Playoff Musings: Suns v. Lakers

The Phoenix Suns didn't exactly play their best tonight, but they still managed to score a measly 119 points. I wonder how many they would have scored if they had played well? My guess is 230. The Matrix and Amare Stoudemire did the heavy lifting tonight, combining for 53 pts. The Matrix and Nash also connected for a couple of ridiculous alley-oops in the 4th quarter.

Kobe now finds himself in an interesting position. He hasn't gotten out of the first round these past two years and the Lakers aren't really going anywhere. They need some help, big time. But you know what, I say stay with what you've got. I love watching Kobe getting knocked out of the first round every year. It's become a yearly tradition. Besides, he forced the Shaq trade, and now he's got to pay the piper. It's called karma Kobe, and you have none left.

My Kobe rant aside, now we get one heck of a matchup for Round 2. Spurs v. Suns. I can't wait to see a healthy Amare just abuse Tim "Huge Whiner" Duncan. Remember two years back when Amare KILLED Duncan in the Western Conference Finals? Stoudemire averaged 40 a game in that series. Of course, Phoenix lost that series, but they won't lose it this year. The Spurs are two years older and the refs have a beef with them. Phoenix in 6, and if we're really lucky, we'll get to see a Warriors/Suns Western Conference Finals. Man, that would be sweet.

-WCK

Playoff Musings: Suns v. Lakers

The Lakers absolutely had to win this game tonight and they managed to do it. The Suns got off to a blistering start, and looked like they were going to wipe the Lakers out quickly, but then they got strangely disinterested for the rest of the night. Kobe finally got some help from his supporting cast, as Kwame Brown went for 19 and Odom for 18. The refs were also pretty kind to the Lakers, because you can't have Kobe Bryant getting swept in the first round.

If I'm Phoenix, I'm not real worried. The Lakers played about the best possible game they're capable of playing. Meanwhile Phoenix was pretty dreadful in the second half and still managed to tie this game up with about 2 minutes to go. Phoenix even made some late defensive stops, they just couldn't convert on the offensive end. Also, anyone who thinks Kwame Brown is going to go for 19 again is crazy.

Playoff Musings: Suns v. Lakers

Remember this guy? Yep, it's Jalen Rose. It's kind of hard to find an action shot of him on the internet in a Suns uniform because he never plays. Well, tonight he played a lot, because the Suns absolutely destroyed the Lakers 126-98. This game was over before halftime. Even better for the Suns, Steve Nash only played 24 minutes. They need him to be fresh for the next round. Meanwhile, Leandro Barbosa is proving that even though he won 6th man of the year, he could be starting for 75% of the teams in the league. He was 11-18 from the floor for 26 pts. Kobe Bryant tweaked his ankle tonight, but it doesn't really matter whether he can play again or not. This isn't like last year's matchup. The Lakers have no chance in this series.

Playoff Musings: Suns v. Lakers

The Phoenix Suns played like a Championship-caliber team today - which doesn't necessarily mean they played well. They weren't very good in the first half, but when they needed to, they managed to turn it on and they played good defense in the second half, particularly against Kobe Bryant. This is what championship-caliber teams do. They win even when they aren't at their best and they make defense stops when they need to. Today the Suns did that. Leandro Barbosa - The Brazilian Blur - was outstanding, scoring 26 points.

-WCK