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LA Lakers VS. Oklahoma City Thunder Pregame Analysis/Prediction
The LA Lakers and the Oklahoma City Thunder face off once again after their bout on December 7, 2012. The teams are headed in two different directions, with the Lakers on their 5 game losing streak and the Thunder maintaining their supremacy in the West. Individual Leaders LAL OKC Points Bryant 30.5 Durant 28.2 Rebounds Howard 12.4 Ibaka 8.5 Assists Nash 8.8 Westbrook 8.6 Team Stats LAL OKC Scoring 103.2 105.4 Rebounding 45.4 43.1 Assists 21.6 21.7 Analysis: - In their last matchup in Oklahoma City, the Thunder and the Lakers were neck-and-neck in points, thanks to each team's superstars Westbrook and Howard. However, the Lakers just could not contain Westbrook's explosiveness into the lane and his shots from downtown, as seen from the last game's highlights. From the video, the Lakers definitely keep up with the Thunder's face-paced tempo, but they look exhausted by the second half, at which point the Thunder pull away for a large lead. Expect similar trends in the upcoming game, especially with the Lakers' aging superstars and injuries to several key players. Prediction: With both Gasol and Howard still out with injuries (not to mention their other big man, Jordan Hill), their defense will be utterly helpless. Kevin Durant should be able to dominate the game with his arsenal of offensive skills, draining jump shots and driving through lanes depleted of D12. Even if Earl Clark brings back his solid performance from his previous game, Serge Ibaka should dominate the paint with his defensive presence. The old Lakers squad cannot keep up with the fast-paced transition offense of the Thunder, and the quick, athletic Westbrook should be able to control the fast tempo of the game. Without their full squad, the Lakers stand no chance against the best of the West. LAL 95 - OKC 110. Check out other predictions for other key match-ups! New York Knicks - Chicago Bulls, Boston Celtics - Houston Rockets. http://www.vingle.net/collections/126606-Pregame-Analysis-and-Predictions