Gotta beat The Lakers!

[HERD]

Tell me it isn' so

 

[Darth Llama]

Without Bynum, the Suns should roll in this one. If Amare plays well, it won't be a close game, as the Lakers will have no answer. Luckily for the Suns, both of the last 2 meetings fall in the time span that Bynum is expected to miss, so the Suns should be able to pull to 2-2 against LA.

 

[mjb21aztd]

This team is a little frusturating never know which team is going to show up... hopefully the good suns show up vs the lakers and we take one looking forward to it GO SUNS

 

[Bufalay]

Mike D'antoni in response to a reporter who asked if the Lakers finally had the Suns' number:

"The Lakers are what we thought they were. Th-they're what we thought they were. We played them in playoffs. I mean, who the hell takes the first round of the playoffs like it's poop? poop! We played them in the first, second, third, fourth and fifth games, everybody played three quarters... the Lakers are who we thought they were! That’s why we took the damn court! Now, *hits microphone* if you want to crown them, then crown their ass! But, they are who we thought they were, and we let them off the hook!


sorry . I will stop making this post the day that I can watch that video without peeing my pants.

 

[arwillan]

we need to win, but we won't.

 

[jandaman]

If the Lakers are healthy and Suns faced them with current tactics and state of players. Bell = Not his old self, Stoudemire = No defense what so ever, Barbosa = Inconsistent, Diaw = Missing in Action.

They will beat the Suns in 5-6 games. Odom and Bynum will put 20/10 each and Bryant will score less but will be happy deferring to the 2 big men and go for the kill at the fourth.


Nash will need to be in the zone and Marion grabbing 20 rebounds and doing everything else Stoudemire doesnt do in the defensive end and Hill putting up 16/5/5 for the Suns to even have a chance of winning the series.

Because Bynum is HUGE for them and Fisher is no Smush Parker.

 

[D-Dogg]

The Lakers are going to really push hard to win this game...they want to show they can win it without drew and get the tiebreaker, plus hold on 1st in the pacific. The first game the Lakers didn't have Lamar, IIRC.

It's going to be a close game, but I think the Suns edge my guys this time. I think Kobe will try to do too much. It's really up to the Lakers bench as to how this game goes...if they play huge, Kobe won't feel the need to go off. If they falter, he's going to put the game on his shoulders and that's fine if he's hot.

 

[dreamcastrocks]

The Lakers are going to really push hard to win this game...they want to show they can win it without drew and get the tiebreaker, plus hold on 1st in the pacific. The first game the Lakers didn't have Lamar, IIRC.

It's going to be a close game, but I think the Suns edge my guys this time. I think Kobe will try to do too much. It's really up to the Lakers bench as to how this game goes...if they play huge, Kobe won't feel the need to go off. If they falter, he's going to put the game on his shoulders and that's fine if he's hot.

I think that the Suns won't put in the effort that they need to win without Bynum and they lose.

 

[Covert Rain]

I think that the Suns won't put in the effort that they need to win without Bynum and they lose.

I agree and I don't get this team sometimes. They seem to get up for the big games when both teams are 100% but when guys are hurt, they go into this we don't care mode and end up laying an egg. I don't know if it's a confidence thing, an arrogance thing or this team just doesn't understand the concept of "sense of urgency". Take your pick.

 

[abomb]

I think Derek Fisher is the difference tonight.

 

[nowagimp]

I think that the Suns won't put in the effort that they need to win without Bynum and they lose.

This sounds about right, just like they dogged it in the game when Odom was out. The suns can play down to any teams level, and a team missing a major piece is an invitation they just cant turn down. The suns outside shooting will have to be good to win and that would be a change from recent performances. Without the outside shooting the lakers will collapse around amare, a plan everyone uses to good effect. And I dont expect amare to get many calls in LA. If he cant get them against the clips, he wont against the lakers. If Banks and/or LB hit the outside shots, the suns can win. I dont expect much from Raja, he still looks like he's moving poorly, and he has to guard Kobe.

 

[Mainstreet]

The Suns just have not shown me anything lately... they seem unmotivated. I can't see them beating the Lakers even without Bynum. I hope I'm wrong but I don't see any fire in the Suns.

 

[justAndy]

The Suns seem jaded.
That'll show as a lack of heart.
Diaw got his big payday and has been AWOL since.
Amare pouts if he doesn't get the ball all the time.
Nash is slower.
Bell is off.
Marion has declined a little.
Barbs is a ballhog.
It's been a nice run the last few years, but the sense of fun is gone, us fans are on edge.

 

[abomb]

The Suns seem jaded.
That'll show as a lack of heart.
Diaw got his big payday and has been AWOL since.
Amare pouts if he doesn't get the ball all the time.
Nash is slower.
Bell is off.
Marion has declined a little.
Barbs is a ballhog.
It's been a nice run the last few years, but the sense of fun is gone, us fans are on edge.

Andy's hoops posts remind me of Flea's Lakers blog.

 

[Mainstreet]

The Suns seem jaded.
That'll show as a lack of heart...

Actually the Suns have not been the same since last year and your comments ring true. Stern ripped the heart out of the Suns last year after game 4 with SA and I must say, my heart as well. Maybe the Suns have the feeling deep down that no matter how hard they play, they can't win it all.

 

[Hat]

wow, what a bunch of pessimists on these forums.

 

[dreamcastrocks]

wow, what a bunch of pessimists on these forums.

I think the preferred term is "Pissedofftimists."

 

[justAndy]

We have the right to hold this team to a high standard - it's not like we're NY or Philly type fans all full of hate and bitterness.
We're happy enough if the Suns play hard and provide us with entertaining hoops.

 

[nashman]

This is a fairly big game to retake 1st I think they will step up and play.

Suns 115
Lakers 106

 

[Mainstreet]

This is a fairly big game to retake 1st I think they will step up and play.

Suns 115
Lakers 106

I hope you're right and I will be rooting for the Suns as well. However, what is your take if they should lose? Is this a statement game for the Suns... a game they must win. If the Suns lose might this signify changes need to be made. I'm thinking this game is a test.

 

[Rab]

This team just plain doesn't like playing the game with each other anymore. There is no player support, just finger pointing. The fire is gone. The drive is not there. There's pouting, excuse making, and bad body language.

I don't think they can just turn it on when they want to. I hope I am wrong.

 

[nashman]

Well they turned it on against Denver like a week ago right? I think they can its just a matter if they feel they need to. I think we need Grant back asap as he is much more reliable than Bell or Barbs at this point. Without Hill if we lose against the Lakers I don't think its the end of the world or anything as they are playing well currently and we are not. I think we need to add another big just so we can try to keep Stat at the 4 where he seems to play better. If we could just find a decent big preferably with the TE and not have to deal Marion, or Stat I think we will be fine. I think our best chance at a ring has to involve Nash, Marion, Hill and Stat, Bell as the starters and need a little more bench production (D from the bigs) and offense from Barbs, Banks, Straw. I wish Dantoni would just play Banks or Straw if Barbs is having an off night or just to lower Nashs min, although I feel like he has been limiting Nashs' almost to a fault. Without Hill the offense struggles when Nash is out. Barb or someone needs to work on the P&R with Amare!!

 

[Mainstreet]

This team just plain doesn't like playing the game with each other anymore. There is no player support, just finger pointing. The fire is gone. The drive is not there. There's pouting, excuse making, and bad body language.

I don't think they can just turn it on when they want to. I hope I am wrong.

You're mostly right, however, I still wonder what a good backup PG could do to help the Suns when Nash is out. I tend to think a lot because their offense seems to fall apart when Nash is out. The quality of the Suns defense often seems predicated on how they are playing offensively. A backup PG might really help chemistry issues.