Western Conference First Round
#1 Los Angeles Lakers (57-25) vs. #8 Oklahoma City Thunder (50-32)
The Lakers come limping into the playoffs and get to face the upstart Thunder in the First Round. The Lakers have been a slightly above .500 basketball team since the All-Star Break and star Kobe Bryant has been dealing with a myriad of injuries. They have also been without C Andrew Bynum who got his yearly injury. It is expected Bynum will return for the series, but his effectiveness remains questionable.
The Thunder are tied with the Milwaukee Bucks as the most surprising team in the NBA this season. After an awful 23-59 season a year ago, the Thunder improved by 27 wins this season. SF Kevin Durant has become the best scorer in the league and one of the most exciting players. But he isn't the only young superstar the Thunder have. PG Russell Westbrook, F Jeff Green, G James Harden, and backup PG Eric Maynor, along with Durant are all 23 or younger. This is a team that has a tremendous upside and will be championship contenders in about a year or two.
Although they won't be matched up on each other often all eyes will be on the battle between Bryant and Durant. This series has the potential to be the most exciting series in the First Round. The Thunder will definitely be competitive with the Lakers, but the experience factor is heavily in the Lakers corner. The Lakers will miss Bynum's presence if he isn't effective, but Pau Gasol can more than make up for it against a Thunder team that has an injured Nenad Kristic as their best big man. The Thunder definitely have the edge at point guard with Westbrook being much better than Derek Fisher. However, just about every point guard is better than Fisher at this point in his career and that hasn't slowed the Lakers down before.
Lakers SF Ron Artest will have the tough task of defending Durant. While Artest won't be expected to completely stop Durant, he will have to make life difficult for him. Lakers PF Lamar Odom could have a huge series for the Lakers and has always been the X factor for them. When he plays to his capabilities the Lakers are nearly unbeatable.
The Thunder should definitely make Lakers fans nervous but they still have a ways to go before they can legitimately have a chance of knocking off the champions. I expect most of the games to be close, and the Thunder to steal a game at home, but the Lakers will march on.
Prediction: Lakers over Thunder, 4-1
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