Oklahoma City Thunder's James Harden, Derek Fisher looking to take emotion out of Los Angeles Lakers series – NBA Update
The Oklahoma City Thunder will face the Los Angeles Lakers in a second round tie of the Western Conference playoffs. The two teams are among the best in the business, but the series will also be made interesting because of the many subplots that will come
to a head in the matchup.
Derek Fisher and James Harden both have unfinished business with the Lakers and would be under the spotlight during the series. The players however have played down that narrative and claimed that they are focused on the task of defeating Los Angeles, and
don’t really think about what else could be going on.
Harden has a real bone to pick with Los Angeles, or in particular with Lakers forward Metta World Peace. In the last game between Lakers and OKC, James was knocked down by Metta, who hit him with an elbow to the head, and that too from behind.
The OKC player had to be taken out of the game and suffered a concussion that forced him to sit out another one. World Peace meanwhile was served with a 7 game suspension. The Lakers forward though has remained unrepentant, and even claimed in a TV show
that Harden was somehow responsible for the incident.
Not that the Thunder guard is fussed though. He has moved on and will be looking to focus on winning the series.
"My focus is going out there and doing whatever it takes to win," Harden said. "I'm not worried about him or what he has to say. We got four games to win in this series and that's what we're focused on."
Fisher meanwhile was unceremoniously dumped by the Lakers at the trade deadline this season. The point guard who has won five NBA World Championships with Los Angeles was traded away and Ramon Sessions brought in to take his place.
It has been suggested that Fisher could prove a decisive weapon against the Lakers owing to his extensive knowledge of the franchise and the team. The veteran though believes otherwise.
"I don't think there are any secrets to tell about their team," Fisher said. "I don't think Kobe [Bryant] is a secret. I don't think Pau Gasol is a secret. You don't need any insight to know how great those two guys are.… I don't know if there's anything
special that I need to tell our guys other than just embrace this moment “
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