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I might have given the Phoenix Suns too much credit when I said they would lose to the Lakers in five games. After all the Suns actually play defense now as evidenced by their sweep of the San Antonio Spurs in the second round.
128 and 124. That’s what the Suns’ defense yielded to the Lakers. Defense? That is something that has yet to be seen in this Western Conference Finals.
It’s so bad that Suns’ head coach Alvin Gentry said as he was leaving the interview room in the bowels of Staples Center, “I’m open for suggestions. Even from the media.”
This series is so bad that in the Dodger Stadium Press Box last night I did my impression of Jim Lampley calling a fight. “They’re stopping the fight! They’re stopping the fight! The fight has been stopped!”
Unfortunately for everyone involved the series must continue until the Lakers win four games, so the Lakers should use the time to prepare for the Boston Celtics. Okay so the games will in no way replicate the defense the Celtics employ, but the Lakers should take the time to tune up their defense. Hell, the Lakers gave up 107 points in Game 1 and 112 in Game 2 last night. That won’t get it done against the Celtics as everyone remembers from 2008.
Now thanks to the geniuses in the NBA scheduling department we have to wait until Sunday for Game 3. But that will only delay the now inevitable sweep of the toothless Suns as we in Los Angeles brace for the Return of the Rivalry.
