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Oh my...
Complacency won't be a problem dude, it's the Western finals and LA is gonna be hungry to beat Phoenix (the last Western team to knock them outa the playoffs). The only thing I see getting in LA's way is if they can't space the floor. Phoenix is in the conference finals largely because the two teams they've played space the floor terribly and it led to Phoenix being able to double, trap on pick and rolls and play zone. Basically, they need Derek Fisher and Ron Artest to turn into Smush Parker and Luke Walton.
Oh my...
please God nooo....suns in 4 if thats the case.
Taken from LG:
One of the reasons the Suns have been surging in the playoffs has been the scoring output of Jason Richardson. His playoff numbers:
21.9ppg
51% FG
51% 3PT
He has been the Suns' top scorer (not Amare) in the playoffs thus far.
Here's how he did against us in the regular season:
Game 1:
5pts
2-9 FG
0-5 3PT
Game 2:
10pts
5-12 FG
0-3 3PT
Game 3:
4pts
1-6 FG
1-5 3PT
Game 4:
16pts
5-15 FG
2-8 3PT
That's good for an average of 8ppg on 30% shooting and 14% on 3s
J-Rich ed up his hand pretty early on in the season and the injury ran through January. Him getting healthy in February is a big reason why Phoenix came alive, however there are no excuses for game 4. I was at that game, and J-Rich missed a ton of open shots. If he can't knock those shots down against LA the Suns might as well not play.
Nash should abuse Fisher, It's all depends on Amare/Frye/Lopez if he comes back.
They probably won't do it, but I would start Artest on Nash. Nash is still too quick and will probably dribble around Artest, but at least Artest will get a few shots along the way and maybe close his left eye too lol. Then you put Fish on J-Rich. All J-Rich does is shoot three pointers. If he tries to back Fisher down, anything inside 5 feet, he's going to miss anyway.
Fish has done a good job on Nash in all 4 games this year (one of the reasons why this series sucks for Phoenix), imo LA would be smart to just have Artest stick on J-Rich and shut him down since it'll be next to impossible for Phoenix to win the series if J-Rich is a non-factor. LA is one of the best pick and roll defending teams in the NBA so they shouldn't need to stick Artest on Nash.
The reality of the series is that the Suns are far superior counting players 1-10.
But counting 1-6, the Lakers have quite an advantage.
Collins can't cover Bynum by himself
Amare can't cover Gasol by himself
Grant Hill can't cover Kobe by himself
On the reverse side
Nash hasn't torched Fisher in years
JRich is the kind of player Artest is effective against
Collins isn't a threat
Amare has always had trouble against Bynum/Gasol
Off the bench, Channing Frye has always choked against Odom.
Beyond Channing Frye, the Suns bench has the Lakers bench beat hands down. The bench is the only part of the Suns that I think can beat the Lakers. Dudley and Barbosa are Laker nightmares. Still, relying on the bench probably won't be enough to get pas the Lakers.
Lakerfan or not, I think this is going to be the easiest round for the Lakers in these Playoffs.
You think it's gonna be easier than the Jazz series?
Yes. The Jazz could have won 3 of the 4 games realistically, but Laker execution won the games. But they were all hotly contested games until Game 4.
Suns/Lakers may go to 5 but the games won't be close games like the Jazz. I would bet a high point differential on both sides. If the Suns win a game, it will probably be a 20 point pounding.
no bull , richardson/frye/amare is gonna choke vs the lakers. look for ty games.
I just don't see it being any easier for them than the Jazz series. He's by no means gonna shut Kobe down but Grant Hill will do a better job on him than CJ Miles and Mathews. Kobe certainly won't destroy Hill in the post the way he destroyed those two. Amare is better than Boozer at basically everything, and the difference between Utah's bench and Phoenix's bench can't even be described.
PS - One thing LA shouldn't worry about it Barbosa. The fact he was able to beast on LA when they were one of the worst defensive teams in the league is irrelevant. Barbosa's career can be summed up as destroying bad defensive teams and choking against good teams that know how to shut one dimensional player down.
The Cavs to me are the only team left that can stop a Lakers repeat, but they have their hands full with the Celtics and will have issues with the Magic.
I'd give props to the Suns if I thought they had a chance. I could be wrong of course.
What's your prediction on the series, DoK?
I think Magic can beat our lakers as well ...we do defend the 3 well BUT we prefer to protect against penetration RATHER than defnd 3's
I think LA in 6. I don't see the Suns advancing and don't think they have much of a chance, I just don't think they'll be pushovers like the Jazz. The two ways I think the series plays out game by game if I had to guess:
1) LA takes care of home court, then Phoenix does. Game 5 is a close game LA wins, game 6 is close and LA pulls away in the last few minutes.
2) LA comes out flat, Suns win game 1 by a close margin. LA then blows out game 2, wins a close game 3. Phoenix blows game 4 out because they can't miss, game 5 is a 10-15 point win for LA, and game 6 is a down to the wire game LA wins.
That's a fair assessment. My prediction is Lakers in 4.
Good luck in the series.
But ill be honest if Mo continues to suck ass ...
Id rather play Cavs than Celts or Magic ...here is why:
1. they have the weakest PG left in the playoff field ...
(Yes, i said it RIGHT now i would take Dfish OVER Mo williams at leats fish is clutch)
2. Jamison can NOT play the 4 against Pau or Bynum ...(true we cant gaurd him but if he is an issue we can play odom) I like the matchup ...if they go hickson we leave him open if they play Andy we try to get him in foul trouble ...
3. Parker is not cahmpionship tested (ditto moon)
4. their coach is a mental midget ill take Phil over mike Brown
scariest thing about facing Cavs? Lebron, Lebron, Lebron lebron
I think the Magic vs Lakers will play out much like last year.
Dwight will do his thing.
The weak links are Rashard vs Pau and Vince vs Kobe.
Jameer will have a field day but probably not enough to offset Pau/Kobe.
And most importantly, I think this series is where Phil earns his paycheck, Zenmaster vs Master of Panic.
But Suns first, let's get this series started.
+1 at least you know what you're getting on a nightly basis from Fish. I still say Mo Williams would be a great 6th man who could come in and wet up the 2nd unit on the other team, but Cleveland would have been better served with making Lebron's scoring sidekick a SG/SF and sticking a defensive role player at PG.
Lebron doesnt make his teamates better.
Unless Mike Brown has a brain fart and decides to matchup Jamison with Gasol instead of using him vs. Artest and Odom, the Cavs would tear the Lakers apart.
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