| Suns Can't Come Back, Lose Game 3 Authored by JT Magee - April 29, 2006 - 2:04 am
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Shawn Marion led the Suns in the losing effort, scoring 20 points and grabbing seven rebounds. Tim Thomas, who tweaked his knee in the fourth quarter and may be questionable for Game 4, scored 18 points, grabbed six rebounds and added 4 steals. Steve Nash added 17 points, grabbed seven rebounds and had a game-high 11 assists. Boris Diaw scored 14 points and Raja Bell added 10.
Smush Parker led a balanced attack for the Lakers, scoring 18 points. Kobe Bryant failed to score 20 points for the first time against the Suns, scoring 17 points. He added five rebounds and seven assists. Luke Walton, having the series of his life, scored 17 points and added 10 rebounds. Lamar Odom scored 15 points, grabbed a game-high 17 rebounds and added 3 blocks. Kwame Brown scored 13 points to go along with 11 rebounds, five assists and 3 blocks.
It is simple: Phoenix has not been the better team these past couple games. They won the fast break margin, but a #2 seed should never give up 53 rebounds compared to 34. The point guard should not have the most rebounds (tied with marion tonight.). Phoenix is not shooting 45%. But the stat that stands out the most: the Lakers had 94 shot attempts compared to 78.
The Suns will not win another game if they allow the Lakers to put up numbers like this. The scoring will always be there for Phoenix, but they have to do more than just score. Shawn Marion had a decent game stat-wise, but after watching the game, everyone could tell he was out of his element. Lamar Odom is having his way with the smaller Marion. Marion may be the best-conditioned athlete in the NBA, but that doesn't mean he has the best physical conditioning. His body has been shaped to run and run and run, but it is not made for the physical wear and tear Odom is dishing out on him. Because Phoenix is so undersized, he has to play the 4.
It's not just Marion. The whole team is letting the play of the Lakers get to them. They failed to adjust in Game 2 to the way L.A. was able to stay in the game. In Game 2, the Lakers kept the same game plan and it produced a win. In Game 3, Phoenix let them do everything inside and the Lakers took it. There is a remedy for how the Lakers are playing: attack them back.
It's clear Nash is not 100%. It's clear this team is winded, but the only way they can run and run and runs if they attack the weakest part of the Lakers, which is the inside themselves. Normally, I wouldn't share the same opinion with Bill Walton, but in Game 3, he had a valid point: neither team has a shot blocker. When the Lakers would go inside, they would succeed. When Phoenix would attack off the dribble, they would succeed. The difference is the Lakers have been doing it more. Every time Nash was able to get into the lane, it produced a basket. Either a 3 or a lay-up. If he and Leandro Barbosa can continue to attack the basket and Kwame Brown, they have a chance.
Barbosa needs to become the second play maker for Phoenix and he's best when he attacks the basket. If he makes a rash decision, it carries on with him for the rest of the game. But Head Coach Mike D'Antoni knows he needs more out of Barbosa. He just needs to tell him to attack and look for a cutter or open man. Don't hesitate. React, don't think. If Barbosa and the Suns can figure this out, they have a chance. If they continue to have four players inbound the ball to Nash after a made shot, they will lose just like they did tonight. And it will be a shorter season than the Suns planned. |
