was paid that amount of money... id be pretty sure I do the same...
at the end of the day its a job... and you wouldnt want to be in kobe's shoes to meet the expectations given to him by everyone, specially the organization...
thats why he's a franchise player...
Posted by: i_heart_LA | March 24, 2009 at 08:33 PM
Buddy Monk,
Kobe Bryant has shot over 23 game winners in his career. The only one who has shot more than him is Michael Jordan with 33 game winners.
Kobe Bryant is also the current leader this year in clutch situations.
I agree on you sometimes Kobe does take too much in his hands but when you have the leading Clutch player and the 2nd of all time in Game Winning shots, why should Hollins be so critical of Kobe when it comes in game time moments?
-KB Blitz
Posted by: Kobeblitz | March 24, 2009 at 08:33 PM
BLöG CRüE
Just what we needed, rest for the starters.
Bring on Kwamay Brown and his calves.
Colorado loves the Lakers!
Posted by: Hugo Boss | March 24, 2009 at 08:38 PM
BLöG CRüE
Just what we needed, rest for the starters.
Bring on Kwamay Brown and his calves.
Colorado loves the Lakers!
Posted by: Hugo Boss | March 24, 2009 at 08:39 PM
That was actually 25 game winners by Michael but Kobe is still very damn good with 23 game winners (4 in the playoffs, 1 in the Finals).
Posted by: KB Blitz | March 24, 2009 at 08:45 PM
Blitz-
Game winner situations and end of the shot clock, sure, he should take it every time. I'm talking about those 4th quarter rallies when he'd try to take a series of video game shots in traffic(which he does make more than others, as I said before). He just sometimes does it a bit much every now and then. Much more so in the Smush-Kwame era, understandably, but now its just once in a blue moon.
Come playoff time against some Boston-type D, I wouldn't want to see him take several of those type of shots in succession, especially when the other team is zoned in on him. I liked what he did on Christmas when all the Celtics were collapsing on him in the 4th and he assisted to Pau, for example.
Posted by: buddy monk | March 24, 2009 at 09:01 PM
Good win with no surprises. Me like.
Detroit is not the team they used to be, but they can still play. Should be a good game. On to Kwame's magnificent, stupendous calves!
Posted by: longtimelakerlover | March 24, 2009 at 09:17 PM
AK - it seems like a bit of a trend this year with the Lakers, guys who shouldn't grow beards. The shredded wheat look.
Posted by: dave m | March 24, 2009 at 09:19 PM