For the last two weeks, most fans of the Oklahoma City Thunder believed that their Round 2 opponent would be the Los Angeles Lakers. After jumping out to a 3-1 series lead over the Denver Nuggets, it looked like tonight could be the start of the Thunder-Lakers series. However, Denver had other thoughts and won the next two games to tie the series at 3-3.
What happens if the Denver Nuggets beat the Los Angeles Lakers in Game 7 of their series?
I'm sure if anyone told Thunder head coach Scott Brooks that the Nuggets had no chance to beat the Lakers, he would have laughed. Brooks knows how good of a coach his mentor, George Karl, is. He also knows that Karl understands how to win without any real superstars. For the last two games, that is what Denver has been doing.
The 17-point win in Game 6 is enough to make some Thunder fans start to wonder if it is the Denver Nuggets who will be coming to town for the Round 2 series.
Last season, Oklahoma City played Denver in the postseason and eliminated the Nuggets despite the fact that Denver team fought their way into the postseason, despite trading away their superstar Carmelo Anthony. Now, one year later, they are putting up a fight against the Lakers despite losing Nene, Kenyon Martin and Raymond Felton from their postseason roster in 2011.
On the other hand, Oklahoma City has their entire lineup back intact, minus injured Eric Maynor but adding Lakers' legend Derek Fisher. There is also the chance that the Thunder may have to go into Round 2 with Kendrick Perkins on the injured list, which makes a team like Denver preferable over a team like the Lakers, who come in with big man Andrew Bynum.
Plus, Denver has no real answer for Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook in their defense. Oklahoma City has to be cheering for the Denver Nuggets to beat the Lakers tonight. I know I am.
Author Shawn S. Lealos has a bachelor's degree in journalism from the University of Oklahoma (2000) and is an avid sports fan that has lived in Oklahoma for over 40 years. He used to religiously follow the Dallas Mavericks until Oklahoma City found a team to call their own.
Source: ESPN
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