Oklahoma City Thunder 103, Los Angeles Lakers 100 (Thunder lead series, 3-1)

You get the feeling that every quarter the Los Angeles Lakers and Oklahoma City Thunder play is worth a column of its own. … Read the rest

Oklahoma City Thunder 103, Los Angeles Lakers 100 (Thunder lead series, 3-1)

You get the feeling that every quarter the Los Angeles Lakers and Oklahoma City Thunder play is worth a column of its own. Our wrists can't handle such an exercise, though, and in a series like this, I'm not sure I can handle another exhausting three games. Though I'd like to see the Lakers and Thunder try.

Where to start? Well, it's almost as if Kobe Bryant realized his own line of [nonsense] emanating from his high free throw total in Game 3. Yes, he got to the line 18 times and secured the Lakers' win, but it wasn't as if he was driving and getting hit to get to the stripe. Most of his looks came on fouls on the perimeter, with Oklahoma City in the penalty, and not some head-down brand of dashing to the goal. Come on, Kobe.

So what did he do in Game 4? Come on, Kobe. Come on so damn good. He was brilliant, to start. Absolutely fantastic in dominating in the post against both Thabo Sefolosha and James Harden, and outpacing even his Game 3 rate (10 free throw attempts at the end of the third quarter in Game 3, 14 of those bad boys at the same time in Game 4) at the free throw line by, you guessed it, putting his head down and driving to the rim. Smart, tough, and cerebral play from a man playing nearly his 51,000 combined regular season and postseason minute, on the second night of a back to back.

And what does he do in the fourth quarter? Come on, Kobe.

Bryant missed eight of 10 shots, all but one were off of two perimeter looks, one of the makes was an impossible turnaround shot (a pretty terrible shot), and the second of the makes came at the buzzer with the game out of reach. He didn't play smart basketball, and as we've bitched about for years, this hurts doubly because he knows so much better than this. Nearly 51,000 career minutes, and he's still pulling this?

Now, is it a given that the Lakers would have  been able to ride Andrew Bynum, as they did in the second and third quarters, late in the fourth? Absolutely not.

For all we know, this could have been Bynum's game to give away, had he been given the chance. Bynum has played over 40 minutes in the last three games, and played the entire first and third quarters in this contest, on the second night of a back to back. Bynum split his two attempts in the quarter, and Pau Gasol (so clearly not a power forward in a pick and pop style) didn't even attempt a shot in the fourth, and his late-game turnover was a game clincher for the Thunder. Nothing is guaranteed in this game, and there is no certainty to the idea that the Lakers could have won this game had they continued to go inside first.

What is guaranteed is what we saw. The Lakers played one way for three quarters, and led by nine points as a result. They stopped playing that way in the fourth quarter, and were outscored by 12. Chirp all you want about Bynum and Gasol (save for the last turnover, passing on taking a jumper or potential drive in a terrible decision) "not wanting the ball," but I didn't really see them passing on trying to step up when Kobe was doing his perimeter nonsense.

That's a good chunk of words about the losers. How about the team that pulled out the win?

How about the Oklahoma City Thunder, turning pressure inside-out to use it almost as a freeing, knowing influence that allowed them to play loose with house money with the Lakers seemingly ready to "do what they're supposed to do" and take both games at home?

How about the fantastic fronting job by both Nick Collison and Serge Ibaka in the second half?

How about the fact that the Thunder outscored the Lakers by 14 points in just under eight minutes, once Kendrick Perkins entered the game in the fourth quarter?

How about Russell Westbrook's ability to both get into the lane, and take and make those tough mid-range jumpers that the Lakers wanted to force him into? How about the fact that he's turned the ball over three times in right at 140 minutes of play in this series?

How about Serge Ibaka blocking five shots, again, and how it just feels normal?

How about James Harden, refusing to get rattled by his poor shooting, continuing to drive on offense, get to the line, and keep his wits about him defensively even if the shots weren't falling?

How about Kevin Durant, railed at on Twitter by an ESPN columnist a night prior for being too weak to lead a team late in games, coming through with 31 points on just 18 shots, with 13 rebounds? How about that too-cool jumper, again playing with house money, to put his team up three points?

How about this Oklahoma City Thunder team? The team that won it, more than the Lakers lost it?

We're disappointed in the Lakers. They're a team with talent enough to win a championship, and yet for the second season in a row they seem to be let down by their own hubris. We want to see them play more basketball. We wish this wasn't a second round series. We wanted seven games and a movie.

It's still possible, I suppose. And it should be noted that even if the Thunder win in five games, on Monday, this still feels like an epic.

***

San Antonio Spurs 96, Los Angeles Clippers 86 (Spurs lead series, 3-0)

The collapse was shocking only to those that just haven't seen a lot of San Antonio Spurs basketball this year. Yes, the raw numbers behind the Spurs putting together an 80-46 run to overcome a 24-point deficit and put the Clippers in a dastardly 0-3 series hole are jaw-dropping, but these are the Spurs. If this comes off as too flip, I apologize, but this is just what happens when the best team in the NBA gets its act together — it systematically destroys a very good team playing with its best player at three-quarter strength.

Once San Antonio found its spacing again, the Clippers had had it. Once the strong side cuts actually had somewhere to go, the ball started moving as a result, and once Kawhi Leonard (3-5 from downtown) started squaring his shoulders the Clippers just didn't have a chance. Twenty-two possessions ending in a three-pointer created 27 points for San Antonio. Thirty-five field goals, all game, with 27 assists. Silly string defense in the third that crowded Los Angeles' strong side and took away the post-ups that Blake Griffin relied on so much in that first half.

And Chris Paul, who needed 17 shots to get his 12 points, couldn't do anything about it.

Paul is so obviously hobbled, and though Eric Bledsoe brought good first half energy and Mo Williams' jumper was on point all afternoon, the only way the Clippers survive against great teams is if Chris Paul absolutely dominates late in close games. He's incapable of that right now, partially because the Spurs are so great, but mostly because an injured Chris Paul just isn't all that great when he's hurting so much.

The Okahoma City Thunder are a young team, and many fans and observers believe they still need to prove their mettle in close, tense playoff games. Saturday night's Game 4 against the Los Angeles Lakers … Read the rest

The Okahoma City Thunder are a young team, and many fans and observers believe they still need to prove their mettle in close, tense playoff games. Saturday night's Game 4 against the Los Angeles Lakers at Staples Center was one of those games, with the Lakers jumping out to a quick double-digit lead and holding a nine-point advantage heading into the final quarter. By all possible measures, OKC proved themselves, taking the game 103-100 and out-executing the home Lakers down the stretch.

The finishing blow was Kevin Durant's three-pointer over Metta World Peace with 13 seconds remaining. Durant's been no stranger to game-winners in these playoffs — this was his third, including this memorable one against Dallas on the postseason's first night — but this one felt a little more special. The context mattered: the Thunder were in danger of seeing the series tied at 2-2, and the shot was the perfect cap to their comeback. More than anything, though, it was impressive just how calm Durant looked throughout the possession. He knew what he wanted to do, got the chance, and executed perfectly. At no point did he seem to lose control of the moment.

It was the play of a veteran superstar, not a young kid still finding his way to the top of the league. The Thunder still have much to prove as they try to win a championship, but there's now no question that they're a mature bunch.

(Original YouTube video via EOB)

Los Angeles Lakers 99, Oklahoma City Thunder 96 (Thunder lead series 2-1)

Game 1 was the blowout, the startling realization that the Oklahoma City Thunder remained a championship-level force to be reckoned with, even after … Read the rest

Los Angeles Lakers 99, Oklahoma City Thunder 96 (Thunder lead series 2-1)

Game 1 was the blowout, the startling realization that the Oklahoma City Thunder remained a championship-level force to be reckoned with, even after a week-long layoff. Game 2 was the ugly nail-biter, the one that Los Angeles let get away. Game 3? It wasn't perfect. But it was fantastic, end-to-end playoff basketball.

There were quibbles, to be sure. Thunder coach Scott Brooks probably shouldn't have left Derek Fisher try to guard Kobe Bryant after Kobe's entrance in the fourth quarter; Kevin Durant will get criticism for the pass he made (to Serge Ibaka, in the game's third-to-last possession); Ibaka will get criticism for the pass he didn't make (to Durant or Russell Westbrook with the Thunder down three with three seconds left); and Kobe Bryant's ability to goad referee Marc Davis into putting him at the line on a phantom foul late in the fourth quarter. There were mistakes.

[Photos: Lakers get back in series with win over Thunder]

Kobe, though, earned just about every other trip to the line. He hit double-figure free-throw attempts by the end of the third quarter, and did not fall victim to the low-percentage looks down the stretch like he did late in Game 2 (save for one instance, that led directly to OKC going up five in the middle of the fourth as Kobe admired his follow through). One drive and score over both Kendrick Perkins and Serge Ibaka in the fourth probably saved Los Angeles' season. Whine all you want over the Lakers shooting 42 free throws and Kobe hitting 18 of 18, but by my count he earned all but four of those 18 (both on phantom fouls versus James Harden), and the Lakers earned this win.

Andrew Bynum was fantastic defensively, hedging and moving bodies on the interior, making up for a tough night from the floor (2 for 13) by playing so well on the other end and hitting 11 free throws of his own. Pau Gasol was once again given afterthought status, but still added a team-high (tied with Kobe) six assists, with Los Angeles dishing an assist on 14 of the its 16 first-half baskets.

The Thunder have some rotation issues to work through. Derek Fisher entered the game early (just six minutes in) because Brooks wasn't happy with Russell Westbrook's energy level to start the game, and that was probably a good move. But eventually playing James Harden only 29 minutes and letting Fisher get burned on Bryant's two warm-up jumpers in the fourth quarter was a misstep. Westbrook still has an astonishing two turnovers in 96 combined minutes of play in this series, but he also managed to create only one assist for a teammate on Friday.

And yet, there they were. Kevin Durant with a 3-pointer to tie it with just a few ticks left, just a little to the side.

As much as we dug this game, it's unfortunate we'll have to see these two teams suit up again on Saturday night, because a back-to-back (and Los Angeles' 11th game in 20 days) rarely produces a good batch of basketball on the second end — even dating back to the 1990s in non-lockout years. Three games in, and with just 21 hours separating the final buzzer from the opening tipoff of Game 4, these teams are probably just all adjusted out. They know what they have to do.

And we know what we have to do. Watch.

***

Philadelphia 76ers 92, Boston Celtics 83 (series tied 2-2)

If I told you before the Sixers and Celtics tipped off on Friday night that the 76ers would win by a 92-69 score, you'd probably be a little surprised -- especially considering Boston's dominant turn in Game 3. But it certainly wouldn't have been the craziest idea, considering how Boston's offense can come and go, and that the 76ers were working in the midst of a must-win situation.

If I point out that the Sixers spotted the Celtics a 14-0 lead to start the game? Then things get a little dicey. Everyone expected this to be a long series, and in a long series everyone gets their blowout win, so, is this, perhaps, Philadelphia's blowout win? Even if the C's seemed well on their way to a blowout win in the opening quarter.

An odd game, obviously. Philadelphia showed absolutely no interest in playing smart basketball from the outset, matching tough perimeter jumpers with frantic, nervous play. Boston relented, though, after its hot start. The C's gave up too many turnovers, which allowed Philadelphia the chance to leak out in transition and chip away at the lead. Still, with Paul Pierce hitting from the outside and Andre Iguodala struggling mightily, Boston led by 18 in the third.

Then the Celtics went small. For some reason.

[Related: Celtics collapse in Game 4 after succumbing to Sixers' 'trick']

Brandon Bass is no great shakes, but the team missed his ability to connect on jumpers while he was on the bench in the second half. Ray Allen was murderously bad on both ends — missing four of six shots after starting the series by hitting 48 percent of his looks and getting beat continuously on defense. Sometimes by two different players on the same possession, after the Celtics switched. It was not fun to watch.

Philly just chipped. Evan Turner was awful from the floor (5 of 22) but he hit six of his nine free throws, and Lou Williams was the star of stars with 15 points off the bench while somehow registering eight assists in an incredibly ugly game. And after starting the game 2 of 8, Andre Iguodala hit 3 of 4 in the fourth quarter to somehow give the Sixers 33 points in the game's final 12 minutes. Sixty-one points in the second half for Philly after managing just 31 in the first half. Astonishing.

And yet, somehow during the entire run, I was a little nonplussed. Because Boston is so bad offensively and so banged up, it almost felt normal. Kevin Garnett has probably been the best player in the postseason thus far, but he's also had to hit his fair share of tough makes in the playoffs — and those tough makes weren't going down. Toss in the 17 Boston turnovers, both forced and unforced? It just makes sense.

Philly was desperate, but somehow they kept their nerve even in an easy spot to back down with both the early and third-quarter deficits. That's a credit to Doug Collins, and each member of that Sixers rotation. This team had every right to bow down after being dominated in a fourth consecutive quarter (dating back to Wednesday's Game 3, in the second quarter), and yet the team gave us a tidy (if borderline unwatchable) best-of-three series to pay attention to over the next week.

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