We win it all this year

[Trophytown]

Nobody's here to gloat. I will say this was a greatly contested game. I thought at one point in the 2nd quarter that the Lakers would blow it open but Hill kept the Suns close. I didnt think he had it in him, but both he and Amare were huge in stemming what couldve been a bigger lead in the 2nd quarter.

Huge difference on the boards tonight..............impressive for the Suns (kept the game close). But allowing 56% FG shooting isnt gonna cut it, no matter who you play. Thats a big problem.

Great game............really great game.

 

[JCSunsfan]

We did outrebound the Lakers by 13. That's a change

 

[devilalum]

Did anybody else notice that Gasol did almost all of his scoring when Shaq was out of the game?

I think Strawberry could be our extra perimeter defender if he continues to get minutes. He played some decent defense on Kobe.

 

[az1965]

I think Strawberry could be our extra perimeter defender if he continues to get minutes. He played some decent defense on Kobe.

He can't shoot to save his life so he won't get many minutes from D'Antoni. I was surprised he played him so many minutes in the last few games but that was probably because we did not have enough bodies.

 

[mojorizen7]

Did anybody else notice that Gasol did almost all of his scoring when Shaq was out of the game?

I think Strawberry could be our extra perimeter defender if he continues to get minutes. He played some decent defense on Kobe.

I noticed most of the Lakers scoring in general came while Shaq was sitting. It was bad.
It was like predicting rain standing underneath a raincloud.

 

[Ode to Ocho]

The Lakers didn't even have Bynum (best rebounder, anchor) and Ariza (best defender not named Kobe).

So yeah.

 

[AceP]

The Lakers didn't even have Bynum (best rebounder, anchor) and Ariza (best defender not named Kobe).

So yeah.

That is correct, so we must get an extra rotation player who must be a proven veteran.

 

[devilalum]

He can't shoot to save his life so he won't get many minutes from D'Antoni. I was surprised he played him so many minutes in the last few games but that was probably because we did not have enough bodies.

The guy from the Clips can't shoot either. Why do the Suns want him? Raja can't seem to shoot anymore either. I'd like a defender that can shoot too. Kobe guarded Bell a lot which meant he could help out in the lane and get in the middle of all the Suns plays because the Lakers didn't have to honor Bell.

 

[Ninjafish]

I noticed tonight looking at the box score that strangely enough, Bell was the only Suns player with a positive rating for the +/- stat, even though he was 0-3.

Is that +/- stat usually accurate? If it is, then maybe he did a better job on Kobe than it seems.

 

[PHX 32]

The kid averages a double-double against Western Conference opposition and is a matchup nightmare due to his size (Shaq is the ONLY player on the Suns that can guard him). Bynum's not an elite player yet, but he's pretty damn good and anyone that watches hoops will admit as much.

Man-crush much?

 

[az1965]

The guy from the Clips can't shoot either. Why do the Suns want him? Raja can't seem to shoot anymore either. I'd like a defender that can shoot too. Kobe guarded Bell a lot which meant he could help out in the lane and get in the middle of all the Suns plays because the Lakers didn't have to honor Bell.

I think Bell really just gave us one good year offensively, his first with the Suns. He has been very inconsistent last and this season. Ross doesn't excite me but he can play some so we will see.

 

[nashman]

Its the first game for Shaq, if anyone honestly thinks he knows the system already thats just silly. They played well and will only get better as he and the Suns learn to play together a little more. And as someone said earlier Kobe hit alot of contested shots, tough shots that good defense was played on. The Lakers are playing well and have been in their groove, the Suns were basically coming back from a week without playing AND incorporating a new player. If anything Lakers fans should be concerned that we almost beat them in this situation. Its really to bad this last matchup didn't come a few weeks from now when Shaq actually knows what hes doing out there. The Suns are gonna be fine and should be a very exciting rest of the season and playoff run, with a little luck health wise we have a legitimate title shot this year, and that alone is worth being excited about. I love the toughness Shaq brings a little attitude and some hard fouls is what this team needed, and I think its only gonna get better.

 

[jlove]

All you Lakers didn't have Bynum or Ariza trippers please read and heed.......

Yes the Lakers didn't have them, however, if you look at the way the Lakers will play once he does come back and look at the match-ups it will look better for us.

Shaq vs Bynum = Wash
Amare vs Gasol = Amare
Hill vs Odom = Odom
Bell vs Kobe = Kobe
Nash vs Fisher = Nash

We will actually be better suited to face them once they get Bynum back offensively and defensively. Shaq, when he did have a body on Gasol, forced him to make hard and challenged shots, but Gasol got the better of Shaq, he won't come close to that when Amare is on him full time.

Then you look at the bench.....
Barbosa vs Farmar = Barbosa 8 of 10 nights a year
Strawberry vs Vujacic = Vujacic
???? vs Walton = right now it goes to Walton
Diaw vs Vlad Rad = Diaw
Skinner vs Turiaf = Wash

 

[Trophytown]

Its the first game for Shaq, if anyone honestly thinks he knows the system already thats just silly. They played well and will only get better as he and the Suns learn to play together a little more. And as someone said earlier Kobe hit alot of contested shots, tough shots that good defense was played on. The Lakers are playing well and have been in their groove, the Suns were basically coming back from a week without playing AND incorporating a new player. If anything Lakers fans should be concerned that we almost beat them in this situation. Its really to bad this last matchup didn't come a few weeks from now when Shaq actually knows what hes doing out there. The Suns are gonna be fine and should be a very exciting rest of the season and playoff run, with a little luck health wise we have a legitimate title shot this year, and that alone is worth being excited about. I love the toughness Shaq brings a little attitude and some hard fouls is what this team needed, and I think its only gonna get better.

As a Laker fan im not concerned much at all. Coming into a hostile arena thats amped up like a playoff atmosphere buzz, logging 130 pts while shooting 56% from the floor as a team coming off a game the night before. I like the way my team responded last night---we're still young in a few positions and we're learning how to win in pressure situations. So i have very little to be concerned about. Actually Im very confident now. And we still have one card to play (A Bynum).

 

[Arizona's Finest]

First off, yes the Cats are pissing me off.

Second, I was and still am on board with the Shaq trade but on the condition that we replaced Marion's departed skill sets. Shaq took care of the previously absent front court size, team chemistry, and physical play. We're still missing an extra 10 minutes per game of quality play not to mention Marion's versatility and ability to create turnovers on defense. Get those in and we should be okay even without a shooter and backup point.

One more move...

Oh I totally agree with Mao on this one. I won't say we DEFINITIVELY can't beat the Lakers in 7. But we need a wing defender to go over the top.

I like that we no longer will allow Al Jefferson to go for 35 and 15. I don't like that perimeter players are now having career games against us.

Ride the mo Sarver. Get Quentin Ross or Pietrus in here STAT and we will literally have no deficiencies.

 

[D-Dogg]

2. If he is in good health and gets in better shape, there is no reason he can't play 35 minutes a night.

He will break down, and hard. I hope that Mike D plays him 35 minutes a night, in case we have to meet up in the playoffs.

 

[chickenhead]

Obviously, it's still too early to tell. Who can say whether Shaq's minutes or totals this game will prove to be an aberration in any respect down the road? What we're looking for is for him to get increasingly healthy--which can happen with the Suns trainers if he's not overextended--and be in sync with the team when the game slows down in the playoffs.

True, we didn't see Bynum last night, and the Lakers will only be tougher come playoff time. BUT, this move was arguably designed for how the game will be played in the playoffs. Hopefully we'll see the progress we need.

 

[D-Dogg]

All you Lakers didn't have Bynum or Ariza trippers please read and heed.......

Yes the Lakers didn't have them, however, if you look at the way the Lakers will play once he does come back and look at the match-ups it will look better for us.

Shaq vs Bynum = Wash
Amare vs Gasol = Amare
Hill vs Odom = Odom
Bell vs Kobe = Kobe
Nash vs Fisher = Nash

We will actually be better suited to face them once they get Bynum back offensively and defensively. Shaq, when he did have a body on Gasol, forced him to make hard and challenged shots, but Gasol got the better of Shaq, he won't come close to that when Amare is on him full time.

Then you look at the bench.....
Barbosa vs Farmar = Barbosa 8 of 10 nights a year
Strawberry vs Vujacic = Vujacic
???? vs Walton = right now it goes to Walton
Diaw vs Vlad Rad = Diaw
Skinner vs Turiaf = Wash

???? Bynum back creates loads of matchup problems for you. We had Lamar Odom and Vlad guarding Amare...no rebounder in there to speak of. With Bynum, the spacing sets up so that Amare doesn't get flash rebounds. The rebounds tail off, we have better interior defense with shot blocking and the pick and roll can work with either Bynum or Gasol, both excel at it.

Oh, and Diaw over vlad, uh...no. Vlad is 13th in the leage in 3pt% right now, and has been aggressive going to the hole. Skinner and Turiaf a wash? Ronny avg's 6.7 in 17 minutes, and Skinner 3.6 in 14 minutes...both have similar block and rebound numbers with Ronny the much better passer (and only in his second year, getting better).

Your bench consists of barbs (who is practically a starter). Ours is 10 deep.

And Ariza takes Luke's spot when healthy, which gives more defense, better spacing and athleticism.

Gasol will do just fine offensively against Amare...he's not a good defender. Amare will score his, as well.

I have no clue where you are coming from with your thought process, other than hope, but saying that Bynum back on the court for the Lakers makes you match up better with us is silliness. It puts Grant Hill on Lamar, where Lamar will eat him alive. Marion couldn't guard Lamar...there's no way Hill does.

 

[D-Dogg]

What we're looking for is for him to get increasingly healthy--which can happen with the Suns trainers if he's not overextended--and be in sync with the team when the game slows down in the playoffs.

I thought he looked surprisingly good last night...good shape, active, etc. I don't know if that was feeding off of the energy of the debut, or what. It will be interesting to see if he continues at that level or tails off.

 

[Ode to Ocho]

All you Lakers didn't have Bynum or Ariza trippers please read and heed.......

Yes the Lakers didn't have them, however, if you look at the way the Lakers will play once he does come back and look at the match-ups it will look better for us.

I'm sorry, but logic and reality dictates that this kind of argument makes absolutely no sense.

Shaq vs Bynum = Wash

Wash huh? Bynum is a better defender than Shaq is right now. He also scores more efficiently than Shaq. Claiming this is far fetched.

Amare vs Gasol = Amare

Maybe in rebounding but thats it. Amare shot 3/8 against Gasol last night. Most of his points came against Lamar Odom and Ronny Turiaf. Gasol can score on Amare just as easily as Amare can score on Gasol. If anything, this is a wash.

We will actually be better suited to face them once they get Bynum back offensively and defensively. Shaq, when he did have a body on Gasol, forced him to make hard and challenged shots, but Gasol got the better of Shaq, he won't come close to that when Amare is on him full time.

Haha. Amare's post defense is pathetic. Gasol will torch Amare when he is on him full time. And you can forget double teaming him either. Not with Bynum on the opposite block.

Then you look at the bench.....
Barbosa vs Farmar = Barbosa 8 of 10 nights a year
Strawberry vs Vujacic = Vujacic
???? vs Walton = right now it goes to Walton
Diaw vs Vlad Rad = Diaw
Skinner vs Turiaf = Wash

Good thing comparisons like this are meaningless. Lakers bench outplayed the Suns bench last night. Thats all that matters.

Fact is, the Lakers are a much better defensive team than the Suns. And they will be even scarier defensively when Bynum gets back. Andrew has already proven to be one of the best anchor's in the league, oh and he is only shooting 64% from the field.

Lakers can match the Suns scoring pace. Lakers play the better defense. Lakers are up 3-1 in the season series. The Lakers are a better team than the Phoenix Suns.

 

[Roca Dolla]

donald u stupid ass netbanger sittin on computer 24/7

 

[abomb]

donald u stupid ass netbanger sittin on computer 24/7

That post made Gee's look like Chaucer.

 

[Trophytown]

I was observing his body language, his movements and his facial reactions last night, very closely. And i know there had to be at least 4 or 5 instances where Shaq whinced or grimaced like he was experiencing some form of discomfort/pain. What i thought was very interesting was the fact that when he went to mid-court for the initial jumpball, he was grimacing then. Did anyone else catch this ? This diving, and hustling for loose balls, while impressive, had to aggravate that hip. Im very interested to see how he holds up over the next three weeks.

 

[jlove]

I'm sorry, but logic and reality dictates that this kind of argument makes absolutely no sense.



Wash huh? Bynum is a better defender than Shaq is right now. He also scores more efficiently than Shaq. Claiming this is far fetched.



Maybe in rebounding but thats it. Amare shot 3/8 against Gasol last night. Most of his points came against Lamar Odom and Ronny Turiaf. Gasol can score on Amare just as easily as Amare can score on Gasol. If anything, this is a wash.



Haha. Amare's post defense is pathetic. Gasol will torch Amare when he is on him full time. And you can forget double teaming him either. Not with Bynum on the opposite block.



Good thing comparisons like this are meaningless. Lakers bench outplayed the Suns bench last night. Thats all that matters.

Fact is, the Lakers are a much better defensive team than the Suns. And they will be even scarier defensively when Bynum gets back. Andrew has already proven to be one of the best anchor's in the league, oh and he is only shooting 64% from the field.

Lakers can match the Suns scoring pace. Lakers play the better defense. Lakers are up 3-1 in the season series. The Lakers are a better team than the Phoenix Suns.

Lets look at that shall we:

Lakers bench: 26Pts 2Bks 1St 5Asts 10Rbds 45%Fg 43%3FG
Suns bench: 29Pts 1Bks 2St 9Asts 9Rbds 44%Fg 28%3FG

How did the Laker bench outplay the Suns bench? Just like my review of the line-ups, the benches are pretty equal as are the starters. I just think the Suns will match up better when Bynum returns because of match-ups and rotations. I'm not taking anything away from the Lakers. They have been great all year.

 

[D-Dogg]

donald u stupid ass netbanger sittin on computer 24/7

Don't you have some really terrible rap to go record?