Let’s talk about the technical stuff the Lakers need to do tonight. In game three the Lakers started switching on the screen-and-roll the Suns ran, and also did some trapping (having both the center and the guard try to stop Nash from making a play). It worked pretty well for three quarters, as Jackson said […]
NBA Playoffs
Game Four Thoughts
The Suns made one key adjustment for Sunday’s game — they pushed the tempo up and forced the Lakers to make their reads and decisions more quickly. The Lakers were not athletic enough or smart enough to deal with that, and under pressure got away from what worked before. They didn’t trap on the pick […]
Lakers/Suns Chat: Game 4
It comes down to defense. In game three not only did the Lakers switch (or occasionally trap) on the pick-and-roll, not only did they play better man defense, but they cut off diagonal and other passing lanes. They limited Suns options, and they are going to have to do that again. Thanks to Gatinho for […]
Lakers/Suns Chat: Game 3
It says a lot about this Laker team that the coaches are still tinkering with player substitution patterns and lineups well into the first round of the playoffs. They can overcome that if we see a Laker team that’s a little angry tonight, one with a little fire in its belly. They need to be […]
Lakers/Suns Chat: Game 2
Something to look for in this one — where are the Lakers getting the ball to Kobe and Lamar early. On the block, like early in game one, or out on the perimeter like late in that game. If the Suns are overplaying to keep the ball out of their hands in the block, there […]
Thoughts from Game One
There’s a reason that Kobe has long struck me as the sort of character seen in Greek mythology or classic novels — his greatest strength is also the cause of his undoing. He could not be Kobe without his supreme self-confidence, without his unshakable belief that the next shot is going to fall regardless of […]
Suns/Lakers Preview: When the Lakers have the ball
Last year, during the first four games of the Lakers/Suns playoff series, Kobe was the distributor, Kwame was finishing at the hoop, Odom was toying with Marion and the Lakers took a 3-1 series lead. The blueprint for the Lakers hasn’t changed on offense, however with Amare Stoudemire patrolling the paint, and Kurt Thomas and […]
Lakers/Suns Preview: When The Suns Have The Ball
We’re starting with the Laker defense because that is the key to their chances in this series — they will score enough, they have all season, but can they slow the high-powered Suns and not let them run off and hide. The problem with slowing the Suns is that there are no good options, just […]
Comfort With The Familiar
Before the season started I had picked the Suns to end up NBA champions (beating the Cavs). That’s not the choice I’d make today, but it is still a long shot that the Lakers are the team to end the Suns playoff run. Still they have a chance in part because this is the squad […]
Here comes the Suns
And I say it’s all right. Things look a little brighter after a win where Kwame Brown was back anchoring the middle and ended up +17, and Jordan Farmar got the start and was a team best +18. Kobe scored 50 but shot an incredibly efficient 78% (eFG%). The second-unit showed the potential of being […]