Phoenix Suns (54-28 SU 47-34-1 ATS) vs. L.A. Lakers 57-25 SU 34-46-2 ATS) STAPLES Center, Los Angeles, CA 9 PM EST Wednesday May 19, 2010 on TNT
by Jason Green at Predictem.com
Point Spread: Suns +6.5 / Lakers -6.5
Over/Under: 215
The LA Lakers killed the Phoenix Suns in Game 1 at home where they have yet to lose this post season. The Suns were the highest scoring team in the league this season and scored 107 points in Game 1, but still lost by 21 points. The Suns have to figure out how to stop the Lakers in the paint and get out and run on the break or they will be heading home down 2-0.
This season the Lakers were 34-7 at home and the Suns were 22-19 on the road.
The Suns can really get out and run and get easy buckets, but in Game 1 they only had 4 fast break points.
Phoenix actually did a decent job defending Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum on the glass, as they only combined for 8 rebounds in Game 1, but Lamar Odom dominated and grabbed 19 boards. The Suns have to find a way to defend the Lakers big men and still get out on the break.
For the Suns to win they have to drain the 3 and in Game 1 they were only 5/22 (22.7% from deep.
The Suns are not going to win with defense, but they have to play better D tonight, as in Game 1 the Lakers shot 58% from the floor and every L.A. starter shot over 50% with the exception of Derek Fisher and he only took 3 shots.
Kobe Bryant was unstoppable in Game 1 going for 40 points on 13/23 shooting and he got to the free throw line at will and hit 11/12 from the charity stripe.
The Suns looked like they didn’t belong on the same court as the Lakers in Game 1 and they have to get their swagger and confidence back tonight or this will be a short series.
In Game 1 the Lakers smoked the Suns 128-107 in La La Land on Monday night. The high scorer for the Lakers in the game was Bryant going for 40 points on 13/23 shooting and for the Suns it was Amare Stoudamire going for 23 points on 8/13 shooting. For the game the Lakers shot lights out going 51/88 from the floor for a FG% of 58% and the Suns also shot well going 39/79 for a FG% of 49.4%. The Lakers had more rebounds in the game (42/34) and had fewer turnovers (9/11).
The Suns have not lost back-to-back games since January.
According to the Sagarin NBA ratings the Lakers rank 2nd (96.20) and the Suns rank 4th (95.57).
Phoenix is 5-1 ATS in their last 6 games as a road underdog, 7-0 ATS in their last 7 games following an ATS loss, and 1-4 ATS in their last 5 Conference Finals games.
Phoenix has an Over record of 4-1 in their last 5 games and an Under record of 7-2-1 in their last 10 road games.
L.A. is 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games and 4-1 ATS in their last 5 Conference Finals games.
L.A. has an Over record of 4-0-1 in their last 5 games and an Over record of 4-0 in their last 4 home games.
Phoenix is 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games against the Lakers and is 0-4 ATS in their last 4 games in L.A.
On the injury front C Robin Lopez is day-to-day for Phoenix and SG Kobe Bynum and C Andrew Bynum are day-to-day for L.A.
Jason’s Pick: The Suns are too good of a team to get discouraged even after the spanking they got in Game 1. However, the Lakers simply can’t be stopped in the lane and they can’t defend Kobe. Game 1 showed that the Lakers could play the Suns style of high scoring basketball and play it well. The Lakers will come out again and play well, win this game, and cover the spread.
