I find it pesky that Fans still regard the Thunder better than the Lakers

[SacJB Shady]

Im not crazy about this move. The reason why is because this makes the Lakers a hostile, frightening team. If they are healthy, they will blow every team away and considering some of their ages, they will lose some gas to win like 80 games, but this team should win a minimum of 65 games.

Im not knocking the THunder.

But consider this. Pau Gasol is considered to be the Lakers Fourth best player...

Who is the 4th best player on the OKC?

Do you folks realize how good LA will be next year? Dwight Howard, Steve Nash, Kobe Bryant, and Pau Gasol. If that is not good enough to make it out of the west, than I don't think anything is. Dwight Howard is gonna eat the thunder up alive! The Thunder don't even have a chance! (Unless all the Lakers get hurt)

Anyways, down with the Lakers. I hope that Lebron takes them down in the finals, though it will be the Heat's toughest challenge yet. Dam...

[Figlo]

They have a dwight stopper om Perk. Thunders 4th Best player is IBAKA! Thunder best player > lakers best player, thunder has been together for a couple of years now and they're still improving. Thunders bench > lakers bench and thunder have a better coach too.

[ukballer]

To be fair, I haven't seen many people on here saying OKC will beat LA. Of course there are a few. But enough to warrant this thread? No.

[StateOfMind12]

OKC matches up with the Lakers pretty much perfectly.

They have the post defenders to defend off Gasol and Howard with Ibaka and Perkins while nobody on the Lakers can stop the perimeter scorers of OKC with Westbrook and Durant.

Not like Kobe is that good anymore. OKC can just put Thabo and Durant on him 1 on 1 and he'll be irrelevant for the rest of the game.

[The-Legend-24]

OKC was fortunate we choked away 2 games. We should've won 4-1. That won't happen again.

[Figlo]

You're joking right? Please tell me you are joking.

Joking about what?

[SAKOTXA]

OKC matches up with the Lakers pretty much perfectly.

They have the post defenders to defend off Gasol and Howard with Ibaka and Perkins while nobody on the Lakers can stop the perimeter scorers of OKC with Westbrook and Durant.

Not like Kobe is that good anymore. OKC can just put Thabo and Durant on him 1 on 1 and he'll be irrelevant for the rest of the game.
Just like he was irrelevant this year with his 31/5/3/2 average for the series? Not to mention he was the main focus of the Thunder defense and didn't have a guard who could penetrate the ball and make the D collapse. Also, let's not act like OKC was head and shoulders above the Lakers last year. Those 5 games are misleading. We basically gave away 2 games, but i won't be the typical "what if" guy right now, but i would like to enlighten some of you on that.

If you don't think adding Nash, Dwight, Jamison, Meeks is a major upgrade, i wouldn't know what to say to you.

At this point, it's a tossup. We should just wait and see how the new Lakers adjust to each other.

[coin24]

Thunder barely beat the Lakers last post season.. Not surprising ISH experts didnt even probably watch any of the games...

Add Nash running the offense, (where the Lakers melted in 4th qtrs), Dwight (self explanatory) and a MUCH better bench, you would be kidding yourself to think the Thunder are better:oldlol:

Dont even mention losing Bynum, he sucked ass. Lazy, unmotivated crybaby.. Enjoy being "the man" in Philly chump.

[Derka]

As of right now, the Thunder are still the team to beat in the West.

[StateOfMind12]

Just like he was irrelevant in this year with his 31/5/3/2 average for the series? Not to mention he was the main focus of the Thunder defense and didn't have a guard who could penetrate the ball and make the D collapse.

At this point, it's a tossup. We should just wait and see how the new Lakers adjust to each other.
He probably got all of those points against James Harden, no care. You put Thabo and Durant on him and he does nothing, go see the 4th quarter of those games for validation because Durant was on him in those 4th quarters and Kobe was bricking in more pathetic ways as usual these days.

Kobe shouldn't have been the main focus for the Thunder D anyways, nobody should double team Kobe.

[SAKOTXA]

He probably got all of those points against James Harden, no care. You put Thabo and Durant on him and he does nothing, go see the 4th quarter of those games for validation because Durant was on him in those 4th quarters and Kobe was bricking in more pathetic ways as usual these days.

Kobe shouldn't have been the main focus for the Thunder D anyways, nobody should double team Kobe.
:oldlol: Why wouldn't you double Kobe when nobody on his team(except Bynum) is doing anything worth talking about?

This year, OKC won't get away with as much double teaming because our role playing will most likely make them pay for it.

You sound so salty though, what's the matter?

[StateOfMind12]

:oldlol: Why wouldn't you double Kobe when nobody on his team(except Bynum) is doing anything worth talking about?

Good point, but I'm just saying Kobe isn't good enough to warrant double teams anymore so it's not like he'll play any better this time around.

[KeyNote]

The analysts i've seen comment on this topic seem to be guarded...usually citing the thunder's chemistry & hunger from getting to the finals and losing

really though...if the lakers stay healthy it won't even be a debate come playoff time who the better team is

[mikek85]

The Thunder ARE the favorites in the west.

This is the new lakers FIRST season together. What you smokin bro?

[dannywpt]

The analysts i've seen comment on this topic seem to be guarded...usually
really though...if the lakers stay healthy it won't even be a debate come playoff time who the better team is

How can you say "it won't even be a debate" when OKC are the reigning ECF champions and only will grow stronger with their core of young superstars (and a good supporting cast)? :confusedshrug:

Yes, the Lakers have added two great players, but last time I checked basketball was still a team game and Lakers supporting cast is still AWFUL. :no:

[BlackWhiteGreen]

If Nash is allowed to run the team then they should be unstoppable. But he probably won't be.

[JohnnySic]

Youth will be served, that's why. Once the euphoria dies down and the games begin, people will realize that the Lakers are old and not up to the hype and all these fanatics will be disappointed, just like when Jeremy Lin's little moment ended.

[maybeshewill13]

Thunder in 6.

[swi7ch]

Prime Durant
Prime Westbrook
Prime Harden
Prime Ibaka

See the trend here?

Versus:

Old Nash
Old Kobe
Old Pau

See the trend here?

We're not in 2005 anymore. My calendar says 2012.

Same reason ppl get so excited about BOS... "OMG KG!!!!" "OMG PAUL PIERCE!!!" Ehm... it's not 2002 anymore.

Live in the present instead of being attached to past glory. If it were 2005, these Lakers would go 82-0 and 16-0. But it's not, and they'll be up against a team that matches up well against them featuring players who are YOUNG, HUNGRY, ANGRY, and in their PRIME.

OKC in 6.

[Cowboy Thunder]

Thunder sweep


Dwight is softer than Bynum

Goatbrook will eat Nash


Ooooooohhh buffyyyyy

[Story Up]

Gasol/Howard will have it so much easier with Nash, then you still have Kobe. Who do you even double on this team? LA have stars that mesh great together, the heat are not. And they still won a title.

Let ppl doubt nov is coming up!

[Rubio2Gasol]

I'm just saying Kobe isn't good enough to warrant double teams anymore so it's not like he'll play any better this time around.

On the perimeter no way i double him , but in the post? I will double him every time, the idiot has too many moves lmao.Kobe right now is a set scorer , like Durant and Melo , you can't let him have the ball in his hands too much because he starts launching 3's , post him and let him go to work , he's unstoppable there , like Dirk / Durant / Melo.

The Thunder is better though and they match up well so I'll still take them in a series.

[stolper]

Thabeet > Nash,' D12, Jamison, Meeks

Thunder in 4

[FrankTony]

Yeah,

Still, you haven't seen a single game with this roster and you're already claiming they are better than OKC, even though LA with the same Kobe, the same Gasol and the 2nd best Center in the game was destroyed by OKC.

Until they prove they mesh well, OKC is still better than LA.

Don't be butthurt

[heavensdevil]

how about we let the new Lakers play some games first?... chemistry is Key. Its going to take awhile for Dwights attitude to change.

[hawke812]

Thunder are done. They ain't going anywhere. Should look at blowing up the team tbh.

[monkeypox]

Umm... why wouldn't you? Even as a Laker fan I'd still rate the Thunder higher. The thunder just got to the finals. This Lakers team hasn't even shared a brunch together yet. This could all still go horribly wrong, there's no reason whatsoever to put the Lakers ahead of the Thunder right now unless you're talking about in a video game.

[DatAsh]

On paper, relative to the rest of the league, this Laker team is possibly the most stacked team I've ever seen, but it's their first year together, Kobe and Nash are getting up their in age, and the Thunder are really young and always improving.

I'm undecided at this point.

[nycelt84]

Steve Nash is going to be 39 years old. It's not unheard of for players that age to fall off tremendously from one year to the next.

[LakersReign]

He probably got all of those points against James Harden, no care. You put Thabo and Durant on him and he does nothing, go see the 4th quarter of those games for validation because Durant was on him in those 4th quarters and Kobe was bricking in more pathetic ways as usual these days.

Kobe shouldn't have been the main focus for the Thunder D anyways, nobody should double team Kobe.

That right there, proves how much you really know about basketball. Yeah...that's right....every team in the league should just disregard Kobe when he gets the ball, cuz he'll probably miss the shot....huh? It's people like you who relentlessly bash on Kobe for driving the lane vs 4 or 5 defenders, or forcing a shot over 2 or 3 defenders. But then make ret**ded comments like that crap above. No consistancy whatsoever. There's a reason why 2 to 5 defenders converge on Kobe. It's good basketball to double team the opposing team's star player. Yo boys the Heat forgot about that one in the 2011 Finals, and what happened? There's also a reason why both GM's and coaches pick Kobe to take the last shot in close games. Sadly, you're oblivious to exactly what that reason is.:facepalm

[All Net]

Well this team gave thunder problems and could of been up 3-1 without nash, dwight, Jamison etc in last years playoffs.so it's not wrong to think lakers should be favoured. Thunder will give this new team problems due to their speed and durant being that damn good but I fancy our chances.

[Clippersfan86]

Umm... why wouldn't you? Even as a Laker fan I'd still rate the Thunder higher. The thunder just got to the finals. This Lakers team hasn't even shared a brunch together yet. This could all still go horribly wrong, there's no reason whatsoever to put the Lakers ahead of the Thunder right now unless you're talking about in a video game.

:applause: :applause:

[Rubio2Gasol]

Most stacked team ever?

Celts and lakers in the 80s were much more stacked to be fair as were Russels celts.

Cut the relative to the leave crap Miami. OKC , and Boston are all stacked as well.

[noosaman]

What I am most interested now in seeing is dwight howard on a stacked team where he will get fewer touches and will have to be more efficient. I have always maintained that he is the most overrated player in the nba and I think this season will confirm it.

[eliteballer]

Thunder's youth and athleticism is definitely cause for concern..

[takai]

Anyways, down with the Lakers. I hope that Lebron takes them down in the finals, though it will be the Heat's toughest challenge yet. Dam...
:kobe:

I'm seeing a lot of excuses and salty replies in this thread.

The Lakers and Thunder are now a great match up, no doubt. But, I see the Lakers pulling away and beating the Thunder this year. Making them fight for the second seed with the Spurs. Face it Thunder fans, your time is over.

[ralph_i_el]

Durant > Kobe
Westbrook > Nash

Perk's only real useful skill is post D and will be a big help against dwight.

Also you have no idea who is going to be healthy come playoff time especially in LA.

Even matchup imo

[KG215]

Who thinks the Thunder are better than the Lakers? It's obvious we aren't. Just yesterday a Lakers fan made a thread reminding us that if they play each other in the playoffs, it's basically going to be Durant and Westbrook vs. Kobe, Howard, Nash, and Gasol. Made me realize that young studs on the rise like Harden and Ibaka don't even belong in even the same conversation as aging guys like Nash, Pau, and Kobe.

[DatAsh]

Most stacked team ever?

Celts and lakers in the 80s were much more stacked to be fair as were Russels celts.

Cut the relative to the leave crap Miami. OKC , and Boston are all stacked as well.


Cut the crap, you weren't even alive in the 80s, much less the 60s. You know nothing about those eras, and all you care about is degrading Kobe's teammates to prop Kobe up, truly pathetic.

[Dictator]

What I am most interested now in seeing is dwight howard on a stacked team where he will get fewer touches and will have to be more efficient. I have always maintained that he is the most overrated player in the nba and I think this season will confirm it.

Bynum got the same amount of possessions last year equal to dwights.

[50inchvertical]

What I am most interested now in seeing is dwight howard on a stacked team where he will get fewer touches and will have to be more efficient. I have always maintained that he is the most overrated player in the nba and I think this season will confirm it.
He has always been efficient. He can survive just off dunk tipping in offensive rebounds from Kobe's 38-42% fg shooting, he'll get a few pick and roll alleyoops from Nash, something in transition, I guarantee he shoots over 50%.

[Whoah10115]

Maybe Nash will age a lot this season. Maybe Nash won't mesh as well with the new team and Brown's offense. Maybe Westbrook is a better player, at his best position, than Nash is as a PG. But right now, there is no way Westbrook is a better player than Nash. As they both play the same position and Nash plays better.

[stephanieg]

I hope WoW's model of 52 wins for LA next year comes true, for the lulz it'll cause.

[AlonzoGOAT]

OKC was fortunate kobe choked away 2 games. We should've won 4-1. That won't happen again.
fixed

[StateOfMind12]

Maybe Nash will age a lot this season. Maybe Nash won't mesh as well with the new team and Brown's offense. Maybe Westbrook is a better player, at his best position, than Nash is as a PG. But right now, there is no way Westbrook is a better player than Nash. As they both play the same position and Nash plays better.
Oh look, you're back. I remember when you kept guaranteeing how the Thunder wouldn't make the Finals last season and how the Spurs, Lakers, Mavericks, and whoever would beat them.

How did that turn out? :oldlol:

[PejaNowitzki]

Im not crazy about this move. The reason why is because this makes the Lakers a hostile, frightening team. If they are healthy, they will blow every team away and considering some of their ages, they will lose some gas to win like 80 games, but this team should win a minimum of 65 games.




I find it "pesky" that you don't know how to differentiate between an adjective and a noun.

[joshwake]

Do people like you never learn? Throwing a team of stars together will always look like a lock for the title, but it rarely works out that way the first year. Boston is the only recent exception, and that was due to Rondo being a huge x Factor. There are so many variables you're not even considering.

[Batz]

They have a dwight stopper om Perk. Thunders 4th Best player is IBAKA! Thunder best player > lakers best player, thunder has been together for a couple of years now and they're still improving. Thunders bench > lakers bench and thunder have a better coach too.
http://s3-ec.buzzfed.com/static/enhanced/web03/2012/8/10/13/enhanced-buzz-10561-1344618219-8.jpg

Dwight stopper my ass.

[50inchvertical]

He averages 18 ppg over his last 12 games against Perk, last season had an 11pt game and a 33pt game so 22ppg last season.

[Dwyane Rose]

It's actually a damn travesty how damn good the Lakers got this offseason.

[Batz]

He averages 18 ppg over his last 12 games against Perk, last season had an 11pt game and a 33pt game so 22ppg last season.
Dwight stopper my ass.

[50inchvertical]

Dwight stopper my ass.
Exactly, and looking at the rest of our bum ass rotation of centers I'm sure Dwight is touching himself. I think our plan is going to be to try your best, once he starts killing you, hack him. FT shooting is still his achilles heel

[DixieNourmous]

To be fair, I haven't seen many people on here saying OKC will beat LA. Of course there are a few. But enough to warrant this thread? No.


True dat

[Batz]

Exactly, and looking at the rest of our bum ass rotation of centers I'm sure Dwight is touching himself. I think our plan is going to be to try your best, once he starts killing you, hack him. FT shooting is still his achilles heel
True, but you'll battling rebounds with Pau Gasol and Ron Artest. And you still have to worry about Kobe Bryant and Steve Nash.

[DixieNourmous]

http://s3-ec.buzzfed.com/static/enhanced/web03/2012/8/10/13/enhanced-buzz-10561-1344618219-8.jpg

Dwight stopper my ass.
Dwight will be even better with a real team spreading the floor. I think what people are saying is... He is a great center, probably the best in the NBA, now surround him with bryant, gasol, nash, and you have a championship cocktail

[50inchvertical]

True, but you'll battling rebounds with Pau Gasol and Ron Artest. And you still have to worry about Kobe Bryant and Steve Nash.
We haven't even seen them all on the court together yet. It could all end up a disaster, we know Kobe doesn't like to relinquish control of the ball. Kobe and Nash are 34 and 29 and Pau is 32. There's only one ball, somebody is likely to be upset with their role and number of touches.

[Whoah10115]

Oh look, you're back. I remember when you kept guaranteeing how the Thunder wouldn't make the Finals last season and how the Spurs, Lakers, Mavericks, and whoever would beat them.

How did that turn out? :oldlol:



I was very wrong. Supreme talent and they played hard for each other. Good on them. I wanted to acknowledge, sometime during the 2nd round, that they were coming along better than I thought they could. Unfortunately, I had an awful experience that literally kept me away from doing anything.



I also said that the Heat would destroy them in the Finals, if they got there. And I was right.



Point stands.

[DixieNourmous]

We haven't even seen them all on the court together yet. It could all end up a disaster, we know Kobe doesn't like to relinquish control of the ball. Kobe and Nash are 34 and 29 and Pau is 32. There's only one ball, somebody is likely to be upset with their role and number of touches.


Nash will take care of players having touches. Thats covered.

Next

[50inchvertical]

Nash will take care of players having touches. Thats covered.

Next
if Kobe even lets him touch the ball, plus at 39 he might break down at any moment

[taucesays]

They have a dwight stopper om Perk. Thunders 4th Best player is IBAKA! Thunder best player > lakers best player, thunder has been together for a couple of years now and they're still improving. Thunders bench > lakers bench and thunder have a better coach too.

Dwight > Bosh
Perk = Bosh's bitch
∴ Perk = Dwight's bitch

[LamarOdom]

It's funny how everyone keeps referring Perkins as the Dwight stopper, Howard has averaged 16/12 h2h against Perks, but most of the games was when Perks was playing with the C's where they had a special guy that goes by the name of Kevin.

Just the latest game Dwight dropped 33 on KPerks on 14/20 shooting.

[ForeverHeat]

Like i said before its not necessary to stop Dwight. You just need to slow him down enough to win the game, and Perkins/Ibaka/Collison can do that.

[joshwake]

I find it "pesky" that you don't know how to differentiate between an adjective and a noun.
I don't think this is exactly right. But agree I do.

[arifgokcen]

OKC still matches up very well with lakers and lakers doesnt have a bench and perimeter defenders to bother OKC wing trio.

This is gonna be extremely fun matchup.What most of you forget is kobe is one years older and OKC has one of the best perimeter defenders in the game.They managed to keep lebron around 28ppg on 47-48%.Thats fantastic.Lets see what happens.

and another thing since miami is a lock in east we might get to see that kobe-lebron matchup eventually

[All Net]

James Harden also gave his view of Dwight trade: "It doesn

[Jacks3]

Kobe doesn't like to share the ball, yet every player who has joined the Lakers has improved, and he has 5 rings.

Dumasses.

[50inchvertical]

Having 5 rings is irrelevant to whether or not Kobe likes to share the ball, no correlation whatsoever. And I would argue Butler's best yr was in Miami (he made the ASG), and it's not like former teammates haven't mentioned Kobe being a ballhog before.

[The Bird]

The Thunder's 4th best player is Ibaka, an arguably better player than Gasol. After the first 4 best players the Thunder are much better than the Lakers. Looking at the first four:
Durant>Howard
Westbrook<Kobe
Harden>Nash
Ibaka=Gasol

[LakersReign]

Kobe doesn't like to share the ball, yet every player who has joined the Lakers has improved, and he has 5 rings.

Dumasses.

Just funny how their ridiculous theories are being exposed one....by one....by damn one:roll:

[AirTupac]

The Thunder's 4th best player is Ibaka, an arguably better player than Gasol. After the first 4 best players the Thunder are much better than the Lakers. Looking at the first four:
Durant>Howard
Westbrook<Kobe
Harden>Nash
Ibaka=Gasol

You're an idiot if you think Gasol = Ibaka

Westbrook >>Nash
Kobe >>> Harden
Durant >>> Peace
Gasol >>> Ibaka
Howard >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Perkins

[kurple]

You're an idiot if you think Gasol = Ibaka

Westbrook >>Nash
Kobe >>> Harden
Durant >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Peace
Gasol >>> Ibaka
Howard >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Perkinsfixed

[All Net]

The Thunder's 4th best player is Ibaka, an arguably better player than Gasol. After the first 4 best players the Thunder are much better than the Lakers. Looking at the first four:
Durant>Howard
Westbrook<Kobe
Harden>Nash
Ibaka=Gasol

Not even with the sliders up is Ibaka better than Pau.

[kurple]

still. the lakers are better on paper, but they havent proven anything as a team yet

[MJ(Mean John)]

Good point, but I'm just saying Kobe isn't good enough to warrant double teams anymore so it's not like he'll play any better this time around.

Lol. You're a trip.
Kobe had first halves last year where he went 8-12. Being doubled.

You're an idiot man. I wish teams didnt double him. Can wait till the season starts.

[MJ(Mean John)]

The thunder is a jump shooting team.

They're not beating us this year with nash and Dwight PLUS the bench. Get real man. Nobody is coming into our paint anymore.

Perkins wills foul out trying to guard Dwight when he's on the lakers. Then ibaka will have his hand fool.

I can't wait till the season starts man. We're tearing squads up. Real shit.

[kurple]

The thunder is a jump shooting team.

They're not beating us this year with nash and Dwight PLUS the bench. Get real man. Nobody is coming into our paint anymore.

Perkins wills foul out trying to guard Dwight when he's on the lakers. Then ibaka will have his hand fool.

I can't wait till the season starts man. We're tearing squads up. Real shit.
overrating your team much?

[YAWN]

The Thunder get worse by having to keep Perkins on the floor longer against Dwight. That guy is overrated and hurt OKC's chances every time he stepped on the floor in last years playoffs.

And what many seem to have conveniently forgotten, the Lakers very easily could of been up 3-1 in the series last year had they not had 2 epic almost flukey choke jobs at the end of 2 games...

As for the roster, they've essentially swapped out:
Andrew Bynum for Dwight Howard,
Ramon Sessions for Steve Nash,
Matt Barnes for Antawn Jamison,
Troy Murphy for Jodie Meeks,
Darius Morris for Chris Duhon, and
Josh McRoberts for Earl Clark.

Each of which is a clear upgrade...

I mean, it's pretty clear who the superior team on paper is... However they haven't played a game yet and until we see how they come together you've gotta respect the defending WCF champions; I wouldn't get too cocky if I was an OKC fan though..

[spiegel]

Westbrook will have a field day with Nash guarding him.

[maybeshewill13]

The Thunder get worse by having to keep Perkins on the floor longer against Dwight. That guy is overrated and hurt OKC's chances every time he stepped on the floor in last years playoffs.

And what many seem to have conveniently forgotten, the Lakers very easily could of been up 3-1 in the series last year had they not had 2 epic almost flukey choke jobs at the end of 2 games...

As for the roster, they've essentially swapped out:
Andrew Bynum for Dwight Howard,
Ramon Sessions for Steve Nash,
Matt Barnes for Antawn Jamison,
Troy Murphy for Jodie Meeks,
Darius Morris for Chris Duhon, and
Josh McRoberts for Earl Clark.

Each of which is a clear upgrade...

I mean, it's pretty clear who the superior team on paper is... However they haven't played a game yet and until we see how they come together you've gotta respect the defending WCF champions; I wouldn't get too cocky if I was an OKC fan though..

LMFAO I'm sick of hearing this ****. I guess people are forgetting the ridiculous, clearly pro-Laker refereeing in game 3 I believe it was (one of the worst ref jobs I've EVER seen), which would have put Thunder up 3-0 and we would have swept the Laker scrubs.

[icewill36]

i think the thunder can still beat them. the gawd eric maynor is comin back strong BOOK IT

lol @ dwight sharing shots with kobe, pau, nash, and harrington. he was unhappy with his touches in orlando, what do you think its going to be like now ? lakers will be great, but they do still have mike brown coaching.. no doubt the offense wont be as good as it should be with that level of talent.... and the thunder will still have the speed advantage.

[SAKOTXA]

i think the thunder can still beat them. the gawd eric maynor is comin back strong BOOK IT

lol @ dwight sharing shots with kobe, pau, nash, and harrington. he was unhappy with his touches in orlando, what do you think its going to be like now ? lakers will be great, but they do still have mike brown coaching.. no doubt the offense wont be as good as it should be with that level of talent.... and the thunder will still have the speed advantage.
We got Harrington too?!!? OMG OMG!

[G.O.A.T]

Im not crazy about this move. The reason why is because this makes the Lakers a hostile, frightening team. If they are healthy, they will blow every team away and considering some of their ages, they will lose some gas to win like 80 games, but this team should win a minimum of 65 games.

Im not knocking the THunder.

But consider this. Pau Gasol is considered to be the Lakers Fourth best player...

Who is the 4th best player on the OKC?

Do you folks realize how good LA will be next year? Dwight Howard, Steve Nash, Kobe Bryant, and Pau Gasol. If that is not good enough to make it out of the west, than I don't think anything is. Dwight Howard is gonna eat the thunder up alive! The Thunder don't even have a chance! (Unless all the Lakers get hurt)

Anyways, down with the Lakers. I hope that Lebron takes them down in the finals, though it will be the Heat's toughest challenge yet. Dam...


Thunder are a match-up problem for the Lakers don't you think.

Between Kobe, Artest, Jamison and Nash they have 90% of their rotation at the 1-2-3 who can't guard any other the Thunders big three at those positions, Durant, Harden and Westbrook.

Meanwhile the Lakers strength inside with Gasol and Howard will come up against a front court with arguably the best on ball defender (Perkins) and help defender (Ibaka) among post players. Now they add another athletic forward in Perry Jones and I can't see LA closing the gap from the 5 game sweep last season.

The Thunder are too young and athletic for the Lakers I suspect, but we shall see.

[AirTupac]

Where does the "Dwight stopped" shit come from? Perkins :oldlol:

[Whoah10115]

Dwight can make Orlando's defense amongst the best. Kobe is a better defender, still, than any other player on the Magic. Nash's defense is not nearly as bad as people say, and he had plenty of games last season where he played good defense. And he's a very good team defender. Let Westbrook or anyone get past him. Dwight Howard is there. On paper, it's crazy.



Tho I would look to get a new SF. Artest was a great man defender, but the Lakers need a team defender. I'm sure they can still snag one, thru trade or whatever.

[Whoah10115]

BTW, Ibaka as good or BETTER than Pau Gasol=:roll:



Ibaka is not one of the 10 best PF's in the league. Gimme a break.

[WeGetRing2012]

i think the thunder can still beat them. the gawd eric maynor is comin back strong BOOK IT

lol @ dwight sharing shots with kobe, pau, nash, and harrington. he was unhappy with his touches in orlando, what do you think its going to be like now ? lakers will be great, but they do still have mike brown coaching.. no doubt the offense wont be as good as it should be with that level of talent.... and the thunder will still have the speed advantage.

I'm so sick of the idiots on this board :facepalm :facepalm :facepalm

[Cowboy Thunder]

I don't think us Thunder fans are too concerned about anything the entire league is putting up.

We WILL be damn good next year. Now the year after that, is when shit gets scarier for us with contracts and that stuff.



Bring it Lakers (or anyone). :banana:

[DixieNourmous]

Kobe shouldn't have been the main focus for the Thunder D anyways, nobody should double team Kobe.

umm,, Durant was points leader with 28.0 ppg

Kobe was second with 27.9 ppg


Now, the Lakers have a few more players that will take additional attention. Let that stir in your brain for awhile.

LAL>OKC