As I wrote in my column last week, let’s take a look at the positional matchups of the L.A. Lakers and OKC Thunder to see why the purple-and-gold now look like the team to beat:
Positional Breakdown:
Lakers vs. Thunder
PG: Steve Nash
Perhaps the most difficult matchup to give an advantage to, as the two-time MVP lacks what the 23-year old Westbrook doesn’t, and vice versa. While Nash’s superior three-point shooting and exceptional floor leadership/passing skills have helped maintain the 38-year-old’s status as one of the top point guards in the league, his lack of explosiveness and especially poor defense are drawbacks. Still, after leading the NBA in total assists last season while playing for a team with no true firepower, Nash has proven time after time just how special he really is.
PG: Russell Westbrook
This two-time all-star is arguably the best scoring point guard in the NBA, as the UCLA prodigy plays with the passion and drive coaches strive to see in a youngster. While he has been criticized in recent years for selfish play and poor shot-selection, Westbrook has the quickness and strength to stick with any opposing point guard, though his iffy three-point shot and his penchant for wildly inefficient shooting displays to reach his 23.6 points per game are an ongoing issue. While Nash is a better shooter and passer, Westbrook is the better defender and pure scorer of the two.
Advantage: Neither
SG: Kobe Bryant
Is it fair to say that the Black Mamba is still top dog when it comes to shooting guards in the NBA? The second-best player to ever lace up faces the daunting task of squaring off against one of the league’s top defenders in Thabo Sefolosha. While Bryant’s offensive arsenal has proven too great time and time again to be shut down by the pesky Swiss, it’s always a good match-up to watch one of the premier NBA defenders square off against the Hall-of-Famer.
SG: Thabo Sefolosha
The 28-year-old defender can knock down the open shot and fly in for athletic buckets when others create for him. Otherwise, his offensive arsenal is nothing special, as he is relied on primarily to shut down opposing teams’ top scorers. Still, Sefolosha’s efforts of shutting down the Laker legend are deemed successful if he can simply slow him, as anything more is impossible.
Advantage: Lakers
SF: Metta World Peace SF: Kevin Durant
The 2004 Defensive Player of the Year is The reigning three-time NBA scoring
to Durant as Sefolosha is to Bryant. The champ has the smoothest shot in the
main differences between Peace and NBA, as the 6’11” forward can pull
Sefolosha are age (Peace is 32 and has up from just about anywhere while
always lacked the raw athleticism that knocking down one ridiculous shot
permeates Sefolosha’s game) and the after another. His athleticism is
ability to create their own shot (Artest unprecedented for a player his size,
was a primary offensive option during his making him the total package that
tenure with both the Indiana Pacers and only LeBron James can match. While
Sacramento Kings). Peace’s strong hands Peace is physically stronger, Durant
and surprisingly quick defensive reactions owns the advantage in every other
help him remain a premier NBA defender category, making this a match-up
for opposing team forwards. that clearly goes in the Thunder’s
favor.
Advantage: Thunder
PF: Pau Gasol PF: Serge Ibaka
Often heralded as one of the most skilled Perhaps his most memorable
forwards of all-time, this four-time moment came in last season’s
all-star and two-time NBA champion Western Conference Finals Game 4,
continues to be a matchup nightmare for when he went 11-for-11 from the
opposing forwards. While the 32-year-old field and four-of-four from the line
Gasol has the length and skill set to keep to solidify the notion of his steadily-
up with most other forwards, Ibaka’s raw improving jumper and increased
athleticism and continuing-to-improve efficiency on offense. Oh yeah…
jumper might make him a double-edged and he’s no defensive slouch,
sword for Gasol to compete against. Still, the either, as his league-leading 3.65
Spaniard’s vast knowledge and skill set are blocks per contest were a full
too much for the 22-year-old to handle over block-and-a-half more than JaVale
a seven-game series. McGee’s second spot on the list.
Advantage: Lakers
C: Dwight Howard C: Kendrick Perkins
The best center in the NBA has no peer, as With no offensive skills, Perkins’
his six all-star game selections and three grounded game is best served to
DPOY awards can attest to. This push opposing centers further out of
force-of-nature wreaks havoc on all their comfort zone than they’re
opposing centers both offensively and used to. What Perkins lacks in
defensively, and his superior athleticism offensive firepower, though, he
makes him the most physically-gifted makes up for with his defense. He
center in the league. Perkin’s big brings exceptional defensive
body may provide some issues for Howard positioning, essentially serving as
down low, there’s no way he can hang the NBA’s only potential Howard-
with Howard for a long series. While nullifying force. Perkins is the
Howard’s free-throw shooting woes are perfect player to keep Howard at
well-documented, there’s nothing else bay, assuming that means Howard’s
the high-school prodigy and 2004 top draft statistical greatness drops to really
pick lacks. good.
Advantage: Lakers
Top Bench Contributors: Antawn Jamison, Top Bench Contributors: James
Steve Blake Harden, Derek Fisher
The Lakers’ bench last season was the worst Last season, sixth man of the year
in the NBA. This year, with the additions of James Harden provided the spark
Jodie Meeks and Antawn Jamison, the the Thunder needed to maintain,
purple-and-gold’s bench has gone from and occasionally even build, the
horrifying to decent. As long as the two-time lead that the Thunder starters
all-star remains healthy, Jamison will be earned. After swiping five-time NBA
the key to the bench’s inevitable offensive champ Derek Fisher from the Lakers
improvement. With support from mid-season, the Thunder gained
incumbents Steve Blake and Jordan Hill, veteran leadership as well to help
this Lakers squad has a chance to be push them past the other Western
better-than-average if those two can Conference squads and into the
continue their late-season play of last Finals for the first time since they
season. relocated from Seattle to Oklahoma
City in 2008.
Advantage: Thunder
Total Tally:
Lakers: 3 Thunder: 2
