NBA Update: Los Angeles Lakers vs. Phoenix Suns (Preview)
Both contestants of the upcoming match at US Airways Center, Phoenix, i.e. Phoenix Suns and Los Angeles Lakers have the fortitude to take over the game. Phoenix Suns established their self in the preceding match against Utah Jazz beside the inexistence of
Amar'e Stoudemire, NBA Rookie of the Year 2003 in the match. On the other hand, the Los Angeles Lakers have a good time championship rings with opening win against Houston Rockets.
The Lakers opened with a 112-110 victory over Houston; Pau Gasol had 29 points and 11 rebounds while Bryant scored 27 points. While Phoenix Suns have uprooted Utah’s Jazz with Utah Jazz by 110-94 in the previous game.
Absence of Amare Stoudemire hurts the Suns a lot. Even though his defence never served to lift up the Suns, but overall, he's one of the best power forwards in the National Basketball Association (NBA). It is really tough for the team to loose such a talent
without feeling the effects. Stoudemire and Steve Nash are one among the hot favourite couple in basketball and jointly they can turn out great output.
Lacking Stoudemire, Steve Nash doesn't have another star to work with, but Phoenix did at least attempt to replace the production, bringing in Hakeem Warrick, Hedo Turkoglu, and Josh Childress.
The couple of Nash and Richardson combined for 34 points for Suns on 13-for-24 shooting in the earlier game.
The Suns could still be pretty good, but it doesn't mean they'll be good in every respect. Defence, for once. Along with defence, the rebounding cannot be overlooked. They really have to work out at defence because phoenix was the second nastiest defensive
rebounding team by percentage in the NBA a year ago. They'll grab their share on the offensive side, simply because the Suns take so many long and transition shots. Robin Lopez, Channing Frye, and Turkoglu are the only three significant rotation players 6'10"
and over, for Suns.
Nash is taking larger role in point production for Suns. He scored 18 points, had five assists, and played his role in the success of Suns over Utah’s in the previous match. He can penetrate to nearly any spot on the floor, shoot from any angle, and rain
down three pointers. He's just always been able to generate more points for his team by tempering his own point totals in exchange for wider distribution.
If Suns are lucky to have Nash, then Lakers are not behind at any angle as they are equipped with Shannon Brown, who is very well known for having one of the highest vertical leaps in the league, verified at 44.5 inches. His preseason was outstanding, his
season debut even better. In the previous match, his performance was appreciable as knocked down four critical three pointers in the second half en route to 16 points in only 21 minutes. The right thumb injury irritating him through the second half of last
season has healed and he is fit and fine. At different points last season, even early when Brown was playing well, his shot selection and decisions with the ball were sometimes questionable.
The coach of Lakers, Philip Douglas "Phil" Jackson is of view that, Phoenix is the type of team against whom Odom should boom. They give confidence to an open floor game, and have no natural fit alongside him on the defensive end. His play was strong all
the way through the preseason, and even on Tuesday night, he was an extremely constructive power while on the floor against the Rockets.
If we go through the team ranking, Los Angeles Lakers are the toppers (99.5) and Phoenix Suns are at number 12 (68.01) points.
Both of the teams are very well equipped with talented players and experienced coaches, who always guide them to better utilize their capacity.
Experts are of the view that, Lakers are winning material. At the end of evaluation of both teams, the Lakers are no doubt the favourite to win it all again and will most likely have their way with the Phoenix Suns tonight who are playing their second night
of back to backs. The Suns may be tired of their continuous matches in the previous two days but still, one never knows. Nash, JRich, and Hill played 32, 28, and 28 minutes respectively last night.
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