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

Discussion in 'Lakers Discussion' started by JDLakersFan2019, May 1, 2026.

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Who wins the series?

  1. Thunder in 4 or 5

    15 vote(s)
    55.6%
  2. Thinder in 6 or 7

    0 vote(s)
    0.0%
  3. Lakers in 4 or 5

    2 vote(s)
    7.4%
  4. Lakers in 6 or 7

    10 vote(s)
    37.0%
Multiple votes are allowed.
  1. FrontOfJersey22

    FrontOfJersey22 - Lakers All Star -

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    :Laugh:
     
  2. Juronimo

    Juronimo - Lakers Starter -

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    This and an enforcer. This team needs a 2010 Ron Artest who everyone was scared of or a 2020 Dawite Howard throwing elbows around. Right now our most physical player is also our best player without Luka which is a problem. Ron bullying The Wheelchair and Dawite bullying jock itch are things that turned series around.

    Even with all the rule changes to move the NBA away from the 90's era Knicks vs Heat slugfests, there still seems to be a need for a team to have that guy on it. Especially if OKC can basically play a different sport out there.
     
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  3. FrontOfJersey22

    FrontOfJersey22 - Lakers All Star -

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    I dearly miss Ron Ron.
    Everytime I force myself to watch a team that has BeerdoMcFloppington, I replay Ron’s beautiful elbow to his head several times, and it calms my soul.
     
  4. FrontOfJersey22

    FrontOfJersey22 - Lakers All Star -

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    :This:
     
  5. ADKOBE

    ADKOBE - Lakers 6th Man -

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    https://www.instagram.com/reel/DXaELeNEYMc/?igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==
     
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  6. FrontOfJersey22

    FrontOfJersey22 - Lakers All Star -

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  7. LTLakerFan

    LTLakerFan - Lakers Legend -

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    Artest was serious about it though with genuine just below the surface malice waiting ... none of that bleep in those clips above just to antagonize someone. To my point, if Meta was on the team today and he and LeBron both being in the same ballpark "strength wise" and size .... there is NO way that a-hole would dare try that s*** with him. :eek:
     
  8. FrontOfJersey22

    FrontOfJersey22 - Lakers All Star -

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    To be fair, there is only one Ron Ron.
    The dude is a true original.
     
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  9. 52years

    52years - Rookie -

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    A lot of whining in this topic.How about just not turning the ball over 20 something times every game.probably do wonders for on court performance regardless of referees
     
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  10. Astros

    Astros - Rookie -

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    They're turning the ball over because OKC is hacking, grabbing arms, tripping players, etc., lol

    I'm not saying Lakers aren't careless with the ball but it's not like they're intentionally doing it. They're legitimately getting roughed up and on the other hand, get called for fouls just for standing on the court.
     
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  11. 52years

    52years - Rookie -

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    So you’re upset about normal playoff basketball? I’ve seen so many unforced turnovers I don’t know how JJ keeps his sanity
     
  12. svtzr

    svtzr - Lakers All Star -

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    I don’t agree. That regular season game is over rated, and taken as some kind of gospel on why they’re miles better than us. The truth is, we’re not that bad and they’re not that good. Don’t let that game cloud your judgment.

    Take the numbers for example: they shot 65% from 3 in the first quarter - they’re not a good 3pt team. We had 8 TOs in the first 6 mins, we don’t average 60 turnovers a game. It was a terrible start for us and a fantastic one for them and we couldn’t go on our own run because Luka and Reaves got injured. After that the whole team collapsed emotionally.

    There’s no reason why OKC would be coasting in the playoffs and going full blast in the regular season. These are the games that matter today, it’s jsut everyone is now trying as hard as they are in the playoffs. We’re right there with them:

    - Game 1, half way through 3Q, it was a 3 pt game
    - Game 2, half way through the 4Q, it was a 5 pt game

    With Luka back, we steal one of those.

    We’ve done a tremendous job guarding SGA by the way, the soft double has been super impressive. We’ve also done a good job of rotating out to OKC’s open man out of that. Where we have had breakdowns has been when they find the open man on the interior (Chet) and not on the 3 - or when they find McCain open who hasn’t missed. I think if we had one more scorer in Luka and one more two way wing, we’re in a 7 game series.

    Heck if next year’s version of Adou was here today, or Jake was a 36% shooter that didn’t get the yips, we’d be there with Luka.

    We really aren’t that far, OKC’s super power is they play hard in the regular season with a 12 man rotation and everyone gives 100%, with lots of redundancy due to injury. That is mitigated when everyone plays hard in the playoffs. You just need a team with some depth to manage their waves, we saw Denver and Indiana do that last year.
     
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  13. svtzr

    svtzr - Lakers All Star -

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    You know whose help is in this dog fight. Dillon Brooks, that guy would be in the fire against OKC right now with the rubbish officiating. He’d also bully the other team, there’s no LeBron’s or Vando’s on OKC that can handle his physicality.

    He’d take out SGA on a hard foul and stand over him.
     
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  14. LALakersFan4Life

    LALakersFan4Life - Rookie -

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    Lakers Are LIVID With Refs And They Have A Point

     
  15. Toklat

    Toklat - Lakers Starter -

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    Agreed, stop whining...lol.
     
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  16. Toklat

    Toklat - Lakers Starter -

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    Yes, it is nice to have an unpredictable megaron on your team. A boost of confidence to everyone.
     
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  17. LA Bron

    LA Bron - Rookie -

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    We are going to win Game 3.
     
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  18. ADKOBE

    ADKOBE - Lakers 6th Man -

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    It's going to be hard to beat OKC plus the refs.
     
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  19. tada

    tada - Lakers All Star -

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    We might have a chance if that recent Luka interview was a prank set up by AD --- he's actually fully healed and ready to play.
     
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  20. Panko

    Panko - Lakers 6th Man -

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    The prank is actually on us when Chet rips his mask off and reveals that he's AD in disguise.
     
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