Suns Spanked Again

by DexterFishmore on Dec 6, 2009 9:36 PM PST in Game Recaps Comment 36 comments

On Sunday the Los Angles Lakers faced the NBA's best offense and held it to less than a point per possession. That counts as a good day at the office. The Phoenix Suns played on Saturday night, which surely contributed to their wan effort, but the Lakers defended with purpose and vigor. They forced turnovers, kept Phoenix off the free-throw line and, most important, made the Suns score two points at a time. An opponent that drains 10 threes on an average night attempted only 13, and made only four.

On offense the Lakemen inflicted damage inside and out. Seemingly resolved to avoid a repeat of the teams' first game in November, when Andrew Bynum roared for 26 easy points, Phoenix doubled the post hard and dared the Lakers to make threes. The strategy worked for a bit, as the Lakers made only two of their first eight three-point attempts, but eventually the open looks started falling, and that was pretty much that. For the game L.A. hit 10 of 21 money balls. Kobe Bryant had no trouble getting what he wanted: his 26 points entailed only 19 shots and a single turnover.

So bravo, fellas! The final score was 108 to 88. The Lakers are 16-3 and have won nine in a row.

Next victim, please.

	Poss.	TO%	FTA/ FGA	FT%	EFG%	TS%	Off Reb%	Def Reb%	PPP
L.A.	89	13	0.32	85	53	58	33	70	1.21
PHX	90	17	0.13	91	47	50	30	67	0.98

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anyone else find this game incredibly dull compared to last night?

I mean, granted my online feeds were not dependable so I wasn’t into it too much, but even when my feeds were working the game wasn’t very entertaining.

The Suns just can’t keep up with the Lakers. At all. Once the Lakers finally started to hit the wide open threes that Phoenix was giving them (they couldn’t let pau and bynum work inside), LA pulled away and never looked back.

I mean after last night’s thriller this game was a big pile of “meh”! We need some road game action!

The greatest trick the devil ever pulled was convincing the world he didn't exist.

by Justin N. on Dec 6, 2009 10:01 PM PST reply actions

I rather have these games be boring

because it is so frustrating to have close games against teams that they should beat. My only concern is complacency and the Lakers being too over confident come playoff time.

"These young guys are playing checkers. I'm out there playing chess" - Kobe

by PURPLE AND GOLD FOR LIFE on Dec 6, 2009 10:04 PM PST up reply actions

I like boring blowout games

It’s good for my sanity and health.

but I do think the closer games are better, learning wise, for the team.
Blowouts are good against poor teams, but even better against good teams.
The only problem with blowouts is, the team gets complacent and might suffer Cavs2009 syndrome.

I rather the Lakers avoid Cavs2009 syndrome thank you very much.

Lakers 2009 Road to Redemption: TREVOR, DEREK, LAMAR, PAU & KOBE.
Play the game of which Lakers reminds you of: TA - TI, Shannon Brown - Chris Brown, Pau Gasol - Jesus, Machine - Luis Scola/Russell Brand, PJ with mustache and beard - Colonel Sanders.

by PeanutButterSpread on Dec 6, 2009 10:20 PM PST up reply actions

agreed

i’ll take these blowouts for now

Leave Chad Billingsley alone!!!

by shaqfor3 on Dec 6, 2009 10:23 PM PST up reply actions

its kobe leading the team not bron,

To me the lakers seem hungry still. I dont know if its because we have ron on the team and he hasnt won anything or maybe they really just want to win, but i see them focused for the most part when they play.

I also in a way prefer blowouts for health reasons as well, if i ever have a heart attack i see it happening during a close laker game.

" I'm a human, not a sandwich"

by true_lakerfan on Dec 7, 2009 10:07 AM PST up reply actions

the cavs2009 didn't suffer from complacency, though

they just lacked what it took to go up againt the elite teams

the lakers 2009 actually showed more problems with complacency last year (*cough*houston*cough*)

though i do agree that a few close games would be good for the team’s learning and staying in shape :p. j/k. but yea, sometimes i worry after too many blowouts if they forget what it feels like to actually have competition. a close game would be good sometimes (but not too close, like miami)

by Nostance on Dec 7, 2009 1:26 PM PST up reply actions

It was a very businesslike win.

Mostly laking in drama from the get-go. At least Utah, next up, is a team the Lakers haven’t faced yet. New blood.

by DexterFishmore on Dec 6, 2009 10:04 PM PST up reply actions

D will is my fav pg in the league, looking forward to that

The greatest trick the devil ever pulled was convincing the world he didn't exist.

by Justin N. on Dec 6, 2009 10:11 PM PST up reply actions

what about putting Artest on him?

I would prefer that over Kobe. Artest is the best one one one defender the Lakers have since Cooper.

"These young guys are playing checkers. I'm out there playing chess" - Kobe

by PURPLE AND GOLD FOR LIFE on Dec 6, 2009 10:13 PM PST up reply actions

he's too fast.

Shannon Brown i think is our best match up for him.

Funnel him into our defense and make him a jumpshooter. The Jazz are at their best when he gets everyone involved.

The greatest trick the devil ever pulled was convincing the world he didn't exist.

by Justin N. on Dec 6, 2009 10:37 PM PST up reply actions

Shannon would be interesting on Williams...

I think that Deron Williams and Brandon Roy have a very similar game, one to the other. One is officially a PG (who scores the ball in the crunch) and the other is officially a SG (who carries the ball in the crunch) — but beyond that superficial difference in nomenclature, if you watch the way they play and take what the defense offers them, not being afraid to drive to the rim, you’ll see that they are more or less the same player in different uniforms.

"A bizarre and extremely rare hybrid Blazer/Laker fan, Timbo has always struggled to contain the Beast Within, like Dr. Jekyll, Bruce Banner, or Ted Kennedy." — Miled Animal

by timbo on Dec 6, 2009 10:49 PM PST up reply actions

Utah will be a good test, IMO

I love Jerry Sloan and outside the Lakers, I like the Jazz and Deron Williams. Their team has a construct similar to ours, I would say, at least it reminds me of ours.

Deron’s a beast. And Boozer’s been playing really well. Always love Ronnie Brewer’s energy. Kirilenko might be out with a strained lower back. Korver’s been out since knee surgery but he might be able to play against the Lakers. Korver = Sasha (Y/N?). Ronnie Price and Matt Harpring are also out.

by PeanutButterSpread on Dec 6, 2009 10:18 PM PST reply actions

Yes on Boozer playing well. He and Deron are about 65% of the Utah attack, it seems like. Stop those guys and you stop that team.

"A bizarre and extremely rare hybrid Blazer/Laker fan, Timbo has always struggled to contain the Beast Within, like Dr. Jekyll, Bruce Banner, or Ted Kennedy." — Miled Animal

by timbo on Dec 6, 2009 10:50 PM PST up reply actions

The box score

said Kobe had only 16 shots. Don’t mean to be picky just letting u know in case it was a typo

by Marty Mart on Dec 6, 2009 10:20 PM PST reply actions

Not a typo

but I should have clarified. When I say “shots,” I include attempts where a shooter is fouled and shoots two free throws. Those aren’t officially logged as FGAs but use possessions, so they’re included to get a true measure of scoring efficiency. I often forget to mention that when I should.

by DexterFishmore on Dec 6, 2009 10:30 PM PST up reply actions

oh ok

now i understand

by Marty Mart on Dec 6, 2009 10:52 PM PST up reply actions

The Lakers Could be 28-3

by the end of December. All this without Gasol in the begining and the only contender is the Cavs on 12/25. There next 12 oponents:

Jazz
Wolves
Jazz
Bulls
Bucks
Nets
Pistons
Thunder
Cavs
Kings
Suns
Warrios

"These young guys are playing checkers. I'm out there playing chess" - Kobe

by PURPLE AND GOLD FOR LIFE on Dec 6, 2009 10:26 PM PST reply actions

thatd be pretty ridiculous

The back2back @Utah is another scheduled loss. I wouldn’t count on the streak continuing past that game.

The greatest trick the devil ever pulled was convincing the world he didn't exist.

by Justin N. on Dec 6, 2009 10:41 PM PST up reply actions

Agreed

There’s also a trap game at Sacramento on the 26th. Having faced the Cavs the day before on Christmas, the Lakers could well come out flat.

At Phoenix on the 28th won’t be easy, either. At home and not having played the night before, the Suns will be much better than we’ve seen.

by DexterFishmore on Dec 6, 2009 10:44 PM PST up reply actions

Gasol's presence is huge

and they could easily have a better record then they do now. The three losess were withoug Gasol so they can have a great record at the end of December.

"These young guys are playing checkers. I'm out there playing chess" - Kobe

by PURPLE AND GOLD FOR LIFE on Dec 6, 2009 10:48 PM PST up reply actions

that will be an exciting game

i love the hostile environment
its very fulfilling to get a win up there
but to have to play it on the second night of a back to back screams loss.
just cause they always play us tough up there.

Leave Chad Billingsley alone!!!

by shaqfor3 on Dec 6, 2009 10:53 PM PST up reply actions

One game at a time, please...

Next up: Utah.

And that could be tough.

"A bizarre and extremely rare hybrid Blazer/Laker fan, Timbo has always struggled to contain the Beast Within, like Dr. Jekyll, Bruce Banner, or Ted Kennedy." — Miled Animal

by timbo on Dec 6, 2009 10:51 PM PST up reply actions

There is only one type of team that worries me

teams with length and rebounding like Orlando, Cavs, Celtics and Spurs but any other teams I thinkt he Lakers have the upper hand. The only thing that could beat the Lakers is foul trouble.

"These young guys are playing checkers. I'm out there playing chess" - Kobe

by PURPLE AND GOLD FOR LIFE on Dec 6, 2009 10:57 PM PST up reply actions

hows Utah at home so far?

last couple of years
they have been very tough to beat at home
but on the road they are the complete opposite
which is what keeps them from being an elite team.

Leave Chad Billingsley alone!!!

by shaqfor3 on Dec 6, 2009 11:00 PM PST up reply actions

i'm not sure

BUT! they lost to the Wolves today so there goes that theory about Utah being a threat.

"These young guys are playing checkers. I'm out there playing chess" - Kobe

by PURPLE AND GOLD FOR LIFE on Dec 6, 2009 11:04 PM PST up reply actions

yeah

but every teams gonna bring their A game vs the defending champs
i know that sounds silly but i think this has some truth to it
because teams like the kings last year beat the lakers but lost to the grizzlies and etc.

Leave Chad Billingsley alone!!!

by shaqfor3 on Dec 6, 2009 11:12 PM PST up reply actions