Victor Wembanyama, Anthony Edwards go head-to-head in first half of Game 3
Wembanyama and Edwards go head-to-head in a tied Game 3 first half
The Lakers lost to the Thunder in Game 2 of the Western Conference Semifinals, struggling against Oklahoma City's depth. Frustration over officiating was evident among players and coaches post-game.
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May 7, 2026; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder center Chet Holmgren (7) steals the ball from Los Angeles Lakers guard Austin Reaves (15) in the second half during game two of the second round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Paycom Center. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images
Los Angeles Lakersâ players, fans and even coaches are fed up with the officiating after Game 2 of the Western Conference Semifinals, but a bad whistle isnât why they lost. The Lakers simply canât compete with the Oklahoma City Thunderâs depth.
The final buzzer sounded, and the officials faced immediate backlash.
Players, led by Austin Reaves and LeBron James, huddled around Referee James Goble at half court. Memes criticizing the refs flooded social media. And Head Coach J.J. Redick took the mic at the postgame press conference.
âThey have a few guys that foul on every possession,â he told reporters after the game. âTheyâre hard enough to play. You gotta be able to just call it if they foul, and they do foul.â
The Lakers lost primarily due to their inability to compete with the Thunder's depth, not just because of officiating issues.
Lakers players, including Austin Reaves and LeBron James, expressed their frustration with the officiating by confronting the referees and sharing memes on social media.
The head coach of the Lakers during the 2026 NBA Playoffs is J.J. Redick.
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Even if the whistle was all-knowing and all-powerful last night, the Lakers still would have lost. Theyâre outmatched.
Give credit to Redick. He has implemented a defensive gameplan to keep Shai Gilgeous-Alexander uninvolved, and the Lakers have executed it perfectly. In this series, they have held the likely back-to-back MVP to his lowest scoring total (19, Game 1) and and assist total (2, Game 2) of the season. Last night, they held SGA to a, relatively, mere 22 points.
The Lakers have kept the ball out of his hands with immediate double teams, traps and face-guarding when heâs off the ball. Theyâre forcing the Thunderâs âothersâ to beat them. The âothersâ are answering the call.
Five Thunder players besides Gilgeous-Alexander scored in double figures. Two of them, Ajay Mitchell and Chet Holmgren, scored at least 20 points. Five Thunder players had a higher plus-minus than Gilgeous-Alexander. Five other Thunder players made a three-pointer.
Five Lakers in total scored in double figures. Those same five Lakers were the only players to make a three-point field goal.Â
It also doesnât help that the Lakers continue to struggle taking care of the ball. They lead the playoffs in turnovers per game with 18.1. Last night, they eclipsed that number by turning the ball over 20 times, which led to 26 Thunder points.
The Lakers have found a way to do the impossible. They have kept Shai Gilgeous-Alexander in check, but at what cost?Â
When double teams are constantly thrown at Gilgeous-Alexander, it allows every other Thunder player to play in space. And they have proved that their entire roster is a threat.
Itâs time for the Lakers to reevaluate their gameplan. They canât keep up with the onslaught of the Thunderâs depth.
The post The Lakers Canât Handle the Thunderâs Depth appeared first on The Lead.