How we match up with PHX.

[blix]

Damn, you beat me to it. If there isn't a bigger, most obnoxious homer in the entire realm of realgm, I'd like to meet him.

I got lucky, spent a lot of time on the computer yesterday.

[Sofa King]

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I got lucky, spent a lot of time on the computer yesterday.

Man, I wish I got some from going online.

[Bgil]

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man, firstly grant hill starts, not diaw

secondly to say amare = gasol is ludicrous, amare is an ALL NBA 1st team player, an allstar, you cant possibly say he is = to gasol

whats the bench matchup, we will play diaw, barbosa, skinner and possibly DJ off the bench, you play turiar, walton sasha and vlad

i think the bench is pretty equal, you have more depth, but we all know how barbs loves the lakers and i do think this trade will bring the best out of diaw

if youre going to evaluate the matchup, then do it without your purple and gold glasses on

i cant predict a winner at this point, all i know is it will be entertaining as all hell and ill feel robbed as a fan of the NBA if these 2 teams dont meet in the playoffs

I'm going to call the Diaw situation right now... he's not going to go back to what he was two years ago. He worked well as an undersized center but he can't guard the perimeter for shiznit. Odom is the perfect player to guard Diaw for the simple fact that he can match or exceed him in every attribute (speed, length etc.) and not have to worry about having his weaknesses attacked (post defense against bruisers and guarding outside shooters). Odom will lock Diaw down.

If Marion couldn't guard Odom then Diaw and Hill are just going to get burned even worse. Neither are as active on O as Marion so LO should have an easier time on D too.

Nash isn't going to be able to freelance on D like he did when Smush was here either. Fisher will light him up for 20+ no problem.

Bynum on Shaq... I doubt Bynum will go at him directly. We usually get him lobs and scores on pick and rolls, that's Shaq biggest weakness. Teams used to run pick and roll on us all day because of it. Shaq basically sponsored the coming out parties for Tony Parker and Mike Bibby... then tried his best to get Troy Hudson into the HOF. Fisher and Kobe will have a nice day just running pick and roll with Bynum while LO and Gasol play weakside and clean up all the misses.

Amare vs Gasol... that's gonna suck for us but I think gasol can fire back just enough offense that it won't be a completely one sided afair. Hell, Amare is better off with Gasol in the game than Turiaf because Ronny is an extremely physical defender who'll throw that little soft jumper right back in Amare's grill (just like he did to Duncan, Curry, Randolph, and Bosh).

It'll be interesting to see how Shaq adapts to your uptempo offense and how well he fits in.

[Sedale Threatt]

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I got lucky, spent a lot of time on the computer yesterday.

Welcome to my world.

[Roscoe Sheed]

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Well that's a good excuse. What's your excuse for the 2nd game?

They may mean very little to you but they still play the game for a reason. If the Suns tie the season series from here on out, then it's going to be an even match up in the playoffs unlike the previous two years where the Suns were heavy favorites to win.

There is no excuse

What I mean is that it is a mistake to read into regular season victories. Teams change over the course of the season, teams can't scheme as much in regular season games.

In the post-season, you just lock in on one team and make needed adjustments if successful. I speak from experience being a Pistons fan. Two years ago they dominated the Heat in the regular season and then lost to them in the ECF. Last season, the Bulls dominated the Pistons in the regular season, only to lose to them in the second round. Conversely, the Pistons dominated the Cavs in the regular season last season and of course bowed out to them in the ECF.

[asubennett]

I think this series, as if it wasnt enough already, just became 1000 times more intriguing.

Bynum vs. Shaq.....
You have two guys with some injury problems. Two guys who are mammoth in the middle and take up a lot of space. One guy is very young. The other grizzled and old. Classic conflict of youth and experience. If Bynum is 100% healthy I give the edge to Bynum. If Bynum is hurting a little, Shaq's experience prevails in this match up.

Gasol vs Amare.......
Gasol is a great offensive improvement for your team. However, what you gain in offense you lose in defense against Amare. I actually think for the purpose of playing Phoenix, Turiaf is a better option at PF. Gasol gets owned something wicked against Amare. He is just not strong enough to keep him away from the bucket. Yes, Bynum does a great job against Amare with his length but if he guards Amare is Gasol going to defend Shaq? Please.... Suns win this matchup.

Odom vs Hill.........
Odom is goign to dominate Hill inside. Hill will bring Odom away from the basket. Odom will bring Hill near the basket. If Odom is motivated, he seems to be in the playoffs, I like Odom to ge the best of Hill in the matchup.

Kobe vs Bell.......
No point in analyzing. If Bell can knock down 4-5 threes a game that will be huge in cancelling out some of Kobes prodcution. But no question who wins this matchup.

Nash vs Fischer.......
See above Kobe vs. Bell comparison just reversed.

This is going to be a series determined by three things IMO....

1) Health of our bigs. Whoever wins the Shaq - Bynum matchup has a huge edge in this series.

2) Rebounding. You guys have owned the offensive glass in the past. You typically get 10-15 more shots a game than we do. I think it is safe to say now that Amare and Shaq will be better rebounders than Bynum and Gasol. If we can cut those extra possesions in half or better I like our chances becasue we shoot the ball so well.

3) Kobe = He will be motivated by the pressence of Shaq. If he is motivated to brilliance Lakers get this series. If he is motivated to force things and be 81 PT Kobe Suns get this series.

Cant wait for it either way.

[hermes]

it will be a great series
as usual
but with more star power

[YiYaoYue]

If suns trainers can turn old shaq into 50% shaq... i think lakers trainers can buff up gasol so he won't get pummeled by amare

[rsavaj]

What's the over/under on how many times Kobe dunks on Shaq during a 7 game series between the two?

[G35]

Anyone remember the last 5 minutes of the Orlando game? Kobe and Gasol ran the pick and roll on Dwight two trips in a row and Kobe fed Pau with some great leads to the basket. I think the Lakers coaching staff wanted to see how Kobe/Pau play together on the pick and roll and they looked good.

Kobe can do that all day with Bynum/Gasol. I don't see how Phx will be able to defend it.........