Phoenix Suns @ LA Lakers
Monday 5/17 9pm ET on TNT
I am seriously excited for the 2010 Western Conference Finals. I think most people picked the Lakers to make it to this point, but this postseason the Phoenix Suns have surprised almost everyone except themselves. Coaches always talk about how much of the NBA Playoffs is all about matchups. I think it has as much to do with preparation and execution, and I think both teams have demonstrated that they can effectively make their offensive system churn out points against any defense.
Speaking of defense, the Suns are finally out of the conversation of teams that will simply outscore you, which was largely the case when they pushed into the playoffs a few years ago. But this year something is different. Maybe it’s the coaching and preparation, and guys being a step ahead of where they were in years past. I think it’s something different, though. There’s an intensity that wasn’t there before. Not sure you could call it urgency (though for Nash it is urgent). These guys play with a little something extra. Louis Amundson & Jared Dudley have completely surprised me. Channing Frye’s sudden 3-point skill is very effective so far in the playoffs. Jason Richardson crashes the boards like he gets 2 points from it. And Amar’e Stoudemire is loose, confident and healthy.
There are so many weapons on both the Lakers and Suns, and I can’t wait for tipoff.
Tagged: 2009, 2010, alvin gentry, amar'e, amare stoudemire, amundson, andrew bynum, barbosa, basketball, basketball blog, blog, boards, Boston, bynum, classic, coach, Colangelo, conference finals, defense, gasol, gentry, j rich, jason richardson, kareem, kobe, kobe bryant, Lakers, louis amundson, matchup, nash, NBA, nba finals, o'neal, pao gasol, phoenix, phoenix suns, points, preview, rebound, score, steve, steve nash, stoudemire, strategy, suns, vs., west, western