Suns Vs Lakers

[jbeecham]

I think this is going to be a real test for the Suns tonight. The Lakers seem to be really inconsistent so far this season (kinda like the Kings). They're a tough team when their shots are falling and they killed us inside in the preseason with Mihm & Grant. I'm pretty sure we'll start our medium ball lineup tonight because the Lakers have been starting:

PG: Chucky Atkins
SG: Kobe Bryant
SF: Caron Butler
PF: Lamar Odom
C: Chris Mihm

with Briant Grant & Brian Cook coming off the bench and playing 18 minutes each. It looks like Luke Walton & Tierre Brown both get some time as well in some of thier previous games. Medvedenko has gotten a DNP in the last 4 games......is he injured? Their roster still shows Vlade & Jumaine Jones & Devean George on the injured list.

Thier wins are similar to our in that they haven't been over impressive teams. So far they've beaten Denver, Altanta, New Orleans, Houston & the Clippers and they've lost to Utah, San Antonio, Memphis & Orlando.

 

[Chaz]

It think this is a great test tonight. Gotta win the home games and gotta win in the division. The Kings loss last week was a big blow to the Suns this game is as big if not bigger. Well, at least as big as a game this early in the season can be. Suns need to stack some wins against quality Western conf. opponents.

Defense, defense, defense.

The Suns will need all they can muster in this game.


I expect the standard lineup tonight. I think there are some good matchups for the starters in this game. The Marion/Odom matchup doesn't bother me as much as the Marion/Nowitzki did going in. I think the Suns have an advantage at every other position with the exception of SG and at least we have some decent defenders that can play there.

 

[StatsAmare]

Is it 7:00p.m.? Huh,Huh is it 7:00 I'm ready!!

You must be registered for see images

 

[slinslin]

Kobe Bryant 27.66ppg
Amare Stoudemire 27.62ppg

 

[Chaz]

Where's BIM?

No trash talking about this game?


Funny Heat index today. I thought of BIM and how much he is a fan of Kobe.

Kobe's in town; Roll out the welcome mat

Bob Young
The Arizona Republic
Nov. 19, 2004 12:00 AM

The Los Angeles Lakers are in town for the first time this season, and we thought it would be nice to make Kobe Bryant feel all warm and welcome.

After all, he's been through a lot in the past year or so.

There was that nasty mess up in Colorado.


There was that even nastier breakup of the Lakers, which we're sure was consensual, too.

Then there was all that booing at the American Music Awards the other night.

We don't want the guy to feel as if he's out there all alone, although he plays that way most of the time.

Come to think of it, he mastered the isolation game long before coach Rudy Tomjanovich came along.

Anyway, we were going to ask Nicollette Sheridan to meet Bryant with open arms in the visitors' locker room, but we decided to throw in the towel on that one.

Instead, we put together a little welcome basket with these items we think he'll enjoy:


• A copy of Phil Jackson's book The Last Season: A Team in Search of Its Soul.

We think Kobe will relish reading the part about how his "boyish hero image has been replaced by that of a callous gun for hire."

We know we did.


• An empty ring box.

Since there won't be any more championship bling-bling, maybe he can give it to his wife for that purple diamond he bought her.

Because nothing says, "That's my bad" like a $4 million diamond.


• An iPod music player to drown out the hecklers during warm-ups.

The NBA told Vince Carter he can't wear one, but we think they'll agree these are special circumstances.


• A Ray Allen bobblehead doll - the one of the Seattle guard that smiles, nods up and down and keeps repeating, "He's going to be very selfish."


• A photo of Lamar Odom.

Maybe Bryant would recognize his new teammate during a game.

Of course, we can't give him what he once had and could really use now, besides an endorsement deal with McDonald's.

A good big man.

 

[myrondizzo]

i love the "A photo of Lamar Odom." part. cracks me up. hopefully Q will find his shot tonight. i think that amare is getting into this dominating the inside thing. i wish we could start off hot early. havent done that in awhile. its so nice to watch a game where you dont have to worry about the suns getting into there game. who everkobe is gaurding needs to take it at him early. Q could probaly post him up if hes playing the 3 spot i dont think we are going to see marion stuggle to guard the 4 spot like has happened in our loses. i dont think this game should be as tough as the dallas game but we'll have to see. i think that we are starting to get the pick'n roll down so if the fast break isnt there hopefully that will get us some good looks and bring the defence out a bit.

 

[JCSunsfan]

PG: Chucky Atkins
SG: Kobe Bryant
SF: Caron Butler
PF: Lamar Odom
C: Chris Mihm

Thinking through the starting lineups.

First question. Who do you want Amare to defend? PF is the first option, but Odom is quick and plays well outside. Amare can matchup but there is too much potential for foul trouble. If Amare gets in foul trouble our whole offense suffers. Amare on Mihm.

Who plays Odom. I don't think Hunter is up to Odom's speed. Marion gives up too much height but can pester him and has that leaping ability. JJ is a possibility, but he's not the rebounder that Marion is. Marion on Odom (but this could be a problem). Bo would be an option. Maybe he will slide into this role if his game is still up to speed.

Butler. Well, now the choices are easier. Its JJ.

Kobe. Now here is a challenge for Q.

Adkins. Nash. Duh.


Small ball lineup again. Let's face it. Amare will match up against the least skilled of the opponents pf or centers. The way the league is right now, its likely to be the center.

We need a defensive specialist at pf. Large mobile, rebounding shotblocking. Bo does in a pinch, but he's not exactly the player. Dice would be nice. Its too bad, the injury risk was just way too high. Tyson Chandler would be very good. HMM.

 

[LakeShowMan]

Should be a great game tonight. Very nterested to see how the matchups work out. Mihm has played well so far, but he will have his hands full. With Q and Marion, you guys could give us a lot of problems on the defensive boards (that and turnovers have really been our achillies heal this year).

I think L. Odom will have a mismatch against whoever guards him, the Lakers need to let him work. Hopefully the Lakers will be knocking their shots down again, and Caron has to be aggresive.

Kobe will be Kobe. He has done a pretty terrific job of taking what the defense gives him this year. He has attacked in man coverage, and found open guys off double teams.

Should be a fun wideopen game. Amare and Nash scare the hell out of me, so Mihm, Chucky, or whoever else has to guard them have to step up.

Watch out for the pick and pop when Cook gets in the game. He has really extended his range this year, and is going to hurt people with it.

Should be a hell of a game.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

i actually think we'll see the following:

Amare - Mihm - the preseason game showed that this could be a problem. though mihm is not a stud, when guarded by a considerably smaller player who rotates off on defense mihm is very effective. not effective enough to overcome amare's offense, but enough that we should consider starting hunter on mihm.

marion - odom - this is a problem. odom is good at taking advantage of height differentials. as a result, marion won't be heads and shoulders (pun recognized but not originally intended) above his competition.

q - caron - caron is STRONG. likes to the play the post. in fact, q and caron are very similar players. this could be a great matchup.

jj - kobe - at least initially. i think we'll see a lot of q and prolly more of marion on kobe also. jj can do an adequate job (as well as anyone else can) on kobe, but it will severely hamper him at the offensive end. seems that when jj has to really expend a lot of energy defensively his offense really suffers.

nash - atkins - this should just be abuse.

i think we win this game, but i think it'll be a struggle for at least 3 1/2 quarters. if it's close down the stretch we'll lose due to kobe.

 

[arthurracoon]

This should be a fun game to watch/listen to!

 

[Errntknght]

I'm not that concerned with the matchups - in the preseason game the Lakers killed us with their running game, mainly when their reserves were on the floor. It would be nice if Rudy forgot about that but I wouldn't count on it. I sure hope coach Mikey remembers and keeps fresh troops on the floor - he's been very reluctant to use the bench.

I would say Hunter is the wrong guy to put on Mihm as Steven is very prone to leaving his man in order to help, and the Lakers are looking for just those opportunities for Mihm. Lampe might be a better choice for that assignment as he stays with his own man, though he does switch too readily. The same would go for Brian Cook, who likes to slip outside to shoot.

 

[Brian in Mesa]

Where's BIM?

No trash talking about this game?

Funny Heat index today. I thought of BIM and how much he is a fan of Kobe.

Go Lakers!! (except Kobe)

Lakers 98
Suns 94

BIM

 

[thegrahamcrackr]

I think Ouchie is on the money with the matchups.

JJ is the stronger defender between him and Q, and he has gotton every tough assignment so far. Kobe is all his.

Marion will start on Odom. I am not really worried about it that much. Odom could punish Marion down low, but I doubt the Lakers try it for more than 2 minutes.

Amare always guards the centers, he will take on Mihm.

 

[sunsfn]

As this games goes on we will probably see Brian Grant on Amare.
He is much quicker than Mihm and is really plays hard. He is not as quick as Amare though, and he should pick up some fouls.

Hopefully Amare gets his foul shot back for tonight.

 

[devilalum]

hopefully Q will find his shot tonight.

How long does Q get to pop brick after brick from 3 at a 24% clip before someone pulls the plug?

I really like his game but I'm getting sick of watching him chuck it up.

The guy almost never takes a 15 footer, its either a layup/dunk or a bomb.

 

[myrondizzo]

How long does Q get to pop brick after brick from 3 at a 24% clip before someone pulls the plug?

I really like his game but I'm getting sick of watching him chuck it up.

The guy almost never takes a 15 footer, its either a layup/dunk or a bomb.

I'm hoping he finds it in warm ups. if not then give him 3-5 shots in the game depending how far off they are. after that i'd say you dont shoot if you arent in the paint. i think he'll be fine if Brandy isnt there she probally distracts him.

 

[Chaz]

Q has even been missing in close so far this year. Unless he can dunk it he has just not shot very well at all.

He will come around. So far his rebounding, hustle, and defense has been pretty good. I would like to see him move in a little closer and maybe try and get to the FT line before he jacks up any more threes.

 

[F-Dog]

Let's see, I've got plenty of worries about this one:


--Kobe: Joe Johnson is the Suns' best defender, but he got abused by LeBron last week. The next-best option is probably Marion, who'll have his hands full with Odom tonight. If Joe J gets into foul trouble, Kobe will have a huge game. (Kobe's fasciatis is the sort of injury that only flares up when there's a microphone nearby.)

--Odom: remember when Marion used to have so much trouble guarding the tall SFs? He did such a great job on Nowitzki, though, that I feel a little better about this matchup.

--Chris Mihm: when he goes off, the Lakers win. I don't know what the Suns did against him in preseason, but whatever it was, it didn't work.

--The Suns' perimeter shooting has gotten worse and worse as the season has gone along. I'm hoping that a little home cooking might turn that around tonight.

And, of course, the Lakers destroyed the Suns in preseason, and the Suns lost to the last division rival they played at home (the Kings).


Lakers' fans have plenty of stuff to worry about too, though; on balance, this is a game the Suns should win. I hope things go according to form.



Hey, isn't Barbosa back? The Suns might actually get help from their bench in this game!

It will be interesting to see who the ninth man will be--probably Voskuhl or Bo, but you never know.

 

[baltimorer]

You guys see Tom Chambers parading his kid around? That's sick, isn't it?

God, if only the kid had a big head, we could rip on him and make fun of him.

 

[nathan]

--Chris Mihm: when he goes off, the Lakers win. I don't know what the Suns did against him in preseason, but whatever it was, it didn't work.

He's probably not playing tonight because of an upset stomach.

 

[JS22]

Join the chat guys!

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

 

[BC867]

Is D'Antoni on the Lakers payroll?

The Suns, out-rebounded 18-7 during the 1st quarter (and shooting just about everything from the perimeter), close with a lineup of NO center and NO power forward, when Marion replaces Amare.

Then they go even smaller, opening the 2nd quarter, with two point guards.

Whose payroll is D'Antoni on? It's embarassing.

 

[carey]

Whose payroll is D'Antoni on? It's embarassing.

We're down by 1 at the half.

 

[Mike Olbinski]

I'm gonna have a heart attack here...

Mike

 

[Brandon_Webb]

Havoc in the chat room. What a game. This crowd is electric.