Suns-Lakers Game 1

[resistanze]

No thread? This game should be good.

Also Kobe's fadeaway is simply absurd.

[Texas_Ranger]

I hope that Lakers will win this one.

[ratm1221]

Same story different game. Suns can't get a defensive rebound to save their lives.

:sleep

[ratm1221]

I hope that Lakers will win this one.

Although I wouldn't lose any sleep over it either way, I do too.

[theMUHMEshow]

Kobe fucking killing

[missmyzte]

I am so proud of how the Lakers are playing right now, offensive boards are what's really helping them. Go Lakers!!!!!!!

[theMUHMEshow]

http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w48/themuhmeshow/Random%20Basketball/Kobe200x200-1.jpg

[theMUHMEshow]

Can Odom stay on his damn feet

[Texas_Ranger]

Great D by Lakers so far.

[theMUHMEshow]

Mark Jackson is brutal.

[theMUHMEshow]

Bell needs a damn T. He knows he fucking hit him on that J

[ratm1221]

Wow. Is the Suns skid they had the last couple of games of the regular season going to carry over in to the playoffs?

[theMUHMEshow]

Bell needs a damn T. He knows he fucking hit him on that J

:dizzy maybe not lolz

[resistanze]

Haha tough break Raja, it was a BS call.

[theMUHMEshow]

Phil shoulda got kobe a breather there at the end of the 1st.

[Texas_Ranger]

Good 1st quater for LA. Keep it up.

[Xylus]

I can see the Suns having a poor first half, but they'll kick it up in the 3rd quarter. They're 6-18 on mostly wide open jump shots. Amare hasn't really made an impact yet, Nash was sloppy, Bell was called for some bogus fouls.

Suns down 11 now. Very eeeeentaresting!

[theMUHMEshow]

So...are we in for another 7 game series here?

[01Snake]

Suns not looking to swift.

[boutons_]

typical Suns game, they trail or keep it close, then the other team folds in crunch time, PHX hits their shots, wins. much like the previous Spurs' game @PHX.

I'd be surprised in Lakers can keep it up all game.

[angryllama]

Wow. The Suns have been totally taken out of their transition game. The fact that they are a terrible rebounding team hasnt helped things.

Good game planning by Phil Jackson. The Suns look bumfuzzled.

If the Suns lose this game, their whole 61 game season will have been flushed. They need to get this win much more than the Lakers do. Let's see if they can wake up and figure out the Lakers' D in time.

It looks like Bryant has worked the Nowitzki spin-fade into his repetoire.

[theMUHMEshow]

Phoenix is getting shots....they just cant hit for shit. No penetration.

[SAtown]

Is there anything worse than watching Kobe force shots and look for a foul?

[angryllama]

Is there anything worse than watching Kobe force shots and look for a foul?

Tim Duncan's palms up act is pretty bad.

So is Ginobili's flail-and-flop-down-the-lane-looking-for-a-call-while-putting-other-players-at-risk-for-injury act.

[SAtown]

So is Ginobili's flail-and-flop-down-the-lane-looking-for-a-call-while-putting-other-players-at-risk-for-injury act.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jVS0zRCzB0U

[resistanze]

Wow what was Odom doing on D

[Amarelooms]

If there is a God the Suns will lose...we'll know in 2 hours I guess

[theMUHMEshow]

I LOVE how the refs are letting them play

[resistanze]

And Odom screws up on O...

[theMUHMEshow]

I have a feeling LA is going to fall apart w/o Odom on the floor.

[theMUHMEshow]

...and BOOM

[theMUHMEshow]

Dammit

[Texas_Ranger]

''Great offense is better than great defense''. - Marc Jackson is an idiot.
Everybody knows that defense wins championships.

[Amarelooms]

Kobe's teammates SUCK ASS....why would he even pass the ball?

They should have a rule that everyone except Kobe focus on D and rebounds and ONLY SHOOT if wide open lol :elephant

[kingsfan]

Come on Suns, fuck the fakers!
Wtf is up with Turiaf's hair? :wtf He looks like a palm tree.

[resistanze]

Kobe is the fucking king...

[theMUHMEshow]

http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w48/themuhmeshow/Random%20Basketball/kobevsmj.jpg

[theMUHMEshow]

KOOOOOOOBE IS HOT! wwwwwwwwwhhhhhhhhhhooooooooooooooowwwwwwwwwwww

[lefty]

http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w48/themuhmeshow/Random%20Basketball/kobevsmj.jpg
:donkey

[theMUHMEshow]

Its so obvious:

Kobe>Nash

[SAtown]

Wtf is up with Turiaf's hair? :wtf He looks like a palm tree.

:lmao

[theMUHMEshow]

http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w48/themuhmeshow/Random%20Basketball/kobevsmj.jpg

OHHHHHHHHHHHH MY GOD!

[Budkin]

See this is why I did not want to face the Lakers in the first round... Kobe in the playoffs scares me.

[makedamnsure]

geeezzzz Kobe at the end of the half was just amazing. 28 ptss

[SAtown]

OK, let's see if Kobe can do this for 3 1/2 more games. Hopefully...

[Amarelooms]

Kobe should not pass. Infact I would tell one of the other Lakers players just to stay back on D and we'll play 4/5

[angryllama]

Bryant looked pretty darn impressive in that first half.

I think that the Lakers are confident that they can win this series.

The Suns looked deflated after that last three-pointer. If that doesnt wake them up, theyre in trouble.

[Amarelooms]

See this is why I did not want to face the Lakers in the first round... Kobe in the playoffs scares me.

Honestly, he can't play like this for 4 games :elephant

[Shank]

''Great offense is better than great defense''. - Marc Jackson is an idiot.
Everybody knows that defense wins championships.

Yeah, that quote had me baffled as well. Why would he say something like that?

[cornbread]

Was that 4 3pts in a row for Kobe?

[Texas_Ranger]

This is one of those 50+ games for Kobe.

[missmyzte]

Yeah, that quote had me baffled as well. Why would he say something like that?
What's incredible is that he didn't just say it once, he said it multiple times. Ridiculous!

[Texas_Ranger]

Yeah, that quote had me baffled as well. Why would he say something like that?

I don't know. And he said it twice. :dramaquee :dizzy

[ratm1221]

Holly shit, I don't know what's worse... ABC's terrible coverage of professional basketball games... or having to listen to the f'ing Pussy Cat Dolls every commercial break. Find me a basketball fan that listens to these Spice Girl wanna be bitches and I'll kiss your ass!

:madrun :madrun :madrun :madrun

[lefty]

Jackson before the game : "Kobe was the MVP for the 2nd half of the season, because he averaged 36 pts/game, blabla"
What a moron ; let's take march and april : Kobe averaged 41 pts/g ; and the Lakers went ...9-15

[bonesinaz]

''Great offense is better than great defense''. - Marc Jackson is an idiot.
Everybody knows that defense wins championships.


Marc Jackson must have a bigger shoe size than his I.Q.
I can't take it anymore, he is on mute.

[Shank]

Holly shit, I don't know what's worse... ABC's terrible coverage of professional basketball games... or having to listen to the f'ing Pussy Cat Dolls every commercial break. Find me a basketball fan that listens to these Spice Girl wanna be bitches and I'll kiss your ass!

:madrun :madrun :madrun :madrun

That's because you're handling it all wrong. You don't actually LISTEN to the Pussycat Dolls. They're there for you to ogle and masturbate to. Hell, I didn't even know they sang before today.

[StylisticS]

Wtf is up with Turiaf's hair? :wtf He looks like a palm tree.
lmao :lol :lol :lol

[ratm1221]

Quick comment on Lebron James just talking about his injury..

If that would have been Dwayne Wade, he would have left in a wheelchair. :lol

[angryllama]

Quick comment on Lebron James just talking about his injury..

If that would have been Dwayne Wade, he would have left in a wheelchair. :lol

Careflight

[ratm1221]

How do the Suns get away with pushing off so much? They need to start watching for that closer.

[resistanze]

Butterfingers.

[Texas_Ranger]

Amare almoust fucked Farmar.

[ratm1221]

Getting a little emotional out there.

[Tippecanoe]

:lol :lol :lol
absolutely no D in this game

[Shank]

And the award for best actor on a Sunday afternoon in April goes to...

Amare Stoudemire for his performance in "Jordan Farmar - the World's Strongest Man".

[Shank]

Raja Bell is a bag.

[Tippecanoe]

And the award for best actor on a Sunday afternoon in April goes to...

Amare Stoudemire for his performance in "Jordan Farmar - the World's Strongest Man".

:lol :lol

[Amarelooms]

The Suns getting away with fouls when they crash the boards lol

[Tippecanoe]

damn. kinda wish the spurs held on to barbosa. kids fast as hell. he'd be the perfect counter for devin harris.

[kingsfan]

Finally Suns lead :elephant :spin

[Amarelooms]

Finally Suns lead :elephant :spin

Lakers need to give the ball to Kobe and get out the way

[bdictjames]

damn. kinda wish the spurs held on to barbosa. kids fast as hell. he'd be the perfect counter for devin harris.
But then we would suck at defense.

Anyone's better than back-up Beno though.

[Amuseddaysleeper]

damn, I'll be really pissed if the Lakers drop this game after playing so well for a majority of it

[Texas_Ranger]

Lets go Lakers!!

[Shank]

damn. kinda wish the spurs held on to barbosa. kids fast as hell. he'd be the perfect counter for devin harris.

Wait - where did you hear that Barbosa is fast?

Oh, I remember now. It's the stock comment every PBP/color guy goes to during a Suns game. And did you know Amare had knee surgery?

[AnkleBreaker21]

damn the lakers cant even breathe on the fucking suns

[Tippecanoe]

Wait - where did you hear that Barbosa is fast?

Oh, I remember now. It's the stock comment every PBP/color guy goes to during a Suns game. And did you know Amare had knee surgery?

im not sure what the hell your trying to say

[Shank]

im not sure what the hell your trying to say

I'm just referring to how the play-by-play guys will, without fail, mention how fast Barbosa is EVERY game.

[Tippecanoe]

marion's shooting form always gets on my nerves. it looks so awkward :lol

[lefty]

LOL @ Vujacic :lol :lol :lol :lol

[AnkleBreaker21]

the lakers must have taken fuckin steriods the way the suns are just flopping around

[Shank]

Hey Lakers - put the orange thing in the orange thing. You've got Phoenix shooting 45% from the field and 30% from 3. It's games like this where they usually get beat, but you guys are dicking around out there.

[Tippecanoe]

tom bergeron?? WTF :lol :lol

[Vinnie_Johnson]

Lakers are tanking they should be winning. Kwame Brown just blows worst draft pick ever.

[AnkleBreaker21]

pinche baboso

[lefty]

Kobe, horrible shots :nope

[resistanze]

Went cold @ the wrong time.

[Behrooz24]

PASS DA DAMN BALL!!


/Barkley

[lefty]

Went cold @ the wrong time.

Because of bad shots ; Phil has put shooters on the floor for a reason

[itzsoweezee]

kobe just shot the lakers out of the game. i'm lmao at that fucking ballhog.

[AnkleBreaker21]

mark jackson sucks balls, boring azz hell

[kingsfan]

Thank you LB Yea SUNS!!! :elephant

[Amarelooms]

Honestly how can the Lakers win when they have Farmer and Viuchi or whatever his name is on the floor AT THE SAME TIME. Odom plays like shit most of the time as is. Lakers are an awful team.

[resistanze]

Because of bad shots ; Phil has put shooters on the floor for a reason

What did the shooters do the entire freaking game? I mean honestly, the only reason they had the lead going into halftime is because Kobe went beserk.

He took crappy shots at the end, I agree. But it's amazing that people wait until he fails for people to swarm in like vultures after staying silent the entire game.

[lefty]

kobe just shot the lakers out of the game. i'm lmao at that fucking ballhog.

I agree

[Xylus]

Suns were clutch during the last 6 minutes of the game, once again dominating their opponents in the 4th quarter.

What's new?

[Amarelooms]

Suns were clutch during the last 6 minutes of the game, once again dominating their opponents in the 4th quarter.

What's new?

Don;t gloat about beating a 1 man team...Suns have the easiest 1st round matchup other than the Cavs :elephant

[Nashfan]

Whew, lucky to win this game. Suns did their sleepwalk routine in the first half. Thank god for Barbosa! At least we held them to I think ten points in the fourth quarter, guess the caffeine kicked in. :lol

[Nashfan]

Don;t gloat about beating a 1 man team...Suns have the easiest 1st round matchup other than the Cavs :elephant


No, actually I think the Mavs have the easiest first round matchup. :nope The Warriors are the eighth seed and don't have a star on their team. Dallas worked hard this season to get first in the league and now you will reap rewards for this effort. :D

[RonMexico]

Don;t gloat about beating a 1 man team...Suns have the easiest 1st round matchup other than the Cavs :elephant

Haha - you haven't talked to any Lakers fans this week, I suppose. They have the best low-post defender (Kwame Brown) and toughest matchup in league (Odom). Also, did you know that Phil Jackson won 9 championship rings with no less than 3 Hall-of-Famers (possibly a 4th)? Man, that guy can coach... also, apparently the Suns ripped on the Lakers behind closed doors last year, but the LA Times thought it was real news this week... completely disregarding when Phil ripped into Kobe in his book.

[Amarelooms]

No, actually I think the Mavs have the easiest first round matchup. :nope The Warriors are the eighth seed and don't have a star on their team. Dallas worked hard this season to get first in the league and now you will reap rewards for this effort. :D

Warriors could beat the Suns and you know it...just be happy you don;t have to play em :elephant

[Nashfan]

Warriors could beat the Suns and you know it...just be happy you don;t have to play em :elephant

I don't know about that. Would be interesting game at the very least. Are you scared that your team has to play them? :wtf

[makedamnsure]

Kobe was great the first half and then choked second half...oh well

[dallaskd]

suns got a little break?

[Nashfan]

suns got a little break?


Wouldn't call it a break, Suns held them to ten points in the fourth quarter. Its called defense :)

[monosylab1k]

Wouldn't call it a break, Suns held them to ten points in the fourth quarter. Its called defense :)

it's called Kobe forcing the worst shots humanly possible. Phoenix played defense that was just as atrocious as ever. I counted at least 4 plays in the 3rd and 4th quarter where a guy was either cutting to the basket or directly under the basket and Kobe completely overlooked him as he threw up a double-teamed fadeaway. Couple other occasions where a guy was wide open from behind the 3 point line and again, Kobe just forced a shot of his own.

We saw Kobe at his best and worst today. If Kobe offered up just a few more passes, this game goes the Lakers way. Phoenix still fucking sucks at defense.

[Nashfan]

it's called Kobe forcing the worst shots humanly possible. Phoenix played defense that was just as atrocious as ever. I counted at least 4 plays in the 3rd and 4th quarter where a guy was either cutting to the basket or directly under the basket and Kobe completely overlooked him as he threw up a double-teamed fadeaway. Couple other occasions where a guy was wide open from behind the 3 point line and again, Kobe just forced a shot of his own.

We saw Kobe at his best and worst today. If Kobe offered up just a few more passes, this game goes the Lakers way. Phoenix still fucking sucks at defense.


Boy, we just cannot win with you. :dramaquee We hold them to eighty-seven points and don't give up one hundred plus like usual and you still don't give the Suns credit. We shot horribly today and that will not always happen, so I think our defense was decent in the fourth quarter to hold them to ten points. If Kobe wants to try and take over the game on his own then he is falling into the Suns game plan. :)

[Xylus]

Don't expect monosylab to give the Suns any credit. He'll find any excuse to bash a team that could probably beat his in a 7-game series. :) The Suns allow 100 points in a fast-paced game? Terrible defense! The Suns limit the Lakers to 87 points, 10 points in the 4th quarter? Terrible defense!

Phoenix is a great 4th-quarter team, and they know how to turn up the defense and offense in the waning moments of every game.

[ratm1221]

Don't expect monosylab to give the Suns any credit. He'll find any excuse to bash a team that could probably beat his in a 7-game series. :) The Suns allow 100 points in a fast-paced game? Terrible defense! The Suns limit the Lakers to 87 points, 10 points in the 4th quarter? Terrible defense!

Phoenix is a great 4th-quarter team, and they know how to turn up the defense and offense in the waning moments of every game.

I thought he was being pretty honest. Suns defense was bad all 4 quarters and I can't believe you could say otherwise. Suns squeeked by because of Kobe's mistakes in the 4th.

[Xylus]

I thought he was being pretty honest. Suns defense was bad all 4 quarters and I can't believe you could say otherwise. Suns squeeked by because of Kobe's mistakes in the 4th.
The Suns defense was average for the first 3 quarters, and then really good in the 4th. They knew Kobe would try and take over, so D'Antoni put Marion on Kobe, which forced him into several bad shots. And then they double- and triple-teamed him knowing that he would try and take over on his own. Leaving a single guy on Kobe would have been the worse strategy.

How is that bad defense? You exploit the weaknesses of the offense, which is exactly what the Suns did. In Game 2, if Kobe becomes more of a facilitator than he was today, then I imagine D'Antoni will slacken off and tell his guys to stay on their man.

[ratm1221]

The Suns defense was average for the first 3 quarters, and then really good in the 4th.

Guess I must have been watching a different game.

[Xylus]

Guess I must have been watching a different game.
Probably.

You're still feeling the after-effects of 4/20, I imagine. :smokin

[Nashfan]

Don't expect monosylab to give the Suns any credit. He'll find any excuse to bash a team that could probably beat his in a 7-game series. :) The Suns allow 100 points in a fast-paced game? Terrible defense! The Suns limit the Lakers to 87 points, 10 points in the 4th quarter? Terrible defense!

Phoenix is a great 4th-quarter team, and they know how to turn up the defense and offense in the waning moments of every game.


I know, you just can't please these Mav fans :lol

[Nashfan]

Probably.

You're still feeling the after-effects of 4/20, I imagine. :smokin
:lmao

[RonMexico]

Suns - top 2 or 3 defense in the league?

haha.

[Xylus]

Suns - top 2 or 3 defense in the league?

haha.
Possibly the greatest offense/defense combo of all-time. :elephant

[monosylab1k]

like I said, if Kobe passes the ball to WIDE OPEN teammates under the basket, the Lakers win easy. Kobe's selfishness lost that game, not the Suns' "defense".

[Nashfan]

like I said, if Kobe passes the ball to WIDE OPEN teammates under the basket, the Lakers win easy. Kobe's selfishness lost that game, not the Suns' "defense".


Yeah, right, keep preaching it :lol

[RonMexico]

like I said, if Kobe passes the ball to WIDE OPEN teammates under the basket, the Lakers win easy. Kobe's selfishness lost that game, not the Suns' "defense".

No doubt about it... that's why the disappearence of Purple & Gold is so hilariously fitting... especially when he ripped me for calling Kobe and Phil poor leaders.

Now, the Suns played some porous D for long stretches today and they played pretty crappy as a whole because I think they're getting into "coast mode" and that needs to shut down before they end up looking into a 3-1 hole again.

But the Mavs...

[RonMexico]

Even though I think Phil is a jackass and is probably saying this in some kind of sarcastic Zen-like manner, here's a postgame quote:

"Kobe ran out of gas in the fourth quarter," Lakers coach Phil Jackson said. "Their defense did a great job against our offense, and we couldn't find a way to get on track."

mono, you can be as skeptical as I am about whether he means this.

Purple & Gold, this is your 9-ring wearing leader, so you better fucking believe what he said.

[Medvedenko]

It's all part of the plan...Kobe's not passing is part of the gameplan. Playing Kobe ball almost won us the game...this is the first salvo. There is a gameplan boys...we know what it takes to beat the Suns. I was frustrated, but slowly watching the 4th q and seeing kobe force jumpers...I thought to myself...this is what we want. If kobe had a hot hand, we would have won, but by not switching to faciliator mode would have shown too many cards early....oh and smush fucking sucks balls.

[BillsCarnage]

Guess I must have been watching a different game.

The Warriors/Mavs game?

[N4th4n]

It's all part of the plan...Kobe's not passing is part of the gameplan. Playing Kobe ball almost won us the game...this is the first salvo. There is a gameplan boys...we know what it takes to beat the Suns. I was frustrated, but slowly watching the 4th q and seeing kobe force jumpers...I thought to myself...this is what we want. If kobe had a hot hand, we would have won, but by not switching to faciliator mode would have shown too many cards early....oh and smush fucking sucks balls.

Futile hopes and dreams.

[Xylus]

The Warriors/Mavs game?
:lmao

[Purple & Gold]

Other than Kobe going ice cold in the 4th and Barbosa going wild, I thought it was a well played game from the Lakers. The only problem was that we played 3 quarters and they played 4. Kobe won it and lost it for us. Something that does happen from time to time. I still like my chances that he doesn't go ice cold in the 4th. Something that hardly ever happens. He should have passed more, especially with some open teammates under the basket. But all those blown layups earlier in the game weren't his fault and I'm sure that played a part in his decision to shoot instead of pass. And that he's usually money in the 4th.

Other than Kobe going cold in the 4th, it more or less played out like I thought and hoped it would. I knew Nash and Barbosa were gonna kill us. Was very happy on the defense we played on Nash. Held him to a respectable 10 assists and not the 16 or so that I was scared of. If we can force him to try to score instead of pass I feel we have a good chance. As for the way Barbosa played. Nothing but props here. He played an excellent game and was the reason the Suns won. I would like to see some hard but clean fouls down low from the Lakers. No way that he should be allowed to layup the ball so easily without having to pay at least a couple of times. And Smush is just horrible I never want to see him play again. Phil needs to bench him now.

Diaw was nonexistent, a huge key for the Lakers if they want to win. Amare got his, but didn't explode like he can. Marion played very well and I was a little surprised that he played so well against Odom. Bell was also a non-factor which did surprise me. So if the Lakers can shave some points off of Barbosa's total and Raja scores what I think he will I see the Suns being held to more or less what they scored 95 points. Something I am very happy with and will put us in a position to win.

Since this is a 7 game series and all the Lakers need to do is steal one out of the first two, I'm not in panic mode at all. Props to Farmar for playing an excellent game. Lamar played well but blew some layups, for Luke same as Lamar, Kwame played well defensively ( but he sucked on offense :td ), Bynum did well, where was Mo :wtf and Smush had zero points :lmao

For the Suns fans good game, your team didn't crumble like ours did. But don't get ahead of yourselves and start thinking this series is over. You guys squeaked out a win and needed a total collapse from the Lakers, while needing a career game out of Barbosa. I wouldn't start jumping for joy if I was a Suns fan.

[Purple & Gold]

No doubt about it... that's why the disappearence of Purple & Gold is so hilariously fitting...
First off Ron I don't post or even look at forums during game time, I consider it bad luck. Second I like to drink beer when I watch the Lakers play, preferably at a friends house with chicks, ganja and carne asada. You should try it sometime, maybe you wouldn't be so bitter and think there is a conspiracy against you and the Suns.

[Purple & Gold]

Even though I think Phil is a jackass and is probably saying this in some kind of sarcastic Zen-like manner, here's a postgame quote:

"Kobe ran out of gas in the fourth quarter," Lakers coach Phil Jackson said. "Their defense did a great job against our offense, and we couldn't find a way to get on track."

mono, you can be as skeptical as I am about whether he means this.

Purple & Gold, this is your 9-ring wearing leader, so you better fucking believe what he said.
Are you trying to call me out Ron?? I mean you use 9 rings like it's an insult. You do remember that 3 of those are with the Lakers and Kobe. I know you're trying to live in the present and all, but before you start dissing the Lakers organization you might want to actually have some type of success first.

[da_suns_fan__]

Other than Kobe going ice cold in the 4th and Barbosa going wild, I thought it was a well played game from the Lakers. The only problem was that we played 3 quarters and they played 4. Kobe won it and lost it for us. Something that does happen from time to time. I still like my chances that he doesn't go ice cold in the 4th. Something that hardly ever happens. He should have passed more, especially with some open teammates under the basket. But all those blown layups earlier in the game weren't his fault and I'm sure that played a part in his decision to shoot instead of pass. And that he's usually money in the 4th.

Other than Kobe going cold in the 4th, it more or less played out like I thought and hoped it would. I knew Nash and Barbosa were gonna kill us. Was very happy on the defense we played on Nash. Held him to a respectable 10 assists and not the 16 or so that I was scared of. If we can force him to try to score instead of pass I feel we have a good chance. As for the way Barbosa played. Nothing but props here. He played an excellent game and was the reason the Suns won. I would like to see some hard but clean fouls down low from the Lakers. No way that he should be allowed to layup the ball so easily without having to pay at least a couple of times. And Smush is just horrible I never want to see him play again. Phil needs to bench him now.

Diaw was nonexistent, a huge key for the Lakers if they want to win. Amare got his, but didn't explode like he can. Marion played very well and I was a little surprised that he played so well against Odom. Bell was also a non-factor which did surprise me. So if the Lakers can shave some points off of Barbosa's total and Raja scores what I think he will I see the Suns being held to more or less what they scored 95 points. Something I am very happy with and will put us in a position to win.

Since this is a 7 game series and all the Lakers need to do is steal one out of the first two, I'm not in panic mode at all. Props to Farmar for playing an excellent game. Lamar played well but blew some layups, for Luke same as Lamar, Kwame played well defensively ( but he sucked on offense :td ), Bynum did well, where was Mo :wtf and Smush had zero points :lmao

For the Suns fans good game, your team didn't crumble like ours did. But don't get ahead of yourselves and start thinking this series is over. You guys squeaked out a win and needed a total collapse from the Lakers, while needing a career game out of Barbosa. I wouldn't start jumping for joy if I was a Suns fan.

1. That wasn't a career game for Barbosa. It was his "playoff" career high. He's had much better games than yesterdays this season.

2. The Suns got sub-par scoring nights from Nash, Diaw, Marion and Bell and they still won. The Suns missed a crap load of uncontested three pointers. Don't expect that to happen again.

3. Did the Lakers fall apart or did they (as a local writer put it) fall into the Kobe trap? Let Kobe shoot all he wants, and his teammates will be worthless come the fourth quarter.

4) This is the Suns' fourth straight win over the Lakers yet every Laker fans continues to act as if the Suns were lucky to win. Ive read a lot of excuses and dumb logic as to why the Lakers should have won if not for some extraordinary circumstances.

The Suns own the Lakers. Period.

[Purple & Gold]

1. That wasn't a career game for Barbosa. It was his "playoff" career high. He's had much better games than yesterdays this season.

2. The Suns got sub-par scoring nights from Nash, Diaw, Marion and Bell and they still won. The Suns missed a crap load of uncontested three pointers. Don't expect that to happen again.

3. Did the Lakers fall apart or did they (as a local writer put it) fall into the Kobe trap? Let Kobe shoot all he wants, and his teammates will be worthless come the fourth quarter.

4) This is the Suns' fourth straight win over the Lakers yet every Laker fans continues to act as if the Suns were lucky to win. Ive read a lot of excuses and dumb logic as to why the Lakers should have won if not for some extraordinary circumstances.

The Suns own the Lakers. Period.
1. It's a career game for Barbosa. Regular season and playoffs are two totally different things.

2. Diaw will be a non-factor all series, Marion did better than I thought he would especially on the boards, I was surprised Bell did so poorly offensively. You guys were also on fire to start the second half, I don't see that happening like that again. Lakers played solid defense on your team other than Barbosa going wild. Give props when it's due.

3. Kobe is usually clutch in the 4th. I'd much rather have him shoot the ball then his teammates. It's not his fault he has no trust in them. They brick layups and are not consistent at all. Should he have passed the ball more? Yes. But he missed many gimmies that he usually makes. We wouldn't be here saying anything bad about him if he made some of those shots. You guys only won by 8.

4. Suns are lucky to win. Did you not watch the game?

I don't see how the Suns own the Lakers. The Lakers had them on the ropes last year. Usually when a series goes to seven it means that the teams are pretty even.

[da_suns_fan__]

1. It's a career game for Barbosa. Regular season and playoffs are two totally different things.

2. Diaw will be a non-factor all series, Marion did better than I thought he would especially on the boards, I was surprised Bell did so poorly offensively. You guys were also on fire to start the second half, I don't see that happening like that again. Lakers played solid defense on your team other than Barbosa going wild. Give props when it's due.

3. Kobe is usually clutch in the 4th. I'd much rather have him shoot the ball then his teammates. It's not his fault he has no trust in them. They brick layups and are not consistent at all. Should he have passed the ball more? Yes. But he missed many gimmies that he usually makes. We wouldn't be here saying anything bad about him if he made some of those shots. You guys only won by 8.

4. Suns are lucky to win. Did you not watch the game?

I don't see how the Suns own the Lakers. The Lakers had them on the ropes last year. Usually when a series goes to seven it means that the teams are pretty even.


1. We are arguing over technicalities here. The point is you can expect a few more games similar to game 1 from Barbosa. He plays like that in a lot of games (see ppg statistic).

2. You say the Suns were on fire to start the half and we should "not expect that again". Why? Because they 35 points in the third quarter?! Do you have any idea how many times they've done that this year? More often than not actually.

3. Kobe missed a lot of "gimmies" that he usually makes? Those long, contested, 20 foot fadeaways are "gimmies"???

The only shot he did make in the fourth quarter WAS a "gimmie". Bell did a fantastic job :clap

4. For the fourth straight time, the Suns were "lucky" to win.

On March 4th, lakers didn't have Odom. On April 8th, Bell hit 6-6 three pointers. On April 13th, Kobe was "tired". Yesterday, Barbosa had a career game (and Kobe missed gimmies AND the Suns were on fire to start the second half).

At what point do you people stop making excuses?

[RonMexico]

Are you trying to call me out Ron?? I mean you use 9 rings like it's an insult. You do remember that 3 of those are with the Lakers and Kobe. I know you're trying to live in the present and all, but before you start dissing the Lakers organization you might want to actually have some type of success first.

Yeah, pal - Kobe and Phil... and Shaq... and (current assistant coach) Brian Shaw, and Robert Horry (maybe he has some kind of nickname that he earned from clutch playoff performances, but I can't remember)

I know that isn't quite the stellar supporting cast of Smush Parker and Brian Cook, but I guess they were pretty good players during those 3 years. Obviously, you read nothing in my post because I said he did win 3 rings with the Lakers.

Fighting with you is lame: you go from "stop living in the past" to "stop living in the present and respect the 3 rings Phil and Kobe have."

[RonMexico]

Purple & Gold has more excuses than Bill Clinton... unbelieveable... Barbosa had a "career game" and we shouldn't expect the Suns to get over 30 points in a quarter? They would have won that game by 30 if they hit any of the wide open 3's in the first half.

[Purple & Gold]

Purple & Gold has more excuses than Bill Clinton...
Here it is, this explains it all. Ron is just another douchebag Repub.

[RonMexico]

Here it is, this explains it all. Ron is just another douchebag Repub.

Politics have nothing to do with it. It has everything to do with his track record:

"Yes, I smoked, but I didn't inhale."

"Oral sex is not sex."

"Vince Foster killed himself."

The list will continue. I'm pretty moderate, pal - but you can't say Bush has excuses... unless you want me to compare you to him with that pic I have of you watching the Lakers-Suns game last night under a "Mission Accomplished" sign.