On Wednesday night, the LA Lakers plays the Phoenix Suns in Game 2 of the Western Conference Finals at Staples Center. The defending champions are now in the position to take a 2-0 lead before they depart to Arizona for Game 3.
In Game 1, the LA Lakers played like the defending champions. They shot the ball well, controlled the boards, Kobe scored 40 points with a balky knee and Lamar Odom got 19 points and 19 rebounds coming off the bench. These were the factors that were non-existent in the first two rounds of the playoffs for the Lakers. It was a perfect time for the Lakers to execute their game plan flawlessly at the Western Conference Finals.
The Phoenix Suns rammed into a well prepared and rested LA Lakers. The Suns were a little slower in their transition defense and were concentrated on defending the lane against Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum. They forgot set their sights on Lamar Odom, who got hot during the game.
If they Suns could not contain the likes of Lamar Odom, Pau Gasul and Ron Artest it would be another long night for them. If the Lakers started to shoot blanks, and their support crews stymied by the Suns defense, Kobe would be forced to carry his team on his back, the Suns would likely tie the series and wrests the home court advantage.
The sportsbook handicappers have installed the LA Lakers as a 6.5-point favorite to beat and grabbed a 2-0 series lead against the Phoenix Suns.
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