Lakers chances with the Suns in playoffs....

Discussion in 'Los Angeles Lakers' started by Yournewchef, Apr 5, 2006.

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  1. The One & Only

    The One & Only JBB The Orlando Tragic

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    Well its official now. Lakers dropped to 8th seed. If they go back to 7th and play Phoenix I can think we got it. All the Lakers have to do is shut down Nash. The Suns shoot ALOT of threes and if the Lakers can shut down anything going in and out of three land we got it. Phoenix is a offensive team, thats it. They have practically 0 inside presence or defense. They just outscore the hell out of opponents.
     
    The One & Only, Apr 8, 2006
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  2. Shapecity

    Shapecity S2/JBB Teamster Staff Member Administrator

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    The Lakers tried out some new strategies last night, but the players weren't executing the game plan. Last night the Lakers wanted Nash to shoot more instead of getting all the other Sun players involved.

    Unfortunately, the Lakers were not getting back in transition defense and they were struggling to find their man on the fastbreak. This lead to wide open jumpshots and point blank layups.

    The game plan really fell apart because Kwame wasn't able to take advantage of Diaw or Marion in the post. He was getting great position, but couldn't finish anything down low. Every time Kwame missed his defender released on the fast break and Kwame wasn't able to get back on transition defense.

    The strategy makes sense, but next time Odom should be the primary player in the post. He's better offensively down low, and has the same size advantage Kwame has in the paint.

    Once Kwame was benched for being ineffective, the Lakers were forced to play small ball. Once you commit to trying to play small ball against Phoenix, you're not going to win.
     
    Shapecity, Apr 8, 2006
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  3. Really Lost One

    Really Lost One Suspended

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    is it just me? or am i the only one that would rather play SA in the playoffs? at this rate, i dont think the lakers will get any wins against the suns. they are 0-3 against them this season, and blown out on every loss from as far as i can remember. with SA, at least we have won once, and there was another game where we could have actually won. i just dont think we can stop the suns offense. face it, lakers D isnt that good. with SA, we can count on kwame to stop duncan and go from there. on the suns, everyone is lethal on the offensive end. i just dont think we can stop them
     
    Really Lost One, Apr 8, 2006
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  4. The One & Only

    The One & Only JBB The Orlando Tragic

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    <div class="quote_poster">Quoting phiLA:</div><div class="quote_post">is it just me? or am i the only one that would rather play SA in the playoffs? at this rate, i dont think the lakers will get any wins against the suns. they are 0-3 against them this season, and blown out on every loss from as far as i can remember. with SA, at least we have won once, and there was another game where we could have actually won. i just dont think we can stop the suns offense. face it, lakers D isnt that good. with SA, we can count on kwame to stop duncan and go from there. on the suns, everyone is lethal on the offensive end. i just dont think we can stop them</div>

    Lakers weren't blown out last night. Also I would want to go against the one we lost so many times because it would work in our favor. If the Laker would switch up their gameplan, it would fool them. It also gives us time to understand them better and get potential wins.
     
    The One & Only, Apr 8, 2006
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  5. Shapecity

    Shapecity S2/JBB Teamster Staff Member Administrator

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    <div class="quote_poster">Quoting phiLA:</div><div class="quote_post">is it just me? or am i the only one that would rather play SA in the playoffs? at this rate, i dont think the lakers will get any wins against the suns. they are 0-3 against them this season, and blown out on every loss from as far as i can remember. with SA, at least we have won once, and there was another game where we could have actually won. i just dont think we can stop the suns offense. face it, lakers D isnt that good. with SA, we can count on kwame to stop duncan and go from there. on the suns, everyone is lethal on the offensive end. i just dont think we can stop them</div>
    Keep in mind, every single game against the Suns this year was coming off a back to back for us. In the playoffs the coaching staff will have more time to prepare for Phoenix and zero in on their weaknesses.

    The Spurs are battle tested and the defending champs. Their ability to hold you from scoring down the stretch makes them difficult to beat in the post season.

    Phoenix on the other hand, will let teams back in the game because they are soft on the inside. I'd much rather face the Suns than San Antonio in the post season, especially with Mihm being a question mark.

    Playing Odom in the post against Phoenix is going to make a world of difference for the Lakers. He just needs to be relentless down low and punish the Suns for having smaller defenders on him. 80% of the Lakers baskets should be inside the paint. Phoenix kills you when you try to beat them from the perimeter, because it leads to long rebounds and let's them get off and running.

    Pound the ball inside to Odom and Kobe, to score easy baskets to help set up the defense.
     
    Shapecity, Apr 8, 2006
    #25
  6. Really Lost One

    Really Lost One Suspended

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    good points shape. SA is battle tested and are the defending champs. plus they have tons of vets that have been there and done that. you also made a good point about us playing phoenix back to back. i was just basically looking at our record from the regular season and basing it on that.
     
    Really Lost One, Apr 8, 2006
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  7. Laker_fan

    Laker_fan JBB JustBBall Member

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    I'm gald we lost. Our chances of making the 6th spot were low and after the Denver loss, they were over. That left us with a huge probability of playing the Suns in the playoff's. I think it's great that we lost because in the playoff's, we'll definatly go in as the underdogs. This means that the Suns will be a little bit complaicent towards us. If we had beaten them, and then beaten them again, revenge will be on their minds and they would put 110% into the first round games. This way, we walk in with revenge on our minds and complaicency on their minds. I hope we win the rest of our games but get swept by the Suns in the regular season.
     
    Laker_fan, Apr 8, 2006
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  8. bbwtrench

    bbwtrench BBW Member

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    Why would you want to get swept by the suns. Any real Laker fan would want to see their team win. Realistically, I think the Lakers have a a slim chance at getting past the first round against the suns, but Kobe is Kobe. Playoff mode and its on. The pendulum will swing in the Lakers favor if Odom can continue to play like he did against the Clippers and Kwame can put up some nice numbers. If the Lakers can control the tempo of the game, with Kurt Thomas and Amare out, anything can happen. This is the NBA BABY!
     
    bbwtrench, Apr 10, 2006
    #28
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