Game 1 Preview: Phoenix Suns at Los Angeles Lakers

Need some help guys. I’m makin a road trip from seattle to san diego. I NEED to watch this game. Any good links a blackberry curve would be able to use. Not sure if this is frowned upon if so ill see u guys in the live thread. Thanks guys GO SUNS!

According to this ESPN poll, the Suns play with the support of the whole world behind them, minus some rich people in LA and some NBA functionaries.

It more like mean LA and greedy NBA officials vs. Los Suns cheered onward by the whole World of sports fans and good people.

Beat LA!

P.S. I’m wearing my Los Suns jersey tonight. The Suns are 3-0 when they wear them, but also 3-0 when they don the regular uniforms and I sport the Los Suns jersey.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010/writers/jack_mccallum/05/13/gentry.suns/index.html

I have read everything I could find, all the links available, listened to 620 AM. Now I am ready to stop reading and proceed with the game. (Doesn’t actually mean I will stop reading though). I am nervous as hell and very optimistic at the same time. I BELIEVE we can and will do this. Play every game like it is game seven and advance to the Finals. I have been averaging about 2 hours a night sleep, if you call it sleep. Watched the boston/orlando game last night, it just didn’t do justice for what we have all been waiting for. We can and will do this. Go Suns!!!! A strong showning in game 1 whether win or lose will be huge.

Only 52% of those who voted thought the Suns had a better bench than the Lakers. That’s a little ridiculous.

This has felt like the longest week ever. Like a mini-postseason.

I’m hoping we don’t have too much rust coming in, and that we play well in the first quarter. I’m not as confident about coming back to take the lead like we did against Portland and San Antonio in poor first quarters against this Lakers’ squad.

Oh, and for any fans in Flagstaff, there’s a gaggle of us Suns fans heading to Buffalo Wild Wings to watch the game.

Also dug the intro Wil.

I still remember the first game I ever watched (and where I was) 1989 WCF v. Lakers (the finish of the sweep). I remember asking my Dad what it was and then later when it was coming back. Basically been an addiction ever since.

http://www.nba.com/suns/photogallery/playoffs2010_wcftravel_10.html

Boy, am I excited, can’t wait for the game to start. Just watched the playoff intro on suns.com to get me fired up even more!
BEAT L.A. !!! GO SUNS !!!

Best of luck tonight. I hope you kick the crap out of LA. I’m pulling for the Suns to win it all now that OKC’s season is over.

It’s our time to win..! Go Suns!!!!

I think Amare needs to take it at Pau early and often and try to draw some early fouls

For what he’s done for the Suns, Alvin Gentry deserves his own parade. He is arguably the only Suns coach I know of where it’s impossible to say he’s along for the ride. (Except Mike D’Antoni, and not even him, because it was his system that was good, not him—especially because he refused to do what Gentry does.) I personally think Paul Westphal was a very clever play-calling coach, but others think he was nothing.

I should PROBABLY go plant that bush I was supposed to plant today before the game starts… haha:) that will take some anxiousness off my shoulders before the game!

Gentry said on a video on suns.com that amare will guard bynum and lopez will guard gasol… if im not wrong in the regular season games amare guarded gasol right?

here is hoping your team can pull it out! Enemy of our enemy is our friend!…

btw…we’re still realling from Raja’s dagger agains poor Daniel Ewing

Hey Guys,

I have been busy and have not been able to drop by and leave a note.
I just wanted to congratulate you on kicking our butts in the previous series. It was pretty amazing how you seem to have different people step up and take over each game. I believe that had things been perfect on our side (Tony’s arm, Manu’s nose), it would have made no difference. You guys got on a roll at the right time and plainly just played better.
I will be rooting for you in this series (anybody but the Laker$), but, I have the feeling that winning will be an uphill battle for several reasons:
1) Beware the “Reset” – You guys shot 46% from 3 for the series (41-89). Seven days off is probably not going to improve that. Look at the Magic, they shot well in their sweep of Atlanta (46-112, 41%) and could not throw one in the ocean after a lot of rest (5-22 yesterday).
2) It is instructional to see what Phil Jackson (aka, Mr. Classy) decided to focus on for his referee manipulation. Both Kobe and Fisher carry the ball as much or more than Nash. He believes that getting a few calls on Nash would disrupt the Sun’s offense more than getting a few calls on Fisher or Kobe. It is also important to note what he did not focus on. Amare violates offensive 3 seconds more than anyone in the league (tough to do in a league that includes Shaq). He does not want the referees looking for those violations because Bynum and Odom are also regular offenders. Having the referees make those calls would hurt the Laker$ far more than the Suns.

Good Luck Tonight!

Just got a text from KTAR confirming Lopez will be in the starting line-up tonight!

This is great news, although mostly expected. I was just hoping there wouldn’t be any last minute setbacks or changes of plans, and it looks like we’re good to go!

I notice some people are nervous but i must say i feel pretty confident. I actually think we can sweep the lakers too if we have no “mental farts”. Though it’s not likely, more like Suns in 5 or six. Rolo neutralizes the stretched out rubber chicken(pau) and STAT takes Andy(bynum) to start. “Louuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu” goes crazy and everyone follows. We should steal this game and if we do….we steal this series. Go PHOENIX SUNS !!!!!!!!!!!!!

I am sooo nervous!!!!!

 Man, this has been a looong wait…and there’s still 3.5 hrs!!! I’m ready to see my boys shock the world…one game at a time!!!

Stoudemire: “We’re knocking on the front door. Now we just got to kick the door in. We don’t have a key. Nobody’s going to let us in.”

RIGHT ON!!

GO SUNS !!!!

LINK

is trying to get me to go running with her before the game, I think she’s just trying to wear me down before tip off, can’t have that..suns are gonna need us all fresh tonight :)

Cant even begin to concentrate at work.

and counting! Gah!

“There was only the illusion of a remedy,” writes Michael Leahy in his book about Jordan’s return, “When Nothing Else Matters.” “After the draining of the knee, Jordan could move again. But the tendon remained inflamed — a draining did nothing for inflammation. If he did not rest, the pain would be coming back, along with more inflammation, more swelling, a nastier case of restricted movement and a heightened chance for another injury.”

Kobe’s knee has apparently been bothering him since March in addition to his multiple finger issues. The LA media is downplaying the issue – “Nobody plays through pain like Kobe … yadda, yadda, yadda” But there just might be genuine concern in some parts of Lakerland.

I’ll be rocking my Suns gear, watching the game at work at Islands Burgers & Drinks in Avondale. Anyone who wants to show up and watch the game, I’ll gladly watch it with you… inbetween taking care of my tables of course… Just make sure you ask for me and introduce yourself; my name is Austin

I can see the nightmare scenario in my head… it is a close game in the 4th with 2 minutes to go… Kobe drives down the lane… Kobe shoots, Grant Hill coughs and is called for the foul… The Suns get the ball and come down the court… Nash drives Bynum clubs Nash in the eye socket… Nash loses the ball as he is bleeding on the ground… The Lakers have the ball… they give it to Kobe… Kobe drives down the lane… Grant Hill blinks and is called for the shooting foul… repeat…

fed ex me a filiberto’s green chile burrito quick?

No one could help me out here. If its not okay to put links to the game then tell me. Don’t ignore me. Were all die hard fans here. All on the same team all want to see the suns win.

A medical doctor said that they will inject a steroid in Kobe’s knee, disqualification!!

In light of McHale’s point that the Suns need to open up the paint for Stoudemire by drawing the Lakers’ big men to the perimeter, it is very unfortunate that the Suns have only one sharpshooting big man, especially since Frye is hot and cold.

According to http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news;ylt=Aus0R3DXK9PBk2D4wnSsFy8vLYF?slug=ap-philjackson-immigration , Phil Jackson refuses to criticize our new immigration law, and the entire Lakers organization generally refuses to politicize itself as the Suns have. Who knew they would go against the culture in their state and in Los Angeles? Especially when Hollywood is such a slave to fashionable causes. I’m amazed.