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OKC Thunder 'not gonna overreact' to losing season series to LeBron James, Lakers
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- OKC Thunder 'not gonna overreact' to losing season series to LeBron James, Lakers
LOS ANGELES — For now, the Thunder can wipe any sweat from its brow.
After dropping the season series — the only series it's lost this year— to the Lakers 3-1, OKC can wipe its hands with the city of angels and back-to-backs. The playoff picture is forever shifting, but as of Monday night, the Thunder is currently clear of the Lakers .
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It slipped back to No. 2 in the West with a 116-104 loss to the Lakers , destined for a date with the seventh-seed Sacramento Kings if the season ended today. The Lakers hold the ninth seed, still in play-in position.
Regardless of the turmoil of their season, the holes in their roster, the question marks they might always raise, L.A. does things that can thwart the young Thunder. And if nothing else, it has Anthony Davis and LeBron James , a pair of players that can still leave their imprint on the flow of a game to the detriment of the speedy Thunder.
More: OKC Thunder's Shai Gilgeous-Alexander could make Kentucky basketball history in MVP race
Mar 4, 2024; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward Rui Hachimura (28) and forward Anthony Davis (3) defend the basket against Oklahoma City Thunder forward Chet Holmgren (7) during the second half at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
"They've seen a lot of basketball in their time, and when they slow the game down and are able to kind of script how it's gonna go," Thunder forward Chet Holmgren said. "… It really plays into their hands, and they know that.
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"We have to figure out how to counter that if we play them again."
While still a month away seriously discussing what the postseason might look like, it's worth noting what matchups pose more trouble. Which, if any, especially highlight OKC's few (and fully accepted) weaknesses. With this version of Davis and the Lakers shooting remotely well, it's worth the thought process.
The Thunder's adjustments are ongoing. With each game, with each quarter. A playoff series might feature more shifts than a rigged Rubik's Cube. For what it's worth, it seems confident that the necessary changes will happen when necessary.
"I guess we'll see, I'm not looking too far ahead," Thunder forward Jalen Williams said of how a series with the Lakers might pan out. "We're not gonna overreact. When we get there, we'll get there. I wouldn't say we're too stressed about anything. … We'll have adjustments for it."
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More: OKC Thunder's Shai Gilgeous-Alexander could make Kentucky basketball history in MVP race
Thunder at Trail Blazers
TIPOFF: 9 p.m. Wednesday at Moda Center in Portland (Bally Sports Oklahoma)
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: OKC Thunder 'not gonna overreact' to losing season series to LA Lakers
