Game Thread: Phoenix Suns vs Los Angeles Lakers

by Dan on Apr 8, 2007 9:56 AM MDT in Suns News

This should be a good game for multiple reasons:

It's on ABC so you know both teams are going to bring their A game.
It's on ABC so you know Kobe is going to try and show off in front of a national audience and prove that he should be MVP.
The Suns have something to prove after the previous two games.
The Suns NEED this game to keep ahead of the Spurs in the standings.
(This one may be controversial and could be just plain wrong) The Lakers may tank the game because they're trying to get into 7th place so they can face the Suns instead of the Spurs.

I'll have a lot more on #5 tomorrow. I'm coming up with a theory I want to talk more about but until then, discuss the game in the comments and there will be more after the game.

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4 out of 5

Dan,

I agree with your first 4..... Have to disagree with #5.

#4 is THE most important factor for the Suns. For Kobe #2 is the most important. I say let him get the points, let the Suns get the win.

The reason I disagree with #5 is nobody knows right now who the #2 and #3 seeds will be. The Suns are hanging on to #2 by a thin thread. One loss and they will be in a 'must win every game' situation.

If the Lakers win today, that's exactly the situation the Suns will be in. Not that it cannot be done but the odds are against it ("Never quote me the odds"- Han Solo). In that case the Suns could end up being the #3 seed, and the Lakers will WANT the #6 because nobody wants to face SA. So the Lakers have a lot to gain by winning today. Of course they will still have to win their remaining games, with Denver breathing down their neck (right now Denver has a 0.5 game lead over LAL and they are in #6 spot).

With Denver & LAL so close for the #6 seed, and Phx-SA so close for the #2, we may not know until one game remaining in the regular season, how the first round shapes up.

As a side note, what the Lakers do today may not matter if Denver continues to be hot. They will be VERY dangerous in the first round.

by Vash01 on Apr 8, 2007 10:58 AM MDT 0 recs

Tanking

I wondered the same thing about the Lakers (or Nuggets for that matter) tanking games to get #7 and avoid the Spurs. I have only one thing to say to that: Be careful what you wish for.

by TexSUN on Apr 8, 2007 7:45 PM MDT 0 recs

It's too early

I think it's too early for either the Lakers or the Nuggets to tank a game because they don't know who the #2 seed will be. The Lakers put up a good fight. The Suns were just better today. Raja did a great job at both ends, but particularly against Kobe.

by Vash01 on Apr 8, 2007 8:08 PM MDT up 0 recs

lakers

Nice to see some good shooting, just wish the suns could hire 4-5 great runners to run and guard them during practice, so when they play the spurs or mavs or pistons, the suns would have had alot of practice shooting while really being guarded. It seems like its night and day, the difference in defense between some of these teams. Nice to hear pretty positive comments from and to kobe and bell on nba.com. The Suns are too nice a team to stay mad at, problem, is, they need a certain amount of madness and anger to do better against mavs, pistons, and spurs over series.

Exciting playoffs coming up!!

by jasonsuns1 on Apr 9, 2007 1:48 AM MDT 0 recs