The Lakers vs. Thunder: A One-Sided Playoff Series

You know what’s wild about the Lakers’ playoff series against the Thunder? The gap between these two teams is so large that typical questions—ones that would usually spark serious debates—have mostly faded away.

Take Luka Doncic, for example. He hasn’t played since April 2 due to a hamstring strain, and while he was definitely a top MVP contender, one wonders, would his presence have made a difference?

Doncic led the league in scoring with 33.5 points per game, ranked third in assists, and was sixth in steals. He even made NBA history by scoring over 600 points in March, joining the ranks of Michael Jordan. But would such remarkable talent shift the tide?

No, and it’s pretty clear.

The realization is so evident that analysts hardly waste time pondering it on talk shows. Reporters don’t dwell on it in their pieces. The Thunder are simply that good.

Sure, if Doncic were playing, the Lakers might’ve found it easier to score. But honestly, that alone wouldn’t have changed much.

Even if the Thunder’s elite defense faltered against him, they have enough depth to stifle everyone else. That’s impressive.

The players, top to bottom on the Thunder’s roster, are relentless: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Lou Dort, Chet Holmgren, Isaiah Hartenstein, Alex Caruso, Kayson Wallace, and Ajay Mitchell.

The Lakers’ offense would struggle to keep up.

Wallace outmaneuvered Austin Reeves, while Dort kept LeBron James off balance. Luke Kennard barely made an impact in this series, and it seems like Rui Hachimura is pretty much the only Lakers player consistently making good shots.

What about defense? Well, Doncic would have had to hold his ground there, too. He would likely become another target for the Thunder, adding to the already daunting task facing the Lakers.

Was it too much to expect? Deandre Ayton’s effectiveness in the paint was underwhelming. Meanwhile, Holmgren has been making strides, and Mitchell has had success wherever he plays.

If there’s a silver lining, it’s that the Lakers managed to limit Gilgeous-Alexander to just 21 points per game in this series. That’s a significant reduction from the 33.8 points he averaged in the Thunder’s first-round sweep against the Suns, but still, it hasn’t changed the series outcome.

The Thunder roster is simply too deep; there are no weak spots.

This disparity has exposed the various weaknesses in the Lakers’ lineup, which isn’t surprising, considering they averaged a 29-point loss to the Thunder during the regular season. When Doncic was available, nothing shifted, and it’s likely nothing would if he were on the court now.

As for Lakers coach JJ Redick, when asked about the potential impact of Doncic’s presence, he responded quite firmly: “Never.” Perhaps he didn’t want to dwell on hypotheticals since there’s so much to focus on right now; but, honestly, this isn’t a burning question filled with “what ifs.”

Even with Doncic as an MVP candidate, the Lakers’ underlying issues wouldn’t have disappeared. A roster rebuild is essential for them, and they clearly need a long offseason. Competing against the reigning champions seems out of reach. They might snag a game or two, sure, but there’s just not enough depth to maintain that level of performance over the whole series.

If Doncic were available, they might have managed to win a game. However, the series outcome would have likely remained unchanged.

In the end, without Doncic, nothing really shifts. The Thunder are simply too strong.