At first glance, the scores may not suggest it, but the Lakers have displayed a certain level of perseverance. They’ve fought hard and shown their spirit.
It might sound odd given they lost all three games in the second round against the Thunder, with an average defeat of nearly 20 points—like the 131-108 loss in Game 3. But there’s no denying it; the Thunder are simply the stronger team.
Coach JJ Redick even called the Thunder “one of the greatest teams in NBA history.” The Lakers, it seems, didn’t stand much of a chance in this series.
This raises an obvious question: can any team really pose a challenge to the Thunder this postseason?
While some teams tread lightly, the Lakers find themselves on a steep uphill battle. With a roster that’s not very deep—just six strong players—they’re continuously working hard, but their endurance is soon tested.
This is probably why the Thunder lead the series 3-0 and why the Lakers are one game away from elimination.
It’s not that the Lakers aren’t trying their best. They’ve been working hard despite missing superstar Luka Doncic, who hasn’t played since early April due to a hamstring injury. It’s just that their efforts haven’t been enough.
They have made commendable plays during this series. For instance, Game 2 was relatively close for a significant portion of time, and Game 3 had its moments too.
But the Lakers’ energy levels were depleted in both contests. In contrast, the Thunder seemed to have more left in the tank. They outscored the Lakers by an average of 18 points during the second halves.
In the first half of Game 3, the Lakers excelled from the three-point line, hitting 55% compared to the Thunder’s 33.3%, yet they only managed a two-point lead by halftime. Rui Hachimura and Luke Kennard were particularly impressive, but it ultimately didn’t translate to victory.
The Thunder dominated the third quarter, scoring 33-20 and finishing strong in the fourth, even with star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander playing limited minutes.
The reality is the Lakers need to be near-perfect to stay competitive. And with LeBron James, who’s 41, leading a rather shallow roster, sustaining such high levels of performance becomes a tall order.
As soon as they flag, it seems the Thunder swoop in, ready to capitalize.
They’re a powerful, deep team and their skill can be overwhelming.
Post-Game 3, Redick acknowledged how well the Lakers managed to contain Gilgeous-Alexander, who had been spectacular in earlier rounds.
But in this series, he didn’t make much of a dent. “MVP scored 18 points in Game 1, 22 in Game 2, and then 23 tonight,” he pointed out. “And they’ve beaten us three times in a row.”
Facing off against the Thunder feels like a game of whack-a-mole—stop one scorer, and there are several others itching to step in.
Their defensive prowess is, frankly, even more impressive than their offense.
James appeared to struggle against their relentless approach, finishing with 19 points on less than optimal shooting. Austin Reaves managed only 17 points as the Thunder’s bench outshone the Lakers’ reserves.
The Lakers are indeed putting in tremendous effort. It’s not merely an issue with individual players; the challenge lies with the overall roster. Competing against one of the youngest, deepest teams in the league is tough under these circumstances.
With a series deficit that seems insurmountable, the Lakers are standing at the edge of elimination.
Even if they manage to avoid a sweep, it could feel like a small victory.
“We have to give everything, absolutely everything to deal with a team like this,” James emphasized. They have to try their best again in Game 4.
Still, despite all their grit, the reality is harsh.
It’s like fighting a heavyweight champion in the wrong weight class—no matter the heart shown by the Lakers, it might simply not be enough in the face of this Thunder team.
