Thunder vs. Lakers Game 5: Oklahoma City Will Close Door on L.A.'s Season

The Los Angeles Lakers are still one of the best teams in the Western Conference, but the Oklahoma City Thunder are the perfect kryptonite to the once-mighty Hollywood team.

Ever since Kobe Bryant joined the Lakers roster in 1996, it seems the team has been in the playoffs almost every season. They've been able to successfully build around their star player for quite some time, but OKC is too young and too talented for Los Angeles to overcome tomorrow night on the road.

The games have been close in this series, but Bryant can't win the series on his own against this Thunder team, and teammates like Pau Gasol and Metta World Peace need to step their game up if L.A. is going to stay alive.

Bryant was especially upset with the play of Gasol in this series, saying "Pau's got to be more assertive. When he catches the ball, he's looking to pass," during the post-game press conference after the Game 4 loss to OKC.

Oklahoma City continues to show that their team of young talent has finally grown into a true contender to win the NBA Finals, and their fan base is one of the best in the league, broadcasting a "college-like atmosphere" in their arena as ESPN's Stephen A. Smith said on the May 20 edition of SportsCenter.

Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook have been the dynamic duo Los Angeles can't stop in this series, with the two combining for 209 points scored through four games.

To his credit, Bryant has posted 114 on his own for the Lakers so far, but none of his teammates have posted more than 46 through four close contests.

The Thunder have posted a 16-3 record after losing this season, and Bryant is going to need two of his supporting stars to help him out tomorrow night. No. 24 throwing up field goal after field goal will not win Los Angeles this series; it must be a team effort because the Thunder have shown they can contain one playmaker.

Oklahoma City is younger, faster and hungrier than their veteran opponents, and they should be able to move into the next round of the postseason tomorrow night after they win one last close game with the Lakers.