On Tuesday night, SB Nation’s Andrew Sharp had the grand idea of doing a running diary (or some might call it a “live-blog”) of Lakers-Thunder Game 5. After Game 4, it seemed like this would be a good idea. It wasn’t. The game was a blowout. But it did give Sharp time to reflect on four key things this game meant for the series:
Lakers-Thunder, Game 5: Four Takeaways, Starting With Kobe On Westbrook
Kobe on Westbrook changed everything. For all the fanfare accompanying Kevin Durant this postseason, it’s been Russell Westbrook that’s murdered L.A. so far. Or murdered Derek Fisher, to be exact. But now, five games in, the Lakers may have found an answer to that problem. Because while Westbrook’s strength and speed meant that Fisher didn’t stand a chance stopping his penetration, Kobe’s big enough to keep Westbrook from getting where he wants to go on the court.
Particularly when Kobe’s conceding three or four feet to Westbrook and daring him to shoot, stopping Westbrook becomes a lot more realistic. And suddenly, Oklahoma City’s offensive buzzsaw becomes a blunt instrument of a point guard, unsure whether to use all this extra space to pass, shoot, or force penetration. When that happens, the Thunder don’t stand a chance unless Kevin Durant takes control all by himself, something that we still haven’t seen for an entire game against this Lakers defense.
None of which is to say Westbrook can’t get things going… Like I said earlier, the Thunder are a young team, and easily susceptible to negative momentum. For instance, Westbrook had been shooting 55% before tonight’s struggles. That’s because he’s had things going for him in every game. Tonight, when things weren’t going his way and the Lakers threw some different looks at him, he wilted under the pressure. But don’t be surprised if he comes back with a huge game 6.
Neither Jeff Green and Andrew Bynum can be counted on for seven games in a playoff series. That’s just the way it is. For Green, that’ll probably change, and for Bynum, it’s probably a lost cause. But as far this year’s concerned, the implications are the same. When Bynum plays well for L.A., that team’s pretty unstoppable, especially against Oklahoma City. He had 21 points and 11 rebounds tonight, and that freed up Pau Gasol to dominate, as well. When that happens, L.A. wins.
As for Green, he’s been struggling for the entire series, and it’s killing his team. When Green stretches the floor with a few threes, it opens things up for Westbrook and Kevin Durant to do damage going toward the basket and in the midrange game. But so far, Jeff Green’s shooting has been below 30% for the series, and he’s been essentially invisible for OKC.
Basically, Oklahoma City’s biggest X-factor has non-existent, while Bynum’s actually been pretty decent so far. That’s not the difference in the series, but it’s a definitely a factor.
The Lakers looked great from start-to-finish tonight. A complete game in every sense. That’s a first for them this postseason. If they do it 13 more times, they’ll win the title. Of course, if we’re placing bets on “Teams Most Likely to Get Complacent After A Blowout Victory,” the Lakers’ odds are off the board in Vegas.
Kobe and Durant. Kobe hasn’t been KOBE so far this series, but let’s just say after tonight, the Oklahoma City Thunder can go back to the drawing board as far as stopping him.
As perfect as it’d be for media looking to slobber over the leagues newest star (read: Me), Durant’s not containing Kobe on defense. And honestly, at this point the only way the Thunder have a chance of pulling off the upset is if Durant stops guarding Kobe, and fights fire with fire by killing L.A. on the other end. So far he’s had some spurts of brilliance, but nothing sustained.
After game 5, we ask: How can the Thunder beat the Lakers? The same way we always thought they would: with an out-of-this-world, coming-of-age, moment-of-truth performance from Durant. Russell Westbrook will bounce back, and Jeff Green may even come back from the dead, but tonight’s game was instructive. The Lakers are just a better team. For Oklahoma City to have a realistic shot at winning this weekend, Kevin Durant needs to come out of his shell, and take his game to another level on the biggest stage possible.
We know it’s there with him, but will he find it in 2010? Let’s hope so.
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