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Sunday vs. Oklahoma City Thunder
Do the Lakers look like a team ready to take on the best in the league?
The Thunder are explosive offensively. Can Bryant slow Russell Westbrook?
Oklahoma City can put Kevin Martin in the backcourt with Westbrook (along with Kevin Durant at small forward), making Steve Nash a defensive liability.
On the other end, Kendrick Perkins, Serge Ibaka and Nick Collison are formidable defenders against Howard and Gasol.
A Lakers win would be a leap into respectability, but victory seems unlikely.
Prediction: Thunder
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Email Eric Pincus at eric.pincus@gmail.com and follow him on Twitter @EricPincus.