After a ridiculous stint off the Western Conference Finals finally get on their way. The Suns jumped early with a 7-0 only to get torched for 35 first quarter points. Super sub Lamar Odom may have had lots of candy before the game as his energy level was high finishing the game with 19 and 19. After LO had his moment, Mamba came out on fire in the third, scoring 21 of his 40 pts, hitting jumper after jumper, classic Kobe. With LO stealing the front court spotlight Gasol and Artest quietly combined for 35 pts, 9 rbs, 10 asts, 3 blks, even the bench was productive this time around outscoring their counterparts 43-35. The Suns are a very explosive offensive team and Lakers took that away from that in game 1, this a a four game series though. We'll see what game 2 brings.
Player of the game: The Black Mamba hit 40 pts for the 11th time in his career along with 5 asts and 5 rbs.
X-Factor: Said it before when Odom uses his God given All-Star level talent, Lakers are very good and rarely lose. LO was ridiculous going for 19 and 19 and 3 dimes as a bonus, shooting 9/15.
Should Have been benched: Sure he's playing hurt, but when you're as tall as a damn tree it shouldn't be hard to pull at least 6-8 rebounds in 19 minutes. Man, if Bynum had the rebounding desire of LO, Lakers would be almost unstoppable.
Laker Hater: Robin Lopez who had yet to see playoff action came in and had 14 pts in 6 rbs in his first game back, so much for being rusty.
Overtime: Kobe needs 72 pts to move past former Laker and all time Jazz great The Mailman Karl Malone for 4th on the all-time playoff scoring list trailing Shaquille O'Neal, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and Michael Jordan. Of the top six players on that list only MJ did not suit up for the Lakers in his career, the logo Jerry West sits on 6th.
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