Lakers Get By Suns for First Win

by Dan @ Bright Side Of The Sun on Apr 27, 2007 9:32 AM MDT in Phoenix Suns News

The Suns had the game right where they wanted it. It was 31-17 at the end of the first quarter and you could tell the Lakers were on their heels. But then everything just kind of fell apart. Amare had two early fouls. So did Raja Bell. Then the Lakers started getting a little bit of swagger back and the Suns just couldn't hold on.

They didn't shoot poorly. They made over 40% of their three point shots and about 48% overall. And the Suns had several chances at the end of the game to take the lead and put the Lakers back where they wanted them. But poorly timed turnovers (is there ever a well-timed turnover?) really hurt the Suns in the last 6 minutes of the game.

But what I think really hurt the Suns the most was the Lakers threatening to put Leandro Barbosa on his butt when he drove to the basket. He only took 4 shots in the paint all night - 1 in the first quarter and three in the 4th quarter. All of his other shots were jumpers. Without LB going to the basket, the defenders were able to stick to the perimeter and help clog everything up.

Give it to the Lakers. They were playing with fire last night. They knew they had to win that game if they wanted to have a chance at the series. Kobe Bryant scored 45 points on only 26 shots. He got to the free throw line 13 times. And Kwame Brown and Lamar Odom also had great games.

We were all hoping for a sweep but I think we all somehow knew the Lakers weren't going to lose 4 in a row to the Suns. The important thing for the Suns to do now is to figure out what went wrong last night (LB not getting to the basket, double- and triple-teams on Steve Nash but still not having anyone wide open for him to pass to, 19 offensive rebounds by the Lakers, etc) and then fix it. The Lakers only shot 42% from the field last night. The Suns were only down 2 with about 2 minutes left in the game and could have easily pulled it out. But the Lakers wanted the game more than the Suns did. It's going to get interesting on Sunday. Losing 1 game on your opponent's home court isn't terrible. But if the Suns lose on Sunday, that will give them the swagger they need and the series would definitely be up for grabs again.

What are your thoughts on the game?

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Disappointed

....is all I could say, esp. after the 1st Q run by our guys. How could they just lose all the momentum? True, LB could not drive to the basket but the Suns were making 3 point shots, until the last 2 minutes. I am still trying to put this loss in perspective. This is one of the most disappointing loss for me, as a fan, particularly after seeing how great the Suns are capable of playing.

by Vash01 @ Bright Side Of The Sun on Apr 27, 2007 9:58 AM MDT reply actions

Predictable

I said it yesterday - If the Lakers were going to win a game in this series, it would be Game 3. The only thing that bothers me about it is how it happened. The Suns let two old weaknesses bite them in the rear: Giving up offensive rebounds and letting down after getting an early big lead. Otherwise, the game went exactly as I thought it would, with the Lakers playing a lot more physically, ganging up on Nash, not allowing Barbosa to kill them with layups, etc. The Suns still should have won it, though. It was the rebounds that killed them.

by TexSUN on Apr 27, 2007 10:49 AM MDT reply actions

game

What bothers me is that they could have still won the game but they did not. Where was the desire to win and save their legs for stronger opponents? Championship teams don't do that. Detroit is blowing away Orlando, as they are supposed to. Once again the Suns are going to end the season without making it to the NBA finals, unless they use this game to learn a lesson. A shaky win would not have taught them a lesson. I am hoping that a loss would, but I have been disappointed by them before, so I don't want to get my hopes up again.

by Vash01 @ Bright Side Of The Sun on Apr 27, 2007 11:11 AM MDT reply actions

championship teams

I don't think we can say "championship teams don't do that" regarding winning the game. The Lakers' back was against the wall and the Suns were away from home. And the Spurs and Dallas both lost a game at home. People consider them championship-caliber teams.

The Suns could have won the game but I don't think it's as bad as everyone is making it out to be...

by Dan @ Bright Side Of The Sun on Apr 27, 2007 12:25 PM MDT up reply actions

i agree now, but wouldn't last night

Yep, I think a lot of it has to do with how badly they beat L.A. in game 2. After that game, it was even hard for some Lakers to be optimistic about their chances against the Suns.

by jasonsuns1 on Apr 27, 2007 12:52 PM MDT up reply actions

Marion

I'm sick of Marion quickly flipping the ball towards the basket and calling that a 'shot'.

downintx.com

by kidjay on Apr 27, 2007 11:40 AM MDT reply actions

I Agree

Yep, there was also Diaw and others shooting little 2-4 ft shots instead of going up with power. Marion shines when our fast break is going, and he can outrun anyone small or big. But when games get clogged up like this, and the other team gets so many offensive boards, Marion suffers.

by jasonsuns1 on Apr 27, 2007 12:54 PM MDT up reply actions

Nashty?

Nash's numbers look okay in the box score but if I remember right, they really shut him down. I mean they did an incredible job on Nash, at least towards the end of the game.

From what I remember, he was mobbed every time he got the ball around the three point line and as Dan pointed out, nobody else seemed to be open for him to pass to. He really looked stunned and it got sloppy.

Unfortunately, as most teams know, if they can shut down Nash then we suddenly become an average team that anybody can beat. Those last few minutes is where we've come to expect two or three clutch 3 pointers from Nash but the Lakers just wouldn't allow him any space at the arc. Great job on their part.

As for the free throws... if the Lakers are going to get bailed out in L.A. by getting to the line more than double what the Suns get, we're in trouble. In the end, they had 16 more free throw shots than the Suns... coincidentally the Suns were sitting on a 17 point lead.

I don't want to blame anything on the Refs... the Suns sucked last night... but the free throw attempts were not that evenly balanced. They killed us every which way but a few less whistles in their favor and we would have won. I trust the Suns will assess what went wrong and make the right adjustments. Their adjustments after game 1 seemed to work just fine.

by Trvs on Apr 27, 2007 12:10 PM MDT reply actions

Free throws

The free throws weren't balanced because the Suns weren't driving the ball. It's not the refs' fault at all. The Suns just weren't prepared for the onslaught the Lakers gave.

by Dan @ Bright Side Of The Sun on Apr 27, 2007 12:17 PM MDT up reply actions

I suppose...

... or maybe the Lakers weren't actually fouled every single time they drove to the basket the entire game.

The Suns weren't attacking, as I said... they sucked... but when it's a two point game with just minutes to go, in retrospect a few less free throws given to the Lakers and we could have pulled out a win.

I'm not blaming the refs, just making a point.

by Trvs on Apr 27, 2007 12:26 PM MDT up reply actions

coach dan..

He said that the Lakers were hustling more, hence getting more calls (Saying that aggressive teams get the calls, his nice way of saying some calls were b.s). But, I agree with Dan, the Suns just got out hustled and Nash and Barbosa, were very heavily defended and couldn't do what they could in games 1 and 2. The problem now, if the Lakers come out with the same energy, how do the Suns adjust.

Personally, I think the Suns players are not paying enough attention to the trap, hence leaving Nash in no mans land with 2 defenders on him (always 2 players that are taller than him also).

If the Suns had a tall player who could dribble well, he should be taking it up so he could see over the trap and break it. But, who would that be?

by jasonsuns1 on Apr 27, 2007 1:05 PM MDT up reply actions

3D

Boris Diaw has the talent, and he is listed as a guard, which to me means he can handle the ball. However, his lack of effort has been a liability this year.

May be the draft could bring them that player.

by Vash01 @ Bright Side Of The Sun on Apr 27, 2007 1:10 PM MDT up reply actions

That would be Diaw!

Let's see "a tall player who could dribble well and see over the double-teams". That would be Diaw! Unfortunately, Diaw just hasn't gotten it going all year. I really thought he would come to life once the playoffs started, but so far, it hasn't really happened. But your idea might help get him going.

by TexSUN on Apr 27, 2007 1:13 PM MDT up reply actions

yep, i was thinking diaw also

Especially since he was a guard in Atlanta. But, also like you both said, he has been inconsistent, and he doesn't work hard consistently. Marion and Amare, they're great, but not great ball handlers. Part of what makes Kobe, Jordan, Lebron so effective. Don't mistake my opinion though, Nash, when not being frantically double and tripled teamed, has an off the charts vision for passing and
running this team. Unlike most athletes in the nba, he uses the speed of starting and stopping so effectively, that he gets the same result as a player blowing by their defender. But with 2-3 defenders, he's in trouble.

Nash would be perfect to be the second or third guy touching the ball and making that final "smart" perfectly timed pass for a basket, but under these double-triple team circumstances... we need another answer. The Lakers played frantically on Nash the entire game, and on L.B. I guess Bell might be ok at this, I'm curious what people here on the blog would suggest L.B. does to get back on track. I think he needs to drive and drive, and get their 2-3 key players in foul trouble. Same with Nash, risky with how physical the Lakers are playing, but, it's only Kobe, Odom, and Brown (rarely) that can hurt us, we should take it to them. Be the aggressor, use STAT, but...

Like Nash referred to in the interview, if people aren't in their spots, the Lakers can clog the lane. I know the Lakers were called for 1 or 2 illegal defenses, the Lakers know their best chance against L.B., Nash, and STAT is to clog the lane and attack Nash coming up.

Should be fun seeing what changes the Suns come up with. I'm thinking bell instead of Diaw, plus Bell is tough as nails, .... maybe ...

by jasonsuns1 on Apr 27, 2007 3:24 PM MDT up reply actions

Bell

Bell is a good ball handler but the team needs him to stop/control Kobe. His main focus is on defense, so i don't know if that would work.

It may be a little late for this, but I think Jalen Rose and Eric Piatkowski are both tall and good ball handlers. I don't know if they can replace Diaw in the lineup.

by Vash01 @ Bright Side Of The Sun on Apr 27, 2007 3:56 PM MDT up reply actions

Hmm...

This is not the first time a team has tried the "throw everyone at Nash" approach. It works in the short term (see Clippers last year), but the Suns eventually figure it out. I still think Boris is the guy that needs to step up here. The Suns can't go from being a Nash-run team to a "run the offense through someone else" team overnight, and expect to get anywhere in the playoffs. But having Boris out there to help out with the playmaking would make those trapping double-teams a lot less effective.

by TexSUN on Apr 27, 2007 4:03 PM MDT up reply actions

thats true

Nash makes so much happen, I agree we can't just switch to someone else. But, if the trap is this severe...

I do like the possibility of Diaw...

Curious to re watch the clippers series and see what the Suns did to adjust to the "throw everyone at Nash" idea.

I don't have the video, does anyone have a thought on what they did do, as I recall, it was Diaw and Barbosa coming up big. And T.Thomas, and Bell, etc

by jasonsuns1 on Apr 27, 2007 4:29 PM MDT up reply actions

Amare?

A couple of people on phxsuns.net a few days back were advocating that the Suns should start running the offense through Amare (they were talking next season, not now). Basically, they would like to see the Suns next season go back to the pre-Nash plans to make Amare the franchise player, and have him be the official primary option in the Suns' offense. That would make the Suns a lot more conventional, and a lot less dependent on Nash, but it also puts the ball in the hands of someone who's, well, not exactly known as a playmaker or a smart decision-maker (unless that decision involves dunking on somebody's head!). On nights like last night, it's easy to see why having a 6'3" guy controlling everything is maybe not ideal, but I'm not convinced Amare's ready for all the responsibilities that go with being designated the "team leader" either (and the fact the whole basis for the discussion to begin with was somebody speculating that Amare may not be happy playing second fiddle to Nash says as much about that as anything). What do ya'll think? Clearly this is a discussion for the future, not something that's in any way relevant now, but I'm bored, so what the heck.... :)

by TexSUN on Apr 27, 2007 4:52 PM MDT up reply actions

response to amare idea

(Even though I'm getting ready for the Mavs/G.S. game)... that's interesting. But, I'm not convinced also, as much as I'd love to have a 6'10 guy running the floor. I'd love to see what he could do in a non playoff game next year (give him 5 games).

Alright, 49-35 G.S. winning!!

by jasonsuns1 on Apr 27, 2007 9:29 PM MDT up reply actions

Diaw

The more I think about this, the more I feel that Diaw could be the answer to this puzzle. He is a good distributor of the ball, like Nash. If they trap Nash, let Diaw feed the ball to the team, and make them pay.

Diaw is not the aggressive type who is going to go for a dunk. I think he could be more effective as the player who passes the ball really well. I like the idea of having both Nash and Diaw on the floor against this Lakers team.

Any chances of Dantoni making 3D a starter against LAL?

by Vash01 @ Bright Side Of The Sun on Apr 28, 2007 12:33 AM MDT up reply actions

FT

If the Suns had just made the FT's when they had the opportunity, they would have won this game.

How many did they miss? I remember LB, Diaw and Marion missing one each.

by Vash01 @ Bright Side Of The Sun on Apr 27, 2007 1:02 PM MDT up reply actions

Very true

The Suns played horrible for three quarters straight and should have made the free throws they were given.

I just find it very frustrating to watch Bryant score 13 points standing at the free throw line... He would have been the third highest scorer for the Suns, based on his free throws alone. (Doesn't say much for the Suns).

There's no excuse for the horrible play on the Suns part. In game 1 the Suns played fairly bad and pulled out the win. In this game they played "very" bad and barely lost.

This will be a 3-1 series after the next game. But this falling apart nonsense won't work against the Mavs or Spurs.

by Trvs on Apr 27, 2007 1:16 PM MDT up reply actions

Mavs & Spurs

They are both going to play very physical games. The Suns better get used to this playoff style of basketball. So this may even be a good practice for the Suns.

Will the Spurs be in the second round though? I think Denver can beat them. I am sure Dallas will breeze through the first round, after getting the bad game out of their system.

by Vash01 @ Bright Side Of The Sun on Apr 27, 2007 1:35 PM MDT reply actions

on Mavs and G.S.

I had hoped for more from G.S., but after seeing Davis get kicked out for being stupid, I'm losing hope for them... sadly

by jasonsuns1 on Apr 27, 2007 3:26 PM MDT up reply actions

Nash wins SB Nation MVP

I'm sure Dan will post something more official later today, but looks like Nash won the SB Nation MVP. Despite the way that entry reads, the official "real" award still has not been announced.

by TexSUN on Apr 27, 2007 1:51 PM MDT reply actions

Good

Although he won't receive the real award, it is nice to hear that he won this one.

by Vash01 @ Bright Side Of The Sun on Apr 27, 2007 1:54 PM MDT reply actions

I'd say you're right on both counts

...according to this anyway...

by TexSUN on Apr 27, 2007 2:27 PM MDT up reply actions

I'm not so sure...

If you look at the end of that article you linked to, they also said Stackhouse would win the 6th man...by the way, the Warriors took out the Mavs again tonight. Go Warriors!

by Dan @ Bright Side Of The Sun on Apr 27, 2007 11:18 PM MDT up reply actions

Yeah, but..

I think the second part where they were talking 6th man and all was them revealing their own votes and/or guesses, not the results of the "straw poll". At least that's how I read it. But like I said, the whole thing should probably be taken with a grain of salt since it came from a Dallas newspaper's web site.

by TexSUN on Apr 27, 2007 11:36 PM MDT up reply actions

Not a surprise

We have known this all along. Nash will be 3rd on some voters' list. Dirk has been 1st or 2nd on everyone's. Still a little disappointing. Anyway, now the Suns can really focus their eyes on the real prize.

For the last 3 years the Suns have won 2 trophies:

Nash MVP, Dantoni COY
Nash MVP, Diaw MIP
LB 6th man, ...... the only trophy left is the championship trophy.

by Vash01 @ Bright Side Of The Sun on Apr 27, 2007 2:56 PM MDT reply actions

I thought it would be closer

I guess that post-"classic" slide hurt a lot more than I thought. I figured Dirk would win it, but I thought it would be fairly close. After that article, I'm thinking it may be more like a landslide. Of course, keep in mind that was posted on a Dallas newspaper's web site. The one they posted on AZCentral a while back still had Dirk winning, but only by four votes. Too bad they don't just let the SB Nation vote on it, huh? :)

by TexSUN on Apr 27, 2007 3:16 PM MDT up reply actions

Definitely hurt

If the Suns had gained momentum from the 3/14 game, and stayed behind the Mavs by no more than 2 games, Nash could have won the MVP. There is not a big difference between 67 wins and 65 wins.

by Vash01 @ Bright Side Of The Sun on Apr 27, 2007 3:59 PM MDT reply actions