Updated: April 21, 2006, 11:42 PM ET
Scouting report: Lakers vs. Suns
Point Guard: Steve Nash vs. Smush Parker
Suns: Nash is having another career year after winning the MVP last season. He along with six of his teammates are averaging career highs in points this year. Nash is such a dangerous passer that defenders constantly play back on their heels; he is like a great running back that you are afraid to tackle. He is also hitting 44 percent of his three pointers, good for sixth best in the league.
Lakers: Smush Parker was never supposed to be a starting point guard in the NBA. After one season playing major minutes with the Lakers, he has at least proved he belongs in the league. None of his basketball skills are very special: Half of his shots are three-point attempts. He is third on his team in assists, but that has more to do with his teammates needing the basketball to start their own offense.
Advantage: Suns
Shooting Guard: Raja Bell vs. Kobe Bryant
Suns: Raja Bell has to be excited about matching up with Bryant defensively. Bell's fierce and sometimes nasty attitude have made him a nice addition to a team that has always been thought of as soft on defense. Bell really has thrived in Phoenix' offensive system, where his three-point shot accuracy is a career-high 44 percent.
Lakers: Bryant is probably the most difficult player to defend in the NBA. Bryant uses great athleticism, shooting touch and creativity with the dribble to put on an offensive show every night he plays. He can finish around the basket with taller players around him, he splits a double team with his dribble better than anyone, and he is an extreme competitor. As great as he is, some nights his me-first attitude works … other nights it doesn't. He has taken a small step back this season as a defender.
Advantage: Lakers
Small Forward: Tim Thomas vs. Lamar Odom
Suns: Tim Thomas will never win the NBA's best attitude award, but he has turned a terrible situation in Chicago into a great opportunity in Phoenix. In 26 games with Phoenix (starting the last 6), Thomas has used his guard skills in a power forward body to provide another difficult matchup for Suns' opponents. He can pull up off the dribble or in transition, or post up smaller defenders. On most teams, Thomas would be a horrible addition, but for Phoenix it works.
Lakers: Lamar Odom is one of the most versatile big men in the league. He plays with a point guard mentality; he leads the Lakers with 5.5 apg. The problem with Odom is that he not assertive enough offensively and with his style of play he constantly needs the basketball, not to shoot, but create. On defense, Odom might have to use his quickness against Marion, or at least try.
Advantage: Lakers
Power Forward: Shawn Marion vs. Luke Walton
Suns: Shawn Marion has somehow gone from a player who was overrated to one of the more underrated players in the league. Marion has tremendous athleticism that makes him a perfect partner in transition with Nash. He has a quick, awkward release that works well from 3-point or mid range. He has posted great rebounding totals the last two years for someone listed at 6 feet, 7 inches tall. He is able to guard both forward positions.
Lakers: Luke Walton has moved into the starting lineup this month, replacing Brian Cook. He can pass, run the triangle offense and get the ball inside to Brown in scoring position. He splits time at the position with Cook.
Advantage: Suns
Center: Boris Diaw vs. Kwame Brown
Suns: Boris Diaw is one of the least likely players to play the center position in the NBA. His greatest attribute is his passing, at one point Diaw was thought to be too unselfish but he has fit perfectly with the Suns. When he goes to the basket he never seems to give up on the idea of making one last pass and his teammates look to benefit from that. Diaw has started to take more outside shots, which will make his game that much harder to defend. Diaw is not really a player in the middle that will change shots, but he is active and will beat most centers down the court.
Lakers: Kwame Brown has improved as the season has progressed. His scoring, rebounding, assists and field-goal shooting percentages all are up in the second half of the season. Brown has a bad tendency of floating at times: He will forget to make a cut, or lose his man on defense. You just realize he might never really "get it." Laker teammates have been reluctant to pass to him during games because of his passiveness and the fact he can't hold onto the ball.
Advantage: Suns
Bench
Sasha Vujacic backs up the point and his job seems to be miss as many open shots as possible. Devean George, Jim Jackson and Ronny Turiaf all play inconsistent minutes. George will probably be relied on more because of his experience and Chris Mihm is back from injury to offer some size in the middle.
Advantage: Suns
Coaching: Mike D'Antoni vs. Phil Jackson
Phoenix: D'Antoni has made defensive coaches cringe and long distance shooters crave playing his style of "controlled chaos" basketball. The Suns are the top 3-point shooting team in the NBA and the team policy is that you lose minutes if you don't shoot. That is why a guy like Tim Thomas can fit into this system. D'Antoni fights for his players. Forget about defense: He won't need that until the second round.
Los Angeles: Jackson is a perfect coach for Bryant and the Lakers: He fits in well with "love him or hate him" feeling of his star and his team. This season is Jackson's most impressive coaching job yet. This average talent squad was thought to be controlled by Bryant but Jackson has gotten this team to win down the stretch playing more team basketball. The challenge for Jackson will be to continue to get Bryant to buy into sharing the ball if things go bad early in the series.
Advantage: Even
Prediction
The Lakers are the best possible first-round opponent for the Suns. At no point this season has Los Angeles shown that it can play and win matching the fast-paced play of Phoenix. There is no big man on the Lakers' front line that will make the Suns have to change what they do best and that is score. The only bad shot in the Suns' offense is the shot that you don't take. All of D'Antoni's players love him for it. As great as Bryant is and knowing that he is good for at least two 40-point games, it will not work in a seven- game series.
Pick: Phoenix Suns in five games
Scouting report: Lakers vs. Suns
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The Phoenix Suns represent the equivalent of basketball Xanadu in the NBA. It seems like no matter what player ends up playing for Mike D'Antoni and alongside Steve Nash they will have the best years of their career. Despite the loss of Amare Stoudemire, one of the best big men in the NBA, the Suns still won 54 games. The Suns still play at the fastest pace of any team in the NBA, the Los Angeles Lakers play at whatever pace Kobe Bryant wants.
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Point Guard: Steve Nash vs. Smush Parker
Suns: Nash is having another career year after winning the MVP last season. He along with six of his teammates are averaging career highs in points this year. Nash is such a dangerous passer that defenders constantly play back on their heels; he is like a great running back that you are afraid to tackle. He is also hitting 44 percent of his three pointers, good for sixth best in the league.
Lakers: Smush Parker was never supposed to be a starting point guard in the NBA. After one season playing major minutes with the Lakers, he has at least proved he belongs in the league. None of his basketball skills are very special: Half of his shots are three-point attempts. He is third on his team in assists, but that has more to do with his teammates needing the basketball to start their own offense.
Advantage: Suns
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Shooting Guard: Raja Bell vs. Kobe Bryant
Suns: Raja Bell has to be excited about matching up with Bryant defensively. Bell's fierce and sometimes nasty attitude have made him a nice addition to a team that has always been thought of as soft on defense. Bell really has thrived in Phoenix' offensive system, where his three-point shot accuracy is a career-high 44 percent.
Lakers: Bryant is probably the most difficult player to defend in the NBA. Bryant uses great athleticism, shooting touch and creativity with the dribble to put on an offensive show every night he plays. He can finish around the basket with taller players around him, he splits a double team with his dribble better than anyone, and he is an extreme competitor. As great as he is, some nights his me-first attitude works … other nights it doesn't. He has taken a small step back this season as a defender.
Advantage: Lakers
Small Forward: Tim Thomas vs. Lamar Odom
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Suns: Tim Thomas will never win the NBA's best attitude award, but he has turned a terrible situation in Chicago into a great opportunity in Phoenix. In 26 games with Phoenix (starting the last 6), Thomas has used his guard skills in a power forward body to provide another difficult matchup for Suns' opponents. He can pull up off the dribble or in transition, or post up smaller defenders. On most teams, Thomas would be a horrible addition, but for Phoenix it works.
Lakers: Lamar Odom is one of the most versatile big men in the league. He plays with a point guard mentality; he leads the Lakers with 5.5 apg. The problem with Odom is that he not assertive enough offensively and with his style of play he constantly needs the basketball, not to shoot, but create. On defense, Odom might have to use his quickness against Marion, or at least try.
Advantage: Lakers
Power Forward: Shawn Marion vs. Luke Walton
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Suns: Shawn Marion has somehow gone from a player who was overrated to one of the more underrated players in the league. Marion has tremendous athleticism that makes him a perfect partner in transition with Nash. He has a quick, awkward release that works well from 3-point or mid range. He has posted great rebounding totals the last two years for someone listed at 6 feet, 7 inches tall. He is able to guard both forward positions.
Lakers: Luke Walton has moved into the starting lineup this month, replacing Brian Cook. He can pass, run the triangle offense and get the ball inside to Brown in scoring position. He splits time at the position with Cook.
Advantage: Suns
Center: Boris Diaw vs. Kwame Brown
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Suns: Boris Diaw is one of the least likely players to play the center position in the NBA. His greatest attribute is his passing, at one point Diaw was thought to be too unselfish but he has fit perfectly with the Suns. When he goes to the basket he never seems to give up on the idea of making one last pass and his teammates look to benefit from that. Diaw has started to take more outside shots, which will make his game that much harder to defend. Diaw is not really a player in the middle that will change shots, but he is active and will beat most centers down the court.
Lakers: Kwame Brown has improved as the season has progressed. His scoring, rebounding, assists and field-goal shooting percentages all are up in the second half of the season. Brown has a bad tendency of floating at times: He will forget to make a cut, or lose his man on defense. You just realize he might never really "get it." Laker teammates have been reluctant to pass to him during games because of his passiveness and the fact he can't hold onto the ball.
Advantage: Suns
Bench
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Phoenix: The Suns replace firepower with more firepower, Leandro Barbosa, James Jones and Eddie House all play uptempo, love shooting and can all handle the ball. Barbosa is no Nash, but he is very underrated in how he is able to keep the Suns running when Nash is not in the game. Brian Grant adds some size, but no scoring; a team should make him shoot if they can. The key to this bench for the future of these playoffs for the Sums will be whether they get Kurt Thomas back. He is on the playoff roster but still dealing with rehabbing a broken foot.
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Los Angeles: The Lakers' bench rotation is a little tougher to figure out. There doesn't seem to be a consistent usage pattern.Brian Cook has the size to be a power forward but his game is mostly away from the basket, looking to take jump shots. He doesn't rebound well. He can't hurt you with his passing and on defense he plays a little too upright to guard smaller players. Cook will not sleep much this series if he has to stay with Marion.Sasha Vujacic backs up the point and his job seems to be miss as many open shots as possible. Devean George, Jim Jackson and Ronny Turiaf all play inconsistent minutes. George will probably be relied on more because of his experience and Chris Mihm is back from injury to offer some size in the middle.
Advantage: Suns
Coaching: Mike D'Antoni vs. Phil Jackson
Phoenix: D'Antoni has made defensive coaches cringe and long distance shooters crave playing his style of "controlled chaos" basketball. The Suns are the top 3-point shooting team in the NBA and the team policy is that you lose minutes if you don't shoot. That is why a guy like Tim Thomas can fit into this system. D'Antoni fights for his players. Forget about defense: He won't need that until the second round.
Los Angeles: Jackson is a perfect coach for Bryant and the Lakers: He fits in well with "love him or hate him" feeling of his star and his team. This season is Jackson's most impressive coaching job yet. This average talent squad was thought to be controlled by Bryant but Jackson has gotten this team to win down the stretch playing more team basketball. The challenge for Jackson will be to continue to get Bryant to buy into sharing the ball if things go bad early in the series.
Advantage: Even
Prediction
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The Lakers are the best possible first-round opponent for the Suns. At no point this season has Los Angeles shown that it can play and win matching the fast-paced play of Phoenix. There is no big man on the Lakers' front line that will make the Suns have to change what they do best and that is score. The only bad shot in the Suns' offense is the shot that you don't take. All of D'Antoni's players love him for it. As great as Bryant is and knowing that he is good for at least two 40-point games, it will not work in a seven- game series.
Pick: Phoenix Suns in five games
