Lakers vs. Thunder: L.A. Must Play Kobe Bryant at PG to Slow OKC'S Big 3
Hollyhood is the answer.
The Los Angeles Lakers were absolutely dominated by the Oklahoma City Thunder’s three-headed perimeter monster in Game 1 of their Western Conference playoff series. In order for LA to slow down OKC’s beastly offensive attack, Mike Brown must rotate Kobe Bryant in at the point guard position.
With Thabo Sefolosha in the starting lineup, Los Angeles possesses the freedom to play Ramon Sessions alongside Kobe. Sefolosha isn’t a scoring threat. Matched up with the designated stopper, Sessions’ liability on the defensive end is masked.
The same applies to Steve Blake. When Sefolosha, Derek Fisher or Daequan Cook is on the floor, Blake and Sessions’ lack of defensive prowess doesn’t destroy the Lakers. But when Scott Brooks inserts James Harden in to the lineup next to Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant, Los Angeles is helpless.
Mike Bresnahan of the Los Angeles Times reported that Bryant said after the game of the Thunder: "This is their crack at it. They're a much better team now than when we played them a few years ago."
Good call, Kobe.
In Monday night’s slaughter, Westbrook, Durant and Harden scored a combined 69 points—more than the entire starting Lakers lineup. Oklahoma City’s dominance even prompted a reporter to ask Kobe this question:
But that’s where Hollyhood comes into play.
When Brooks goes to that seemingly unstoppable lineup, Brown must counter with a perimeter trio of Bryant, Matt Barnes and Metta World Peace. Now, those three won’t stop the Thunder’s relentless scoring assault, but it’ll slow them down. And Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum making their seven-foot presences felt is just as important as playing Bryant, Barnes and World Peace together.
Do the Lakers possess the ability to defeat the Thunder in a seven-game series? Yes, but everyone must be clicking on all cylinders.
If Gasol and Bynum plan to take games off like they did against the Denver Nuggets, they should just quit now. Sessions and Blake scored a grand total of two points in Game 1—if the pair of points produces up to their potential, LA won’t get blown out by 29 again. And Kobe is going to have to play like he’s the best player on the floor—a role that he’s perfectly capable of fulfilling.
Los Angeles needs to improve on countless levels, but a comeback begins on the defensive end.
David Daniels is a featured columnist at Bleacher Report and a syndicated writer.
