Thunder vs. Lakers: Interior Dominance Key to Game 4 Victory for Each Squad

The winning recipe, and most contentious part of the court, should be extremely obvious to both Los Angeles and Oklahoma City.

The Lakers need to get into the lane for easy buckets or free throws. The Thunder need to keep the Lakers forwards out of the painted area, forcing them to win from the perimeter.

The Lakers 42 free-throw attempts (and 41 makes) made this extremely obvious in Game 3. Los Angeles holds a major size advantage down low and must continue to go to the well if they want to even the series up Saturday evening.

Let's take a look at both team's interior players and how they can impact Game 4.

Thunder Big Men

Oklahoma City's frontcourt is made up off Kendrick Perkins' endless bad mood, Serge Ibaka's freakish athleticism, and Kevin Durant's silky-smooth stroke.

Nazr Mohammed and Nick Collison also contribute off the bench.

The Thunder's frontcourt is not a bad unit, but it's at a big disadvantage against the Lakers height and strength.

Perkins, Mohammed, and Ibaka are their tallest players at 6'10'', but none are physically imposing.

Winning Game 4 will not come down to interior offense for Oklahoma City but it will come down to interior defense.

The Thunder forwards must keep Los Angeles out of the paint. Andrew Bynum and Pau Gasol are very difficult to stop, especially if you let either set up on the low-block with no resistance.

Oklahoma City's big men must use their length to disrupt shots in the paint. If they can make the paint about high-flying rather than banging bodies, they have a chance.

The Thunder must be careful. Play tough defense and contest every shot, but do not foul.

Keep the Lakers players off the line, but defend the rim with ferocious intensity. If they can do this, the Thunder backcourt will take care of business and grab a two-game lead in the series.

Lakers Big Men

The Lakers are extremely privileged in the paint. Gasol and Bynum are both 7'0" and extremely skilled around the rim.

Add Metta World Peace's 270-pound frame into the mix along with Jordan Hill's rambunctious bench play and the Lakers are a force to be reckoned with down low.

The four Lakers forwards combined for 37 points in Game 3.

Bynum and Gasol were both forces throughout the night, playing solid on both ends of the floor.

Los Angeles' obvious advantage in the paint could easily swing this series. Ibaka and Perkins can match up with Gasol and Bynum in terms of athleticism, but the Lakers duo is simply too big for the Thunder pair.

Los Angeles needs to ride Kobe Bryant's hot hand as always in this series, but Bryant has support down low. The Lakers have to target this advantage and attack the Thunder big men.

Getting the ball into the paint not only increases offensive efficiency, but it also allows for more free-throw opportunities.

This bodes well for the Lakers, especially coming off their absurd 41-for-42 free-throw performance in Game 3.

The Thunder are younger, faster, and more athletic. The Lakers have a major advantage down low.

That makes the paint the most important area on the court each time these teams do battle.