A THUNDEROUS LOSS IN OKIE LAND

DURING A BREAK in the first quarter of Game 6 between the LA Lakers and the OKC Thunder, Coach Scott Brooks empathically told the young gunners "to attack the basket. Do not settle for jumpers." For reasons not entirely clear, the Okies did exactly the opposite: they launched jumpers from all points of the court foregoing the proven formula that served them well in Games 3 and 4.

So the result? They will go on summer vacation early.

There's plenty of blame to go around for the debacle. Let's begin with the man considered to be the latest incarnation of Michael Jordan: Kevin Durant. He shot an abysmal 5-for-23 from the field. On a night when his team was on the ropes, he came up miserably short. There were moments when he could have forced the issue and imposed his will on the Laker defenders but he didn't. What exactly was he thinking? He did't drive to the basket like he used to. He instead opted to go with awkward jumpers when he could have banged bodies with Pau Gasol on the low post.

Let's point our finger next to Russell Westbrook, the feisty point guard. He shot a nauseating 7-for-20 from the field and was 1-for-6 from the 3-point line. Did he, or didn't he listen to his coach at the break? He torched the Lakers in their blow-out wins in Games 3 & 4. Where was he on this critical night?

And let's not forget the much-heralded power forward Serge Ibaka. Sure, he shot 68% from the field but he only attempted 8 shots! Eight shots on a do-or-die situation is not gonna do it. Come on! He could have laid everything on the line and assaulted the boards. Sadly he didn't.

WHAT EXACTLY DID these players not get? Didn't they know that professional basketball is all about real estate? It's all about controlling tight spaces within the rectangular court. And which space is prime spot? You guessed it right, the area within 3 feet of the basket. If you shoot within that 3-feet arc, your chances are in the 80% percentile. If you roam the painted area and make all your attempts from it, your chances are still in the high 60%. Conversely, the farther you are from that area, the lousier your chances are.

What about the 3-point shot? What about it? In the hands of an artist, it's a beautiful thing to watch. But in the hands of an inept forward, it is pure torture. Many strive to be Reggie Miller and most of them fail. Why? Because it's an art, bobo. Not everyone can be an artist. Three-point shooting should be used sparingly at best. Teams should never used it as a primary offensive weapon.

So what should this team do in the off-season? I will address my answer to the brain-trust at Oklahoma:

1. Do not trade anyone away. This is a young team, yes, but it doesn't need tinkering with "veterans". By this time around next year they will have become young veterans themselves. Do not ruin their cohesion by bringing in a deadbeat like Rasheed Wallace with a massive contract to boot. Preserve the team.

2. Teach Footwork 101. Get every small and power forward to learn how to pivot on their heels. Footwork is an incalculable skill that should be chiseled into their young brain this summer. A beautiful footwork among your bigs not only increases their point-average but it also lessens their chances of injuries. Just look at the klutz Greg Oden who has no footwork whatsoever. Preserve your assets.

3. Run and run. Then run some more. By leaving everyone in the dust at every possession, your chances of making an uncontested lay-up or dunk improves immeasurably. Preserve your gains.

4. Lastly, send me a $50,000 checque for the advice. Preserve my wisdom.

BIG TROUBLE IN LA-LA LAND

AT A TIME when the Lakers ought to be thinking about their next opponent, they are now only thinking on how to survive the series against the upstart Oklahoma Thunder.

There are so many questions, so few answers.

Let's deal with the front court first. Andrew Bynum and Pau Gasol are both 7 footers while Lamar Odom is 6'10". With these three behemoths guarding the rim, it shouldn't be a problem swatting the ball from those pesky Okies, right? Wrong. Not only are the young gunners attacking the rim with reckless abandon. They are also blocking shots in the paint like shot-blocking will be outlawed next season.

So why are the Laker giants not getting it done?

Answer: On defense, they plod and are slow on the switch. On offense, the back-court players are throwing bricks from way out. With two reliable dunkers like Bynum and Gasol, the ball should be consistently played in the paint, right? Wrong again. Jordan Farmar, a guard who never sees a bad shot if it bites him, keeps on hoisting ill-considered 3s he puts Antoine Walker (remember 'Toine?) to shame. Not be outdone, Ron Artest (hired specifically to play defense), puts on a nauseating 12-for-40 streak beyond the arc. With the rock clanging off the rim with numbing regularity, the happy Okies are having a field day grabbing the rebounds. Since the Thunder are young turks (their average age is only 25) who love to sprint all night long — hell, they will run all year-long if allowed — the ensuing fastbreaks on the other end turn into a nightmare. Here both Bynum and Gasol are in agreement as to why they are not grabbing those loose balls. They can't. The ball is bouncing so far away from the rim that it's physically impossible for them to grab it. "Too many," Gasol ruefully shook his head when asked after Game 3, "too many jumpers."

Now let's peek under the hood on the Lakers back-court. We have the indefatigable Derek Fisher and The Man Himself, Kobe Bryant. Derek, to his credit, is a tireless no-nonsense player who is nothing but reliable in tight situations. But Derek is 35 and can no longer race sprints with the feisty Okies. Russell Westbrook and James Harden are literally running Fisher to the ground with constant movement. What about The Man? Kobe, sadly, has aged in the last several weeks. His shots are simply not there. With his drives to the basket perpetually blocked by a phalanx of active hands, Kobe has opted to go with his hero-making 3s. As of Game 4, he is 9-for-22 on the 3s and is clearly the culprit if Phil Jackson's heart suddenly seizes.

When all is said and done, the Lakers are not going to repeat this year. In the off-season last year, the brain trust decided to part with 24-yr old Trevor Ariza (who played a very important role in rebounds and points-in-the paint for their championship run that year) and sign on 30-yr old Ron Artest. Many Laker old-timers questioned the decision but Mitch Kupchak, the Lakers GM, ignored common sense and brought in Ron Artest. And upon such small things is the reason why dynasties inevitably crumble. Mitch thought they needed Ron's alleged defensive prowess. So far, Ron-ron has absolutely done nothing to stop the Kevin Durant juggernaut. In fact, he is a contributor as to why the Lakers are in the hole: he loves 3Js too much he is making Phil rethink his Zen philosophy of non-violence. §§§