Phoenix Suns- 121
LA Lakers- 90
Final
Seven players for the Phoenix Suns scored 10 points or more in a Game 7 rout. The Los Angeles Lakers weren't just blown out... they were torched.
Kobe Bryant laid an egg; Phil Jackson was outcoached; and the core players couldn't handle the offensive firepower of the Suns.
Marion, Thomas, Nash, Bell, Barbosa, Diaw, and Jones used a frentic pace that lead to layups, dunks, uncontested 3-pointers, and causing massive headaches for Kobe and Phil Jackson.
Raja Bell returned from his one-game suspension for clotheslining Kobe to the floor in Game 5 with renewed confidence. He immediately pounced on Kobe. Bell did a superb job of preventing Kobe from his usual slashing to the basket tendencies. Bell finished with 13 points and 3 rebounds.
But this night clearly belonged to combination of Leandre Barbosa and Boris Diaw. Barbosa scored 26 and Diaw added 21 points and nine assists.
Barbosa and Diaw used their tall, lanky frames to frustrate and confuse the Lakers. The Suns did a masterful job of controlling the flow ofthe game; despite Steve Nash suffering an ankle injury, and Raja Bell returning from suspension.
This wasn't even close. Kobe hit a 3-pointer tha made it 45-36, but the Suns regrouped and upped their lead to 14.
A dejected Kobe Bryant was taken out of the game early in the fourth quarter, and left the court without the congratulatory handshakes at the end of the game. He finished with 24 points, 4 rebounds, and 3 turnovers.
I am not a fan of the Phoenix Suns. I just hate Kobe Bryant.
May 07, 2006 @ 05:08:12
