Welcome To The 2010 NBA Playoffs!

Oklahoma City is now just one day away from experiencing its first encounter with playoff basketball.

The Thunder held its final practice this morning at its practice facility in North Oklahoma City and will travel to Los Angeles this afternoon. Tip-off is set for 2 p.m. CT on Sunday, and Game 1 will be televised nationally on ABC.

In the final hours leading up to the start of the series, Oklahoma fans have gone ga-ga. First, Thunder heads snatched up nearly 4,000 tickets for Games 3 and 4 in 25 minutes Friday morning. Then, later that evening, approximately 3,000 fans braved the rain for the team’s FanFest event in Bricktown.

It’s safe to say Oklahoma City is ready.

But is the Thunder ready?

That’s the largest question in a series filled with them.

We’ve done everything we’ve possibly could to address as many of the pressing issues that surround this showdown. So if you’re not already primed for what to expect over the next four to seven games, you’ve come to the right place. Here’s everything you need to get ready for this magnificent matchup that mixes the stately Lakers and the upstart Thunder.

Local links

• If you’re just now catching Thunder fever, we’ve got the perfect thing for you. Start by checking out our Thunder Bandwagon page for your crash course on Thunder basketball.

• Berry Tramel provides a look at the three men who have been instrumental in bringing the Thunder to this point. In part one of this three-part series, Tramel examines Sam Presti’s decision to hire Scott Brooks. And in part two of this series, Berry gets into what The Thunder saw in Westbrook during his early days. Look for part three on Sunday to read about why Clay Bennett chose Sam Presti to become the youngest GM in the league back in 2007.

• And if you have a chance to pick up a paper today, do yourselves a favor and fork over the 75 cents. We’ve got all kinds of good stuff in a 12-page special section to preview the Thunder’s inaugural playoffs. I wrote about whether Kevin Durant can be as effective against playoff defenses. Mike Baldwin and Mike Sherman breakdown the reasons why the Thunder can and cannot beat L.A. Jenni Carlson lays down a challenge to the Ford Center faithful to turn a good regular-season atmosphere into a great playoff atmosphere. Tramel says we won’t see the young Thunder will buck history. And John Rohde weighs in with a look at just how hard it is to be an NBA Cinderella.

• Our staff also answers some pressing questions in a roundtable.

• Baldwin delves into the biggest question for the Lakers. Are they vulnerable?

• I broke down a few key points with the L.A. Times in the clip below.