The Lakers’ second-round series against the Thunder is shifting away from Paycom Center, which is widely considered one of the loudest arenas in the NBA.
That could be good news for the team’s role players.
Against the Thunder’s deep roster, the Lakers need everyone to make a positive contribution.
One major advantage the Thunder have had this series?
In Game 1, the Thunder’s reserves outscored the Lakers’ bench, 34-15. In Game 2, that advantage ballooned to 48-24.
The Thunder, quite simply, have more players who are playing well than the Lakers, which makes all the difference in the playoffs.
The Lakers have actually done a good job limiting reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who led all postseason scorers in the first round of the playoffs with 33.7 points a game. This series he’s averaging just 20 points.
But unfortunately for the Lakers, trying to limit the Thunder has been like playing Whac-A-Mole at an arcade. In Game 1, Chet Holmgren led the team with 24 points and 12 rebounds. In Game 2, Holmgren, Gilgeous-Alexander and Ajay Mitchell each had 20 or more points.
Meanwhile, for the Lakers, nearly everyone not named LeBron James has struggled offensively at various points this series.
Austin Reaves went from scoring eight points in Game 1 to finishing with a game-high 31 points on 10-for-16 shooting in Game 2.
Deandre Ayton had just three points on 1-for-7 shooting in Game 2. Luke Kennard had a disappearing act in Game 1, shooting 1-for-4 from the field. Jake LaRavia has struggled to make an impact. Marcus Smart has been quiet on the offensive end after having a few scoring explosions in the first round. Jaxson Hayes hasn’t made much of an impact.
Rui Hachimura has been consistent, finishing with 18 points in Game 1 and 16 points in Game 2. But other than him, the team’s role players have left a lot to be desired.
If the Lakers’ role players could make themselves a threat, that would greatly help spread the court for James and Reaves, who are trying to carry the Lakers while Luka Doncic remains sidelined with a strained hamstring.
The Thunder have had the top-rated defense in the league the last two years. The Lakers need bigger contributions from their role players both in the starting lineup and on the bench.
They need to make themselves a threat. They can’t allow the defense to collapse on James and harass Reaves. Everyone on the court needs to make the Thunder respect them.
Even though the Lakers are down 2-0 in their second-round playoff series, losing both games by 18 points, the final score made those games seem more lopsided than they appeared.
In Game 1, the Lakers jumped to a 7-0 start and trailed by only eight points at halftime, 61-53. In Game 2, they were neck-to -neck with the Thunder for much of the game until OKC pulled away midway through the fourth quarter.
They’re going to be on their turf, in front of their crowd, shooting on the baskets they’ve developed a feel for over 41 regular season games.
If the Lakers role players could step up, the Lakers could claw their way back into this series.
