US Airways Center 620 KTAR My45 TNT
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Preview
The Lakers played more inspired ball than they have lately, giving the Suns a scare in Game 1. After getting off to a rocky start, the Lakers gained control of the game behind quality defense and Kobe Bryant's sensational first-half performance.
The Suns are the league's toughest cover because of the number of ways in which they can hurt you: They have the league's best fast break, a multitude of players who can take you off the dribble, Amare Stoudemire inside and the league's best 3-point shooting attack.
By denying penetration and not letting Phoenix unleash its running game, the Lakers put pressure on the Suns to hit shots. While Phoenix shot just 3-for-13 from 3-point range in the first half, we have to credit the Lakers for much of that by not allowing Phoenix to establish a flow: The Suns' jumpers were not always contested but they were seldom in sync, lacking crisp passes and clean spot-ups.
The Lakers did a good job of flashing Bryant into the post and setting him up with screens early, allowing him to work into a quick flow. Despite the number of defenders the Suns ran at Bryant, make no mistake about it, this detail was 24/7 Raja Bell's. So what does Phoenix change after Kobe torched the Suns for 39 in Game 1? Absolutely nothing.
In our preview we talked about not just Bell's defense, but also his stamina. Even when Bryant was on his monster first-half run, he was working for shots, getting lots of legs into deep 3s, changing directions, powering to the goal.
Two things factored into Bryant's 4-for-16 second half: (1) the Lakers became more stagnant, not screening or getting Bryant the ball on the move, making him more vulnerable to extra defensive attention, and (2) his legs weren't there. Some of the looks he got were the same ones he was sticking in the first half, and he was often short, usually an indicator of tired legs.
Despite Kobe's 39, I thought Bell did a good job on one of the league's best offensive players and, like a fighter who goes to the body in the early rounds, the Suns reaped the dividends later.
Although there was a sense of inevitability in the Suns' second-half run, the Lakers did present matchup problems that figure to carry over into Game 2 if Phoenix does not adjust. Los Angeles capitalized on Phoenix's smaller lineup, establishing Lamar Odom on the blocks versus Shawn Marion as well as Luke Walton versus Leandro Barbosa.
Odom played with the aggressiveness the Lakers will need from him to have a shot in this series, finishing with 17 and 16. He is too big for Marion in the post and late in the game when Bryant was getting a breather, the offense ran effectively through him inside.
Though it won't jump off the box score, the player I thought presented the biggest problems for Phoenix was Walton. Although he's often noted for his passing skills, his toughness is often overlooked, as we mentioned in our preview. Walton is deceptively quick and is strong enough to manhandle most 3s around the lane. When given the chance, Walton punished Barbosa and James Jones. When defended by Boris Diaw, he drove by him consistently.
Late in the game Lakers coach Phil Jackson wanted his deep shooters in, but I was surprised at Walton's four fourth-quarter minutes. I think he presents a tough cover for Phoenix and I would look for Los Angeles to exploit it more in Game 2.
Diaw had a tough time getting over screens, covering Odom in the post and Walton out on the floor. I would look for Los Angeles to attack that point of the Phoenix D.
The fact is, though, Phoenix may have taken L.A.'s best shot. While Kobe is obviously capable of performances like the one in Game 1's first half, the Lakers probably don't want to rely on that.
On their side, I don't think the Suns took the Lakers lightly, but Steve Nash looked to take the game over only when he had to, Phoenix will shoot better in Game 2 and the Suns will make adjustments of their own.
[FONT=Arial,Hevetica,sans-serif]PREDICTION: Suns win Game 2[/FONT]
http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/play...st=weltman_jeff&page=ScoutingLakersSuns-Game2
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Preview
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The Lakers played more inspired ball than they have lately, giving the Suns a scare in Game 1. After getting off to a rocky start, the Lakers gained control of the game behind quality defense and Kobe Bryant's sensational first-half performance.
The Suns are the league's toughest cover because of the number of ways in which they can hurt you: They have the league's best fast break, a multitude of players who can take you off the dribble, Amare Stoudemire inside and the league's best 3-point shooting attack.
By denying penetration and not letting Phoenix unleash its running game, the Lakers put pressure on the Suns to hit shots. While Phoenix shot just 3-for-13 from 3-point range in the first half, we have to credit the Lakers for much of that by not allowing Phoenix to establish a flow: The Suns' jumpers were not always contested but they were seldom in sync, lacking crisp passes and clean spot-ups.
The Lakers did a good job of flashing Bryant into the post and setting him up with screens early, allowing him to work into a quick flow. Despite the number of defenders the Suns ran at Bryant, make no mistake about it, this detail was 24/7 Raja Bell's. So what does Phoenix change after Kobe torched the Suns for 39 in Game 1? Absolutely nothing.
In our preview we talked about not just Bell's defense, but also his stamina. Even when Bryant was on his monster first-half run, he was working for shots, getting lots of legs into deep 3s, changing directions, powering to the goal.
Two things factored into Bryant's 4-for-16 second half: (1) the Lakers became more stagnant, not screening or getting Bryant the ball on the move, making him more vulnerable to extra defensive attention, and (2) his legs weren't there. Some of the looks he got were the same ones he was sticking in the first half, and he was often short, usually an indicator of tired legs.
Despite Kobe's 39, I thought Bell did a good job on one of the league's best offensive players and, like a fighter who goes to the body in the early rounds, the Suns reaped the dividends later.
Although there was a sense of inevitability in the Suns' second-half run, the Lakers did present matchup problems that figure to carry over into Game 2 if Phoenix does not adjust. Los Angeles capitalized on Phoenix's smaller lineup, establishing Lamar Odom on the blocks versus Shawn Marion as well as Luke Walton versus Leandro Barbosa.
Odom played with the aggressiveness the Lakers will need from him to have a shot in this series, finishing with 17 and 16. He is too big for Marion in the post and late in the game when Bryant was getting a breather, the offense ran effectively through him inside.
Though it won't jump off the box score, the player I thought presented the biggest problems for Phoenix was Walton. Although he's often noted for his passing skills, his toughness is often overlooked, as we mentioned in our preview. Walton is deceptively quick and is strong enough to manhandle most 3s around the lane. When given the chance, Walton punished Barbosa and James Jones. When defended by Boris Diaw, he drove by him consistently.
Late in the game Lakers coach Phil Jackson wanted his deep shooters in, but I was surprised at Walton's four fourth-quarter minutes. I think he presents a tough cover for Phoenix and I would look for Los Angeles to exploit it more in Game 2.
Diaw had a tough time getting over screens, covering Odom in the post and Walton out on the floor. I would look for Los Angeles to attack that point of the Phoenix D.
The fact is, though, Phoenix may have taken L.A.'s best shot. While Kobe is obviously capable of performances like the one in Game 1's first half, the Lakers probably don't want to rely on that.
On their side, I don't think the Suns took the Lakers lightly, but Steve Nash looked to take the game over only when he had to, Phoenix will shoot better in Game 2 and the Suns will make adjustments of their own.
[FONT=Arial,Hevetica,sans-serif]PREDICTION: Suns win Game 2[/FONT]
http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/play...st=weltman_jeff&page=ScoutingLakersSuns-Game2
