The Los Angeles Lakers have dropped Game 1 of their second-round series against the Oklahoma City Thunder by a disconcerting score of 108-90. It was a more competitive game than the final score implies, but Los Angeles ultimately failed to close the gap and fell into an 0-1 hole.
If there's one silver lining to be found, however, it's that Rui Hachimura appears to be a matchup nightmare for the Thunder.
Hachimura is in the midst of what's shaping up to be his best postseason with the Lakers. He averaged 15.8 points per game on .543/.586/.500 shooting during Los Angeles' first-round series win over the Houston Rockets, dropping a vital 22 points to close the battle out in Game 6.
Unfortunately, though Hachimura has been a productive postseason player in the past, many were left wondering if the at times passive forward would assert himself against the Thunder.
Thankfully, Hachimura quickly put those concerns to rest with a big Game 1. He posted 18 points, two rebounds, two assists, one block, and a steal on 7-of-13 shooting from the field and a 3-of-6 mark from beyond the arc. Hachimura also played a game-high 37 minutes.
Hachimura may not be able to win the series on his own, but if he can consistently exploit mismatches when he's on offense, the Lakers could pull off an upset.
Rui Hachimura is the one player Thunder may not have an answer for
Hachimura has been steadily featured in Lakers lineups for the very reasons the Thunder may not have an answer for him. He has a prototypical combination of size, strength, athleticism, and skill that allows him to play the 3 and the 4 interchangeably.
For teams that are loaded up on guards or even just smaller wings, Hachimura's 6'8" and 230-pound frame can be overwhelming. For teams that throw traditional 4s at him, his quickness is a killer.
Compounded by the fact that Hachimura is an excellent jump shooter who can hurt teams from midrange and beyond the arc, he's a tough player to gameplan for. That's made even more difficult by the fact that he can comfortably play above the rim.
Unfortunately, there's one hurdle that even the Lakers know remains in front of them: Hachimura has been known to lose his assertiveness and fade into the background.
With this in mind, Hachimura has reached something of a turning point. If he allows his passive tendencies to take hold, then the Lakers will lose a potential advantage. If he makes his presence known, however, then the door could swing open for the stars to deliver an upset.
It's a high-pressure situation for Hachimura to find himself in, but with the Lakers' backs against the wall, they need him to prove he's ready for the moment.
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