***Official Running Commentary of Every Single 1st Rd NBA Playoff Game Thread***

[HungryBologna]

Re: ***Official Running Commentary of Every Single 1st Rd NBA Playoff Game Thread***

Suns fans, do you feel like the Suns have control? It's been close, but basically after the first quarter of the first game, the Lakers have really had a stranglehold on the series, wouldn't you agree?

Do we feel in control? I sure don't but the games have been close enough that there's the possibility of taking them. I've been saying the Lakers have been playing their asses off but I wouldn't exactly say the series is in the bag.

[kuruption]

Re: ***Official Running Commentary of Every Single 1st Rd NBA Playoff Game Thread***

The Lakers are just a better team right now. Sry guys. The games are close, but the Lakers are simply dominating the action, scoring when they need to. They're more balanced on offense (inside/outside), are playing better D, and simply are dominating matchups.

Suns fans should be scared as they really don't have control of this series and D'Antoni has no idea how to adjust like Phil has done. Plus, if Tim Thomas is out, which it looks like he could be, it's going to get even more difficult.

Suns fans, do you feel like the Suns have control? It's been close, but basically after the first quarter of the first game, the Lakers have really had a stranglehold on the series, wouldn't you agree?

dont start counting ur chickens before they hatch . theres plenty of basketball to be played and we could very well lose this series.

so far though , lakers have been playing great team basketball. we cant worry about what the refs are calling or arent calling , the lake show have no control over that . obviously the lake show just need to keep up the great play.

great game , im loving this series thus far.

[faster]

Re: ***Official Running Commentary of Every Single 1st Rd NBA Playoff Game Thread***

The series is DEFINATELY not in the bag, but I think they know they can beat this team now. That's half the battle. You can say the Suns are cold, but even when they go on a hot streak, there's LA pounding them down low or getting a lose ball, etc to cool them down. The way LA has controlled the pace, if they continue to do so, PHX is going to have an uphill battle.

I think lots of people are surprised at the Lakers. Those of us that watch every Laker game and have seen them the last 20 games though, we're not as surprised. Phil Jackson is amazing... the develop of Kwame, the emergence of Lamar as a go-to guy... I mean, these are things we didn't have early on. The trust Kobe has in his teammates...

Do we feel in control? I sure don't but the games have been close enough that there's the possibility of taking them. I've been saying the Lakers have been playing their asses off but I wouldn't exactly say the series is in the bag.

[TheMatrix31]

Re: ***Official Running Commentary of Every Single 1st Rd NBA Playoff Game Thread***

Every time we got the lead down to 3 or less, they would go and get their damn three point play to go back up six.

The key to this series is offensive rebounding. If the Suns could manage to get a damn defensive rebound, this series wouldn't be nearly as trying as it has been.

[faster]

Re: ***Official Running Commentary of Every Single 1st Rd NBA Playoff Game Thread***

I'm not counting anything, but the Lakers have really been in control for every quarter of this series but the first quarter of game one. Ever since that big lead the Suns mounted, the Lakers have figured out how to stop this team and execute the game plan.

If the Lakers were simply hanging in and pulled out a couple victories while running with the Suns, that'd be one thing. The way they have been able to squash the Suns little runs and come back with one of their own, that's what's been impressive.

dont start counting ur chickens before they hatch . theres plenty of basketball to be played and we could very well lose this series.

so far though , lakers have been playing great team basketball. we cant worry about what the refs are calling or arent calling , the lake show have no control over that . obviously the lake show just need to keep up the great play.

great game , im loving this series thus far.

[XBox_Roughneck]

Re: ***Official Running Commentary of Every Single 1st Rd NBA Playoff Game Thread***

The Lakers are just a better team right now. Sry guys. The games are close, but the Lakers are simply dominating the action, scoring when they need to. They're more balanced on offense (inside/outside), are playing better D, and simply are dominating matchups.

Suns fans should be scared as they really don't have control of this series and D'Antoni has no idea how to adjust like Phil has done. Plus, if Tim Thomas is out, which it looks like he could be, it's going to get even more difficult.

Suns fans, do you feel like the Suns have control? It's been close, but basically after the first quarter of the first game, the Lakers have really had a stranglehold on the series, wouldn't you agree?

I'm going to respectfully (and with sugar on top) request that you SHUT IT!

The Lakers haven't won jack yet and they still finished the season with a worse record than the Suns. Don't jinx the Lake show.

The Lakers are fortunate that the Suns don't have a true low post presence.

[ex carrabba fan]

Re: ***Official Running Commentary of Every Single 1st Rd NBA Playoff Game Thread***

I'm going to respectfully (and with sugar on top) request that you SHUT IT!

The Lakers haven't won jack yet and they still finished the season with a worse record than the Suns. Don't jinx the Lake show.

The Lakers are fortunate that the Suns don't have a true low post presence.

co-sign. the suns are missing amare and kurt thomas. their only low post presence is a soft, three point/jump shooting player who was a free agent 3 or 4 weeks ago (or was inactive).

[TheMatrix31]

Re: ***Official Running Commentary of Every Single 1st Rd NBA Playoff Game Thread***

You know, they could manage to stop showing Amare and Kurt Thomas on the sidelines.

It hurts inside.

[faster]

Re: ***Official Running Commentary of Every Single 1st Rd NBA Playoff Game Thread***

I said on another board that Lamar and Kwame would be key in this series and that their inside games and defense would change this series.... I think they've been a big reason so far.

I think the Suns are having problems because not only are the Lakers big, they're athletic too. So they can bang inside, but Lamar and Kwame can both get up and down the court too so they haven't been able to exploit slow big men like they have done to other's.

Every time we got the lead down to 3 or less, they would go and get their damn three point play to go back up six.

The key to this series is offensive rebounding. If the Suns could manage to get a damn defensive rebound, this series wouldn't be nearly as trying as it has been.

[faster]

Re: ***Official Running Commentary of Every Single 1st Rd NBA Playoff Game Thread***

Sometimes the better team doesn't have the best record. It's take LAL a while to come together as a team. They're the youngest team in the NBA (that's what was stated at least) and the have 8 new players plus a new coach a new system. It's taken time... and obviously by their play the past 17 games they're not the same team as they were in the beginning of the season.

Oh, and if Amare was playing... eek... bad news I'd be crying now

I'm going to respectfully (and with sugar on top) request that you SHUT IT!

The Lakers haven't won jack yet and they still finished the season with a worse record than the Suns. Don't jinx the Lake show.

The Lakers are fortunate that the Suns don't have a true low post presence.

[ex carrabba fan]

Re: ***Official Running Commentary of Every Single 1st Rd NBA Playoff Game Thread***

tim thomas has a sprained mcl. hmm. so brian grant should be getting some PT. <----- not at the injury, but that b. grant will be on the court. gotta feel for the suns.

[driddy]

Re: ***Official Running Commentary of Every Single 1st Rd NBA Playoff Game Thread***

tim thomas has a sprained mcl. hmm. so brian grant should be getting some PT. <----- not at the injury, but that b. grant will be on the court. gotta feel for the suns.

That improves the Suns rebounding, but now Kwame doesn't have to guard at the three point line.

[23]

Re: ***Official Running Commentary of Every Single 1st Rd NBA Playoff Game Thread***

The Lakers are playing like they should have been all year, but a certain someone didnt want to pass the ball.

Too many fans of his made excuse after excuse to justify him taking 35 shots in losses.

The truth is, they could always play well. They werent given the chance.

It was an absolute joy to watch the ball movement between the guys tonight. The players cutting to the basket, Smush posting up Steve Nash, guys getting wide open shots.

This is how basketball should be played, and its fun to see. The only thing that killed it for me is the refs. They should've been hands off but they decided when and when not to make calls.

I dont like it and I stand by it. Its no the reason LA won, what I stated above is, but dont sit here and say the refs weren't poor tonight because they were.

The Suns miss that inside prescence, as any team would, and they are doing as well as they can without it. No lamar and kwame and LA has the same issues with becoming a jumpshooting team.

Its a fun series still, but im not looking forward to the 2 LA teams. Noone outside of LA cares about it that much. Although Im here, its just not that big of a deal overall.

The roughhousing and all should be stopped and those guys should just play ball. No need for all of the elbows and scratching and tackles, which is a shame that Smush wasnt penalyzed for that.

Again, overall the series is good, Kobe is playing well rounded although he didnt shoot well tonight, and again he should see that he should trust these guys because they can play. When they play together its so enjoyable. All of that 1 on 5 crap is not basketball.

[23]

Re: ***Official Running Commentary of Every Single 1st Rd NBA Playoff Game Thread***

tim thomas has a sprained mcl. hmm. so brian grant should be getting some PT. <----- not at the injury, but that b. grant will be on the court. gotta feel for the suns.

He wont be back anymore then.

[ex carrabba fan]

Re: ***Official Running Commentary of Every Single 1st Rd NBA Playoff Game Thread***

to generalize, and say "a certain someone wouldn't pass the ball", that's just unfair. as a fan who watched 90% of the season, kobe did TRY to pass A LOT this season in games. teammates simply didn't convert, or didn't make the right decisions like they ALL are doing this series against the suns. it's like night and day with this team.. i gotta give credit to everyone. coaches, kobe, his teammates.. luke walton is playing perfectly, kwame has his confidence high, it's just all coming together.