Suns can only hope Lakers go big

[JCSunsfan]

Well if Lopez can play he will contribute more than Collins. I'm a realist so I'm not getting my hopes up. It just seems the Suns have the dominoes falling their way this season.

Yup. If he can produce more than Collins in the first few minutes, I'll take it.

 

[JCSunsfan]

I completely disagree. Here is an example. The reason the Suns had success against the Spurs was because they had a balanced attack in the paint and from the 3. Even at times the 3 was not falling for the Suns, they had some success around the basket.

If the Lakers keep the Suns out of the paint and defend it well, that means the Suns will rely on primarily the 3 point shot. The saying that "if you live by the 3 or die by the 3" will be in full effect during the series if that is the case.

If the Lakers can defend one on one in the paint, they won't have to run out to 3 point shooters. Amare will have to be a beast and we will have to play well the paint. If we don't, the Lakers will have guys on the perimeter to play our 3 point shooters all day.

Just for the record, that is what the Spurs and Lakers have done to us the past few years. They defended the paint so well, they didn't have to double down low and run guys to 3 point shooters. The Spurs this year, couldn't defend the paint and keep guys like Amare or Nash out. It remains to be seen if the Lakers can either but the last couple years they have had no problem man handling the Suns in the paint.

This may sound simplistic, but the big difference with the Spurs was that Timmy D couldn't hit a ft to save his life. He starts making foul shots and he plays more aggressive and everything is different.

 

[TJ]

Collins will have a bigger impact on this series than any other series' that the Suns have played. WE cant have an out-of-shape Robin Lopez trying to defend a hyped-up Pau Gasol, just yet.

Collins played in 3 of the 4 games against the Lakers. We lost all 3 of those.

I still dont see Collins as anything more than a stop gap before Frye comes in the game.

A healthy Lopez will impact the series even if it is his first game in 8 weeks. Even if all he does is take over Collins' 10-12 min/game, it will have a more profound effect than if Collins were still starting. Lopez is more of a force to be reckoned with underneath the basket because he matches up length wise against Bynum and Gasol, is a better rebounder and shot blocker than Collins without even trying. If all he does is start the first 6 minutes of the half, he can help dictate how the bigs play in the game. Frye still comes in around the 6 minute mark and spreads the floor out.

Lopez is talented enough that if we bring him back along slowly, he wont ruin the chemistry of the team, especially if all he is doing is replacing Collins on the roster.

 

[SirStefan32]

Collins played in 3 of the 4 games against the Lakers. We lost all 3 of those.

I still dont see Collins as anything more than a stop gap before Frye comes in the game.

A healthy Lopez will impact the series even if it is his first game in 8 weeks. Even if all he does is take over Collins' 10-12 min/game, it will have a more profound effect than if Collins were still starting. Lopez is more of a force to be reckoned with underneath the basket because he matches up length wise against Bynum and Gasol, is a better rebounder and shot blocker than Collins without even trying. If all he does is start the first 6 minutes of the half, he can help dictate how the bigs play in the game. Frye still comes in around the 6 minute mark and spreads the floor out.

Lopez is talented enough that if we bring him back along slowly, he wont ruin the chemistry of the team, especially if all he is doing is replacing Collins on the roster.

I believe the main reason Gentry inserted Collins into his starting lineup is to make sure chemistry is not disrupted. Collins is really a poor man's Lopez.
Honestly, all they need from Collins (or Lopez, for that matter) is to make sure the guy they are guarding doesn't get the rebound. If those two can keep Bynum from getting a rebound, and Amare can do the same with Gasol, JRich and Hill can clean up. Anything they get from Collins and Lopez beyond that is just a bonus.