Over at SB Nation’s Lakers community, Silver Screen and Roll, fans are relishing the series so far. So much so that they poke fun at idea that the Lakers are just “playing well” now... They’ve been good along, according to Lakers fans. Last night, they continued to dominate:
Lakers-Suns, Game 2: L.A. Continue This Impressive Streak Of ‘Luck’
As expected, Phoenix twisted some knobs and pulled a few levers to give the Lakers a different defensive look. There was some zone, and there were some double-teams on Kobe Bryant. Kobe didn't have another thermonuclear shooting night, though he wasn't bad. He scored 21 points on 20 shots (using the word shots here to include free-throw possessions). His drop-off in pointage, however, he more than made up for with sensational passing and floor vision. Repeatedly he waited for the double-team to emerge, only to find one of his big men under the basket for a lay-in. Thirteen assists and only two turnovers for the Mamba, who was easily the best point guard on the floor tonight.
Yet again Pau Gasol was brilliant. Yet again he's making a soon-to-be free agent power forward look decidedly powerless. Carlos Boozer was his victim in the second round. Now the honor belongs to Amare Stoudemire, who could not possibly be looking any worse on defense. Pau juked and head-faked his way around Amare for 29 points and five assists. His comrades-in-bigness, Andrew Bynum and Lamar Odom, had similarly trouble-free nights. Together those three combined for 59 points on 43 shots, many or most of those coming within close proximity of the cylinder. Unless the Suns sign Dikembe Mutombo and Alton Lister before Game Three, I'm not sure they have an available solution for this.
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