Suns @ Lakers Game Thread

[Amare32]

Phoenix Suns (0-1) @ L.A Lakers (1-0)​

When Thursday 3rd November
Time: 8.30 PT
Location: STAPLES Center, L.A
TV: TNT

Probable Starting Lineups:

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PG-Steve Nash
SG-Raja Bell
SF-James Jones
PF-Shawn Marion
C-Kurt Thomas

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PG-Smush Parker
SG-Kobe Bryant
SF-Lamar Odom
PF-Kwame Brown
C-Chris Mihm

Starting 5 match-ups

Point guards
Steve Nash Vs Smush Parker

Steve Nash goes up against the same guy who the Suns waived last season Smush Parker. Amazing turn of events. Smush Parker now a starter which is very hard to believe. Steve Nash had 30 points, 8 rebounds and 9 assists in the Suns tough season opening loss to the Mavs. He had great overall numbers but made some very questionable decisions late in the game. Even though Parker has improved he should take Smush with no real problem. Should dominate this match-up. Smush though had an amazing start as a starter as he scored 20 points, 4 rebounds and 6 assists in the Lakers surprise overtime win @ Denver last night

Shooting guards
Raja Bell Vs Kobe Bryant

Raja Bell goes up against superstar Kobe Bryant who is fresh off his game winner against the Nuggets. Raja Bell had 18 points on 7-11 shooting in his Suns debut against Dallas but had only 5 points in the 2nd half and the two overtime periods after having 13 at halftime. He needs to stay involved for the whole game. Kobe Bryant is coming off a 33 point game last night in helping the Lakers beat the Nuggets in overtime.


Small Forwards
James Jones Vs Lamar Odom

James Jones struggled a little with his shot in his Suns debut. JJ scored 13 points on 4-12 shooting but did hit 3-6 threes. He is bound to keep improving. Lamar Odom meanwhile is back at his natural position at the 3 spot. He had a soild all-round game with 9 rebounds and 7 assists but struggled scoring. Adding just 8 points.

Power Forward
Shawn Marion Vs Kwame Brown

Shawn Marion had a very impressive all-round game against Dallas tallying 13 points, 16 rebounds and 7 assists. Although he struggled from the floor with just 5-14 from the field. He will need to have a better showing offensively tonight. Kwame Brown on the other hand struggled with foul trouble and didn't look very impressive last night. Although the match-ups were never going to be easy.

centers
Kurt Thomas Vs Chris Mihm

Kurt Thomas had a very quiet start to his Suns career with 7 points and just 3 rebounds. The Suns need alot more out of the center position than that. Mainly on the boards. He was however a presents inside and made a mistake when he was on the floor. Chris Mihm wasn't very effective as he also got into foul trouble and had just 7 points in 27 minutes. It looks like he may be in Phil Jackson's doghouse soon enough


Key's to the game

Suns

• Get Shawn Marion going early by attacking Kwame Brown who is not off to the bests of starts and has proven to be a very average defender. No reason why Marion can't take It to him and dominate.

• Raja Bell must do the best job he can on Kobe who everyone knows can go for 30+ every night. He must also come to play on the offensive end. Raja fell away in the 2nd half the Mavs game.

• Must get more out of Kurt Thomas who although was a presents inside did not get many rebounds and wasn't up to his normal scoring self. Same goes for Jimmy Jackson.

Lakers

• Get their big men going early. Kwame Brown and Chris Mihm seem to be struggling and low on confidence. They need to get something going at least. As right now their frontcourt looks quite bad.

• Lakers go as Kobe Bryant goes to a key for the Lakers is to let Kobe lead their team and take It strong to the hole. He is at his best when he is attacking.

• Must find a way to try and contain Steve Nash. Smush Parker as hard as he works doesn't stand much of a chance to guard Nash. It's going to be team defense that gets the Lakers through this one.

Final thoughts

The Phoenix Suns look to bounce back from a breakhearting double overtime defeat to the Dallas Mavericks. The game ended 111-108 in what was a game the Suns simply threw away. Losing a 17 point lead in the 4th and also a 5 point lead with 30 seconds left in the first OT period. Steve Nash had 30 points, 8 rebounds and 9 assists but tried to get one on one too much for my liking. Shawn Marion had 13 and 16 along with 7 assists but struggled a little offensively shooting the ball. While Raja Bell had 18 on his Suns debut but had a very quiet 2nd half.

The Lakers came away with a shock 99-97 win in Denver last night in overtime thanks to the game winner from Kobe Bryant who finished with 33 points. The Lakers are playing their home opener and are on a back to back. It will be a real challenge for them to win this game partly due to that reason.

With Amare missing, most teams fancy their chances with the Suns but as Dallas found out this is still a very talented basketball team with two all-stars and a bunch of good role players.

The Suns badly need this one and put tuesday's dissapointment behind them and get off the mark. Even without Amare, on paper the Suns have the better team and more proven players. So all in all I expect a Suns win. It should be close though, road games are never easy even when the home team is playing their 2nd game in two nights.

Don't forget to join tonight's game chat

http://www.arizonasportsfans.com/chat.php

 

[King A]

should be a fun game to watch / listen to

 

[justAndy]

:BIM: "presence"

 

[Brian in Mesa]

Go Lakers !!



BIM

 

[mjb21aztd]

This will be a hard game for the Suns to win and Nash cant win games by himself hint the dallas game.... But if we can get some good production from Kurt Thomas and all the other role players we should have a good shot to win GO SUNS

 

[Amare32]

Just need more production from guys like KT and Jimmy Jackson. And offensively we need Marion at around 20 a game.

 

[fordronken]

We just need to not suck at shooting, or give up in the fourth quarter, or have Nash force shots the entire end of the game.

As for Mihm getting into Jackson's doghouse, it's irrelevant. Unless of course people think Bynum knows what a basketball is. Or a triangle, for that matter.

 

[LakeShowMan]

First of all, good luck to you guys. I want a hard played game with no injuries (*knocks on wood*).

I think the Lakers will be in for a tough one tonight. Back-to-back are always tough, especially after an overtime game the night before.

Good job on the matchups. I have to say, Smush has been very impressive, from the Summer league, to the preseason, and now the first game of the regular season. However he has to face the MVP tonight, could be a long night.

Raja always gives Kobe fits. I wouldn't say on the level of Bowen, but Bell forces Kobe to put in work to get his. Kobe has really taken to the wing position (Jordan spot) in the triangle. He is getting to attack from off the ball, and it is making it much tougher to double him (I really expect him to flirt with .500 FG%, I am going to gues .475 for the season).

L.O. was off shooting last night, but he'll get his. He'll have a size mismatch with James Jones, but it will also take one of our better rebounders away from the glass on the defensive side.

Mihm plays much better at home, and I think Kwame will most likely pick up some quick fouls trying to cover the Matrix. I would not be surprised at all if Mihm or Kwame get a quick hook in favor of Devean, who has been playing outstanding basketball since the first day of training camp. He also played great D on 'Melo last night, and really frustrated him. Devean playing big and matching up against the Matrix wiil be the X-fator of the game IMO.

Should be a great game.

GO LAKERS!!!

 

[D-Dogg]

Go Lakers!

Suns/Lakers is always a good game. I think the Lakers win tonight by 5.

 

[D-Dogg]

We just need to not suck at shooting, or give up in the fourth quarter, or have Nash force shots the entire end of the game.

As for Mihm getting into Jackson's doghouse, it's irrelevant. Unless of course people think Bynum knows what a basketball is. Or a triangle, for that matter.

6 minutes, two blocks and two rebounds. I think he knows what a basketball is.

No, he's not ready yet, but it looks like he'll be ready sooner than expected. His six minutes were high-energy and the team played great while he was in.

 

[abomb]

Go Lakers!

I think Odom has a much better tonight than he did in Denver.

A-Bomb

 

[Yuma]

What's the over/under on how soon in the game (minutes) Marion gets Brown sent to the bench for good?

 

[Amare32]

Don't forget to join the chat for tonight's game

http://www.arizonasportsfans.com/chat.php

going to be a fun TNT double header tonight

 

[nowagimp]

We'll see if back to back games slow down the lakers, just as it slowed down the nuggets(melo especially) last night. The exciting thing is that both teams are capable of taking the division crown. The kings stink, and the suns lost amare, leaving the door wide open. I think that Boris Diaw may be an x-factor against Odom, defensively. The suns bench is superior, which it needs to be, as none of the suns starters can create their own shot(save Nash who is needed to distribute more, shoot less). As for the triangle, you need three angles, the lakers have one(Kobe). I expect to see more of KT and grant tonight to neutralize the lakers size advantage. If the game is close in the 4th, Kobe could be a problem. Go get him Raja!

 

[D-Dogg]

What's the over/under on how soon in the game (minutes) Marion gets Brown sent to the bench for good?

48. I'll take the over.

 

[D-Dogg]

Go Lakers!

I think Odom has a much better tonight than he did in Denver.

A-Bomb

I'm not sure he could actually play *worse*.

 

[thegrahamcrackr]

I'm guessing that the Suns win because they had time to recover from Tues. game and LA had an OT game last night and had to travel.

I think Nash tears the Lakers apart (scoring a bunch), but the Matrix gets relatively shut down again on offense.

 

[Amare32]

Well Raja has always given Kobe problems while always seeming to have big games against L.A. Raja really needs to step up tonight. He dissapeared too much for my liking against Dallas.

 

[elindholm]

Where were all these supporters of other teams last season? It's like no one has the guts to show their face unless the Suns are struggling (LSM excepted).

 

[D-Dogg]

Where were all these supporters of other teams last season? It's like no one has the guts to show their face unless the Suns are struggling (LSM excepted).

Hey, I talked ish to you guys last season as well. And my team was struggling, yet had some close, down to the wire games against a very good Suns team.

 

[jw7]

TV: TNT

Wow, the Suns are on national TV for their 1st two games? Pretty cool.


The Cards can't get on national unless they go to Mexico.

 

[Amare32]

We got alot of national TV games this year, of course basically all because of Amare and how excited the team was last year..still good to see them on TNT. You can bet Charles digs into us again though.

 

[TucsonDevil]

Another reason the Suns find themselves on National TV - Stern would like to see other teams play that style - FUN. Did anyone catch the 76ers and Pistons last night. Everytime I tuned in - I found myself falling into a comma with how long it takes them to bring the ball up the court. Also - seems to me that players stay within three feet of their "assigned" spot except the man with the ball. It makes me appreciate the Suns that much more.

... I was surprised to see that the Pistons scored 108 points, though... 108! in one game, without OT! That must be a record for that team the last 7 years.

 

[Amare32]

Pistons new style offense=EXCITMENT

They looked really good out there in Saunders new offense. They were pushing the ball non-stop all game. Larry Brown's system was holding them back offensively.

 

[TucsonDevil]

Yeah, I guess my comments were more towards the 76ers.