Dylan Huntzinger, A.K.A. ThunderChats, Talks Lakers-Thunder

For Dylan, this was his beginning. “Allen Iverson was the first NBA player I gravitated to, and I followed him for the rest of his career,” said Dylan. “From Philly, to Denver, the short stint’s in Detroit and Memphis to finally ending it in where it all began. When AI retired, I was fully immersed in all thing NBA but I had no loyalty to any of his former teams.”

That year that Iverson played his final games in the NBA, 2010, was when the first core of the OKC Thunder emerged into the first playoff berth.

Who did they play? The No. 1 seed Los Angeles Lakers.

That Thunder team took the Lakers to six games. However, they let the league know they would be back. That energy was contagious for Dylan. “The crowd so undeniable that, even as the clock was winding down on their fourth loss, ending their series, the entire crowd was on their feet chanting ‘OKC! OKC! OKC!’,” said Dylan. “I was locked in from that moment on, and I never looked back.”

The Luka Absence

It’s hard to mention this current-day series without stating the obvious: The Lakers are missing the best player.

Coming off a career, MVP-level season, the Lakers lost Luka to a hamstring tear in a regular season blowout against the Thunder.

Dylan acknowledges this, but is still honest about his feelings for this series. “This very much feels like a tune up [for the Thunder],” he said. “What the Lakers were able to do with their injuries and odds stacked against them in the series prior definitely deserves acknowledgement. But something else deserves acknowledgement: The Rockets are nowhere near the level of the Oklahoma City Thunder.”

The LeBron Factor

Dylan also feels the OKC organization as a whole respects the legacy of LeBron James, which is why they’d like to wrap this series up as quickly as possible. “The Thunder as a roster and as an organization is respecting the opponent ahead of them, 100%,” he said. “LeBron is the best player of all time, and he has a mountain of postseason accomplishments that you have to hold reverence for above all.”

There’s no doubt LeBron’s legacy lingers on this series. It’s possible this could be his last run. “I would say the guys will definitely be up to the task of being the ones to send him home, maybe for good,” he said. “Going all the way back to the [game against the Thunder] that LeBron broke Kareem’s record for all time points scored, they stopped the game for a mid game, on court frenzy.”

“Our guys sat by calmly, let the fanfare die out and then went to work to lock up the win while the world was watching. Fast forward two years later, and they have a chance to do what their predecessors did. The Thunder teams of years past sent Kobe, Duncan, and Dirk home all for the last time in their postseason careers. In their minds, LeBron is next.”

OKC in Four

The Thunder are confident. They have every right to be. They’re the defending champs and favored to repeat once again.

When asked about a prediction for this series, Dylan doesn’t hide his feelings at all. “I really think the Thunder sweep,” he said. “They swept the season series so convincingly; the closest LA got was 19 points. Yes, that was without Luka, but it was also with Shai or Ajay.”

He continues, “The *perfect* formula for a Lakers win is back home, backs against the wall, shooting lights out, taking care of the basketball, and containing everyone outside of Shai. As you can see, that is A LOT that would have to go right. And honestly, if it’s a close game, Shai could will the Thunder to victory.”

Thanks to Dylan for giving his time. Make sure to follow him on X here as well. You can find his podcasts wherever you get your podcasts as well.

The post Dylan Huntzinger, A.K.A. ThunderChats, Talks Lakers-Thunder appeared first on The Lead.