Alright. We get it. As usual, just like in the NHL with the star-studded bout between Alex Ovechkin and the Sidney Crosby, seemingly numerous talks of the possibility of the one matchup "everyone and their sister" wants to see arise with the welcoming of the 2010 NBA Playoffs: a Kobe-Lebron NBA Finale. Unlike hockey however, NBA fans are blessed with the gift of these two teams being in opposing conferences, meaning their battle of epic proportions can only happen on one stage: the Finals. As awe-inspiring as this seems, an unfortunate problem arises: both the Cavs and the Lakers have to fight through a flurry of difficult opponents (all looking for their chance to knock-off the number one seed) as they make their run for the Finals; and one team may run into trouble a little earlier than they had expected to.
Entering the playoffs looking to defend their title (15th all-time), the L.A. Lakers are set to square off against a franchise that (technically) has never made the playoffs: The Oklahoma City Thunder. If, at the start of the year, a top NBA analyst had said to me that these two teams were playing each other in the opening round of the playoffs, I would have bluntly greeted him with a "WTF?!" (and then proceed to drug-test him on account of his outlandish claims). The Ex-Seattle SuperSonics started with an abysmal 3-29 record last year in their inaugural season in Oklahoma City (basically as bad as the New Jersey Nets). It was a franchise that was clearly destined for failure, until a youngster by the name of Kevin Durant decided to put the struggling team on his back and lead an unbelievable turnaround season for the franchise and make the Playoffs.
. . . Back to the matchup. As surprising as this may seem, the Thunder actually have a legitimate chance at giving the defending champs a run-for-their-money! And the key to their success is momentum (which is leaning heavily in their favor). The Lakers have uncharacteristically had a disappointing April, posting a rather average 2-4 record with three of their four losses coming against playoff-caliber teams (the other one was an embarrassing loss to a suffering L.A. Clippers franchise by 16 points), and the only two wins coming against far below-.500 teams! I know I'm going to be greeted with the usual banter of "But Kobe wasn't playing!" Yeah, well that's still no excuse for the Lakers team to get absolutely raped by the Spurs by 19 points, and lose to the Nuggets and Trailblazers: two teams the Lakers will most likely have to beat in their run to the Title Game. Kobe himself, being severely banged up as he ages, hasn't been playing up to par in his last few games either, only averaging 30% shooting and not dropping 40 points in a Laker win since December 22nd!
The Thunder, on the other hand, come into their first playoff series as a team riding the momentum of the NBA scoring champ Kevin Durant looking for something to prove: that they belong here. With a roster riddled with rookie and sophmore players including the always-versatile Russell Westbrook, the Thunder can surprisingly create a a series of matchup problems as they look for their chance to accomplish something that's only been done three times in NBA history, upset the number one seed as a number eight seeded team. The Thunder also (although losing the series 3-1 against the Lakers with Kobe hitting pivotal late jumpers in two of the three losses) managed to dominate the Lakers in their last game by winning in blowout fashion by sixteen points in a game that Kobe DID play in (only scoring 11 points).
While the odds are still obviously in the Lakers favor, look for the Thunder to show the Lakers what they're made of as Durant attempts to knock-off an NBA legend and establish his place as a rising all-star when the series tips off at 3:00 P.M. Eastern Time on Sunday afternoon.
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