Ok, here is my gameplan for the Lakers on how to beat the Suns:
Defense:
Obviously, the Suns shoot alot of jumpers, and they don't care if they miss alot of them, run and gun, that's what they do. My opinion? Suck it up, swallow your pride and play (gasp!) zone defense. If the Lakers play zone, Nash and Amare can't run their high screen and roll. And that's exaclty how Nash gets so deep in penetration. If you play zone, and rotate quick enough, it cuts off penetration (thats IF you rotate fast enough). So, I think the Lakers should play zone, and let Amare get whatever he wants, as long as the others, like Barbosa, Bell Marion, and Nash don't get off 3 pointers. I think a zone defense would also deny Nash the baseline, where he goes so often. The Suns are slashers and shooters. Playing man defense lets them do that because of their quickness coming off of picks. But a zone would be a deterent to that.
Offense:
Go back to what was successful last year. Pound Lamar and Kwame inside. If Kobe is hot, you ride him as long as you can, but when he's missed a few make Odom post up Marion down low. He owned Marion last year in the playoffs. Odom has to be more aggressive. Also, if Luke is being guarded by someone like Barbosa, post him up too. The Suns, even with Amare back, are not the biggest team in the world. If you pound it inside and play a post up game, that slows down the Suns fast paced attack on offense. Missed jumpers lead to long rebounds, which is what the Suns want. Play an inside game. Its tougher with Amare back in there, but they can still have success.
To top it off, let Nash and Barbosa know they're not welcome in the paint when they drive. Nothing dirty, you gotta put a body on them when they drive. The Lakers need intensity on defense.
God Speed...Go Lakers.
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