Preview: LA Lakers vs Phoenix Suns

Tomorrow morning on Sony SIX at 9 AM, it’s the showdown between two former MVPs, Kobe Bryant and Steve Nash. Oh wait. Nope. Tomorrow morning, Mike D’Antoni will pit his Suns vs Bernie of the Lakers in a coaching chess match. Ah, not really.

Once a Sun, now a Laker, Mike D’Antoni won’t be coaching tomorrow. And Steve Nash is still out with an injury. But really, this Suns team didn’t have much of a shot at beating the Lakers even if Nash played for them. Now both Nash and D’Antoni will be on the opposite sideline, going “Phew! I’m glad I’m not them still.” I like the official reason why D’Antoni won’t be coaching, he’s heavily medicated. Sounds like he’s prepping up on some Zen zone and trying to get high. Actually he’s recovering from a leg injury. but still, ‘heavily medicated’.

“Honey, you’re the only one for me. I’d never leave this valley of Sun and go across to LaLa Land. Really!” It would be a little funny and poignant watching Nash and D’Antoni go up against their old team. Those two aren’t the only guys who would have been going on a date while their ex sits across them. There’s a matchup at center as well. As Marcin Gortat and Dwight Howard meet, mountains shall roll. Gortat will have a bigger axe to grind.

For four years, Marcin Gortat backed up Howard in Orlando. He opined that he is a starting center in this league, and Howard would tell him to shut it. For his career, Gortat has averaged 8 points and 6.5 rebounds in his two games vs Gortat.

The Suns are coming off a tough overtime loss vs the Bulls. First they mounted a comeback vs them after being down 18, and then they lost in overtime. The Suns are 4-5 this season and only 1-3 on the road. The Suns aren’t shooting too well. They are only 42% from the field this season. Louis Scola is one bright spot for the Suns, but Pau Gasol should have no trouble with him.

Kobe still seems to have some residual hatred vs the Suns, the Suns had beaten the Lakers in the playoffs sometime ago, and more importantly, Nash won two MVPs which Kobe felt were his. Irrational reason to keep hatred festering, but competitors don’t need much to stoke the fire. Kobe has averaged 42 points vs the Suns at home in their last three meetings. And this season he has really come out on fire, shooting 55.1% from the field.

Both Steves are out of this contest for the Lakers, Nash and Steve Blake. The Suns have Goran Dragic at point guard to man the fort. Anyone who saw him dismantle the Spurs in the Playoffs should know that he is fully equipped to take advantage of the Lakers void at the point guard position. The match should be fun and fast at least. The Lakers haven’t had the best start of the season, but they are eager to make it right. The Suns will just be happy to finish .500 in this Western conference. Expect a close Lakers win. Match will be on Sony SIX tomorrow morning at 9 AM, and repeat will be at 7 PM.

Sony SIX. The new channel. Sony SIX telecasts NBA matches in India. Check back here for a match review tomorrow.