Thunder v Lakers

This Western Conference Semi-Final match up is going to be slighted more contested than a lot of people will be willing to give credit to. How quickly the average fan dismisses a team after a few bad games. After game four of the Lakers/Nuggets series everyone wanted to give LA a first class ticket to the finals to take on the Miami Heat. Insert horrific games five and six for LA and complete in utter domination by the Thunder over the Mavericks, now everyone thinks this series is going to be over in five. Taking a closer look at the match ups and the season series its easy to see how this series, might turn out to be one of the best series in this postseason.

I need not go on about Kevin Durant or Kobe Bryant. Those two guys are going to get their numbers regardless. It will be the other four starters and bench play that will determine the winner of this series. The most intriguing of these match ups will be the Lakers Bigs against the Thunder Bigs, and Russell Westbrook against Ramon Sessions/Steve Blake.

On paper the Lakers have a supreme advantage in the front court. The combination of Bynum/Gasol is a tandem this league has not seen since Young Timmy and The Admiral. They both can create shots for themselves, each other, and every other Laker off the low block. The problem with both of these guys is they have to be motivated to play great basketball. It is very possible for these guys to tank and this series be done in 5, but that is not something I would bet on. What helps out is that the Thunder front court is probably the weakest offensive front court left in these playoffs. Bynum/Gasol won't have to work to hard to defend these guys in the post. It will be their job to control defensive rebounds and limit Ibaka/Perkins/Collison second chance opportunities from offensive rebounds. If the effort is there then Lakers control the series, if they let Serge Ibaka go all JaVale McGee then it will be a short stint for Lakers.

Russell Westbrook has been giving the Lakers buckets since he entered the league. And this series should be no different. The issue that comes up with Westbrook is always shot selection and turnovers. He will make plays that have u jumping from your seat; sometimes rejoicing and other times in utter disbelief. He will have the size advantage over any of the Laker point guards and really is the only Thunder player with an absolute advantage against his match up. I like to compare him to Rex Grossman. Amazing talent, shows flashes of brilliance, won games with his talent, but often times makes a bonehead play that costs his team the game. Westbrook has a little more "Good Rex" in him and should easily dominate this series. But if Sessions can force some turnovers, frustrate him, make him take contested tough shots, then the Lakers stand a chance to pull off the upset.

I do think this series will go 7 games with the Thunder winning. Game 7 in OKC that crowd and KD will make sure of that. But for all of you who just feel the Lakers are going to lay down and get blown away, I'm not buying.