Scouts Inc.: Lakers vs. Suns Game 7 report

[SkoobyDoo]

Scouts Inc.: Lakers vs. Suns Game 7
Scouts Inc.

• Lakers Offense: Lamar Odom did a better job recognizing the double team in the second half of Game 6. When Odom sets up away from the paint on the baseline, he is easier to trap. Odom started positioning himself in the paint or facing the hoop more to avoid what has been a solid trapping effort from the Suns.

The big question is: Did Kobe Bryant's 35 field-goal attempts lead to the Lakers' loss? Bryant hit 20-of-35 attempts, so it is hard to argue that he is hurting the team with bad shots, but the Lakers become disinterested on both ends of the floor when they don't get looks from Bryant. The Lakers didn't get a lot of points in the paint in the second half, but it is hard to trust that Kwame Brown will catch any pass that isn't perfect.

• Lakers Defense: The Lakers got beat up in the two-man switch game with Steve Nash and Boris Diaw in the fourth quarter. When the Suns use a lineup of Shawn Marion, Tim Thomas and Diaw, it leaves a smaller defender on Diaw; expect the Lakers to double this earlier or fight through the pick more to prevent so much switching.

• Suns Offense: The Lakers have not pressured Steve Nash enough as he brings the ball up court. When Nash gets some momentum, he dribbles to either side of the pick set for him at the top of the key and gets past both defenders. The defense has two choices: collapse on Nash or let him go one-on-one with a backpedaling big man who will likely foul him.

Tim Thomas was much more aggressive going toward the hoop, and that is really the key for the Suns. Everybody talks about their fast-break ability, but what makes them tough to defend is that every player is thinking about driving to the hoop; it gets their opponents in foul trouble.

• Suns Defense: The Suns get Raja Bell back in Game 7 to defend Bryant, and that is good news because the Leandro Barbosa/Shawn Marion combo was not effective. Against Barbosa, Kobe shot 7-of-11 from the field and 3-of-4 from the line for 18 points. Against Marion, he shot 13-of-21 from the field and 2-of-2 from the line for 32 points. Kobe also had three field-goal attempts vs. Thomas in switch situations.

The Suns should be prepared for the Lakers to focus on scoring in the paint in Game 7. But if the Lakers turn the ball over in the paint the way they did in Game 6, the Suns could be the first team to beat Phil Jackson in a series he has led. Jackson right now is 44-0 in his coaching career when he's led in a playoff series.

• Prediction: Suns win Game 7.

[Anonymous20]

-pic & roll killed the Lakers. If they can switch they should do fine.
-Smush Parker shot horribly and his confidence wavered on defense.
-Kobe shot too much and went back to his old ways. He played GREAT in games 1 - 4. If he plays like that again, Lakers win.
-Give Sasha the start over Smush and let his energy defense disrupt the Suns
-Odom just needs to do what he has already been doing. I predict an Odom triple double today, even if they loose.

[Old Shatterhand]

Great comments. Well it's over now for the Laker's for this year. Next year will be better.

[SkoobyDoo]

Odom got no where near a triple double. 12, 5 & 2 is what he got.

What was up with Kobe? He only took 3 shots in the 2nd half when the Lakers were down by 17+. If there was any time for him to be a ballhog it was then. Game 7 is not the time to get your teammates involved when they are not hitting shots.

['X']

Next year will be better.

LOL...

Come on man, it's going to be a long time before the lakeR do anything again...kobe cannot lead a team.

[myDick in your mouth]

"Kobe shot too much and went back to his old ways. He played GREAT in games 1 - 4. If he plays like that again, Lakers win."

games 1-4 Kwame Brown and Lamar Odom and Smush Parker was playin great. They were gettin it deep inside. Brown wasnt missin 5 ft layups. You go with what works. If noone else is making shots and u start going down by double digits u gotta find a way to win. Game 6 was tied with 6 seconds left. Kobe got double teamed he should have passed the ball. But they got it down to the wire like that bcuz Kobe was scoring and noone else was.

"it's going to be a long time before the lakeR do anything again...kobe cannot lead a team."

When he played with Shaq he never got to be put in the position to be a full leader. This is his second season without shaq. First season back with Phil Jackson. So I think u gotta give him more time before you come to the conclusion that Kobe cannot lead a team.

[myDick in your mouth]

And this game the first half kobe scored 23. they were still down by 15. the second half he left it up to his teamates. they were blown out. bottom line is right now, suns are a better team. suns are a great team actually. suns are the 2nd seed in the west.

[MiChuhSuh]

I give up on these dudes... I guess I'm gonna have to wait another 15-25 years before Lakers come out ballin again

[MiChuhSuh]

Next year will be better.

LOL...

Come on man, it's going to be a long time before the lakeR do anything again...kobe cannot lead a team.

seriously... they need a "restart" button for teams, Kobe more of a curse than a gift