Andrew Bynum will figure prominently in the Lakers' first round matchup
against the Thunder.
(Creative Commons)

After a grueling 82-game season, full of ups and downs, winning streaks and losing streaks, injuries and buzzer beaters, the playoffs have finally arrived.

And that means the time has come for the Los Angeles Lakers to begin their title defense.

While they finished with the third best record in the league at 57-25, the Lakers' season can only be considered average at best.They got out of the gates hot, winning 27 of their first 33 contests, including 11 straight. But since the All-Star break the Lakers have been borderline terrible, going 14-10 and losing four of their last six heading into the playoffs.

Yes, the Lakers have battled injuries all season long. But what team hasn't?

It's put up or shut up now.

First up on the Lakers' 16-game march (fingers crossed) to back-to-back NBA championships: the Oklahoma City Thunder (50-32), led by the "Durantula," Kevin Durant.

The Thunder's young core made them the league's most improved team--they won 27 more games than they did in 2008-09--and put them in the playoffs for the first time since 2005.

Let's take a look at how the Thunder match up against the defending champs.

Coach: This one is a no brainer. Phil Jackson has won a record 10 titles and coached in 300 playoff games --about 70 percent of which he has won. Thunder coach Scott Brooks has done a fantastic job grooming his team into one of the best up-and-coming squads around but he's no match for the Zen Master. Advantage: Lakers

Point Guard: The matchup at point guard is between one player in the twilight of his career and the other just starting out. Derek Fisher is the proud holder of four championship rings, which means he definitely has the advantage in the experience department. But he is also 35 years old and in his 13th NBA campaign, and it's beginning to show. That's where former-Bruin Russell Westbrook will be able to exploit the old veteran the most: with his speed. Westbrook has the quickness and the length to bother even a savvy ball handler like Fisher on the offensive end while burning the Lakers in the pick-and-roll on the other end. Advantage: Thunder

Shooting Guard: When you are matched against the best player in the league in Kobe Bryant, it's hardly fair. But Thabo Sefolosha has been a cornerstone in Oklahoma City's defense all season long and is one of the most improved defenders in the league. He will have to be masterful in this series if the Thunder want to have any chance of slowing down the Black Mamba. In the end, Kobe's rest-o-plenty at the end of the regular season will bring the spring back in his legs and the arc back in his jumper. He will be more aggressive than you have seen him all season long so look for Kobe to give Sefolosha the full repertoire. And let us not forget Kobe's also the best closer in the game. Advantage: Lakers

Small Forward: This, to me, is the most interesting matchup of all. Ron Artest is a proven all-world defender, and, at some points during the season, he looked like it. That said, Durant is the NBA's leading scorer and one of the best offensive players in the league. If Artest can find his defensive prowess of old he might be able to slow Durant down. But I think that's a tall order against the 30-PPG scorer.  Look for Durant to struggle in spurts, but to still score near his season average. Advantage: Thunder

Power Forward: The front court is really where the Lakers have a big advantage. Pau Gasol has more offensive moves than Carter has pills. He can take you down on the block and beat you with a spin move. And he can pull up from 15 feet and put one right between your eyes. Jeff Green is a nice young player who is averaging 15 points and six rebounds per game, but his hands will be full with the Spaniard. Gasol will exploit Green's lack of size in the paint--he should be a big part of the Lake Show's offense. Advantage: Lakers

Center: Both teams' centers are on the mend. Andrew Bynum recently practiced without pain for the first time since his Achilles injury about a month ago and is expected to play in the series. His counterpart, Nenad Krstic, who was held out of the final three regular season games with a bruised knee, is also expected to play. Bynum has the edge statistically, averaging nearly twice as many points per game as Krstic. He also has the advantage down low, outweighing the Oklahoma City big man by more than 40 pounds. Assuming he's healthy, Bynum's biggest impact will be as the last line of defense against the pick-and-roll. Advantage: Lakers

Bench: The Lakers look to be shorthanded on the bench for this opening round series, particularly at guard. Jordan Farmar and Sasha Vujacic were lost to injury in the final two regular season games and their statuses are up in the air. On the plus side for Los Angeles, Bynum is back, which means Lamar Odom can go back to being the versatile leader of the "Bench Mob." As for the Thunder, their best option off the pine is rookie James Harden, who averaged a solid 10 points and two assists per game. The Thunder have several other contributors, including Serge Ibaka, but the combination of Shannon Brown and Odom should nullify this matchup, shorthanded and all. Advantage: Push

Prediction: With Bynum back and feeling good, the Lakers will have all of their starters back for the first time in a month. Odom will give a big boost to the bench, which has shown signs of improvement after getting valuable minutes with all of the injuries down the stretch. Kobe and Durant will both do their things, but, in the end, the Lakers' power in the paint and experience across the roster should be more than enough to send the Thunder home packing.
Lakers Win Series, 4-1