| 18 May 2010
Wow! I was really embarrassed for the way Phoenix came to play last night. Not that I minded losing. I don't expect them to win every game. Certainly not in Staples arena. But to come out and play like you're on the back end of a four games in five days road trip, after getting a week off. I just don't know what to say about that.
Even in the first period when the Suns were up by seven, I did not like their intensity. I felt they were up simply because the Lakers were playing that bad and not because they were playing that good. Very quickly, after that slow start, L.A. confirmed my worst fears. They started shooting lights out, finishing the last five minutes of the first period on an 18-4 run and the Suns never recovered.
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The Suns were dominated in all aspects of the game. The three point shooting was a mess. Channing Frye and Jared Dudley combined to go 2 for 12, the only bright spot was Richardson hitting 3 of 6 from behind the arc.
With such weak outside shooting, the lane was clogged all game, confirming what I feel is the Suns most exploitable weakness: The lack of a dominant big man. Whereas it was good to see Amare taking and making those 18 to 20 footers in the first half. The Suns are not going to win that way. Don't get me wrong, the Suns have some tall fellas, but none of them represent consistent power in the lane. Especially against the Lakers milk fed line-up of Gasol, Bynum, and Odom. L.A. out rebounded the Suns 42-34 (12-10 on the offensive boards). That may or may not seem like a lot, but when you consider the Suns shot a respectable 49.4% for the game and the Lakers shot 58.0%, that doesn't leave a lot of rebounds to be had. Each one becomes platinum instead of gold.
Field goal percentage really is the most telling stat in this sad little tale. The Lakers shot low sixties for the first three plus quarters until the bench came in and dropped their percentage into the upper fifties. Kobe Bryant had one of those games where he simply could not be stopped. The type of game where the defensive plan becomes: Let Kobe get his and shut the rest of the team down. Alas, that was not to be. Gasol and Odom matched Kobe's 40 points with 40 of their own. The Suns porous defense let three other Lakers walk away with 9 or more points.
Still, there is a ray of hope breaking through that silver lining. The Suns offense wasn't the real problem. It was their lack of energy and defense. The Suns were straight up, out hussled, but aside from the lousy three point shooting the Suns scored their offensive due. If we truly believe the Suns are a different, more defensive oriented team than they ever have been. They'll get their defense together for game two. The Lakers aren't going to be able to shoot 60+% for the series. Next time, a few more threes drop for Phoenix while L.A. gets held to a more reasonable FG percentage and we'll be looking at an entirely different game.
Shake it off everyone! We play tomorrow.
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