Personally I think the Lakers will win game 2. If the Lakers put the same effort in the 1st half for all 48 minutes in game 2 they will win. What do you guys think.
It's not over, the Suns still need to win 3 more games. Hopefully we'll just continue to play hard so we can steal a game or two.
It's not over if the Lakers continue to slow the game down, while giving the ball to the post (Odom and Luke) in the offense. People also have to start moving in the offense when Bryant has the ball.
Is it over? Hell No!!! They've only won one game, 3 more to go. I'm still pretty confident about our chances, because we were still able to compete with them in game 1.
I felt we should have won game 1. We controlled the whole game till the end of the 3rd, and we just died in the 4th. The Suns are probably not going to play as sloppy this game, they missed many open shots, i really hope they miss again. But, if they hit the shots, we are probably going to lose game 2.. I really hope we could win game 2, then win 2 at home and try to close it out in game 6. Lol, i could still dream. Right?
We had a good chance of winning game 1. Bryant needs to realize that it will take 5 players to beat Phoenix not 1. He did it again, trying to beat a team by himself. I agree with Bahir, we need to use Lamar and Luke more often in the post. We need better production from the bench. Like Barkley said, we have to play a perfect game to beat Phoenix, they?re that good. If we can play good team basketball for 48 minutes, we do have a chance of making this an interesting series. It all depends on us. I love Bryant but this guy do have a hard time sharing the ball, it?s mind boggling. Passing the ball to a teammate shouldn?t be that hard. We all play organized basketball in some point of our lives. I don?t understand really I don?t. He is such a deadly scorer that sometimes it backfires against him, this is one of those time.
<div class="quote_poster">yodawgsup Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">I'll be the first to say it. I think we're done.</div> Giving up already aren't we? I don't expect us to win the series by any means, but as long as we play our hardest and play our hearts out, I'm fine with it. Personally, I feel that we'll be able to steal a game or two. There's no way we're going to get sweeped in four as long as we continue to keep it close, which we've done basically the whole entire season.
<div class="quote_poster">Brian Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Giving up already aren't we? I don't expect us to win the series by any means, but as long as we play our hardest and play our hearts out, I'm fine with it. Personally, I feel that we'll be able to steal a game or two. There's no way we're going to get sweeped in four as long as we continue to keep it close, which we've done basically the whole entire season.</div> Yeah, I meant there's no way we would win the series. We might be able to squeak out a victory in a game or two, but that's it. Yesterday's game was ours for the taking and we didn't capitalize, and I don't think the Suns will make it so easy for us from now on.
<div class="quote_poster">yodawgsup Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Yeah, I meant there's no way we would win the series. We might be able to squeak out a victory in a game or two, but that's it. Yesterday's game was ours for the taking and we didn't capitalize, and I don't think the Suns will make it so easy for us from now on.</div> see what i mean even yodawgsup didn't think the suns worked their a**es off, and everyone complains on me.
The Suns D is what stopped you guys, giving up only 10 points in the 4th quarter. Suns only allowed 5 shots in the paint and held the Lakers to 19% shooting in the 4th. Furthermore the only allowed two fouls and 3 offensive rebounds on all those missed shots. (Lakers 4 for 21) It is not like last year where the Lakers looked great throughout and lost it at the end. This game looked like a one man show that simply ran out of gas not a well oiled team. The impact of our bigs has been felt, the Lakers shot 16 jumpers in that final quarter and missed every single one. The Suns forced the Lakers to shoot jump shots and the D was sweltering in that 4th. Bryant had no easy looks.
<div class="quote_poster">*Scotch Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">The Suns D is what stopped you guys, giving up only 10 points in the 4th quarter. Suns only allowed 5 shots in the paint and held the Lakers to 19% shooting in the 4th. Furthermore the only allowed two fouls and 3 offensive rebounds on all those missed shots. (Lakers 4 for 21) It is not like last year where the Lakers looked great throughout and lost it at the end. This game looked like a one man show that simply ran out of gas not a well oiled team. The impact of our bigs has been felt, the Lakers shot 16 jumpers in that final quarter and missed every single one. The Suns forced the Lakers to shoot jump shots and the D was sweltering in that 4th. Bryant had no easy looks.</div> We also had no answer for Barbosa on defense....
<div class="quote_poster">yodawgsup Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Yeah, I meant there's no way we would win the series. We might be able to squeak out a victory in a game or two, but that's it. Yesterday's game was ours for the taking and we didn't capitalize, and I don't think the Suns will make it so easy for us from now on.</div> This is what he said... ^ <div class="quote_poster">NewYorkBalla33 Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">see what i mean even yodawgsup didn't think the suns worked their a**es off, and everyone complains on me.</div> I do not think he said anything about the Suns not trying. On contrare, he said, "I don't think the Suns will make it so easy for us."
I don't think it's over by any means. We had control of the game until about 3 minutes left in the 3rd, and then it all just fell apart when Barbosa lit up Smush in that short time span. I think we still have a great shot at taking this series, it's just a matter of keeping control of the game. It's pretty simple that when we control the tempo and make them play to our pace is when we win, and that was showcased Sunday. When we were controlling the tempo, we were playing well and they were playing poorly. We were forcing them into a lot of jumpers and not allowing penetration. However, once Smush started defending Barbosa is when the wheels fell off. I think that if we could have kept him in check, we could have easily won that game. Really, we did everything right for the most part, outside of a defensive lapse in the 4th. All we have to do is control the tempo and force them into jumpers, which we showed we can do on Sunday, now we just need to do it for a full 48 minutes.
<div class="quote_poster">Moo2K4 Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">I don't think it's over by any means. We had control of the game until about 3 minutes left in the 3rd, and then it all just fell apart when Barbosa lit up Smush in that short time span. I think we still have a great shot at taking this series, it's just a matter of keeping control of the game. It's pretty simple that when we control the tempo and make them play to our pace is when we win, and that was showcased Sunday. When we were controlling the tempo, we were playing well and they were playing poorly. We were forcing them into a lot of jumpers and not allowing penetration. However, once Smush started defending Barbosa is when the wheels fell off. I think that if we could have kept him in check, we could have easily won that game. Really, we did everything right for the most part, outside of a defensive lapse in the 4th. All we have to do is control the tempo and force them into jumpers, which we showed we can do on Sunday, now we just need to do it for a full 48 minutes.</div> Making the Suns a jump shooting team is not the way to beat us. San Antonio has the best defense against the Suns and that is for one reason, they take away the three point line and the open jump shots. The Suns game is penetrate and dish either to Amare in the two man game or a wide open three on the perimeter. Sure the Lakers made the Suns shoot jump shots in the first-- the Suns were 4-14 on jump shots only. But in the thrid when it supposedly fell apart for the Lakers the Suns took 17 jump shots, but here is the difference they made 9 of them, better that 50%. The reason Barbosa makes this team great is because his penetration opens up the outside. The way to beat the suns is to take away the three because without a quick fire from three half of the suns possessions are slowed down into the two-man game with Amare and Nash, which in turns slows down the entire game. When the J's fall the game speeds up and the other team feels like they need to start scoring or they will fall behind and they can't help but increase tempo.
I completely disagree with you. The Suns biggest offense is getting the open look, and what I'm saying by making them a jumpshooting team is denying the open look and not allowing the penetration. The Suns are a great shooting team, but that percentage is so high because of the open looks that team gets. If you force them to shoot jump shots that typically means you're playing good defense and they're getting contested anyways. Personally, I'd much rather turn the Suns into a jump shooting team as opposed to allowing them to get to the hoop. So, if you really want to go there, this is what I meant when I said make them a jump shooting team. Essentially, it's this. You need to cut off penetration lanes to the hoop, by doing that, you don't allow Nash to do what he's best at, and that's penetrating, drawing the double, and kicking out to the open jump shooter. They have to play solid defense for the full 24 seconds, again, cutting off lanes, not allowing cutters, and denying the post feed. This is essentially what they were doing for 30 minutes. They were forcing the Suns to eat up the shot clock trying to get a good look, and then preventing the good look from ever getting there, forcing them into a contested jump shot. That's what they were doing, and that's what I said they needed to do.
Sorry Mook, what you said just reminded me of something, and I just have to post it (so I'm going OT for the moment): <div><object width="425" height="350"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/cAYDiPizDIs&"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/cAYDiPizDIs&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="350" /></embed></object></div> Edit: youtube video not showing up for me, so here is the link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cAYDiPizDIs Back to topic: I think the Suns good shooting percentage stems from them getting layups off fastbreaks, and open shots from fast breaks and pick 'n roll/pick 'n pop play. If the Lakers can defend one on one well, and not give too much help D too early (leaving shooters out on the perimiter), I think we can make them take contested shots, which should lower their shooting percentage.
<div class="quote_poster">*Scotch Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Making the Suns a jump shooting team is not the way to beat us. San Antonio has the best defense against the Suns and that is for one reason, they take away the three point line and the open jump shots. The Suns game is penetrate and dish either to Amare in the two man game or a wide open three on the perimeter.</div> Did I not say that the best defense against the Suns is taking away the open jump shot? Two years ago when San Antonio beat us Amare had a monster series. That is because they let him get his, but pressured the perimeter. How do you totally disagree with me MOO2K4 if you came to the same conclusions. Maybe you just misread, no prob.
Hell No Im not giving up but I'm sick and tired of all these espn and tnt guys that think we're out look at Dallas and San Antonio they lost their first game. If the Lakers play for 48 minutes they will come out for a win. Kobe will not let his team loose!
