| Suns Can’t Find Shot, Lose Game 2 Authored by J.T. Magee - May 12, 2006 - 12:54 am
| Current Featured Columns | | Merry Christmas, Raptors Fans The Raptors might not be playing good basketball right now, but there are plenty of things for Toronto fans to be thankful for this holiday season.
A Melo Behind The SuperstarsCarmelo Anthony has never been one of the league's most efficient offensive players.
 |
Maynor Using Utah’s Resources
Eric Maynor is an increasingly rare four-year, small college rookie. He sat down with RealGM to discuss how his first few weeks of NBA life has gone and what he has learned from Deron Williams and Jerry Sloan.
|
 |
Why LeBron To The Clippers Makes Sense
LeBron James already plays for a perennial underdog in Cleveland, but moving to the Clippers would allow him to do so in a huge market and with a core that will immediately compete for championships while also having an encouraging long term outlook.
|
 |
‘Home-Heavy Schedule’ Brings Question Marks
The Heat have been plagued by inconsistencies, making it difficult to determine how good they really are this season.
|
|
More from RealGM's Columnists
|
| |
The Clippers took advantage of the reemergence of Cuttino Mobley and took control early on, never trailing in their defeat of the Suns 122-97. From the get-go Phoenix couldn’t find their stride on either side of the ball and L.A. made sure they wouldn’t for the rest of the game.
Raja Bell did most of his damage in the second half, leading the Suns with 20 points. He made three consecutive 3-pointers in the third quarter, but it was not enough to get back into the game. Leandro Barbosa scattered all of his 18 points over the game.
Tim Thomas came off the bench to contribute 15 points.
Steve Nash had a porous outing, scoring 14 and eight assists. The points were 17 down from his series average. Boris Diaw also scored 14 points but committed six turnovers in the process. Shawn Marion, having to battle both the bigs alongside Diaw, scored 13 points, grabbed a team-high six rebounds and blocked 4 shots.
Brand led the Clippers once again, scoring a game-high
27 to go along with ten rebounds and three steals. The back court for L.A., Sam Cassell and Cuttino Mobley each scored 23 points. Cassell added five rebounds and six assists and Mobley chipped in eight rebounds.
Chris “Hulk” Kaman scored 14 points and grabbed a playoff career and game-high 16 rebounds. Quinton Ross scored 11 points and Vladimir Radmanovic added ten points and nine rebounds for the Clippers.
It was clear neither team was going to make 60% and 54% again. But the question was: who would win the rebounding battle? The answer: Brand and Kaman. When two players grab as many rebounds as the opposing team and double their production on the offensive glass, it’s usually not good. L.A. made sure that they went inside more and got Mobley going. From there on, it was clear they had to stop any run the Suns would try and make.
In Game 1, Mobley was nowhere to seen. In Game 2, he was able to show the Mobley of old, the Mobley that made an excellent counterpart to Steve Francis in Houston. He was making most of his jumpers. He was able to take it on Raja Bell at will. He made sure the shots he took were the type of shots he was comfortable with and Cassell made sure they were. Both of them played like a championship back court should.
For Phoenix, they simply couldn’t handle the beasts that are Brand and Kaman on the inside. The Suns tried to double and they paid for it with Mobley and Cassell making their jumpers. Even Ross got in the act. When they went one-on-one, they were dominated and couldn’t hold either outside of ten feet in the post. It’s one thing that their shots weren’t going in, but they just could not handle the Clippers and L.A. took advantage.
They worked their game around what the Suns weren’t able to handle.
In Game 3, Phoenix has a chance to return to the same arena that they had a hard time winning at in Game 3 of the Lakers series. They weren’t able to stop everyone and keep them off the glass. If they want to stand a chance, they must force, as much as they possibly can with their small forwards, Brand and Kaman from obtaining so many offensive rebounds. It took away from the ability to get out on the break. It wasn’t just Brand and Kaman cleaning up the glass, but those two had the easiest chances at redeeming themselves from their late debacle in Game 1.
Phoenix, once again, has a chip on their shoulders heading into Game 3. They are a great road team, but they must be able to rebound. Even if it means playing Grant and Burke for five minutes apiece, that means ten less minutes that Brand and Kaman have on the glass. They won’t shoot 54% again, but they must make more than 45% in order to win a game against the Clippers and their stingy, deep team.
I will say this about one of the Clippers: if the Suns had James Singleton, a rookie free agent who played in the last couple of minutes, the rebounding margin would be a lot smaller. As in five instead of twenty five. The kid can rebound. He’s even got a decent shot. How did he go undrafted and then spend two years in Italy? Props to the Clippers’ scouting. |
