2012 Conf. Semis: (2) Thunder vs. (3) Lakers

[NovU]

Sorry Lamrock, but people were waiting, eagerly. It's the Lakers, man. You can't be late.

Thunder swept the previous round and it took 7 games for the Lakers to finish off the Nuggets. Quite a contrast process to get here, but same result. I think the Lakers are a better team if they can put aside all the issues on character differences and play as a team. That of course will take Kobe to eat up some pride and ride Bynum Gasol duo bit more. As for the Thunder, they are the favorites obviously. Durant, Westbrook, and Harden are superior backcourt. And inside there are Ibaka the Blocker and fat face Perkins to scare you. Great line up. And Harden should be ready for this series. I'm happy to see him at full strength and having seen MWP playing a nice game 7 should motivate him even more.

With that said, I am picking the Lakers in 6. I don't exactly know why but I have a feeling that the Lakers will suprise everyone here. There is something about this Lakers team that actually scares me. I think it's gotta do with potential of Bynum and Gasol duo going bonkers with their size.

[Phil89]

Thunder in 5. MWP to play with a bodyguard in the games in okc.

[Andrew]

The Thunder in five very hard fought games. It does feel like I'm underrating the Lakers there but the Nuggets just gave them almost all they can handle and Oklahoma City are better equipped to take them down.

[jettdaking!]

i think they're both evenly-matched. so, i can't think of a possible outcome, so, i voted "MWP elbows everybody on Thunder roster this time." Clever.

[JBoom_LALALAND]

The Lakers is my team. The thing that the Lakers should avoid is turning the ball over. The Thunder is an electrifying fast break team. Gotta be careful. I hope their three-point and perimeter guys can finally find the back of the net. Barnes should find his rhythm. I hope Goudelocke and McRoberts can play now.

GO! GO! Lakers.

As for the Thunder, they're the favorites ...

[cavs4872]

Seeing as how the Lakers struggled to just get past the Nuggets, OKC in 6

[Spree#8]

Thunder in 5. It's difficult to have faith in the Lakers when they need 20 offensive rebounds from Bynum and Gasol, a once in a lifetime game by Steve Blake, Miller and Gallinari shooting 2/19 FG combined and Kobe passing the ball just to barely get past the Nuggets. Especially when the Thunder have an answer on defense for every major offensive threat on the Lakers team and the same thing can't be said in reverse.

[SkyLine03LT]

OKC in 5. The Lakers clearly have issues, plus they're an older team and the Thunder had lots of rest.

[Mavs4Life]

OKC in 6.

[Lamrock]

Was too drunk and upset to make this poll. Thanks for filling in. Was worried about this forum's inactivity when I wasn't beaten to the punch on a couple other polls.

I got OKC in 6. Lakers' size should give them enough fits to take a couple games but OKC's depth and talent should be enough.

[NovU]

This is the price OKC have to pay for their late struggle in the regular season to hold on to that 1st seed. The Thunder got match up issues to deal with here. Forget regular season, forget versus record cuz it's more of match ups in the playoffs. And the Lakers present more match up problem for the Thunder than any other team in the league. Sessions brought quickness at PG once again, Artest will harrass Durant with his elbows all series long and Durant will play through mild concussion in a couple decisive games, Bynum will make Perkins his bitch, Gasol will eat Ibaka alive with his fine ass Spaniard game. And Kobe, will be Kobe, usual rapist in your neighborhood. I stand by my prediction of the Lakers in 6, you haters.

[Patr1ck]

Lakers in 7 for an epic WCF story against the Clippers.

[rise]

The Lakers barely got past the Nuggets in seven games and the Thunder have had an entire week of rest. OKC in 6, because of the pro-Laker calls/non-calls that occur in every playoff game the Lakers play.

[Andrew]

Oh, that World Peace...

And for those expecting World Peace to show some remorse for either the elbow he jammed into the side of James Harden's head or the costly seven-game suspension resulting from it … well, you'll have to keep waiting. After finally dismissing the Nuggets with a series-clinching 96-87 victory, the Lakers are headed to Oklahoma City to take on Harden's Thunder, and they're bringing World Peace with them. Game 1 of the second-round series is Tuesday. World Peace knows what awaits him.

Bring it on, he said.

"It’s not my concern. It's their concern," World Peace said of the Thunder fans. "We live in America – freedom of speech. You have freedom to do anything that you want to do."

World Peace can be both wonderfully and dangerously oblivious, and on this night he was dressed only in a button-down shirt, his underwear and a pair of flip-flops as he spoke. No, he hasn't personally apologized to Harden for flooring him with that vicious elbow on April 22. Nor does he plan to do so. Even a simple handshake seems out of the question.

"I don’t shake substitutions' hands,” World Peace said in a reference to Harden's Sixth Man of the Year status. “He doesn’t start."

Pure class.

[NovU]

"I don't shake substitutions' hands,"
"He doesn't start."

Hahahaha. MWP. I can't hate this guy. I am so going to love this series. Game already started even before Game 1. The Lakers gets ahead with getting into the OKC's head. Gonna love the athmosphere. this gonna be a must watch for all fans of basketball.

[Nick]

Thunder in 6 for me. Should be a great series.

[Andrew]

Hahahaha. MWP. I can't hate this guy.

Bit of a turnaround there.

[NovU]

Yep. But we both know he's playing a mind game. Either you hate or love. But in this occassion, it just makes the series more interesting and gives a few more reasons to watch the game. All works for me. More rivalry and more entertainment, and he provide em. Not that I want him to succeed.

[JaoSming]

Lightning in 5, Lakers be weak son

[Lean]

OKC. Because my hate for Kobe and the Lakers never fades.

[JaoSming]

OKC. Because my hate for Kobe and the Lakers never fades.

When the beatings begin, you will be spared

[koberulz]

"We live in America – freedom of speech. You have freedom to do anything that you want to do."

And I thought the 'you can't insult me for my stupid opinions on an internet forum because freedom of speech' people were stupid.

[Dc311]

I just have a feeling that the Lakers will take this one in seven games.

[benji]

lol 83-50

[NovU]

Lol. Was gonna say that myself. 33 points lead at one point in the game and the referee starts calling fouls in favor of Kobe. Tech on Ibaka was a joke.