The Los Angeles Lakers will look to avoid a sweep on Monday night at home against the Oklahoma City Thunder, and LA has the type of leader required to pull off the impossible. But a Game 4 win for the Lakers will come down to more than just containing Shai Gilgeous-Alexander or having LeBron James explode for a big scoring night.
To win Game 4, the Lakers will have to reverse a terrible trend so far in this series: their losing play in the third quarter.
Lakers must improve third-quarter play in Game 4 against Thunder
In Game 1, the Lakers were outscored 23-19 in the third quarter, but things were worse in the next two games. In Game 2, the Lakers were thrashed 36-22 in the third, and in Game 3, 33-20. All in all, LA has been outscored by a combined 31 points in the third quarter this series.
The relentless energy of OKC's defense seems to wreak havoc on the Lakers coming out of halftime, and it will be up to head coach JJ Redick and his staff to ensure that LA comes out with equal or superior energy to the Thunder at the start of the second half of Game 4.
With their backs against the wall and their season on the edge, the Lakers have absolutely no reason to conserve any energy at this point. We should expect guys like Marcus Smart to be diving everywhere, and for Luke Kennard to be launching every near-open look that he can get his feet set for.
In a way, the circumstances should have the Lakers playing a freer brand of offensive basketball, considering their season is just about dead. And LA is due for a big offensive game. While the Lakers have played pretty well throughout this series defensively, it's been their offense (or OKC's defense, depending on how you look at it) that's doomed them.
Lakers should focus on starting and ending every quarter strong in Game 4
Starting and ending quarters strong is a hallmark of any winning team, but the Lakers should zero in on this goal in Game 4, especially as the Thunder will be looking to deliver knockout-punch-type sequences, like end-of-quarter scoring flurries and other moments that can deflate a team and its arena.
LA needs to focus on quelling any big runs from OKC, all while gaining an edge in some realm of the game, whether that be on the glass or at the free-throw line. The Lakers, more than they've done all season long, should look to assert their physicality in Game 4 and see what happens. And absolutely do not get outworked or out-hustled in the third quarter!
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