If we’re going to blame, let’s be even-handed enough to give credit as well.

The Laker coaching staff came up with a great game plan that was executed very well during the first quarter. The starting five Lakers outplayed and handily outscored the starting five Suns due almost entirely to better defense.

The players themselves kept their composure. All of the players appeared to give it their best effort.

Strategic problems appeared and continued to grow as the Lakers executed planned substitutions in the second quarter. Shammond Williams might have continued Farmar’s role somewhat on defense and gotten the ball to Bynum. He wasn’t even on the squad. Ronnie Turiaf might have continued or even extended the defense, minimizing the inevitable lapses by the Smusher–but he was on the bench! It is hard to imagine what the Laker coaches were thinking. The Suns regrouped and came roaring back. Kobe reacted by going “playground”–and it worked. Unfortunately, he seemed to forget that we were only in the first half.

Though the Laker players that started the first were there in the third, their defensive intensity was not the same, so they quite successfully matched score for score–only losing a few points off of their lead. From a strategic point of view, it began to appear that the Lakers were a one trick pony.

It could have been an opportunity to foil Suns adjustments with Turiaf replacing Kwame–or going zone for awhile with Sasha. Instead, it merely set the stage for a reprise of substitution misfits–now anticipated by the Suns braintrust.

The Lakers difficulties with Barbosa were well known. It is hard to imagine Smush Parker cast in the role of a Barbosa stopper. What were the coaches thinking?

When all of the starters returned in the fourth, they began to get their defensive stops, but they were tired. Kobe needed some rest so he could do his magic in the last few minutes. Walton and Odom were ready to do their parts. Mo Evans was ready to do his part. Turiaf was ready to play a role. All it needed was a coaching decision.

With no apparent help on the way or coherent plan, Kobe withdrew to his revered “playground” even as Phoenix more completely focused their defense on him.

By the time Phil reacted, it was too late. He was stuck with “Kobe the rescuer.”

Before the game, Phil said he wasn’t sure of the team.

I thought that the team came to play, but the Zen Master seemed totally lost and confused on the sidelines. Rather than admitting a strategic faux pas or two, Phil seemed more than willing to blame the team.

How can we blame players for being themselves?

After the game, I wasn’t so sure of the coach.

Even before the series started, as we were anxiously awaiting last weekend, I had already simulated the match-ups in terms of how each part functions. I had suggested that Nash be allowed to shoot (give him 15-20 shots or something) so that we can focus on the endless pick and roll with him and Amare.

The Suns like to play “fun” basketball. The offense is free-flowing and the pace is blitzing quick. Reminiscent of the show time Lakers of the 80′s. Once defense is emphasized, the tempo seems to slow down. Here we see a rather tight squad (somewhat unaccustomed to a slowdown) and do their thing – the pick and roll. We did the slowdown in a little bit over 3 quarters until everything fell off like “kastilyong buhangin”.

Going back to match ups, we could use more of Turiaf to bang with Amare. Odom whilst injured is doin a heckuva job with Marion. Walton wont be a problem as he can protect James Jones easily. As I surmised before Game 1, Barbosa IS the major mismatch. With Farmar starting, it would almost mean that Smush is the one designated. If this goes on, I can see another book comin out next fall – Of how the Brazilian Blur “blurried” the Laker defense. Thanks all to Smush who pretty much won’t be in our roster next year.

This being said, I beg to insist that Evans be given the job to “chase around” the Blur. He is athletic enough and pretty much the only Laker athletic enough to compete. He will still get his 18 pts or so but at least this time it wont be cherry picking. Not to take away anything from the guy coz he shoots very well and is lightning quick.

Thanks for the comment on the Laker’s defensive spacing.

Regarding Leandro, I know that he is generally consistent league wise. I just wanted to double check his performance against the Lakers to give us an idea if single coverage will be enough or playing him within the team concept of defense (double teaming, switching, etc.) is merited.

I think there is a reason why some of us think that he will give our guys problems throughout the series.

I think Smush looked like a good defender last year in part because Chuck Atkins was so bad the year before that. Smush tried and got some steals, which was a big improvement at the time. But as teams played to his weaknesses he never developed much. And I think this all got into his head, and he has regressed.

That’s a good observation about the guards not taking advantage of the Suns double.

And finally, the Laker defensive spacing is inconsistent, at best. It’s been that way all year.

Lamar was very aggressive. We have to have that. Him being aggressive as he has been against the Suns negates Shawn Marion. Marion uses so much energy defending Odom that he is ineffective on offense. Lakers need to use this strategy on Nash. Make him play defense. Get him tired. He does not have to guard anybody when we are taking outside shots all day. Next game, Farmar needs to be told to drive it right at Nash every chance he gets and not worry about offensive fouls. Or use the “big” lineup we briefly used against the Clippers (to perfection) of Kobe at the 1 with Mo at the 2, Luke at the 3, Lamar at the 4, and Ronny at the 5. Nash would be toast. Who would he guard?

Whether we can remain in this series or get blown out depends now on our mental toughness. We know what we have to do, its just whether we want to do it or not.