The Lakers are marching towards a storm.
It’s in the form of a defense that encircles its opponents, obscuring their vision, sapping their energy, rendering them shells of themselves.
The Lakers have lost to the Thunder in all four regular-season meetings, by an average of 29.3 points per game. Now they face them in the second round of the playoffs.
The question on everyone’s mind: Do they have a chance?
So much must go right for the Lakers to compete against the reigning champions, who are younger, faster, deeper and more physical.
The Thunder have the top-rated defense in the NBA. The Lakers are missing the league’s leading scorer in Luka Doncic, who averaged 33.5 points per game before sustaining a strained hamstring on April 2.
That’s not exactly a recipe for success.
For the Lakers to stand a chance in this series, near-perfection is required.
They need to make their 3-point shots. They need to drastically reduce their turnovers. They need to control the pace.
The 41-year-old LeBron James, who’s the same age as both teams’ coaches in this series, needs to once again put the team on his shoulders and carry them as the first offensive option.
Austin Reaves, who returned in Game 5 of the first round from an oblique strain, needs to shake off his postseason struggles over the last two years and play the All-Star-caliber basketball he displayed for much of this season.
Luke Kennard, who led the league in 3-point shooting (44.8%), needs to be aggressive and hunt for his shot as though he were a star instead of deferring to his teammates.
Marcus Smart needs to channel his Defensive Player of the Year campaign in 2021-22, using all of his basketball IQ and energy to try to slow down reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
Deandre Ayton needs to be DominAyton, the most dominant, forceful version of himself, not the guy whose intensity wavers.
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Doncic needs to… return.
The Lakers aren’t just facing an uphill battle. They’re facing the Mt. Everest of opponents.
Lakers coach JJ Redick likened them to the Bulls of 1995-97 and Warriors of 2015-2017.
“The Thunder is one of the greatest teams ever in NBA history,” Redick said. “It’s just the reality. They’re that good.”
It’s easy to look at this series and say the Lakers have no chance. But somehow this team thrives under those desert-like, harsh conditions.
When they were counted out of their first-round playoff series against the Rockets without Doncic and Reaves, they responded by taking a 3-0 series lead.
When James was dismissed as being too old to carry a bunch of role players into the second round, he responded by outplaying guys nearly half his age.
When Ayton and Smart were viewed as has-beens who were slipping out of the league, they reminded us that the former was the No. 1 overall pick in 2018 and the latter was considered the league’s top defender.
Doncic’s absence sharpened everyone. It heightened their awareness. It made them become the best version of themselves.
“As much as we see that narrative and feel bad, you would think that it hurts us not having him, but it actually helps,” Smart said. “It forces guys to have to elevate their game to a whole other level.”
Each rotation player has met the challenge.
Against the Thunder, the tide must rise even more.
Smart didn’t hesitate when asked where guarding Gilgeous-Alexander ranks among his toughest challenges.
“No. 1,” he said.
Ayton’s task is just as difficult.
He has to try and outmatch the skills and physicality of Chet Holmgren and Isaiah Hartenstein.
“He’s the person that changes our ceiling the most,” Redick said of Ayton.
The Thunder have no holes. No weaknesses. Their defense is notoriously suffocating. Offensively, they were rated seventh.
They’re a group of guys who like each other. Who play for each other. Who know how to win.
“You can respect the team,” Jake LaRavia said. “But you can’t fear them.”
The Lakers need to believe they belong.
They need to be hyper-focused. They need to star in their roles. They need to take their games to another level.
The storm is coming.
How will they weather it?
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: nypost.com
