Black Eight! Black Eight!

The Los Angeles Lakers' first-round opponent was the Oklahoma Thunder.

This matchup drew enormous attention from the outside world.

After all, the Thunder had been the team to end the Lakers' winning streak during the regular season.

Although the team's first, second, third, and even fourth options were all still on "rookie contracts," leaving the entire roster with virtually no playoff experience, some NBA experts and media outlets believed this young Thunder team could very well defeat the Los Angeles Lakers with their energy.

Of course...

Although many NBA commentators and basketball experts online were optimistic about the Thunder pulling off an eighth-seed upset miracle, the betting companies' odds did not lie.

The odds of the Thunder defeating the Los Angeles Lakers and advancing to the second round were 1:15.8.

The odds of the Lakers advancing were 1:1.04.

2009-2010 Playoffs, First Round.

Lakers vs. Thunder.

The two teams' starting lineups:

[Thunder]:

Russell Westbrook, Thabo Sefolosha, Kevin Durant, Jeff Green, and Serge Ibaka.

Ibaka had served as the team's backup big man for most of the regular season, but tonight, Thunder head coach Scott Brooks had placed him in the starting lineup.

It was a bold decision, but also a fairly reasonable one.

Before his Achilles injury, the Congolese powerhouse Serge Ibaka possessed elite athleticism for an interior player. Even as a reserve, he averaged 1.3 blocks per game. On top of that, Ibaka had a reliable mid-range jumper and could help create some spacing for the team.

Ibaka simply lacked the bulk to defend the low post effectively. However, this Thunder team was practically a "track-and-field squad," with starters who could soar through the air and cover ground everywhere, allowing them to provide help defense.

[Lakers]:

Rajon Rondo, Kobe Bryant, P. J. Tucker, Zhou Ze, and Marc Gasol.