RealGM

Phoenix Suns (13-9) Vs. Los Angeles Lakers (17-3)

VS:

Game Information

When: Wednesday, December 10th 2008
Time: 7:30 PM Pacific (9:30 CT)
Venue: Staples Center, Los Angeles, California
TV: ESPN, FSN West
Radio: AM 570 KLAC


Phoenix Suns Starting Lineup


PG: Steve Nash
15.2 Points Per Game
8.2 Assists Per Game
2.9 Rebounds Per Game


SG: Raja Bell
9.4 Points Per Game
1.4 Assists Per Game
2.7 Rebounds Per Game


SF: Grant Hill
8.2 Points Per Game
4.3 Rebounds Per Game
1.8 Assists Per Game


PF: Boris Diaw
8.5 Points Per Game
3.8 Rebounds Per Game
2.1 Assists Per Game


C: Amare Stoudemire
22.4 Points Per Game
8.3 Rebounds Per Game
1.8 Assists Per Game

Key Bench Players


SF: Matt Barnes
12.1 Points Per Game
5.9 Rebounds Per Game
2.4 Assists Per Game


PG: Leandro Barbosa
11.7 Points Per Game
1.4 Assists Per Game
2.3 Rebounds Per Game

Los Angeles Lakers Starting Lineup


PG: Derek Fisher
10.3 Points Per Game
3.0 Assists Per Game
1.2 Steals Per Game


SG: Kobe Bryant
24.7 Points Per Game
4.4 Assists Per Game
5.3 Rebounds Per Game
1.6 Steals Per Game


SF: Vladimir Radmanovic
7.8 Points Per Game
3.4 Rebounds Per Game
1.1 Assists Per Game


PF: Pau Gasol
17.1 Points Per Game
9.3 Rebounds Per Game
3.5 Assists Per Game


C: Andrew Bynum
13.4 Points Per Game
9.0 Rebounds Per Game
2.1 Blocks Per Game

Lakers "Bench Mob"


PF: Lamar Odom
8.6 Points Per Game
5.7 Rebounds Per Game
2.1 Assists Per Game


SF: Trevor Ariza
9.6 Points Per Game
5.2 Rebounds Per Game
1.9 Steals Per Game

Key Matchup of the Game

Vs:
Kobe Bryant vs Raja Bell

There's always going to be the history of bad blood between these two. Raja Bell called him "arrogant," Kobe responded with, "I have bigger fish to fry." That escalated into numerous elbows and the infamous clothesline in the playoffs. Things have definitely cooled down since that playoff series, but one thing is different. The Lakers get the W's over the Suns now. Kobe always seems to want to have a big game whenever he plays Bell, and I'm assuming (especially coming off a 9-25 night against the Kings) that he'll want the same. Kobe didn't shoot the greatest in the Lakers last meeting, but he made timely baskets to stop Phoenix from getting on extended runs. Kobe's going to have to do that again, and he's going to have to lock down and play his "free safety" role well to get out and contest Phoenix's shooters.

Keys To A Lakers Win

Can We Play Some MF'in DEFENSE!?!?!: PLEASE, FOR THE LOVE OF GOD, Can we play some defense? The Lakers are capable of being an excellent defensive team when they play as a unit, and hustle. Lately they've been gambling WAY TOO MUCH, and it's cost them. It's been leading to a lot of scrambling and breakdowns. Play your man straight up, go back to the double teaming that we saw earlier in the season with the zone. Good ball pressure will result in turnovers and steals.. they do not need to gamble. Especially against Phoenix, defense is key. They have tried to slow the game down, but with Shaq out, they're going to get back to that run and gun style. Transition defense is going to be key.

Pound The Ball Inside: Pau Gasol vs Boris Diaw is a matchup I like when Pau's on the block. Andrew on Stoudemire is a matchup I like when Andrew's down low. With Shaquille O'Neal out, they have to go inside. Amare is not a good defender when he has to guard players physically bigger and stronger than him. He gets most of his defensive plays off help. Andrew dropped 28 and 12 on him last Christmas, we're going to need that type of game from Bynum again. Diaw is just too small to handle Pau. While Boris is a good position defender, Pau will be able to shoot it over the top of him, and we have to exploit the front court matchup.

Slow The Game Down, Attack The Basket: Phoenix is going to try to push the ball more with Shaq out and take advantage of the Lakers poor transition defense. The Lakers have to slow the game down, and execute the offense. Quick pull up jumpers (Ahem, Fish) is going to play into what Phoenix wants the opposition to do. Everyone needs to attack the basket, no matter if your name is Kobe Bryant or Sun Yue.

GO LAKERS!!!!

Ah, damnit. Anklebreaker posted his thread while I was in the midst of doing mine. Delete, merge, whatever. Crap.

My big game thread and coming out of Game Thread semi-retirement is RUINED! Lmao

go lakers!!

With no shaq, there gonna run run run and run some more. Come on lakers, get it back together.

Go Lakers!

whoa there's totally two game threads going on here

two game threas.. woo hoo.. is this game that big? hehe jk

GO Lakers!

I guess this is the official one since it got a sticky symbol huh ?

It appears as though Phoenix and Charlotte might have agreed to a Raja Bell/Boris Diaw/Sean Singletary for Jason Richardson/Jared Dudley swap, and our Suns insider on the board says that Raja/Boris/Singletary won't be playing tonight, so Phoenix will be really, really shorthanded if this is true.

Wow, that's a big trade if true. The rivalry of Kobe and Bell officially over?

TylersLakers wrote:Wow, that's a big trade if true. The rivalry of Kobe and Bell officially over?

Sadly so

That trade's official, pending physicals. They're going to be extremely short handed.

http://www.azcentral.com/sports/suns/ar ... nline.html

Looks like Charlotte is having a firesale. Odom for Gerald Wallace, anyone?

I guess they win this one an still let up 100+

TylersLakers wrote:Ah, damnit. Anklebreaker posted his thread while I was in the midst of doing mine. Delete, merge, whatever. Crap.

My big game thread and coming out of Game Thread semi-retirement is RUINED! Lmao

Lol no prob TylersLakers they will probably sticky your game thread, its a really good 1!!!!!!!!!!

Nice, so who's going to clothesline Kobe tonight? I was kinda looking forward to it after Kobe's ballhogtastic showing last night. That dude is shooting like poop and needs to remember that he has teammates.

maybe we should do a nother game thread sign up thread or have the sign up sheet in the Media thread.

thoughts.. game thread makers?

Destroy them ! rip their hearts out!!!

Phil, check Comm thread.

Great game yesterday, btw. Can someone please tell Kobe and Fish to feed the bigs tonight?

anklebreaker702 wrote:

TylersLakers wrote:Ah, damnit. Anklebreaker posted his thread while I was in the midst of doing mine. Delete, merge, whatever. Crap.

My big game thread and coming out of Game Thread semi-retirement is RUINED! Lmao

Lol no prob TylersLakers they will probably sticky your game thread, its a really good 1!!!!!!!!!!

Thanks man. Hey, I can't hate on your Game Thread either. Any time there's a chick like that, I ain't looking the other way. Lmao. Glad you didn't get miffed at all. I was just so mad about last night's game, I had to come out of my semi-retirement.

Go Lakers! Lock down!