The NBA is a copycat league, as Paul George described after the Thunder’s loss on Tuesday to the Atlanta Hawks. Though the personnel and precise tactics will be different, George’s proclamation was prescient, given the Thunder’s upcoming opponent – the Los Angeles Lakers.
Both the Hawks and Lakers are in the top three in the NBA in pace, top five in points in the paint, and rank number one and two in field goals attempted in the restricted area. If there was ever a prime chance for the Thunder to get right in the areas where it struggled in its last game, Thursday’s battle with the Lakers will provide the perfect test to see how the Thunder can protect the rim.