Wednesday, May 26, 2010

Suns-Lakers

I watched most of the Suns-Lakers game last night. It was great to see the Lakers lose again while the Suns' bench went nuts in a very entertaining game. Some thoughts:
  • Have you ever seen an NBA team stick to a 2-3 zone for almost all of two games like the Suns have in this series? I can't remember seeing something like this in the NBA, where teams generally shoot too well for zones to be effective over long periods of time. Kobe and Phil both said that the problem wasn't with the offense, it's defense the Lakers must focus on. However, the stats show the Lakers' offense has been much less effective against the Suns' zone. Consider the following:
LA Games 1 + 2: 81-133 2FG, 15-33 3FG, 58 FTA. LA Games 3 + 4: 69-118 2FG, 18-60 3FG, 33 FTA.

LA is shooting more 3's and getting to the line less. Their overall field goal % is down. They don't have a true point guard to attack the zone off the dribble. This series has suddenly got realllll interesting. Credit Alvin Gentry for making the switch to the zone. He is effectively saying "we would rather have you shoot open threes than (relatively) unbothered shots in the post. It will be interesting to see what the Lakers do to attack the zone in game 5.

  • Speaking of Gentry, you gotta love how he stuck with the bench in the 4th quarter last night. They were getting it done, so he stuck with them until almost the 3 minute mark as they built a double digit lead.
  • Andrew Bynum's lack of mobility is KILLING the Lakers right now. He can't get out to hedge on pick and rolls and get back to defend inside in time. He also isn't doing a good job helping against Amare. The Suns will continue to pick on him until he proves he can defend, and look for the Celtics to do the same if they match up in the finals.
  • Has anyone else noticed how much Dan Majerle looks like James Caan in the Godfather era? I could easily see Majerle beating the shit out of Carlo or getting blown away at the tollbooth. Here's a picture of each.


  • How much of a chump must Doug Collins feel like watching Phil Jackson win title after title? Jackson was Collins' assistant with the Bulls and took over when Collins was fired, going on to win 6 titles with the Bulls and 4 more with the Lakers. Collins has to feel that if he had been allowed to stick around another couple of years it would be Collins being considered one of the greatest coaches ever instead of doing TV commentary and coaching the Sixers next year.
  • Is there a team that bitches about calls more than the Lakers? Kobe and Pau have never committed a foul in their lives.
That's all I got for now, check back later for a Friday Night Lights review.

-Aloy

4 comments:

  1. Speaking of lack of a true point guard for the Lakers...what ever happened to Jordan Farmar? I remember him being great at UCLA and then being a first round pick out of college. Did he flop or something?

    And gotta get your opinion because my historical knowledge of the NBA is flat out zero...but who is the best coach in NBA history, the Zen Master or Red? (I will also accept ML Carr or Rick Pitino as well).

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  2. Farmar is and has always been a bench player. He was solid in college but never seemed like he'd be a stud in the NBA.

    I'm biased but I'll go with Red, since he won 9 titles as a coach, including 8 in a row. The difference between Red and Phil is that Red was not only the coach but also the architect of his teams. He was in charge of constructing as well as coaching the team. Add to that that he won another 7 titles as GM/Team President, and he seems a lock for the best coach/executive in NBA history.

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  3. has anyone ever seen a game where both teams just suddenly explode and make ridiculous jumper after jumper and three after three in the second quarter?

    kobe is a bitch, sorry wils and gardner, but that fuckin guy bitches more about calls than the nfl about spygate

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  4. haha it was ridiculous no one could miss a shot

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