Game 3: Phoenix Suns @ Los Angeles Lakers

<span style="font-size:18pt;line-height:100%">Game 3</span>April 26, 2007 on 10:30 PM EST7:30 PM PSTPhoenix leads the series 2-0 PG: Jordan Farmar - 4.4 PPG, 1.9 APG, 1.7 RPG, .61 SPGSG: Kobe Bryant - 31.6 PPG, 5.4 APG, 5.7 RPG, 1.44 SPGSF: Luke Walton - 11.4 PPG, 4.3 APG, 5.0 RPG, 1.00 SPGPF: Lamar Odom - 15.9 PPG, 4.8 APG, 9.8 RPG, .95 SPGC: Kwame Brown - 8.4 PPG, 1.8 APG, 6.0 RPG, 1.2 BPG PG: Steve Nash - 18.6 PPG, 11.6 APG, 3.5 RPG, 0.75 SPGSG: Raja Bell - 14.7 PPG, 2.5 APG, 3.2 RPG, 0.64 SPGSF: James Jones - 6.4 PPG, 0.6 APG, 2.3 RPG, 0.55 BPGPF: Shawn Marion - 17.5 PPG, 1.7 APG, 9.8 RPG, 1.95 SPG, 1.53 BPGC: Amare Stoudemire - 24.0 PPG, 1.0 APG, 9.6 RPG, 1.34 BPG<u>Los Angeles Key Players Off Bench</u>Maurice Evans - 8.4 PPG, 1.0 APG, 2.9 RPG, 0.5 SPGRonny Turiaf - 5.3 PPG, 0.9 APG, 3.6 RPG, 0.9 SPGVladimir Radmanovic - 6.6 PPG, 1.2 APG, 3.3 RPGBrian Cook - 6.9 PPG, 1.0 APG, 3.3 RPGAndrew Bynum - 7.8 PPG, 1.1 APG, 5.9 RPG, 1.56 BPG<u>Phoenix Key Players Off Bench</u>Leandro Barbosa - 18.1 PPG, 4.0 APG, 2.7 RPG, 1.2 SPGBoris Diaw - 9.7 PPG, 4.8 APG, 4.3 RPGKurt Thomas - 4.6 PPG, 0.4 APG, 5.7 RPG<u>Key Matchup</u>May 3, 2006. Phoenix Suns vs Los Angeles Lakers. NBA Playoffs. Game 6. This is what it's all about. Raja Bell commits a very hard foul on Kobe Bryant grabbing him by the neck and throwing him onto the floor. Ejection. Suspension. A new rivalry is born. After this, I think Kobe Bryant really wants redemption on Raja Bell and the Phoenix Suns. This matchup is going to be key because not only is Kobe going to have to step up on the offensive end but Raja Bell is going to have to contain him and not make any stupid fouls taking himself out of the game and forcing one of the bench players to play Kobe, the most explosive scorer in the NBA. This matchup will not only be key in Game-1 but through the entire series. Can Kobe get hot and can he be stopped? That's the question.<u>Los Angeles X-Factor</u>Lamar OdomLamar really needs to be aggressive offensively. He's going to most likely be defended by one of the best defenders in the league, Shawn Marion. He needs to take advantage of the height advantage he has on Marion (Nearly 3 inches) and be aggressive like he was last year. He needs to be efficiant and make most of his shots, to take the pressure off of Kobe.<u>Phoenix X-Factor</u>Raja BellRaja needs to play very tough defense on Kobe and get in his face. He needs to limit Kobe's shots and make him hit tough shots. If Kobe shoots less than 40% because of the amount of shots he takes, the Suns are able to win this game with their fast paced offense. Bell just needs to contain Kobe because Kobe can't be stopped but he can be contained.<u>Los Angeles Injuries</u>Kobe Bryant (ankle) - Should definitely play in game 3 and the rest of the series.<u>Phoenix Suns Injuries</u>None------------------------------------------------------------Game 2 Recap - Suns 126 - Lakers 98This was a great win by the Suns. It was a incredible balanced attack and it really left the Lakers in shock at how incredible and versatile the Suns offense really is. Like last game, Leandro Barbosa (26 points) was a huge part of this victory as well as Steve Nash (16 points, 14 assists). Amare Stoudemire (20 points, 9 rebounds) and Shawn Marion (18 points, 10 rebounds) were getting what seemed like alley-oop after alley-oop from Nash. It was entertaining. Kobe Bryant really had a bad game, only scoring 15 points on 5-13 shooting. It also didn't help that nobody else on his team was able to take on the scoring when the Lakers needed them. He got his ankle tied up with Barbosa and had to leave the game early. The injury wasn't serious and he'll definitely be back for the rest of the series, but I think he was just trying to be on the safe side and because LA was losing by 30. The Lakers just never really got it going and were a victim of the Suns high-powered offense. Andrew Bynum was pretty solid off the bench, grabbing 12 rebounds though. Lamar Odom had a solid 10-10 double double. But the Suns got the upper hand in this game and now in the series, forcing the Lakers to need to take 3 straight games, which is a tough feat. This was a very tough loss to stomach for the Lakers who will want to come out strong at home. I just don't know if this team was mentally prepared for the playoffs and I don't think there is enough talent on Los Angeles to even up the series and I could see this ending in 4 or 5 games if LA doesn't step it up. If Kobe can get hot though and carry his team I could see LA taking all of their home games, losing to Phoenix in game 5 and forcing a game 7, which even if they don't win would hurt Phoenix in the long run. Game 3 should be interesting.<u>Next 3 Games</u> Game 4: Sun., Apr. 29 @ LAL, 3:30, ABC Game 5: Wed., May 2 @ PHX, TBD**Game 6: Fri., May 4 @ LAL, TBD**** - if neccessaryThoughts and predictions on the game and series?

 

Well, it sure as hell can't get any worse than game 2, right?

 

Exactly lolI wanna see the Lakers tie the series and at least make it competitiveIt seems like they aren't TRYING to win

 

Sure doesn't, not that they would quit, I don't believe that but, something isn't right. Something's in their heads.

 

Please win Lakers thats all I have to say and actually play some defense.

 

Bring out the brooms

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Suns Fan Guy @ Apr 26 2007, 07:36 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Bring out the brooms </div>Why? It's game 3 dude, we have 1 more to go.

 

actually 2 more to go..Phoenix will not win tonight

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (playaofthegame @ Apr 26 2007, 03:10 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>actually 2 more to go..Phoenix will not win tonight</div> It'll be another blow-out. I'll go ahead and make that prediction because it's more fun this way. The Lakers are just a terrible team right now.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (playaofthegame @ Apr 26 2007, 03:10 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>actually 2 more to go..Phoenix will not win tonight</div>Wanna bet?

 

Okay...do you wanna bet?

 

They Lakers need to do to Phoenix what the Celtics did to the Lakers in the 1984 Finals...Knock them on their asses. The Suns are soft. I'd love to see them try to fight somebody, at this point, the Lakers just need to start beating people up. The Suns act as if they can dance into the f*cking lane. Well, the Lakers need to start punching out those little cum-dumpsters if they want a chance in this series. The Suns have talent, but they're about as tough as an 11 year old girl.

 

In Game 4, the Lakers had a five point game lead with less than a minute to play, but made several execution errors as the Celtics tied the game and then came away with a 129-125 victory in overtime. The game was also marked by Celtic forward Kevin McHale's takedown of Laker forward Kurt Rambis on a breakaway layup which triggered the physical aspect of the rivalry. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar would go after Larry Bird later on in the third quarter, and 1981 Finals MVP Cedric Maxwell further antagonized the Lakers by following a missed James Worthy free throw by crossing the lane with his hands around his own neck, symbolizing that Worthy was "choking" under pressure.Is this what your talkin about Michael Bryant?McHale decking Rambis..Bird bumping Cooper into the crowd, Kareem and Bird getting into it face-to-face..the greatest rivalry

 

That broom is not big enough for kobes ego alone(.)

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>In Game 4, the Lakers had a five point game lead with less than a minute to play, but made several execution errors as the Celtics tied the game and then came away with a 129-125 victory in overtime. The game was also marked by Celtic forward Kevin McHale's takedown of Laker forward Kurt Rambis on a breakaway layup which triggered the physical aspect of the rivalry. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar would go after Larry Bird later on in the third quarter, and 1981 Finals MVP Cedric Maxwell further antagonized the Lakers by following a missed James Worthy free throw by crossing the lane with his hands around his own neck, symbolizing that Worthy was "choking" under pressure.Is this what your talkin about Michael Bryant?McHale decking Rambis..Bird bumping Cooper into the crowd, Kareem and Bird getting into it face-to-face..the greatest rivalry</div>You don't have to remind me.All I am saying is, get tough and keep them from getting those fancy layups. That's all. McHale decking Rambis pretty much changed that series and made the Lakers toughen the F*ck up in 1985. If we still had Karl Malone, this Leandro Barbosa sh*t wouldn't be happening.

 

Kay, if the Suns win tonight, you can't post again until after the game on Sunday, and if they lose, I can't post again until after the game on Sunday. Deal?

 

okay

 

or wait hang on. since you make the game threads, that will be the only post you can make until AFTER sunday's game. so you get that post whenever. Otherwise, no posting. And I won't post at all.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Michael Bryant @ Apr 26 2007, 04:18 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>They Lakers need to do to Phoenix what the Celtics did to the Lakers in the 1984 Finals...Knock them on their asses. The Suns are soft. I'd love to see them try to fight somebody, at this point, the Lakers just need to start beating people up. The Suns act as if they can dance into the f*cking lane. Well, the Lakers need to start punching out those little cum-dumpsters if they want a chance in this series. The Suns have talent, but they're about as tough as an 11 year old girl.</div>I'd love to see Kwame start sh*t with Amare and Kurt on the floor...actually I wouldn't because I don't want anyone suspended, but still. Kurt Thomas is the scariest guy on the floor. Just one of his stares and Kwame will run away.I agree with you though. They have to be more physical if they want to win more games.

 

I love it how this thread is so active and the game hasn't started yet! Should be good game. I look forward to watching some Lakers step it up on their home floor.