There are some Christmas traditions that never get old. Presents will be opened, I will go see a movie, and the Lakers will be on national television. The last couple of years, the Lakers faced the Heat on Christmas. But now that the hype between Shaq and Kobe has died to a realistic level, the league matched us with not only actual contender and but superior team, the Phoenix Suns. Now the Lakers will be truly tested against one of the league’s best.
The Suns lead the Pacific and are second in the Western Conference with a 19-8 record. The Lakers have returned from a successful road trip that has left them second in the Pacific, 17-10 just two games behind Phoenix, with a 9-4 record at the Staples Center. Tomorrow will be their first meeting since November 2, when the Lakers unexpectedly pounded the Suns without Lamar Odom. At the time many considered it a fluke, but the consistency of the Lakers play has caused for this to be an exciting match up.
Phoenix scores more points than anybody in the league, almost 110 per game. The Lakers score about 106, third in the league, but do a little better on the defensive end, allowing 101 points to the Suns 104. Either way it is going to be very fast paced with Steve Nash pushing the offense for Phoenix. Nash leads the NBA in assists with 12.4 per game. Five Suns average more than 15 points a game. Kobe is the only Laker who does, but the bench has emerged as one of the best in the league, #18 in scoring last year, # 4 now.
Kobe Bryant made history yesterday, becoming the youngest player ever to reach 20,000 points. He, Michael Jordan, and Wilt Chamberlain are the only players to do it before the age of 30. He scored 39 points in yesterdays win against the Knicks in New York which put him over the top. “It is special to do it here,” Bryant said. “The culture of basketball here, it is the mecca, it is special to do it in Madison Square Garden. It feels good. This is my favorite place to play.” Bryant hit five 3 pointers, pulled 11 rebounds, and added 8 assists, shooting 50 percent from the field.
The Clippers are doing so bad I can’t believe I brought it up. They have lost four straight and have only won three games in December. They will most likely not improve their record of 9-17 when they play back to back games against the Suns on Thursday and Friday.
The Suns and Lakers play on Christmas day at 2pm on ABC.
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