<div align="center"> <font color="orange">The Phoenix Suns (54-28)</font> @ <font color="purple">The Los Angeles Lakers (45-37)</font> <font color="purple">Series tied, 1-1</font> Friday, April 28th, 2006 STAPLES Center 7:30 PM Pacific; ESPN </div> [div=50%] <font size="3">Projected Starters</font> <div align="center"><font color="orange"> <font size="1">(S. Nash, R. Bell, T. Thomas, S. Marion, B. Diaw)</font></font></div> <font size="1">Leading Scorer: Shawn Marion - 21.8 PPG Leading Rebounder: Shawn Marion - 11.8 RPG Assist Man: Steve Nash - 10.5 The Bench Man: LeAndro Barbosa (13.1 PPG, 32.8 APG, 2.6 RPG)</font> <font size="3">Backcourt</font> <font size="1">[imgl]http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/steve_nash.jpg[/imgl]<font color="orange">Steve Nash</font> PPG: 18.8, RPG: 4.2, APG: 10.5 Nash was the Suns primary offensive threat in game 2, and it didn't work out well for them. Nash needs to get other people involved earlier, instead of looking to score. Nash also had 10 turnovers, he can't have a repeat performance if PHX wants any chance of winning game 3 in Los Angeles.</font> <font size="1">[imgl]http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/raja_bell.jpg[/imgl]<font color="orange">Raja Bell</font> PPG: 14.7, RPG: 3.2, APG: 2.6 Raja Bell had a strong outing scoring 23 on over 50% from the field. His defense on Kobe wasn't good though. Raja got into foul trouble, adding on two more fouls at the end with two hard ones against Kobe. I think he pissed Kobe off, with those. Look for Bell to have the same type of game in this one. He's going to come out and try to contain Bryant. Raja needs to keep Bryant off of the class, as Kobe gathered 10 boards last game. </font> <font size="3">Frontcourt</font> <font size="1">[imgl]http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/tim_thomas.jpg[/imgl]<font color="orange">Tim Thomas</font> PPG: 10.3, RPG: 4.5, APG: 0.7 How did Thomas follow up his big game 1? With 11 points on 4/12 shooting. Thomas struggled last game, he missed some shots early and it went down from there. Like game 1, if PHX wants success against the Lakers, they need for Thomas to come in and be an offensive threat from the get go. Thomas has all the capabilities of making this series easy for PHX, he needs to utilize them.</font> <font size="1">[imgl]http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/shawn_marion.jpg[/imgl]<font color="orange">Shawn Marion</font> PPG: 21.8, RPG: 11.8, APG: 1.8 13 points on 5/15 shooting? Does Shawn Marion have a huge bet on the Lakers winning the series? I don't get it. Marion has been talked up all year for his defense and his versatility, but where is it? Lamar has handled him with relative ease. Marion needs to get his act together. Lamar is whipping him in the post, and it's killing Marion's energy level. I'm looking for Shawn to try and get going early in the first in this one, it could make or break the series.</font> <font size="1">[imgl]http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/boris_diaw.jpg[/imgl]<font color="orange">Boris Diaw</font> PPG: 13.3, RPG: 6.9, APG: 6.2 Diaw's still adjusting to life in the playoffs. He missed some wide open shots early, and it effected his confidence. He did recover to shoot 50%, but he wasn't effective in helping the Suns back. He's letting Kwame get whatever position he wants. Boris needs to step up his defense, especially in games 3 and 4 where L.A. will be riding their home crowd.</font> [/div] <font size="3">Projected Starters</font> <div align="center"><font color="purple"> <font size="1">(S. Parker, K. Bryant, L. Walton, L. Odom, K. Brown) </font></font></div> <font size="1">Leading Scorer: Kobe Bryant - 35.4 PPG Leading Rebounder: Lamar Odom - 9.2 RPG Assist Man: Lamar Odom - 5.5 APG The Bench Man: Brian Cook (7.9 PPG, 3.4 RPG, 1.9 APG)</font> <font size="3">Backcourt</font> <font size="1">[imgl]http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/smush_parker.jpg[/imgl]<font color="purple">Smush Parker</font> PPG: 11.5, RPG: 3.3, APG: 3.7 Smush had a quiet game 2, but it didn't hurt the Lakers. All we want from him is 11, 3, and 3. He can't guard Nash, he's not quick enough. He's a lot stronger than him, but he's not that effective in the paint. There's nothing really that Smush can do that will effect the outcome of the game unless he is continually aggressive.</font> <font size="1">[imgl]http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/kobe_bryant.jpg[/imgl]<font color="purple">Kobe Bryant</font> PPG: 35.4, RPG: 5.3, APG: 4.5 WOW. The dunk? Incredible. The game? Amazing. A repeat performance? Another victory. I'm looking for another balanced attack from Kobe, it sets the Lakers in the right mind frame to beat a run and gun team.</font> <font size="3">Frontcourt</font> <font size="1">[imgl]http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/luke_walton.jpg[/imgl]<font color="purple">Luke Walton</font> PPG: 5.0, RPG: 3.6, APG: 2.3 Walton struggled offensively, but his defensive game was on point. He took charges and altered shots all night long. He's becoming a very effective asset to the Lakers. In game 3, Walton should put up a repeat performance on defense. If he can add a little bit more to his offensive arsenal, the Lakers are in good shape.</font> <font size="1">[imgl]http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/lamar_odom.jpg[/imgl]<font color="purple">Lamar Odom</font> PPG: 14.8, RPG: 9.2, APG: 5.5 Lamar is quickly becoming the Lakers key offensive threat in this series. He's dominating Marion in the post and on defense. If Lamar keeps up this play and nullify's Marion, the Lakers should win the next two, possibly three games. Lamar has the potential to be Kobe's Pippen, he's starting to show it.</font> <font size="1">[imgl]http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/kwame_brown.jpg[/imgl]<font color="purple">Kwame Brown</font> PPG: 7.4, RPG: 6.6, APG: 1.0 Kwame's nervous. That's understandable. If he would've caught three passes that bounced off of his hands, he would've had 18 points last night. I'm not saying he didn't have a strong outing, becuase in the first half, he got everything going for us. I'm looking for Kwame to be exceptionally aggressive next game. He's getting the fans behind him, I think he wants to put them behind him for good.</font> <font size="3">Lakers Keys to the Game</font><ul>[*]<font color="purple">Control the Pace</font> - The Lakers started game 2 by feeding the post, this should be no different. It slowed down the game right from the start and put everything in the Lakers favor.[*]<font color="purple">Cut the Turnovers</font> - Even though we won game 2, we still had 17 turnovers, that's too many. A good team like PHX won't always squander the opportunity to capitalize on turnovers, in game 3, they might.[*]<font color="purple">The Black Mamba</font> - 29, 10, and 5? That was one hell of a balanced attack from Kobe, and it led to the Lakers playing their best basketball all season long. I'm looking for the same from Kobe, because it works. I'm thinking a couple less rebounds, and a couple mor assists, to go along with 28 points. His final statline? 28, 8, and 7.[/list]<font size="3">Prediction</font> Just as I said, the Lakers would win. They controlled the pace, and they have all the momentum in the series. I don't see anything different than the Lakers winning this one, taking the lead in the series. Lakers: 101, Suns: 95..
Yup. I was K8B, but with Kobe changing his number, I thought it was time for a name change. K24B doesn't have a nice ring to it, but I like KB24.
The Lakers will stick with this game plan, and it's up the Suns to adjust now. Forcing Nash to be a scorer and not a playmaker worked last night, because it broke the rhythm of the Suns and the team not including Nash only shot 37.7% from the field. The only reason the Suns didn't get blown out was the 18/18 free throw shooting and all the unforced turnovers the Lakers were committing. The lack of size is going to take it's toll on Marion and Diaw as the series goes on. Last night Marion was off his game and struggled to score and rebound. He wasn't playing at the high energy level he normally plays with. The Lakers are forcing the Suns to play defense for 20 seconds by slowing the game down and whipping the ball around. Without Amare and Kurt Thomas, there's a lot of pressure on Marion inside the paint. Last year in the playoffs, Marion struggled in the Spurs series because the size of San Antonio wore him down. In the series he had Amare out there with him, and Steven Hunter to help off the bench. The Lakers have to continue to keep Marion off balance and punish the Suns for playing him out of position. Phil Jackson yelled at Lamar to "TAKE OVER" twice in the huddle, and Odom responded. The Kobe and Nash matchup is getting all the media attention, but Odom outplaying Marion is the reason the Lakers have tied the series, and almost took the first two games in Phoenix. The Lakers should continue to control this series if Kwame and Odom play aggressive and attack the paint. Go Lakers!
The only way to beat the Suns in Game 3 on Friday is control the tempo like they did in Game 2. Phoneix isn't going to shoot that bad again. We have to contain Diaw and Marion like we did in Game 2. We also have to stay out of foul trouble, we need Luke out there on the court. Cut the turnovers to 8 or 9. And most importantly is the bench, Sasha, George, and Cook have to contribute.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting TheBlackMamba:</div><div class="quote_post">Yup. I was K8B, but with Kobe changing his number, I thought it was time for a name change. K24B doesn't have a nice ring to it, but I like KB24.</div> Now you avy is even sicker.
im not scared of the suns no more. there is absolutely no reason why we shouldnt win this game. all we need to do is stick with the game plan and get things done. i hope to god smush doesnt make all of his stupid mistakes again, because i swear, i almost broke my remote after they stole the ball from him and made that layup. anyways, if you really think about it, lakers should be leading the series 2-0
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Brian:</div><div class="quote_post">im not scared of the suns no more. there is absolutely no reason why we shouldnt win this game. all we need to do is stick with the game plan and get things done. i hope to god smush doesnt make all of his stupid mistakes again, because i swear, i almost broke my remote after they stole the ball from him and made that layup. anyways, if you really think about it, lakers should be leading the series 2-0</div> The Lakers should be most scared of the Suns, because now they have their backs against the wall. The Lakers had an 18 point lead at halftime and watched it evaporate in a hurry. In the 2nd half the Suns were able to run the ball the way they are accustomed to, and got themselves back in the game. This is a tough matchup for the Lakers, because they have to play close to perfect to win, the Suns don't. I have confidence in the Lakers winning this series still, but it's far from being over.
15 pt lead at halftime, but hey, who's counting? lol. I see Lakers winning both at home. Like shape said, Marion vs Odom is the real matchup, and most of the reason why we are punishing the suns as much as we are.
I wouldn't even call Marion/Odom a matchup. I'd call it a domination. Odom is wearing Marion out in the post when the Lakers have the ball, which renders him ineffective on offense.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting TheBlackMamba:</div><div class="quote_post">I wouldn't even call Marion/Odom a matchup. I'd call it a domination. Odom is wearing Marion out in the post when the Lakers have the ball, which renders him ineffective on offense.</div> Yeah, who would have thought Lamar Odom would be winning this matchup a few months ago? P.S. That was a quickass workout.
What I noticed is the Suns started making runs and fastbreaking when Lakers took bad shots, they have to be patient and not turn the ball over.
I'm not sure which game it will be, but I just have a feeling that the Suns will return the favor and win at least 1 out of the 3 Laker home games(assuming the series goes at least 6 games). Good luck the rest of the way! I definetely wouldn't be against Kobe with the way he has been playing lately. Great preview btw.
Honestly I think Jackson's coaching is beginning to really show itself as the determining factor in this series. Someone in the Game 2 thread mentioned that Phil might have sacrificed the first game to scout and make the appropriate adjustments for the rest of the series. If its true, that is pretty damn smart.
This is going to be such an important game for both teams in my opinion. I think whoever wins game 3 will win the series.
I hope the LA Lakers don't take the attitude that all their fans and the media are taking. If they come into the game cocky and thinking they have it all figured out, they will lose. I really hope that Kobe and the coaching staff have been pounding it into their young heads that the intensity is about to go up, and that PHX is going to come out GUNNING. If we can play the same game as last game and reduce turnovers however, this will easily be a 10+ pt win for the Lakers.
three hours until game time, we have to get out of the gates early and take the first quarter lead. like game 2 we established kwame early he had like 5 of our first 7 points. also like phil jackson said "take over lamar" lamar has beat up on shawn marion in game 3. we have to slow steve nash down and not let him have 15 points in the first quarter again. kobe will be kobe no need for explanation for that one. the bench has to outscore the suns bench again. we have to tune down our turnovers, we had too many and most importantly play defense
