This is the time of year when the NBA is supposed to be its most exciting. Close games. Seven-game series.
Well, after the Los Angeles Lakers dispatched the Phoenix Suns in Game 2, 124-112, the league built by Magic and Bird and is thriving under Kobe and LeBron is looking at the prospect of all but one of its six series from the conference semi-finals and finals being sweeps.
It wasn't as easy for Lakers as it was in Game 1 thanks to a lightning third quarter by Suns' Grant Hill (14 in the period) and Jason Richardson (12) , which erased a nine-point Laker halftime lead.
But the Lakers eased out in front early in the fourth and built on their height advantage and great shooting (57.7%) to win a game that really never should have been as close.
Of course, no one expected Kobe Bryant to duplicate his 40-point performance of Monday night but he came up with some big baskets when the Lakers needed them. He finished the game with 21 points.
But where Bryant was spectacular was feeding the ball to Pau Gasol under the basket. Bryant had 13 assists in the game. But it was Gasol who had the Kobe-like scoring performance scoring 29 points on 11 of 19 shooting.
Ron Artest, known for his defense not shooting, also wasn't too bad scoring 18 points, including three three-pointers.
Richardson was the Suns leading scorer with 27 points and Hill added 23. Steve Nash, the Suns normal go-to guy, had a second straight subpar performance scoring only 11 points.
Now, the Lakers 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven series heading to Phoenix is not near as impressive as the Celtics 2-0 lead over the Orlando Magic heading to Boston but it's not inconceivable that there may be some TNT and ESPN programming slots to fill in the near future.
Of course, this series is not over as both coaches are more than willing to tell anyone who will listen. And any of the 18,997 at the Staples Center who saw the Lakers give away a 14-point second period lead by the end of the third quarter would also agree.
Amare Stoudemire had raised the ante before Wednesday's game by saying that Lamar Odom's 19-point, 19-rebound game was "lucky." Odom, who is becoming a very marketable player in L.A. since his marriage to Khloe Kardashian, just shrugged it off. But the comment was still resonating at gametime.
"I think lucky was not the word he wanted to use," said Suns coach Alvin Gentry. "But it's fine. It's not a big deal.
"Someone said it's bulletin board material. Well, if you have to have someone say something to get fired up for the Western Conference finals then you've got something wrong."
The attention that is being paid to Odom do in part to the bad knee of starting center Andrew Bynum, who missed the last month of the season because of problems with the knee.
The Lakers have been considered a fragile, banged-up team throughout the season. Of most concern has been the various injuries to Bryant, although six straight 30-plus point games before Wednesday seems to have erased that concern.
"I think his knee is going to be OK," said Laker Coach Phil Jackson. "I'm a little more concerned about Andrew's."
But none of that really mattered in Game 2 where even though the score was close some of the time, it never really seemed as if the Suns could win it.
The Lakers took a nine-point lead into the half with Bynum showing little difficulty with his knee scoring 11 points and grabbing six rebounds. He finished the game with 13 points and seven rebounds.
As for Odom, he finished with 17 points and 11 rebounds.
Now, it's on to Phoenix on Sunday and the prospect that without any games to play the start of the NBA Finals will be moved from June 3 to June 1.
-- John Cherwa
Lakers 124, Suns 112, final
Lakers go up 2-0 in the series. Last two minutes were garbage time. Lakers found another level in the fourth quarter and made the Suns look bad.
Lakers 120, Suns 106, 1:58 remaining
This game is in the refrigerator. Gasol dominating the last 1:30.
Lakers 112, Suns 104, 3:28 remaining
Grant Hill scores thanks to some matador defense by the Lakers. Gasol is fouled hard and powers through for the two. Who says Gasol isn't tough? Stoudemire is called for an offensive foul. Fisher ran into him on a screen and sold it well. Fisher is one smart player. And I just lost my entire TV feed. I switch TVs and, after some sloppy play, it's 112-104 Lakers.
Lakers 106, Suns 95, 6:42 remaining in fourth quarter
Suns come out of the timeout with two quick points. Gasol is fouled and makes both free throws to push the lead back to four. Shannon Brown is fouled and makes two free throws to push the lead to six, 101-95. Does Lawler's Law apply to Lakers games?
Barbosa goes for a layup, has his shot blocked, falls and bangs the back of his head on a camera, opening a gash on the back of his head. He is headed to the locker room to get some stitches.
