It's only one game. But one more game like that and it's all over but the playing for the pride. The Suns defense has got to step up and play better. Amare on Odom was painful to re-watch this morning. Rotations and activity were low. But I still think there's not much else you can do with Kobe when he's on like that. If he's hitting those shots on a consistent basis...
LA played like the more desperate team, the hungrier team, and angrier team while the Suns looked tentative and cautious. No aggression on the defensive end. I am still not unhappy with the Suns offense. They got plenty of good looks in the half court. More stops will lead to more transition buckets. It's all about defending better.
Time to find out if this really is the same old Suns team.
Behind the Box Score, where Kobe was in charge - Ball Don't Lie - NBA - Yahoo! Sports All helped, all attacked, all got with the program, but this was Kobe's show. And this tail-whupping is the perfect example of the sort of game I've been begging Kobe to come through with, all season. I've never had a problem with Bryant shooting too much, but I have had problems (this year, more than most) with him going at getting those shots the wrong way. Monday was the right way. He made quick decisions with the ball, lost himself within the offense, and then popped out long enough to rip the hearts out of the Suns defenders
Robin Lopez: back in action - TrueHoop Blog - ESPN "Obviously I would’ve preferred to win, but my wind felt OK," Lopez said after his first game since March 26. "There was no pain or soreness out there when I was playing. I was surprised at how good I felt out there."
For Nash, a chance to cement his legacy " Saving the Skyhook If Nash and the Suns can come out on top, the fruit will be that much sweeter. After all, they are coming off an improbable series sweep over the San Antonio Spurs, who had previously plagued the Suns in the postseason this decade. Ousting the Lakers, knocking the championship monkey off his back, and finally enshrining himself in the peak tier of NBA greats in the process?
Kobe shows Amar'e how to play like a star Make no mistake. Stoudemire had some standout moments. But a series such as this demands a standout game and the Suns forward didn't deliver.
Phoenix Suns wound too tight for success in Game 1 "We've got to look at ourselves in the mirror, watch film, get better," Stoudemire said. It's only one game. But it felt like the Suns lost some respect and credibility along the way. And there's only one way to get that back.
Same Old Suns: Lakers Dominate, 128 to 107 - Silver Screen and Roll The Phoenix Suns tonight suffered what Wall Street types refer to as a "market correction." A few blowouts over an injury-depleted Trail Blazers team in the first round, followed by a second-round sweep of a Spurs squad older than the city of San Antonio itself, engendered irrational exuberance among Suns fans, not to mention a series of shaky hypotheses about how Phoenix would overwhelm the Lakers in the Western Conference Finals. The Suns play defense now! A rested Steve Nash would abuse Derek Fisher! Grant Hill is the ideal defender to slow down Kobe Bryant!