Game Preview: OKC Thunder vs. Los Angeles Lakers - 03/26/10
Though not everyone would admit it, Oklahoma City Thunder players and coaches are a little extra juiced to face the Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers tonight.
"For anyone it's always good to play the Lakers, you always get that extra juice," rookie shooting guard James Harden told reporters at this morning's shootaround. "They're gonna bring their A game like they do every night and we just have to go out and compete."
The more veteran and leader of the Thunder, Kevin Durant, refused to admit there's anything extra motivating about playing the defending champs from lala land.
"It's coming down to the last 10-11 games now (12 actually) so we've gotta have juice every night," Durant said. "We gotta bring our juice and our energy no matter who we're playing."
Thunder coach Scott Brooks knows tonight's game will present one of the bigger challenges of the season.
"They're coming in playing their best basketball, they have the best player in the world but we're excited about the challenge," he said. "They make a lot of plays on both ends of the floor so we have to be on top of our hustle game."
L.A. has won 12 straight against the Thunder franchise, but two of the three OKC losses this season have come down to the wire, one went into overtime.
"We've been close two of the three times so we just have to go in tonight and do the things we've done to win games," Brooks said, "and that is to defend, rebound the basketball and run. When we do that we're pretty good. But the Lakers are tough at every position."
Center Andrew Bynum will be out tonight but LA will move power forward Pau Gasol to that spot and bring Lamar Odom off the bench to start at Gasol's position.
"When you can bring someone like Odom in you're not gonna miss a beat."
The Thunder and Lakers last played back on December 22nd, since then OKC actually has a slightly better record than LA, 30-13 for the Thunder, 30-14 for the Lakers.
It should be a wild playoff atmosphere inside the Ford Center . The Lakers have what appears to be a stranglehold on the top seed in the Western Conference and Oklahoma City is now in sixth place. The top eight teams qualify for post-season play.
The game is officially listed as a sellout but about 150-200 tickets have been set aside to go on sale at the ticket office this evening.
Tipoff is set for 7:10pm.
Other Lakers Timberwolves News
Future Sports Star:
Kevin Love
Kevin Love has shown a skill level that is absolutely unheard of amongst big men in the college ranks-knocking down NBA 3-pointers with ease, putting the ball on the floor with either hand, using pump-fakes, spin-moves, jump-stops and creating his own shot with fantastic footwork. He's rebounding the ball well, throwing beautiful outlet passes, contesting shots around the basket, and even coming up with a few blocks on occasion.
Jordan Farmar news:
•Rookie Farmar says he's living Hollywood dream with Lakers
• Grizzlies challenge Farmar
• Stars come out at Camp
• NBA considerations distant memory for pair of eager Cats
Kobe Bryant news:
•Kobe Bryant apologizes to Lakers GM
•Kobe Bryant Wins Scoring Title
•Kobe has most popular jersey in USA, China
•Bryant Proves the Best
•Wade beats Bryant for another Skills Challenge win
•Memorabilia Offered by Kobe Bryant and Upper Deck
•Los Angeles Lakers Kobe Bryant Suspended
•Why did Kobe change to 24?
•Kobe Bryant: Won't Play This Week
•Kobe Bryant to Collab with Lil Wayne
•Lakers' Kobe Bryant ready for another run as NBA season nears
•Kobe Bryant Dunk Videos
•Kobe Bryant Videos
•Kobe Bryant Scores the Cover of NBA '07 for PlayStation
•Los Angeles Lakers All-Star Kobe Bryant Scores the Cover of NBA '07
Los Angeles news:
• Los Angeles news
•Los Angeles Concerts news
• Beckham Signs with Los Angeles Galaxy
• Top 10 Most Valuable NBA Franchise
• 10 Ten things to do in Los Angeles
• Lower back spasms from the court.
• Top 10 Los Angeles Restaurants.
• Top 10 Los Angeles Experiences
Staples Center news:
•Get up to the minute Los Angeles Concert tour news
•Garth Brooks To Play Staples Center Benefit Shows For Fire Victims
•Bon Jovi Staples Center
•Van Halen Staples Center Dec 14th
•Wild try to continue hot start in LA
•Hyundai Returns to X Games 13 Rally Car Racing
• Rumorville Eric Clapton to play the Staples Center
• Grady Brewer wins 'Contender 2' in a split decision over Steve Forbes
• Cirque comes the LA Staples Center
Phil Jackson news:
• Lakers coach Jackson fined US$25,000
• Phil Jackson to have hip surgery
|
