I thought it was nice to see Phoenix win, but I am not more convinced than ever that the Lakers will win this series in 5. Even though Phoenix won due to a stellar performance by Amare and the zone defense --
1. Phoenix's bench has been a big reason they've extended leads this season and two of their biggest contributers who were supposed to give big advantages against the Lakers bench have been huge duds -- Channing Frye and Goran Dragic (Barbosa was not supposed to be a big contributer). They were duds yet again and Frye hasn't hit a shot in his last 14 or something. Phoenix cannot win this SERIES without their bench.
2. While the zone defense was a neat idea, all it really did was bait Artest, Odom, Kobe, and Shannon Brown into shooting 3s. Phil Jackson is too smart to be fooled by this two games in a row. The problem with 3s is the rebounds are long and they arne't conducive to offensive rebounds, which are so easy when you are in a zone. Expect the Lakers to work more around the basket and to get tons of offensive boards in game 4 if the Lakers go back to to the zone. Since the Suns are already undersized, the Lakers will murder them on the boards if they find ways to get shots closer to the basket
3. The Suns still have no answer for Pau Gasol or Kobe Bryant -- not even close. If you let their two best guys get what they want every game this series, then there's no way you can be successful.
4. The Lakers had 17 turnovers in game 3 and there was a 20 to 42 free throw advantage. Don't expect that to be the case in game 4.
I hate to say it, but this is over in 5.
1. Phoenix's bench has been a big reason they've extended leads this season and two of their biggest contributers who were supposed to give big advantages against the Lakers bench have been huge duds -- Channing Frye and Goran Dragic (Barbosa was not supposed to be a big contributer). They were duds yet again and Frye hasn't hit a shot in his last 14 or something. Phoenix cannot win this SERIES without their bench.
2. While the zone defense was a neat idea, all it really did was bait Artest, Odom, Kobe, and Shannon Brown into shooting 3s. Phil Jackson is too smart to be fooled by this two games in a row. The problem with 3s is the rebounds are long and they arne't conducive to offensive rebounds, which are so easy when you are in a zone. Expect the Lakers to work more around the basket and to get tons of offensive boards in game 4 if the Lakers go back to to the zone. Since the Suns are already undersized, the Lakers will murder them on the boards if they find ways to get shots closer to the basket
3. The Suns still have no answer for Pau Gasol or Kobe Bryant -- not even close. If you let their two best guys get what they want every game this series, then there's no way you can be successful.
4. The Lakers had 17 turnovers in game 3 and there was a 20 to 42 free throw advantage. Don't expect that to be the case in game 4.
I hate to say it, but this is over in 5.