TNT Anchor Stresses Better Start for Thunder

Originally Published: Apr 20, 2010 4:49 PM CDT

Stephany Speck
Oklahoma Sports Staff Writer

LOS ANGELES -- TNT sportscaster Craig Sager was at the Oklahoma City Thunder shoot-around Tuesday and talked to Oklahoma Sports Sports Director Dean Blevins about what changes the young team needs to make heading into Game Two.

The Thunder fell to the Lakers Sunday night, but put up a good fight in the third and fourth quarters. Oklahoma City struggled offensively in the first quarter, shooting only 26.3 percent. Kevin Durant, the league’s leading scorer, was held to only 10 points by halftime.

Despite its struggles in the first game, Sager said the young team could beat the reigning champions.

“I think they can, there’s no doubt in my mind,” Sager said. “I don’t think the Lakers are intimidating anymore. I think they’re banged up, injured.”

Los Angeles’ Kobe Bryant is still recovering from an injury to his shooting hand, and is constantly dealing with aches and pains in his knees. The 13-year veteran moved significantly slower in the second half of the game, scoring only seven points in the third and fourth quarters combined.

Sager told Blevins the Thunder played great defensively against a much larger Laker team.

“Oklahoma City played great,” Sager said. “They held the Lakers to 41 percent shooting and under 90 points.

“It would have helped if they made a few more shots.”

Sager also stressed the need for James Harden to produce more offensively. Harden averages 9.9 points per game, but went scoreless in Sunday’s game.

The Thunder tip off against the Lakers in the Staples Center at 9:30 p.m.

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