An offense that relies heavily on jump shots, the Thunder can be a bit streaky, but given MVP candidate Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s ability (among others) to get to the rim, they can generate offense even on their off-nights. The Lakers, however, possess a stout backline led by Anthony Davis, hurting OKC’s read-and-react and drive-and-kick offenses, on top of their ability to finish around the basket. Even with great spacing, they struggle to score against the Lakers, making them an optimal first-round matchup for LA (all things considered), who is likely locked into the No. 8 seed. D’Angelo Russell made an interesting comment after the game regarding the matchup (per Dan Woike of The Los Angeles Times): “You can’t relax,” Russell said. “I think they’re number one, right? Yeah, so I mean you gotta you gotta be ready to play against those guys. It’s no fluke.” LA clearly came to play, and DLo implying that they chose to reach another gear coming into the matchup suggests that they have the ability to elevate their play as needed, given the competition.
