Western Conference Finals: Phoenix Suns vs. Los Angeles Lakers

[TheMatrix31]

donaghy says the Suns will get majority of the calls tonight, lol

where were you in 2007, *******?

[King_B_Mack]

Donaghy is clearly a Lakers fan. Surely he must realize that Stern will do the opposite of whatever he says by now. Didn't he learn anything from that Cavs pick of his? That knucklehead.

[Landlordos7]

I don't understand why some people are making such a huge deal out of the zone defense that the Suns pulled out.


It wasn't an issue with the Bulls, since zone defense was illegal, but the zone is essentially the reason the Lakers are 1-3 in their last three Finals appearances.

[ex carrabba fan]

Quote: Originally Posted by Landlordos7

I don't understand why some people are making such a huge deal out of the zone defense that the Suns pulled out. It wasn't an issue with the Bulls, since zone defense was illegal, but the zone is essentially the reason the Lakers are 1-3 in their last three Finals appearances.

Not sure what point you're trying to make here.

So are you saying more teams should zone LA?

Playing a semi-zone is asking for trouble. Notice how you said last three Finals appearances.

It is an effective strategy to throw out there as a different look, but when it comes down to it, the better team will always win a 7 game series. Eventually you're going to have to beat your opponent with man to man defense.

Detroit and Boston both out muscled LA man to man, shut LA down. The zone looks were mixed in, but both of those East teams were as physical teams you're gonna see in this modern era.

[jeebs9]

The zones is very effective vs the triangle offense. But like I said the other day. I think the problem was Kobe had started out so hot in the beginning when they were playing regular man to man (a lot of isolations with Kobe). And the ball wasn't really moving the way it had been moving when they were in LA. The Suns switched over to zone (in the second quarter). And Lakers were just out of rhythm or caught off guard by it. They had a lot of stupid turnovers.

But I will be laughing if the Suns tie (or win... very unlikely) this series playing zone defense.

[ex carrabba fan]

Why do you say zones are effective against the triangle? I'm curious.

With LA's personnel, they have no excuse to not make adjustments to any style of defense. They have two great passing and agile big men in Pau and Odom, and obviously Kobe can do whatever he wants out there.

You also have Fish as a spot up shooter.

Not to pin anything on Ron Artest and Odom for game 3, but let's face it, they got a million open looks and rarely hit on anything.

I am crossing my fingers PHX comes out and tries to throw a zone look for an extended amount of time. Open looks and seams for days.

[Landlordos7]

Quote: Originally Posted by jeebs9

But I will be laughing if the Suns tie (or win... very unlikely) this series playing zone defense.

Why? I don't understand why it's popular opinion amongst basketball enthusiasts that zone defense is somehow inferior to man-to-man, because it really isn't, conceptually. Maybe if you are a man-to-man team, and run it every once in a while, in which case it will obviously not be as effective as it could be if you were always committed to it.

[TheMatrix31]

zone is good when Kobe is out of the game. If you're gonna zone when he is in, don't collapse on him.

it's good in spurts, but I hope it's not extended tonight. Of course, if the outside shots aren't falling for LA, then go for it.