Fakers at Suns 7:00 FSN AZ and ESPN

[btimsah]

It's so strange how the perspective of the fans of the other team can be so different. Barbosa is probably the guy I fear most as a Laker Fan. I thought he played well, and he torched us a few times, but Suns fans don't seem to like him. Barbosa is way too fast for the Lakers, I'm glad he didn't get more minutes personally. Barbosa is a very very good player IMO.

Suns are far from done, this is the 1st with Shaq, they will only get better from here.

Because he only drives 5 times a game. And if he's lucky, he'll make 2-3 of those shots. A shooting guard is supposed to have a jump shot. But were fans. We complain. We see the deficiencies night in and night out.

 

[az1965]

come on guys we lost a close good game kobe was on fire, and it was shaq first game with the suns he did pretty good imo. It will take time for the suns to gel with this new lineup but we will be fine come playoff time

Let's hope so but Lakers are for real and we need to get real if we think we can take this team in 5-6 games. They were missing Bynum and Kobe was playing with a finger that needs surgery now. We better add Artest or Miller to improve our bench as it sucks.

 

[Chaplin]

I agree, bad officiating, but it was clearly to your advantage. Everything the Lakers did in the 3rd was called a foul, the Lakers were in the penalty with a minute and a half left in the 3rd. Don't even try to blame officiating, that's just weak.

Officiating was awful on both sides. This was a great game, but it was a very good example of why officiating in the NBA is the worst in sports.

 

[French Fries]

Yeah.. it was a great game. I want us to lose to the Lakers NOW, but beat them in the playoffs. You learn and change things when you LOSE, not when you win. That's especially true for Dantoni.

So.. game 1 with Shaq, we could have easily won. Don't you think against a less-than team we can kick their arse with him?

well we don't want our guys to be overconfident so this loss might do us some good. anyway we got the celtics game and detroit game to redeem ourselves (hopefully )

 

[SO91]

Great game guys. Be proud, the Phoenix Suns are a scary good team. I haven't seen two teams trade shots like that in years.

I'm happy about the win of course, but the Suns are for real, and they are scary as hell. Good luck the rest of the season, here's hoping everyone stays healthy, and we'll see you guys in the playoffs. These are the two best teams in the NBA by a large margin IMO.

I had the exact same thoughts as I watched that game. Best regular season game I've seen in a while. I would have liked a win, but dammit I was entertained. I don't even want to read the rest of the thread b/c I can imagine what was said. I'm encouraged and there will be no ship jumping from me

 

[BeeBeard]

Bynum can't handle a healthy Shaq either and can't step out and hit jumpers like Gasol.

Also Kobe won't shoot 16-25 every game and we won't shoot 5-16 from the 3pt line every game.

Any talk about Bynum being some sort of badass at the 5 is really overblown. Out of Shaq, Gasol, and Bynum, Bynum is the worst center of the three. Right now, he only puts up big numbers against teams that have no credible centers, but supposedly has a lot of potential to do more in the future. He won't be Wilt against Shaq, he'll just wilt.

 

[Chaplin]

Let's hope so but Lakers are for real and we need to get real if we think we can take this team in 5-6 games. They were missing Bynum and Kobe was playing with a finger that needs surgery now. We better add Artest or Miller to improve our bench as it sucks.

Come on, Kobe's finger isn't bothering him at all.

 

[Darth Llama]

Officiating was awful on both sides. This was a great game, but it was a very good example of why officiating in the NBA is the worst in sports.

No argument there. You're absolutely right.

 

[btimsah]

I don't blame officiating tonight. I blame officiating every game. The refs were "letting them play". That includes the Sun's people. But when you "let them play", that means you are letting them foul.

Odom had 22 points, Gasol 29 and Kobe like 40. We gotta stop Odom, Turok (dinosaur) and VOOYABITCH.

 

[Griffin]

We scored more than enough points to win and we rebounded the ball well. But despite a 16-7 advantage in offensive rebounds, we only attempted one more shot than the Lakers. We lost the game because we played poor defense all night and Lakers were really hot. If Kobe, Gasol and Odom are going to play this well all at the same time, it would take an enormous effort on any team's part to beat them. They don't even need Bynum. We couldn't match their offense tonight.

 

[BeeBeard]

Come on, Kobe's finger isn't bothering him at all.

Fingergate is a lie. I thought it was funny how they showed what were supposed to be Kobe's X-Rays, just to reassure us (and David Stern, undoubtedly) that "We promise we're not making this up!"

 

[Chaplin]

I don't blame officiating tonight. I blame officiating every game. The refs were "letting them play". That includes the Sun's people. But when you "let them play", that means you are letting them foul.

Odom had 22 points, Gasol 29 and Kobe like 40. We gotta stop Odom, Turok (dinosaur) and VOOYABITCH.

I think that's too simple. Sure, they let them play, but they also at times didn't let them play. Officiating is so inconsistent in this league.

 

[az1965]

Come on, Kobe's finger isn't bothering him at all.

Sure and 41 points attest to it but it still needs surgery...

 

[AceP]

I like what I have seen from the game! Very encouraging!

Don't forget what happened last game we played against Lakers, we got blown out! Now we r doing much much better.

We need time to adjust the system, like what we did in the second half. We need a wing defender. That's about it.

 

[mojorizen7]

After watching tonights game, i think it's safe to say that we've solved our rebounding & interior defense issues but will need some time to solve the offensive adjustments. Nash's decision making at times is bewildering?
We'll be fine & i'm pumped!
Bring on the CELTICS.
Great game.

 

[dodie53]

artest!
artest!
artest!

 

[btimsah]

I think that's too simple. Sure, they let them play, but they also at times didn't let them play. Officiating is so inconsistent in this league.

Well that's what I meant. Sorry, I thought it was obvious. Yeah they let them play.. then suddenly they call something that wasnt called at the other end. Trust me, nobody hates what has happened too officiating more than me. I am a fan of Oklahoma, so in the big 12 we have the worst officiating in the league. The home team can rape you and get away with it.

 

[sLapzsHaQ]

Anyway, at least Shaq didn't slowed the Suns down..

 

[sLapzsHaQ]

How is it possible to get Artest anyway?

 

[MaoTosiFanClub]

After watching tonights game, i think it's safe to say that we've solved our rebounding & interior defense issues but will need some time to solve the offensive adjustments. Nash's decision making at times is bewildering?
We'll be fine & i'm pumped!
Bring on the CELTICS.
Great game.

The Lakers scored how many points tonight in the paint? And the rebounding edge will narrow between the teams will narrow if Bynum comes back healthy. The Suns need another shooter and a perimeter defender to win it all, Artest solves both but as we all know he comes with baggage.

We scored 124 and lost, it's safe to say offense wasn't the problem.

 

[cly2tw]

Despite the loss, I'm very hopeful. We mainly need to get used to play Shaq in the middle.

1. Nash gotta learn more catch-and-shoot instead of running pullups only for his shots.

2. We gotta do more feeding Shaq who was great at finding the open guys.

3. Barbosa needs to continue using the pick to the strong side as he did in this game, plus reduce those boneheaded dribble drives as much as possible.

Actually, Bell as a Kobe stopper is overrated. Both Hill and Strawberry did somehow better. In general, our defensive rotation was a bit slow. But in the closing minutes, LB and Nash handling the ball again killed our chance. Lakers got fastbreak points off their misses and it became a 6 points game from 2 pts deficit. Had we tried posting up Shaq, at least there wouldn't be fastbreaks for Lakers.

 

[joshstmarie]

i dont know if i like shaq comming up for the pick and roll, i think we need to get rid of that.

 

[sly fly]

- Great game. If Bell doesn't shrivel and hits just a couple 3, it changes the complexion of the Laker's D. Alas, it didn't happen.

- The best move the Lakers made was signing D-Fish. That was heist, just like getting Gasol was a heist. Only the Lakers and Celtics are allowed to pull off moves like this.

- Despite the loss, I see tons of room for improvement with PHX and it's new front line. This team will not lose too many more games this year.

- Terrible shot selection by Nash at the end. No one to cover back on the long rebound. That was a rookie mistake by Nash. His game has definitely taken a step back MENTALLY this year. BTW, Kobe walked before the pass.

- Nice fight in the stands. Stereotypical fat Laker fan with a Kobe jersey on in the middle of it. Lots of pushing and shoving, and air *******.

- Love DJ's activeness on D. Mike D needs to fit him in as much as possible. This kid is a J away from being something special.

- Boris typical hot and cold game. Shows flashes of brilliance mixed in with displays of idiocy. Players like that are frustrating to watch, and get coaches fired.

- Let's go $ Bob. We need a bona fide backup PG. We're not replacing Marion. Luke Ridnour is available. The only other swingman I'd like to see is Mike Miller. Everyone else is redundant and not worth ATL's pick.

 

[Ode to Ocho]

After watching tonights game, i think it's safe to say that we've solved our rebounding & interior defense issues but will need some time to solve the offensive adjustments. Nash's decision making at times is bewildering?
We'll be fine & i'm pumped!
Bring on the CELTICS.
Great game.

Bynum and Ariza weren't even playing.

FYI

 

[mribnik]

Strawberry should've gotten some time in the first half.