In just a few hours, the Lakers will be facing one of the NBA’s toughest league opponents – OKC. The Thunder are one of the highest-scoring teams in the league with 106.7 ppg and a 58.5 true shooting percentage. The Lakers reached .500 for the first time this year and it would be wonderful if they could win tonight and improve their record. But with the Lakers struggling on the road this season with a 10-19 record, an away game against one of the best teams will be a tough win.
Serena Winters details another problem for tonight’s game; the Chesapeake Energy Arena hold 18,000 of OKC’s rowdiest and loudest fans, giving the crowd the nickname “Loud City.” Even Kobe Bryant says Oklahoma City has the best crowd in the NBA:
“They probably have the best crowd in the league. Their crowd is incredible.”
Coupled with the insane player that is Kevin Durant, the Lakers have a tough game ahead of them. Durant is averaging 28.6 pts (50.9 percent FG), 4.6 assists, 7.8 rebounds, 1.9 threes (42.2 percent from three), 1.5 steals, 1.2 blocks and 90.7 percent from the free-throw line.
If you are intimated by the power of the OKC arena, don’t be too worried. The Lakers also do well for themselves, and have a home town support that is equally as immense, keeping them well prepared.
The Staples Center is a 950,000 square foot arena, centered in the heart of Los Angeles. L. A. is also home to Hollywood, celebrities, the highest average ticket price in the league, the most popular merchandise among all NBA teams, Jack Nicholson, and Kobe Bryant with the most popular jersey. Not only, the Lakers have sold out every single home game since the 2007-2008 season. Impressive.
Someone to look out for on the Lakers roster tonight would be Antawn Jamison, who has done very well for himself recently. Over the past eight games, Jamison has averaged 15.1 points and 6.1 rebounds. He has also been shooting 51.1 percent from the field with a 50.0 percent from three-point line.
For the rest on the pregame report, click here.
Los Angeles Lakers (30-30) at Oklahoma City Thunder (43-16)
6:30 PM PST, March 5, 2013
Chesapeake Energy Arena, Oklahoma City, OK
TV: TNT
Radio: 710 ESPN (English) / 1330 ESPN (Spanish)
Thunder Projected Starting Line-up
PG: Russell Westbrook
SG: Thabo Sefolosha
SF: Kevin Durant
PF: Serge Ibaka
C: Kendrick Perkins
Key Reserves: SG: Kevin Martin FC: Nick Collison
Lakers Nation News
Kobe Conditioning Story On Reddit Discusses Bryant’s Crazy Workout Routines
Lakers News: Team To Play Two Exhibition Games in China
OKC Thunder Crowd Best In The League, In Kobe’s Words And Mine
Video: Kobe Bryant Appears in Nike’s Commercial in Asia
Antawn Jamison’s Production Has Been Crucial To Lakers’ Success
VIDEO: Steve Nash Hilarious Response To Dunking
NBA News: Houston Rockets Sign Aaron Brooks
Lakers vs. Thunder Pre-Game Report: Lakers Face Tough Test in Midwest
Lakers News
The Lakers’ Lack of Frontcourt Depth was Exposed Against Atlanta [Silver Screen and Roll]
If the Lakers Make the Playoffs Who Falls Out? [Silver Screen and Roll]
Lakers at Thunder Preview: Lakers Playing With House Money [Silver Screen and Roll]
Dwight: Could Have Sat Till March to Improve Conditioning [Silver Screen and Roll]
Preview and Chat: The Oklahoma City Thunder [Forum Blue and Gold]
The Lakers and the Turnover Problem [LA Times]
Russell Westbrook the Next Kobe? [ESPN Insider]
Dwight Howard Talks Kobe Bryant, Free Agency, Magic Teammates [SB Nation]
What It Means to be Kobe Bryant [ESPN]
Lakers’ Run Faces Challenge Against Thunder [OC Register]
Dwight Howard Reflects on Injuries [ESPN]
Lakers: Week 19 Predictions [LA Times]
Bryant Continues to Carry Heavy Load for Lakers [The Orange County Register]
Lakers-Thunder Preview [Yahoo! Sports]
Kobe Bryant Has a New Nickname For Himself [The Basketball Jones]
NBA Playoffs Better with Lakers [SB Nation]
Lakers Discuss Serge Ibaka’s Punch [ESPN LA]
Big Ticket: Kobe, Lakers Get Back to .500 [Fox West]
Lakers Need to Follow Kobe Bryant’s Lead and Turn It Up For Thunder [LA Times]
NBA Fines Serge Ibaka $25,000 [ESPN]
Lakers, Warriors to Meet in China in 2013-14 Preseason [SB Nation]
NBA News
The 20 Smallest Schools Ever To Be Ranked No. 1 In The AP Top 25 [Sports Illustrated]
Chris Bosh, Photobomb Savant [The Point Forward]
Wizards’ Beal is Day-to-Day With Sprained Ankle [Yahoo! Sports]
NBA Power Rankings: Teams That Totally Confuse the Singular-Plural Grammar Rules for Bloggerkind Everywhere [SBNation]
Carmelo Anthony is Day-to-Day [Tracking Blog]
NBA to Play 8 Preseason Games at Overseas Venues [SI.com]
Former Sonic Robert Swift Lost His House, Trashed It on the Way Out [SBNation]
Houston Rockets Agree to Terms with Aaron Brooks [The Dream Shake]
Andrew Bynum Could Be Due for Another Major Knee Surgery [The Point Forward]
Things of Note for March 4, 2013 [The Basketball Jones]
Future of NBA Arena Subsidies, Market Comparisons to Decide Kings’ Fate [PBT]
Murphy’s Law Defines the Current Mavericks -[Mavs Moneyball]
The Shape of West Playoffs [ESPN]
Wade, James Lead Heat to Record 15th Straight Win [Yahoo! Sport]
Miami Heat vs. Minnesota Timberwolves – Recap [ESPN]
Derek Fisher Justifies His Return to Oklahoma City [LA Times]
Jeremy Lin, Rockets in Taiwan Highlights Eight NBA Preseason Overseas Games Next Fall [PBT]
NBA Flopping Update [Clips Nation]
50-Point Scorers Last 10 Years [Sports Illustrated]
Barea Ejected After Confrontation With Allen [Yahoo! Sports]
Timberwolves Put an End to the Harlem Shake Craze [The Point Forward]
NBA Dancers and Cheerleaders [SI Photos]
White House Chides North Korea for Dennis Rodman Visit [ESPN]
