I'm not too sure it gets more intense than the Los Angeles Lakers' matchup against the Oklahoma City Thunder on April 22. If this is what the NBA Playoffs are going to be like, then we have a lot to look forward to in the coming weeks. The Lakers wanted to come out and show the Thunder that they were a team to be reckoned with - doing just that in a double overtime thriller.
The Lakers weren't about to be swept by the Thunder on the season and to say that the Sunday afternoon affair lacked emotion would be imprudent.
Everyone saw what happened with Metta World Peace - who was obviously channeling Ron Artest in that moment - and it infused the game with wild emotion. While I don't want to beat a dead horse, I will touch on the fact that while World Peace may have not been aiming for James Harden's head, he certainly knew there was a player there and was trying to clear him out. I don't condone what World Peace did because it ultimately hurts the team and as Magic Johnson said, is an embarrassment to the Lakers' organization.
Aside from the World Peace incident, the Lakers left everything out on the court against the Thunder. The emotion from the event sent shockwaves throughout the rest of the game and likely gave the Lakers the necessary push to come back from an 18-point deficit. Another necessary component to the Lakers' comeback was Kobe Bryant - the best closer in the NBA. I don't think anyone has hit as many big shots as Bryant has since Michael Jordan was playing. While neither team shot very well from the field - both under 40 percent - it was Bryant's opportunistic makes that put away a Thunder team who couldn't hit the final shot in regulation and the first overtime period.
The Lakers not only had to prove something to the Thunder, they had to prove something to themselves. They had to remind themselves that they are the team to beat in the Pacific Division and that the Clippers' emergence hasn't changed who the Lakers are fundamentally.
The Lakers are still the Lakers and they aren't going to let anyone forget that. If the Lakers and Thunder meet up in the Western Conference playoffs - as I think they will - that series is going to be incredibly competitive. As a team, the Lakers are potent and could open things up come the NBA Playoffs. And if World Peace is around for that series, I would expect some more emotion to come flowing through.
David is co-founder of wrapupp sports blog where fresh content is posted daily and present sports blogs and sports opinions - all with a West Coast bias. Growing up in the Bay Area, David is a huge supporter of all the local sports teams; the Giants, Athletics, Warriors, Sharks, 49ers, and Raiders. His one fault, admittedly, as many of his friends and family would say, is his love for the Los Angeles Lakers. Growing up, Magic Johnson was his favorite basketball player and he fell in love with the team. He chalks it up to, "Not knowing any better". Now his love for sports has turned just as academic as it is intuitive and he follows most all sports all over the nation.
You can follow David on Twitter: @officialwrapupp
Sources:
NBA.com. Lakers vs. Thunder Recap. NBA 2012.
NBA.com. NBA Standings. NBA 2012.
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