Let the 2nd round games...BEGIN!

So we have now borne witness to the birth of what may very well become a legend in our lifetimes - the juggernaut that is the Oklahoma City Thunder. As if a first round sweep of the defending NBA Champs wasn’t impressive enough, we now submit for your review: the first game of the Thunder/Lakers 2nd round matchup that ended in a 29 point Thunder blowout of the Lake Show. And more impressive than the final score (and the game wasn’t as close as the final score would indicate) was HOW the Thunder did the damage. A barrage of mid range jumpers and floaters were mixed in with crisp passes to open men for 3s as well as “put your head down and get to the cup” drives. Offensively, the Thunder were as good as a team can be and not have a guy who scored 30 or more. Russell Westbrook flirted with a triple double and KD had a quiet 25 points, but this game wasn’t the singular win of one impressive players performance. It was the collective imposing of one teams will upon another in a fashion that left no room for doubt as to who was the better team on the floor.

Now you can read your fill of recaps and reviews on other Worldwide Leader websites, so I know you want me to dig deeper and really get into the meat of why the Thunder were 29 points better (with the bulge getting as high as 35) than the Lakers. Could it be the short rest the Lakers came in on? Yes, it was only 1 day, but that’s not it. Could it be the age disparity between the two teams, with the Thunder being the 2nd youngest team in the league? Maybe…but that’s not really it either. Could it be the talent level between the two squads, where the Thunder boast 3 top 5 picks all under the age of 25? Perhaps…but its not like the Lakers are short on talent either, with 3 All Stars in their starting five. What I really think it is? Hunger. These young kids from Oklahoma City are hungry for a shot at the NBA title. And the Lakers aren’t as hungry for a ‘chip, having already won twice the last 4 years. And personally, I think it’s as simple a thing as that.