2026 Playoffs: West Semifinals (1) OKC Thunder Vs (4) LA Lakers

Marcus Smart On Guarding Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Keys For Lakers Against Thunder

 

Deandre Ayton On Marcus Smart’s Leadership, His Focus Against Thunder

 

Lakers Collective: Lakers-Rockets Series Recap | OKC Matchup Preview + Biggest Takeaways

 

Allen Sliwa: Reflecting On Round 1 | Matchup vs Thunder | Luka/Jalen Williams Update | Early Lakers Rumors

 

No.

 

This is a really tough series for us in both sides of the ball. In my opinion, OKC is more of a defensive team than offensive. They use their defense to get into early offense, but they’re not a great shooting team when the defense is set and rely on their whistle a whole bunch.

If I’m trying to defend them, I’m emphasising defensive rebounding to limit second chance opportunities and focusing on taking away everyone else but SGA. Play Shai in single coverage with a bigger defender in Jake/Rui/Vando and just let him shoot with a hand in his face but don’t bail him out to the FT line. Don’t try to get physical with him or body him up, just let him get his vis mid range shooting. But on the other side, I want Chet clamped, iHart can’t be passing freely from the middle of the court, really go at the rest of the guys and don’t let anyone else be a consistent scorer.

On the other side, they’re going to let you shoot 3’s, if we want any chance of winning a few games, Rui, Luke, Reaves, Smart and Lebron have to shoot 37% across the series. We also need Lebron to spam ISO post ups again, this takes away their help defense from swiping at the ball constantly. If they double team that action, just swing the ball to the open shooter. I wouldn’t mind throwing the ball into DA to go against Chet and iHart, Ayton is shooting 60%, let’s try to see how we go with that.

I’m most worried about Austin (and Kennard). They’re going to be hunting AR when he is handling the ball trying to create offense. If he can have a virtuoso series where he is the main ball handler, we can do better than we anticipate, if he can’t it’s going to be a short one.

 

JJ Redick Talked OKC's Whistle, Challenges Lakers' Face

 

J Dub or whatever hell his name is not playing .
Dominayton is going ANNIHILATE Chet
Lakers in whatever it takes