Sometimes, teams that are in the upper echelon of the league need a wake-up call to get them motivated. 

Unfortunately for the Utah Jazz, it was the Oklahoma City Thunder who sounded the alarm for the NBA champion Los Angeles Lakers.

The Jazz were overcome by the Lakers last night, 111-96, making L.A. the third team to sweep their conference semifinal opponent.  The Lakers were able to stay focused and provide a consistent effort in each game of the series against Utah.  While Los Angeles wasn’t playing clamp-down defense, glimpses of their championship defense did show up.  Meanwhile, their offense was efficient - and in Games 2-4, L.A. put up 111 points in each contest.

Phil Jackson and his troops are now on track to achieve their ultimate goal: a second straight NBA title.  But just how did they get on track, you night ask?

MVP runner-up Kevin Durant and the Thunder exploded onto the scene this year.  After a slow start to the season, Scott Brooks had his group gelling and they finished the regular season at 50-32.  The youngsters were listed on everyone’s (including mine) list of teams that were capable of pulling off an upset in the first round.  But there was one huge problem.

Their first round opponent was the Los Angeles Lakers.

Missing two key players for almost all of the series, the Jazz were simply overpowered by the Lakers.

The Thunder had to be thinking, ‘what a way to break into the playoffs.’  But they didn’t show it.  After an anticipated Game 1 loss and a close-but-no-cigar effort in Game 2 at Staples, Oklahoma City came out thundering at home.  They beat the champs in a neck-and-neck contest in Game 3.  And then there was Game 4.

If L.A. goes on to win the title this year, it could be because of Game 4 against the Thunder.  From the opening tip, the Lakers were absolutely shredded by OKC.  The Thunder got to the free throw line 48 times that night.  They were hungry.  The final damage: 110-89.  An embarrassing loss for any team that had a goal of winning a championship.

Since that game, the Lakers have reeled off six straight victories. 

On Monday, they’ll battle the Phoenix Suns – a team that virtually no one had picked to make it to the NBA’s version of the Final Four.  But they were starving for respect…

It remains to be seen as to whether Kobe Bryant and the Lakers still have their appetite for success.

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