A Wild West Battle

NBA Western Conference Final Preview: Los Angeles Lakers vs. Phoenix Suns:

I am ecstatic that Canadian bred, Steve Nash has moved on to the Western Conference Finals. Both the Lakers and Suns had a very easy time in the second round of the NBA Playoffs. They will now meet in what hopes to be a great series for NBA fans, after witnessing both of these teams sweep their opponents in the second round. The Lakers will want to avenge their 2007 loss to the Suns, while the Suns badly want to supplant the defending NBA Champions, and win their own NBA championship for the first time in team history.

The key to this series will be Bigs vs. Bigs. The matchup of Amare Stoudemire and Pau Gasol is a great one, as both of these players have elevated their game in this year’s playoffs. Each player will have a great effect on if their team can survive this series.

Another key component is injuries. Will the eye gash Nash endured in the San Antonio series have an effect on his X-Ray vision? Will he be able to make the eye dropping passes we are so used to? Nash is the NBA’s best pure floor general, he averaged 17.8 points and 9.0 assists in the first two rounds of the playoffs and hopes to continue to flourish for the remainder of these playoffs.

Is Kobe’s age and amount of playing he has done in his career finally catching up with him? He did fine against Utah, but at times he looked tired during the Thunder series. Can Kobe keep pace with the flash and dash that is the Suns offence? Kobe will have to keep pace, as the Lakers lack depth on their bench. This is the X-Factor for the Suns who boast a good bench that will be aided with the return of center Robyn Lopez. Their bench is much better than the Lakers, so if this turns out to be a long series this may spell trouble for the Lakers.

Phoenix has looked very powerful in these playoffs, but come on these are the Lakers. Kobe is the best closer in the game and I doubt that anyone the Suns put on him late in games will be able to contain him when it counts.

Prediction: Lakers in 6

Team FanX