The Lakers’ upcoming second-round matchup against the Thunder will shift from the Paycom Center, which is known for being one of the loudest venues in the NBA.
This change might actually work in favor of the Lakers’ role players.
Facing the deep lineup of the Thunder, the Lakers will require contributions from everyone involved.
What’s been the main advantage for the Thunder in this series?
It’s been the bench scoring.
In the first game, Thunder reserves outperformed the Lakers’ bench 34-15. In Game 2, that margin widened significantly to 48-24.
Essentially, the Thunder simply have more players delivering strong performances, which is crucial in playoff scenarios.
Interestingly, the Lakers have managed to somewhat contain the reigning MVP, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who led all scorers in the first round with an average of 33.7 points per game but is down to just 20 points in this series.
However, stifling the Thunder feels a bit like playing whack-a-mole—when one threat is managed, another pops up. Chet Holmgren, for instance, dominated with 24 points and 12 rebounds in Game 1, and in Game 2, he, alongside Gilgeous-Alexander and Ajay Mitchell, each scored over 20 points.
On the flip side, almost everyone on the Lakers, excluding LeBron James, has faced offensive struggles at various times during this series.
Austin Reeves had a rough Game 1 with only eight points, but he turned things around in Game 2, scoring a game-high 31 on 10-of-16 shooting.
In contrast, Deandre Ayton tallied just three points on 1-of-7 shooting in Game 2, while Luke Kennard struggled, making only 1 of 4 shots in Game 1. Jake LaRavia hasn’t made much of an impact either, and Marcus Smart has been quieter after some strong performances earlier. Jackson Hayes hasn’t been a difference-maker either.
Rui Hachimura seems to be one of the steadier performers, sorting 18 points in the first game and 16 in the second. Yet, the rest of the team’s role players have fallen short.
For the Lakers to find success, their role players need to become threats themselves. This would open up the game for James and Reeves, especially while Luka Doncic is sidelined due to a hamstring strain.
The Thunder have had one of the top defenses in the NBA for the past couple of years. The Lakers must see more from both their starting lineup and bench to pose a threat. They can’t let defenses collapse around James, putting extra pressure on Reeves. Respect for the Thunder’s capabilities is crucial.
After two games down 2-0 in the playoff series, the Lakers lost both matches by 18 points—though the scores didn’t reflect just how competitive those games felt.
In Game 1, the Lakers started strong at 7-0 but managed only an eight-point lead, 61-53, at halftime. Game 2 saw them staying close until midway through the fourth quarter when the Thunder took control.
Now, the Lakers return home.
They’ll be shooting on their own court, with the advantage of a familiar crowd after playing 41 regular-season games there.
If the Lakers’ role players can elevate their game, they might find a way back into this series.
