Oklahoma City Thunder: Missing the Lakers - NewsOK.com (blog)

on May 22, 2012M at 9:30 am

Thunder-Spurs for the Western Conference Finals is going to be something. Most pundits already are proclaiming it the NBA Finals.

You’ve got the Thunder organization’s desire to be all things Spurs. You’ve got the Riverwalk copycatting. You’ve got the lovable, laudable superstars in Tim Duncan and Kevin Durant.

But before we focus on all things San Antonio, can I take this moment to say one thing. I’m going to miss the Lakers.
What a fun team to watch and a fun team to cover. Let us count the ways.

Metta World Chaos

At the very least, you have to admit, he was fun to beat. I think he was a blast to watch and a blast to talk to. Chaos always says interesting things.

Here was Chaos after Game 5 Monday night: “Let’s give Oklahoma some credit first. Let’s not complain about fouls. How many were called in the history of the NBA. One thousand? Two thousand? Let’s give Oklahoma credit. They were the better team.”

Chaos said he tried to put the elbowing of James Harden behind him. But Harden didn’t seem to have put it behind him, and who can blame him? And the referees didn’t put it behind them. I was waiting for the refs to have to make a decision on Chaos’ actions, and sure enough, it finally happened in Game 5. When Chaos fouled Thabo Sefolosha hard on breakaway layup, the refs were forced to decide. They decided on the side of law and order. The U.S. Constitution would have protected Chaos, but the bill of rights doesn’t hold water in an NBA game. Chaos was hit with a flagrant foul, then got a technical foul when he complained. Sometimes, your past does catch up to you.

“During the the playoffs, like I said on my website, it’s hard for me,” Chaos said. “I’ve got guys like Elton Brand and Al Harrington who are my best friends. I don’t talk to them in the game. Imagine guys I don’t even know.”

Chaos said he told Harden after the series, “great job … James is a really good player.”

Kobe Bryant

He’s a maddening player. For the series, Kobe averaged 31.2 points a game. But he shot just 42.6 percent from the field, and that’s with his 18-of-33 dynamic performance Monday night. Then after the game, Kobe speaks in this low, passionless voice. But his eyes are shooting arrows.

I don’t know how you build a team concept around Kobe. I also don’t know how the Lakers possibly could try to build without him. And you can’t take your eyes off him during the game. He makes it convenient for you by always having the ball. I do know this. Thabo Sefolosha is pleased to have Kobe in his rearview mirror.

Andrew Bynum

Speaking of which, Bynum is glad to be rid of Kendrick Perkins.The Laker 7-footer averaged 16.6 points a game in the series but made just 30 of 69 shots. Perkins took Bynum to the woodshed night after night.

After Game 5, Laker coach Mike Brown even admitted that Perkins outworked Bynum. “Obviously, this last game was the worst game I played in the playoffs,” Bynum said.

Bynum made the all-star team this season. That doesn’t mean you’d rather have him than Perkins on your team.

Pau Gasol

What a lovely man. He won that league citizenship award the other day. Might be the nicest guy in the NBA. And he’s won NBA titles being Kobe’s all-star sidekick, so we know he can play. But watching Gasol, you can tell frustration is building. How much longer will he be a Laker?

The Lakers are gone. The Spurs await the Thunder. The games might be better. No way will the Spurs be more interesting.

-------------Berry Tramel can be heard Monday through Friday from 4:40-5:20 p.m. on The Sports Animal radio network, including AM-640 and FM-98.1. You can e-mail him here and follow him on Twitter @BerryTramel. Visit Berry's website here.

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