The Lakers were supposed to win Game 4 in their western conference semi-final match against the Oklahoma City Thunder. All the talking heads said so.
After all, despite being blown out in Game 1, the Lakers had outplayed the Thunder in Game 2. Oops, they still lost a close one. Down 2-0 and back in the friendly confines of the Staples Center in LA, the Lakers outplayed the Thunder again. They barely won.
So all the so-called experts gave reason after reason why the Lakers would win Game 4.
They've been better than the Thunder the last 2 games, and should be better yet this time around.
They're still at home and they'll ride the crowd for extra energy.
The Lakers have been there, done that, and know how to win big games.
The Lakers will pount the ball inside to their big men, eventually wear down the Thunder, and Kobe Bryant will have a field day.
Everybody certainly talked the talk. It seemed like a mere formality that the Lakers would walk the walk.
Sure enough, the Lakers came out hard and fast, all but running the Thunder out of the arena while building a huge lead, and maintaining it well into the second half.
Then something funny happened. The Thunder regrouped, came storming back and, in the end, the Lakers, Kobe Bryant, Jack Nicholson and all, got whupped in their own building. Now they're down 3-1 and have to go back to Oklahoma City for Game 5. Could LA win that game to avoid being eliminated? Maybe. Can they beat Okla City the necessary 3 times in a row to move on? Uh-uh. Ain't gonna happen. Stick a fork in em. If they get blown out in Game 5, I suspect new Laker head coach Mike Brown might find himself on the proverbial hot seat. Like Lucy to Desi, Brown will have some splainin' to do.
That likely sets up a very interesting series. The highly motivated and talented Okla City Thunder taking on the old-pro San Antonio Spurs, who haven't lost a game in over a month, in the western conference finals. In Game 3 of THEIR series against the LA Clippers, also in the Staples Center, San Antonio found themselves down by 24 points. End result? After another ferocious comeback, they won by 10. Stick a fork in Blake Griffin, Chris Paul, and the Clippers too.
Okla City-San Antonio should be a dandy. Youth and ridiculous athleticism against experience and the ultimate in team play.
Advantage Spurs for one reason. Their head coach Gregg Popovich. Like his team, he's a low-profile guy, but there's not a better tactician in the game who is more in sync with his players.
No comments:
Post a Comment