| 11 December 2008
Phoenix Suns (13-9) at Los Angeles Lakers (17-3)
Two very different results yesterday from these two teams. Phoenix dominated the Milwaukee Bucks at home, with ol' time Laker Shaquille O'Neal going strong with 35 points and 8 boards. LA took a trip to Sacramento, and got handed their butts in a game they were expected to win. Now they play. The Lakers can be thankful that O'Neal won't be around for their game - he will be attending his grandmother's funeral.
Now, whilst O'Neal's game against the Bucks was a fantastic performance, his best since joining the Suns (who - breaking news - will also be without Boris Diaw/Raja Bell who have been traded to Charlotte for Jason Richardson), it is indicative of more grinding it out from Phoenix, who have been promising that "the run will happen" since Terry Porter joined them. Shaq scoring 35 might win the game, but it's not going to make Amare Stoudemire happy, nor is it going to keep Steve Nash running. All's not well there, and the addition of Jason Richardson might, might be the shot in the arm they need.
LA. All goes back to not being intense enough on defense. Not quick enough to close the traps that Kurt Rambis has them running - and all that does is leave the man with the ball enough time to get it to the man who's uncovered. Perhaps try Ariza starting? Perhaps start Machine - and play Kobe at the 3. There are options, and whilst LA have only dropped 3 games (hardly time for panic), the games they've dropped are worrying. Detroit at home, an Indiana in Indiana that they were expected to win - same in Sacramento. Gotta win those ones. With the loss of O'Neal for this game, and with Diaw/Bell headed out of town, Phoenix ride into LA seriously under-manned. LA will win by 11.
