Los Angeles Lakers vs. Oklahoma City Thunder: The Definitive Guide to Game 1

At (not so long) last, the NBA playoff series that some of us have been waiting for—the Los Angeles Lakers and the Oklahoma City Thunder, two teams that plain don't like each other.

Or, rather, one that doesn't entirely respect the other and one that's nursing a healthy distaste for the other.

In any case, they'll tip off at the Chesapeake Energy Center in Oklahoma City tonight at 9:30 p.m. EDT. The Thunder are currently the odds-on favorites to win the series (-400, according to Examiner.com), but, in the imagined words of Jerry Seinfeld, what's the deal with Game 1?

Give Peace a Chance?

Forget the five All-Stars (Kobe Bryant, Pau Gasol, and Andrew Bynum for the Lakers; Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook for the Thunder) that'll be on the floor, if only for a moment.

Okay, so maybe you won't have to forget them, seeing as how all the pundits covering the game will gladly do it for you. All eyes will be focused, first and foremost, on the potential rematch between James Harden's head and Metta World Peace's elbow.

And whatever other storylines and tidbits of drama this moment in a sea of insanity precipitates in the days to come:

"The Basketball Player Formerly Known as Ron Artest" has yet to apologize to Harden directly and, according to ESPN's Dave McMenamin, won't shake Harden's hand because, "I don't shake substitutes' hands."

All of which leads to the same question: how will the referees handle Ron Ron? Will they let him be physical with whichever Thunder player he's guarding at any given time, Kevin Durant or otherwise? Or will they call him close, for fear of further harm done and/or the danger of sparking an incident?

For that matter, might the refs be inclined to keep an extra tab or two on the home team, thinking they might seek retribution against a man who's done stupid and wrong by them?

If World Peace gets handcuffs from the zebras, expect the Purple and Gold to suffer. They'll need his energy, physicality, and fearlessness against the Thunder, and may well struggle if he's not given the proper leeway to play his game.

The Big Three For OKC

Speaking of James Harden, he may be the only one of OKC's "Big Three" who doesn't start, though he's just as crucial to their title hopes as anyone. Harden averaged 13.0 points per game against his hometown team during the regular season, including 14 (in 13 minutes) before World Peace brought the war hammer to his noggin.

Westbrook, another LA native, tallied 23.0 points and 7.0 assists per game against the Lakers, alongside Durant's 29.7 points, 7.7 rebounds, and 4.7 assists per game in his battles with the Black Mamba, whom he edged for the scoring title.

For those of you keeping score at home, that's nearly 66 points per game between the three of them.

That's a hefty load, but certainly not enough to put the Lakers away, especially if they're going to play one-on-one and jack up jump shots as they've been prone to do. Who else will score for OKC then?

Can Kobe (and Company) Cope with Young Legs?

Better yet, does it even matter who? Kobe and World Peace are solid defenders, but neither has quite the requisite speed, stamina, or athleticism needed to contain any of OKC's three stars.

And don't get me started on Ramon Sessions. Let's just say, he's an above-average offensive point guard, but after the "defense" he played against Ty Lawson of the Denver Nuggets, it's easy to see why he's with his fourth team in five seasons.

The Black Mamba, in particular, can't be called upon to make up for Sessions' defensive deficiencies, not when a) he'll have his own hands full with Harden and/or Durant and b) he'll likely have to rescue the Lakers (or assume he will) on more than one occasion.

LA simply can't afford to have Kobe expend so much of his energy on the defensive end, especially since he'll have to work hard for his offense against the smothering defense of Thabo Sefolosha and Serge Ibaka. If Kobe's numbers against OKC this season (24.3 points per game on 30.7 percent shooting) are any indication, the Lakers will need plenty of help to keep Bryant fresh and effective throughout what figures to be a grueling series

Playing Tall With Bynum and Gasol

Which, inevitably and somewhat regrettably, brings us to LA's occasionally dynamic frontcourt duo of Andrew Bynum and Pau Gasol. When they both play well—as they did in Games 1, 2, 4, and 7 against the Nuggets—then the Lakers are as tough an out as any in the league.

When they don't...then the Purple and Gold end up playing seven games against a team they probably should've dispatched in five.

Such is precisely what makes the Lakers so maddeningly difficult to pin down at any given moment. Bynum's swings in mood and interest, coupled with Gasol's untimely lapses into lacking toughness, tend to dictate the team's fortunes.

The Lakers will need them both to play big, strong, and with an intense focus if they're to pull off the "upset" against a team that, just two years ago, they used as a stepping stone on the way to another NBA title. 

Will Perk Work?

It'll be much easier for Bynum and Gasol to have their way with OKC if Kendrick Perkins isn't able to play.

Darnell Mayberry of The Oklahoman reported on Monday that Perk will be a game-time decision for Game 1 on account of a bothersome strained hip, with which he's been day-to-day since May 5th. He went through most of the team's afternoon shootaround, which would seem to indicate that he'll be available to play.

But at what level of effectiveness? The Thunder don't need him to score (because he can't), though they'll have to rely on him to be his usual, menacing self on defense to slow down Bynum and Gasol. Serge Ibaka is a sensational help defender and all, but he can't possibly hold down those two by himself.

Nor can the Thunder reasonably expect Nick Collison and Nazr Mohammed to play to Perk's level on defense. It's strange to imagine, but the fate of the series may well rely on the health of a player who averaged 5.1 points and 6.6 rebounds per game during the regular season. 

Pace and Space

Without Perk around, the Lakers won't necessarily have their way up front by birthright, though nobody should expect Bynum and Gasol to shed a tear between them if that's the case.

Either way, it'll be incumbent upon the Purple and Gold to feed the post early and often, as much to exploit their biggest (perceived) advantage as to keep their big men engaged and, above all, moderate the pace of the game. According to teamrankings.com, the Lakers were 18th in fastbreak efficiency and 28th in fastbreak scoring during the regular season, while the Thunder checked in at fifth in both categories.

The Lakers can't afford to get involved in a track meet with the Thunder, more so on account of their age than in regard to their lack of depth (OKC's bench isn't particularly deep either). LA and OKC ranked first and second in turnover margin during the regular season...as in, they both turned the ball over far more than their opponents.

Though OKC's average of 14.2 turnovers forced was far more substantial that LA's 11.3, which was dead last in the league.

Any carelessness with the ball on the Lakers' part will fuel the Thunder's lethal fastbreak, just as it did that of the Nuggets in Round 1.

If the Lakers struggle to knock down shots from the outside, then the Thunder will have the freedom to collapse on LA's bigs to create even more pressure on which their tremendous transition game may thrive.

Who Will Win Game 1?

The Thunder haven't played in almost 10 days, so rust may be a factor, especially against a Lakers squad that was playing for its postseason life less than 48 hours ago.

But, betting against rest is about as useful as betting against a title contender playing in front of a raucous home crowd, which OKC will have the privilege of doing.

If Perkins is healthy enough to play, the nod clearly goes to the Thunder. If not, it's more of a toss-up, though still with a slight edge to OKC.

Follow @Josh_E_Martin