<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">LOS ANGELES ? ABC has cleared a prime Sunday slot for this series opener, and it's not just the Lakers' national popularity or the Phoenix Suns' exciting style that makes this an intriguing first-round playoff: Lamar Odom vs. Shawn Marion: Lakers coach Phil Jackson is starting Luke Walton to match up Odom with Marion, who has become recognized as just the kind of all-around "glue" player that Odom is supposed to be. Odom vs. Jerry Colangelo: Unlike Marion, Odom was initially left off the new Team USA roster by Suns chairman Colangelo. Odom was added only after Seattle's Rashard Lewis pulled out. Odom vs. Boris Diaw: Odom is supposed to be the next Scottie Pippen, and when asked about that back in December, Jackson did acknowledge: "Lamar reminds me a lot of Scottie." But then Jackson suggested Diaw is the player "very similar to Scottie." Kwame Brown vs. Diaw: Thrust into the role of 6-foot-8, 215-pound center, Diaw will start out guarding the 6-11, 250-pound Brown, who has emerged as the Lakers' key power player. Brown vs. Brian Grant: Grant is the lone Sun who weighs more than 250 pounds. Aaron McKie vs. Grant: Which weak-kneed, luxury-tax-cut salvation will make the key veteran contributions? The Lakers are paying Grant almost $30million this season and next not to play for them. McKie and Sasha Vujacic vs. Leandro Barbosa and Eddie House: Even before McKie hurt his knee, he was left in the dust by Phoenix's younger, faster guards Nov.3. When they did it again April7, it left Jackson lamenting his inadequate guard personnel. Smush Parker vs. Barbosa and House: Parker got two 10-day contracts from Phoenix last season as a long audition, but the Suns preferred Barbosa and then added House as a free agent. Parker vs. Steve Nash: So Parker has some inside info on Nash from that stint as his teammate, and he surprised Nash with a couple of steals in their first meeting this season. But Jackson's frustration with Parker's mistakes and pouting has been the rare discord during the Lakers' late-season success. Kobe Bryant vs. Nash: This series featuring two NBA MVP candidates will be a test in many eyes whether Bryant can make his teammates better as well as Nash can. Bryant vs. Raja Bell: Bryant says he respects the Sun who'll usually guard him solo this series, but Bryant said two weeks ago about Bell: "I've got bigger fish to fry. Raja Bell? Are you kidding me?"</div> Source
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Trench:</div><div class="quote_post">Raja Bell? Are you kidding me? LMAO</div>
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting K8B:</div><div class="quote_post">I don't know why you guys are laughing? Raja Bell is a tough defender.</div> exactly. dont take raja so lightly. he is a tough defender and has the ability to pesky around kobe. but still, i doubt he will be able to do anything huge on the defensive end. raja will just be like an annoying fly to kobe
