<div align="center"> <font color="orange">The Phoenix Suns (54-28)</font> VS. <font color="purple">The Los Angeles Lakers (45-37)</font> <font color="purple">Lakers lead, 3-1</font> Tuesday, May 2nd, 2006 America West Arena 7:30 PM Pacific; TNT, KCAL </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">Play-off Leading Scorer: Steve Nash - 22.0 PPG Leading Rebounder: Tim Thomas - 10.0 RPG Assist Man: Steve Nash - 10.0 The Bench Man: LeAndro Barbosa (8.0 PPG, 3.0 APG, 1.3 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: 22.0, RPG: 5.3, APG: 10.0 Game 4 was a reverse of game 3 for Nash. He had a stellar first half, then fizzled out in the second half. He also had the key play of the game, to hurt the Suns. He turned the ball over that allowed Kobe Bryant and the Lakers to tie the game with 0.7 left. In game 5, Nash knows that it's do or die. Nash is going to be attacking without care from the get go. If he doesn't, the Suns go fishing.</font> <font size="1">[imgl]http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/raja_bell.jpg[/imgl]<font color="orange">Raja Bell</font> PPG: 13.7, RPG: 3.3, APG: 2.3 Bell got Kobe Bryant in early foul trouble and limited him to 10 minutes in the first half. That helped the Lakers, a lot. In the second half, Kobe's legs were fresh and it allowed him to come up with 3 huge shots for the Lakers. Game 5, I expect Raja to be PHYSICAL. I think he's going to try and send Bryant a message, but go too far. On offense, I look for him to try and too a little much, end up with 12. </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: 17.0, RPG: 10.0, APG: 1.0 I expect Thomas to start in game 5, despite his severe knee injury. He came off of the bench in game 4 and was more effective than James Jones. In game 5, I'm looking for Thomas to have the same effort that he produced in game 1. Thomas doesn't go down easily, he'll give it everything he has.</font> <font size="1">[imgl]http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/shawn_marion.jpg[/imgl]<font color="orange">Shawn Marion</font> PPG: 17.3, RPG: 7.7, APG: 1.0 Marion finally produced a double/double in game 4. He looked like the Marion that everybody knows. Unfortunately for the Suns, he fouled out. I think in game 5, Marion will have another double/double, but I'm not expecting big things from him. Odom has had him off his game all series long, it's not going to change now.</font> <font size="1">[imgl]http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/boris_diaw.jpg[/imgl]<font color="orange">Boris Diaw</font> PPG: 14.0, RPG: 5.0, APG: 3.3 If Diaw didn't try and draw a charge on Kobe during the last second of the 4th quarter in game 4, and stayed aggressive trying to alter the shot, PHX would be even in the series, 2-2. Diaw's just not playoff ready. He's not strong enough to guard Kwame, so I'm looking for the Lakers to try and take advantage of that to finish off the series. Diaw knows that if the PHX get pulled into a post game, they'll lose, so I'm looking for him to have one hell of a game. I'm looking for an incredible effort from him, one we haven't seen yet.</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 - 22.7 PPG Leading Rebounder: Lamar Odom - 12.7 RPG Assist Man: Lamar Odom - 5.7 APG The Bench Man: Brian Cook (7.9 PPG, 4.7 RPG, 1.3 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: 13.7, RPG: 3.3, APG: 1.3 What is there to say about him? Without Parker, the Lakers are tied in the series, 2-2. He had a huge 3 pointer and a huge steal that lead to the game being tied and forcing OT. Smush is riding a lot of emotions and momentum right now. I think he'll ride those in game 5 to a nice 14, 4, and 4 performance. He knows that the Lakers are one win away from moving on to a LA vs. LA series!</font> <font size="1">[imgl]http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/kobe_bryant.jpg[/imgl]<font color="purple">Kobe Bryant</font> PPG: 22.7, RPG: 7.0, APG: 5.7 The best player in the damn league. Clutch shot to get within two. Clutch, tough shot to tie the game and force overtime. Clutch double-pump, turning jumper to win the game as time expires. He's proving that the writers voted the wrong MVP, and it's killing the Suns. Kobe Bryant is not going to perform any different in game 5. I'm thinkin 25, 10, and 7 as the Lakers cruise to victory.</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: 14.7, RPG: 6.7, APG: 1.3 I think Luke has sealed his fate as a Laker starter next year, if the organization doesn't make any big moves over the off-seaosn. He's been the X factor in every Laker win this series. I'm looking for Luke to come in and attack the basket early. He's strong, he can get to the basket when he wants, he'll utilize his strength and court smarts to out-play Tim Thomas.</font> <font size="1">[imgl]http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/lamar_odom.jpg[/imgl]<font color="purple">Lamar Odom</font> PPG: 19.0, RPG: 12.7, APG: 4.0 If Lamar would've played like this all year long, the Lakers would've had 55+ wins. He's out-muscled, out-thought, and out-played Shawn Marion in every single game this series. That won't change in game 5. Lamar is a smart man, he knows that the Lakers are one win away from the biggest upset in the playoffs. Lamar's going to show up for this one. He's going to help the Lakers seal everything.</font> <font size="1">[imgl]http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/kwame_brown.jpg[/imgl]<font color="purple">Kwame Brown</font> PPG: 13.0, RPG: 6.3, APG: 1.7 Kwame will be vital in game 5. The Lakers know they can win with an effective post game, and Kwame's the anchor of it. I'm looking for him to put up a solid 15 and 12 as he propels the Lakers into a slow-paced, half court game.</font> <font size="3">Lakers Keys to the Game</font><ul>[*]<font color="purple">Control the Pace</font> - I hate repeating myself, but why change something that works? When the Lakers don't let the Suns get out and run, only Nash and Diaw have been effective. They can't change that in game 5. [*]<font color="purple">Keep the Crowd Quiet</font> - The PHX crowd is going to be loud, very loud. The Lakers have to come in and have an impact right away to negate the crowd's energy. A boring, half-court game will do that.[*]<font color="purple">Slit the Throat</font> - I hate to be graphic about this, but the Lakers have had the knife at the Suns neck all series long, and now it's time for them to slit. This is die time for the Suns, the Lakers will kill them.[/list]<font size="3">Prediction</font> How can PHX have any momentum at all after the emotional, heart crushing loss in game 4? I'm looking for LA to stay in it, and start pulling away mid 3rd quarter. Lakers: 97, Suns: 94..
In an unbiased opinion I think the Lakers have got this. Smush Parker has impressed me and is going well against Nash.
I think Lakers lose a tough on in Phoenix for Game 5. THen come back to LA and Win Game 6 at home. Just me though.
The suns bling bling season was cute but it's about to be done the lakers will leave you full of holes like the moon blocking the sun.
check out suns.com they've got a cool intro for next game. MISSION POSSIBLE? yea right!! not after trailing 3-1 in this series. They had a chance to tie it up but choked. I checked out espn.com man alot of critics give phoenix the edge on lakers. PROVEN WRONG this time. except for greg anthony... I hope lakers dont get over confident about their last win because they will need to battle this one out. They have not won the war yet. I think it will go to game 6. BUT I'd love it if they won on tuesday. Show us whose the real MVP Kobe.
damn, thanks for the playoff averages and one again, like always, a very nice preview! We got this one. I'd say 93 89
I think LA will lose because of the Away game environment. And win it in 6 at home. After that Sweep the Clippers to go to the WCF against the Kings. Win in 7 with a Robert Horry like 3 by Sasha and Face the Heat in the finals! MARK MY WORDS!
I'd like to see Kobe and Co. take the series in pheonix. Put an exclaimation mark on who the REAL MVP is! To the MEDIA: CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW??????
We got to control the pace for us to finish this off. We have to pound the ball downlow and beatup on the suns on the block. We got to control the 3 point line. The bench has to come alive again for us to pull this out. Let's go back to LA preparing for the Clips instead of the Suns.
The Lakers have to play their best game of the series and the season to win one tuesday. They can't force anything, or over do the "team" ball thing. They have to make the extra pass and leave it at that, too many extra passes will lead to turnovers and fast break points for the suns. Nash said after last game they "don't have much to lose" and I expect them to play like it. Like I've been saying after every W, I hope Phil, Kobe and the Coaching staff get on every single player and explain this is going to be the toughest game (in every facet) of the series. Here's to the Win.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting DannyBoy:</div><div class="quote_post">The suns bling bling season was cute but it's about to be done the lakers will leave you full of holes like the moon blocking the sun.</div> Hahaha, I'd never think Immortal Technique would be used in a situation like this.. I have a feeling the Suns will win this one...maybe its just that I want teh Lakers to win in LA in 6 like I thought they would
