March 24, 2009

Tracking the Thunder

Lamar and the Lakers can't sleep on the Oklahoma City Thunder.

True, OKC has one of the worst records in the league, but the young team has gone 7-5 in its last 12 contests. And while the Lakers have defeated the Thunder in each of their last eight meetings (dating back to OKC’s Seattle days), the Purple and Gold shouldn't take a win for granted.

In only the second game of a lengthy seven-game road trip, Los Angeles needs every win it can get.

BONDING OPPORTUNITY
Instead of lamenting the lengthy trip, LO and Co. are looking forward to their road trip as an opportunity to bond and gel as a team.

“We need this trip, right?” Lamar said. “Guys realize that they need each other and the only way to make it happen is to play with each other. Sometimes I think it’s a chemistry thing.”

NEXT UP
Tip-off is scheduled for 5 p.m. tonight and the game can be viewed on KCAL 9. Tune in to see if LO and Co. can make it nine straight against the Thunder.

RELATED STORIES
Up next for the Lakers: Oklahoma City (LATimes.com, March 24, 2009)
http://www.latimes.com/sports/basketball/nba/lakers/la-sp-lakers-tonight...
Long trip is a good chance to bond for Lakers (LATimes.com, March 24, 2009)
http://www.latimes.com/sports/basketball/nba/lakers/la-sp-lakersfyi24-20...