An early look at how the Lakers and Thunder match up entering their playoff series
The Lakers weren't supposed to win their playoff series against the Rockets. After LeBron James' Herculean effort, they face formidable Oklahoma City.
Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) attempts a layup between Lakers guard Marcus Smart (36) and forward Rui Hachimura during a regular-season game. The Lakers went 0-4 against Oklahoma City this season. (Nate Billings / Associated Press) The Lakers were supposed to be the easy playoff matchup in the difficult Western Conference.
They didn’t get the memo. LeBron James’ Herculean effort led the shorthanded Lakers to a six-game series win over the Houston Rockets in the first round, setting up a conference semifinal series against the Oklahoma City Thunder that begins Tuesday. The Lakers season took a turn for the worst the last time the Lakers played in Oklahoma City, losing Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves to regular-season ending injuries.
The demoralizing loss sent the Lakers into a three-game tail spin one month before the playoffs. But where most saw concern, Lakers coach JJ Redick saw opportunity. “I had no doubt in my mind that we could get the group back and build the belief and confidence and be able to execute and give ourselves an opportunity to win a playoff series,” Redick said.
“And then go take on the world champions and be competitive in that. " The Thunder have lived up to their championship billing; they were the only team to sweep their first-round playoff series. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander averaged 33.
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