In 2006, Kobe Bryant and the Lakers blew a 3-1 series lead in the first round, as the Phoenix Suns won three straight games against Los Angeles, shocking NBA fans across the nation with the improbable comeback.
In 2007, Phoenix again defeated the Lakers in the first round of the Western Conference playoffs. Phoenix made quick work of the Lakers, needing only five games to send the Lakers packing.
In 2010 the Lakers and Suns are set to square off again, only this time the winner advances to the NBA Finals.
Lakers fans are hoping that the third time is the charm for Kobe and company.
Kobe and the Lakers are looking to avoid getting sent home by Phoenix for the third time in the last five postseasons, meanwhile two time MVP winner Steve Nash looks as determined as ever to make his first ever NBA Finals appearance, as Nash is the only MVP in NBA history to never have played in the NBA Finals.
There are plenty of storylines to discuss with this series. How healthy is Andrew Bynums knee? Kobe just had his knee drained, how serious is that? Can Nash make his NBA Finals debut? And on, and on, and on the storylines go.
While all the storylines fill the newspapers and sports shows, what truly matters is what happens on the court tonight in game one at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.
The Suns and the Lakers are polar opposites on the court. The Suns try to run opposing teams out of the building with their up-tempo, fast break oriented offense. The Lakers on the other hand try to slow the pace of the game down, using their size to their advantage in a half-court offensive tempo.
Tempo, tempo, tempo. Let me pound that into your head. Got it? Good, because game tempo will decide this series.
If the Lakers can capitalize on their size advantage over the Suns, they will win this series. Seven footers Andrew Bynum and Pau Gasol can decide this series. If Bynum is somewhat healthy and can contribute numbers close to 15 points and 8 rebounds each night, the Suns will be in for a heap of trouble. However, if Bynums knee continues to get worse, the Suns won't have to worry about defending two seven footers in the paint each night, thus allowing Phoenix to run their up-tempo offense. If the Suns want to have any chance at winning this series against the Lakers, they must win game one in Los Angeles tonight. Lakers coach Phil Jackson is 45-0 all time in playoff series after winning game one of the series. If the Suns drop game one tonight, history is certainly not on their side.
To be honest, the Suns very best does not beat the Lakers very best. Plain and simple.
Even despite the recent fluid draining of his knee, Kobe has had time to rest and has looked like he is finally healthy again. As I mentioned, the Lakers have a significant size advantage over Phoenix, and I believe they will be able to successfully implement their halfcourt offense against the run n' gun Suns.
Seeing as the Lakers are 6-0 at home in the 2010 postseason and hold homecourt advantage over the Suns in this series, I'll take the Lakers in six games over the Suns. I know Steve Nash is on a mission to lead the Suns to the NBA Finals, Kobe Bryant is perhaps as motivated to win as the NBA has seen since Michael Jordan, and a healthy Kobe Bryant spells trouble for the Suns.
I enjoy you're work better when you're writing for someone, something -- Kobe, Laker's -- then when you write against someone -- LeBron. You can feel the excitement, making one want to watch the game, (even an boycotting NBA'er as myself.)
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