Phoenix Suns vs. L.A. Lakers Preview and Prediction
Phoenix Suns (8-1) vs. L.A. Lakers (6-1)
One of the leading sportsbooks has the Lakers as 7.5-point favorites with a total of 218.5.
This season the Suns are a solid 5-3 ATS while the Lakers are only 2-5 ATS.
In their last game the Suns crushed the New Orleans Hornets 124-104 while the Lakers also beat the Hornets in their last game beating them 104-88 on Sunday night.
In a pretty big early season Western Conference match up the L.A. Lakers host the Phoenix Suns. The Suns are in 1st place in the Pacific Division with the Lakers right on their heels. Both teams are hot, as the Lakers have won 5 straight and the Suns have won 4 straight. Even though the Lakers have only dropped one game they still have not had their 2nd best player on the court in 7-foot Spaniard Pau Gasol, who is slow coming back from a hamstring injury and will not be available for this game.
Without having Shaq clog up the middle in Phoenix any longer the Suns are back to playing run and gun basketball, as they are the highest scoring team in the NBA this season. PG Steve Nash is playing great and he leads the NBA in assists this season (12.6 assists per game). All 5 Suns’ starters are averaging in double figures in points and 4 out of the 5 starters can hit the 3-pt bomb.
The Lakers have to slow down the tempo in this game and play good perimeter defense as well since the Suns are shooting the highest 3-pt FG% in the league (47%). Lakers’ PG Derek Fisher is not the quickest of guards anymore and backup Jordan Farmer may get a lot of time in tonight’s game in order to try to slow down Nash.
Gasol is still out, but at least the Lakers will get C Andrew Bynum (20 ppg 10.6 rpg) back for this game after missing a couple games with an elbow injury. If he can clog up the middle and not allow the Suns to have easy buckets on the break it gives the Lakers a solid chance to win. Kobe will get his points tonight, but he has to help slow the pace down, as if this game is a shootout the Suns may win this game.
The Suns are the highest scoring team in the league this season (112.3 ppg) and the Lakers rank 8th (102.7 ppg). On defense the Lakers rank 12th in points allowed (97.4 ppg) while the Suns only rank 24th (105.6 ppg).
A great way to stop a fast-break team is to shoot the rock well, as if the Lakers have a solid FG% night it gives them a great chance to win.
Jason’s Prediction: OK, so the Lakers are far from the best ATS team this season, as they tend to play down to their competition. However, that may not happen in this game since the Suns lead them in the Pacific Division and the Suns are getting a ton of press. I think Kobe and company will come out on fire, especially on the defensive end. If they can stop the fast break they should have no trouble winning this game, as their half court game is much better than the Suns. Even though there is a 7.5-point spread I think the Lakers are the good pick, as when they are motivated, which they should be in this game, they are very very hard to beat.
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nice work!!
Oh man am I ever pumped up for the Western Conference Finals!! Lakers vs Suns and both teams just swept their round two opponent!! Unheard of! I can’t wait to see this get under way, but I think the size of the Lakers will be the difference just like it was against Utah… here is proof with a preview: http://www.lionsdenu.com/nba-playoffs-western-conference-final-los-angeles-lakers-vs-phoenix-suns/
It’d be nice to see Nash finally get to the Finals but the Lakers are just too good. They have it all, coaching, star talent, bench, the list goes on…