Lakers 126, Suns 107 (Lakers lead 1-0)

The best way to describe the outcome of this game is that Kobe did what LeBron was supposed to do in game six of the Cavs-Celtics series. He took over, and made sure that they wouldn’t lose this game. It wasn’t all about Kobe, but when you can drop 40-somethin’ points on somebody, you’re probably going to take the W (unless you are the W’s aka the Warriors).

The Lake Show took a seven point lead into the half, and it seemed like letting Phoenix hang around could be trouble. More troubling was the fact that the game was played in a pure uptempo style that favors the Suns. But, as Shooter has pointed out to me, the Lakers are very good at playing any style of basketball. If you want to slow it down, they can slow it down. If you to run the fast break, then watch out, because the Lakers have no problem there either.

The Lakers shot nearly 60% from the field, as the Suns looked lost at times on defense. Coach Alvin Gentry will have to find someone to guard Kobe, because you can’t let him drop 40+ if you expect to win any games. I’m not giving up on Phoenix, because they’ve been playing so well, but I must admit that things don’t look as good for the Suns, as compared to how it looked heading into the series.

Random Notes from this Game:

• Robin Lopez started in his first game back from injury and played pretty solid. Him scoring 12 points is like “found money.”
• Bynum played about 20 minutes with 4 points and 4 rebounds. Will his inactivity become an issue in this series?
• Who’s going to guard Kobe next game? Grant Hill literally had his ankles broken from a Kobe crossover tonight.
• Kobe finished with 40 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists. Daaaaaang!

-G