Dr. Jack's Breakdown: Suns-Lakers
By Dr. Jack Ramsay
Special to ESPN.com
No. 5 Suns (53-29) vs. No. 1 Lakers (67-15)
 Hall of Fame coach Dr. Jack Ramsay provides analysis for ESPN on SportsCenter and NBA Today. Here he breaks down the playoffs for ESPN.com. The color analyst for the Heat, Ramsay's impressive résumé includes making the playoffs in 16 of his 20 seasons as coach and winning an NBA title with Portland in 1977.
Throughout the 2000 playoffs, Dr. Jack will break down each series from the backcourts to intanglibles. Look for his analysis from the first round all the way through to the NBA Finals.
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BACKCOURT
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EDGE
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The Lakers will have Kobe Bryant and Ron Harper going against the Suns' Jason Kidd and Anfernee Hardaway. Although Bryant and Harper are good defenders, I have to give Phoenix the edge. The Suns need big production from Kidd and Hardaway, but I'm not sure they are going to get it due to Bryant's and Harper's defensive ability. In the first round against San Antonio, Phoenix didn't shoot the ball well as a team. The Suns were under 40 percent. Keeping Kidd and Hardaway under control will be the main emphasis of the Lakers' defense. Kidd's return to the lineup is a huge boost for the Suns. He is a marvelous player who sets everything up for them and makes things easier for his teammates. Hardaway benefits because he doesn't have to handle the ball as much. |
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FRONTCOURT
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EDGE
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Shaquille O'Neal will be the big factor against Luc Longley, although Longley has maybe as good a chance as anybody other than Alonzo Mourning of doing a good job against Shaq. Longley is big and stronger, but Shaq has both of those qualities plus quickness. He should be able to get Longley into foul trouble. If that happens, the Suns are in trouble. Then they would have to use Clifford Robinson against Shaq. Robinson is a solid defender but not strong enough for Shaq. However, I give Robinson an edge over A.C. Green at big forward. Rookie Shawn Marion defends well, but Glen Rice should be able to get some good looks at the basket.
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BENCH
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EDGE
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The Suns might be able to do some business with their bench players. Rodney Rogers, the NBA's top sixth man, is terrific. Kevin Johnson will get minutes, as will Todd Day and Corie Blount, who both played well in the first round against the Spurs. Day, who scored 16 points in 19 minutes in Game 3 against San Antonio, is a pesky, aggressive defender who can defend either Rice or Bryant and doesn't care about giving up fouls. With Rogers, KJ, Blount and Randy Livingston, the Suns have more scoring potential than the Lakers reserves --- Robert Horry, Derek Fisher, Rick Fox and Brian Shaw. I would pick the scoring of the Suns bench players or the defensive abilities of the Lakers bench. |
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INTANGIBLES
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EDGE
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| I think the Lakers got a wake-up call against Sacramento. They felt they would just waltz through the playoffs. Not that the Kings have given them a scare, I think the Lakers will be more focused. And when focused, the Lakers are clearly the best team in the league. I would expect them to jump on the Suns quickly. Phoenix will take an everything-to-gain, nothing-to-lose approach. Everybody thought that the Suns would fall on their faces when Kidd and Tom Gugliotta got injured, but they have managed to hang around and perform well.
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PREDICTION
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Lakers in six. This won't be a runaway series. Even though I don't expect the Suns to win, I think they will be close in every game. Shaq and Kobe will be the difference for the Lakers both offensively and defensively. The Lakers were the best team in the league in terms of field-goal percentage allowed, defensive rebounding and overall rebounding. But Phoenix was the league's fourth-best team in field-goal percentage allowed and fourth in steals. The Suns' only chance will be to play a disruptive game, an uptempo style that can pressure the Lakers before they can get their offense going with Shaq. If the Suns are forced to play a halfcourt game, they can't win.
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