Suns-Lakers Round 1 Game 5

Pregame

The feeling in the air tonight - business. I don't feel the excitement and energy that I did prior to game 2, but I still feel a big win coming. It just feels like the Suns are going to take a professional attitude and get on with business tonight.

All this talk about "WE were able to come back for a 3-1 deficit" stills falls flat to me. They can't really believe that it could actually happen in this series. I don't. I think it's more a matter of not extending the series longer than it has already gone. Let's hope they get down to business, put the Lakers down early, and get on with this thing. We have bigger goals on our minds.

Congratulations are in order for the Irritant tonight. Nice work impregnating Cindy, Raja! We're proud of you, young man! And congratulations on the All Defense team selection. A well-deserved honor, and a long time coming. Not as long as it has been for Shawn Marion, but at least the team is finally getting recognized for what it has been doing for a while now. Just a bit of advice for Papa Bell - next time, get 'er dun right after the playoffs. We don't need to risk you being out due to something as silly as your wife's labor. PRIORITIZE, KID!!! Try for a title baby this time. That would bring him to life around March of next year.

Yes, we're all feeling Shawn's pain for him. He should just brush it off for now and focus on winning a title. Nothing says "You screwed me!" like bringing a championship to Phoenix with stellar defensive play.

If the Suns are the NBA version of the Justice League of America, who gets to be Wonderwoman?

GREAT fan poster by someone named Anthony. WHO'S YOUR DADDY?! Yes, the Raja jokes will be alive and kicking like a newborn all night. (Sorry...had to do my own.)

We're about ten minutes away now, and I'm hoping that I have the energy to make it through this one. It should be a nice, quick, up-tempo game, so my faculties shall be challenged. As long as the Suns win, I will make the sacrifice. Good thing I got a nap this afternoon.

Here's hoping that Boris integrates himself smoothly into the lineup tonight. We need him to play somewhere around 75% of last year's Boris for the rest of the playoffs. If he can give us 10-5-5 every game, the trophy is ours for the taking.

What should we expect tonight? Honestly, I'm expecting Kobe to come out with a vengeance. He'll probably try to get his teammates going, but I don't expect him or Phil to stay with it for very long if the rest of the Lakers don't step up. In that case, expect Kobe to start chucking. If he can't keep them in the game by the half, then we just may well see a repeat of last year's game 7. That would be nice for the Suns. Get this formality out of the way, and get geared up for the second round. No sense in letting the Lakers hang around, especially when it's fairly obvious that Kobe and Phil would rather not waste their time. The rest of that team doesn't deserve it.

OH MY GOD!!! DEATH DEATH DEATH!!!

Chuck is wearing an orange road jersey, and he wants to give the Suns some love tonight. He loves Phoenix. Odd...earlier he loved Oakland, and now he loves Phoenix. Rebuilding burned bridges, Chuck? If you come back to the Suns' side of the force, we may just welcome you back in the Valley. Be on your best behavior, and no bandwagon jumping in the second round.

Kenny Smith doesn't like "run-and-gun", but he likes "Hustle and Flow" in describing the Suns. Forget that Phil Jackson used that movie to motivate his team. Whatever. We all know the real name for the Suns...A Clockwork Orange. Looks like we're going against San Antonio this weekend. So much for the Nuggets being different than 2005.

Nothing to argue about regarding EJ's keys to the game. Killer instinct, defensive rebound, get the ball out of Kobe's hands. No confidence for this team...take their will from them as fast as we can.

1st Quarter

9:20 Tip goes to Los Angeles. Kobe loses it almost immediately on a dish off attempt in a crowded lane. And Jones opens the Suns scoring with a four point play! KEEP THAT UP!!! Kobe comes back for the score. Maybe one bad pass attempt was enough to set him off. Nice movement and the new daddy scores a three from the corner. WHO'S YOUR DADDY?! Odom somehow manages to move Amare out of the way without a hooking call. Daddy slashes an open lane and lays it in. Kobe isn't getting an easy night tonight. Raja's too pumped from the results of his pap juice flowing. Yikes. Bell is on fire already. Two threes and a layup. Must be that new baby smell.

8:48 Vader's kid got a boo boo as Amare picks up his first foul. Let's hope that's the last one this quarter. Marion says SCREW YOU to the coaches as he blocks Kobe from behind. Lakers recover, but we got a shot clock violation as Lakers lost sight of the countdown. Amare's off the mark, and Cab Door comes down with it. Phil ain't happy for reasons only a Zen master can fathom, and the rookie is the recipient of his elderly ire. Time out from the throne. 12-6 Suns.

5:53 Odom can't go against a sleighted Shawn, and the rebound slips off Kwame out of bounds. Nash makes him pay with an easy deuce. Why is Farmar trying to back down Nash? Amare's got the MVP's back, but he forgot to tell Steve. It's all good as they both have a silly little laugh over the miscommunication. Farmar makes them both. Well that was a friendly bounce for Kobe after Shawn misses the runner. Suddenly Kobe looks like he doesn't want to quit, yet, and suddenly the officials are deciding that the Suns aren't allowed to play defense. Shawn doesn't need to foul Luke. Bryant's shot off early. Let's hope that trend stays. Amare rips down a Kobe miss like Chuck after a donut. I don't like the Suns' tempo right now. Need to push it. Steve makes a nice inside pass to Amare who's covered immediately, but he gets it to Trix for a nice lay in and a Teflon shove in the back. 17-12 Suns.

3:54 LB comes in to fix the tempo. Odom can't get anything to go because the Suns are swatting it left and right. Amare gets called for a foul for blocking the last attempt. He sits, unthrilled. I don't like THAT trend. Odom misses the first, then the second. Kurt's shot is straight and true, and it's about time that comes around. Odom is getting aggresiice now, shooting over Diaw. Boris shows toughness as he dunks the pass from KT. It's about time. LB!!! NICE anticipation on the steal! They're off to the races, and the officials call the turnover on the Suns instead of the foul. The crowd sees the replay and expresses its displeasure. Kwame can't do shizzle against Kurt, and gets popped for the frustration foul, his second.

2:15 Suddenly the shots aren't falling so easily. KT schools the rookie and draws the offensive foul. Nice work, old-timer. Too bad the Suns are shooting like crap. Well we haven't seen that in a while. Kurt passes up the jumper and drives. Amazingly, he succeeds. Someone missed their assignment, and Evans scores easily. Suns need to take care of the inbounds as farmar steals it and scores. KT right back atcha. 6 points for the Big Senior. Pretty move by Odom, and Boris picks up the foul. This is just getting stupid. Call it even, or don't call it at all. Suns by 5, 25-20.

The Suns are being aggressive enough, but not getting the benefit that LA is. Maybe I'm just not seeing it from my perch on the couch. Amazingly, the Suns are shooting 50%, but you'd never know it with some of the bricks sailing. KT is helping out a lot, as well as that hot start. We don't need any lulls. MOVE THE BALL! Don't forget game 3, please. No excitement, just business.

1:02 Odom makes them both. I notice that I'm typing his name a lot, and not much of Kobe. LB FOR THREE!!! Give that man the ball and let him run. That's the answer. How many steps does Odom get down low? No matter as he misses. That's the non-All Defense team member for you.

Bell weaves and ducks and kicks it to LB. He steps in and cans it. Gee...another foul on the Suns. KOBE SUCKS!!! Yeah, but he's a great scorer. He makes one of two. Great ball movement as the two-man game between LB and Boris results in another KT jumper. someone's stepping up! Marion's defense on Odom is nice, and KT alters the shot and gets the rebound. Not a bad first quarter, but I'd like to see more running. Hard to do with Amare sitting with two fouls and KT in his place. Might not be pretty, but it's working. Suns up 32-23.

2nd Quarter

Randy Johnson: In My Own Words this Friday. I'm looking forward to that.

11:06 LB shows no fear against Cook. He misses, but draws the foul. LB shoots like a crossbow. Straight, but deadly, he makes both freebies. Suns close down the lane nicely as Kobe tries to make something happen for his team. This just may be a defensive game, and Kobe just may be about to go off. Expect him to play a full 48. MEEP MEEP!!! LB blows by Shammond Williams, leaving him tripping over his own broken ankles. He makes it to the rim for the foul. 35-23 Suns.

9:16 Kobe scores, and the Lakers are double teaming everything. That won't get it done, until Junior misses the wide open three. Walton tries to get intimate with Leandro, and the refs say "THIS IS NOT A SWINGER'S CLUB!" Diaw drives all by himself! Then Kobe shoots a fall away. Darn. Ugh. Wasted passing by Amare as Shawn leaves the layup short. Diaw rebounds the Turiaf miss. 37-27 Suns.

7:56 LB fouls Kobe to make up for Junior's indecision on the other side. Turiaf scores anyway, but Amare comes right back for his first bucket. FEED THE BEAST! They're going to Turiaf...trying to draw Stat's third foul. Nice rebound by Diaw, and we get a score from a Marion tip in. Then Boris fouls Cook on the made jumper. OHHHH so frustrating sometimes. 41-33, free throws coming after we sit through subliminal messages from your local culturally conscious corporation.

I hate MacDonald's but this commercial speaks a social truth. I hate meeting people I barely know from work in a public place. I don't talk to you at work, why should I feel obligated to talk to you here?! I'm a star, yes, but don't pretend you know me!

7:40 All in all, a raggedy confusing game. The Suns make their pushes, but then some silly foul kills it. MVSteve comes in as Cook makes it a three point play. I like this new aggressive Diaw. Nice to see him stick with the inside play and draw the foul. Make 'em or miss 'em, it only helps the effort. His free throw worries are assuaged, and he makes them both. 43-34

6:42 I've said it before, I'll say it again. Teflon just came in and bowled over Nash for some reason. It's not rocket science. It's a foul. Quit playing like a moron, and you might have a career. OHHHH!!! Beautiful spin move by Amare, and he exorcizes the French demon, dunking hard on Turiaf. Hello rebounding? Remeber the keys to the game? NO OFFENSIVE REBOUNDS! It goes out of bounds to Phoenix.

6:09 BJ is getting aggressive. His killer instinct is kicking in, despite the foul worries. He goes in and draws the foul. To the aggressor goes the spoils? Indeedily doo. Both good. NICE break. Big team rebound makes its way to Leandro who rewards his big man. Marion scoops it in, and the Suns are putting the hammer down. 49-34 Suns.

Bud Light previewss Boston Rob's upcoming wedding. No midget, but a fast talking reverend to get those fellers to a nice cold Buuuud Light!

WE WANT STAT TO GET 25 REBOUNDS! KNOCK CHUCK OFF THE TOP OF THE LIST!

4:31 Bryant can't spin without drawing a foul. I didn't see it, but I'm just a homer. He makes the and one, and it's a 12 point Suns lead. Amare's jumper offline. Lakers are crowding the lane. Diaw needs to carve that up. Another rebound for Amare, and it pays off with a long two by Nash! Too bad Bryant answers right away. Walton doesn't carry after Amare's not fouled (could have been worse...he could have been called for the O-foul.) But it's Nash running the show as Marion breaks free for two foul shots. 53-39

2:58 Kobe just wants to shoot now. 18 points for the Mama, er, Mamba. Amare is getting upset with the noncalls as Odom slaps at him to break the up the pass. Smush is as retarded as Teflon as he makes the move on KT. Marion busts out the three baller! Amare can't get no love from the refs, and Turiaf gets away with hanging. Stay focused, Stat...the calls will come. See? Vader, Jr. shoves Amare on the rebound attempt. 56-43 Suns. Television takes us to a wonderful fantasy land of things we shall never own, but long to buy.

Congratulations Shawn! 1001 points for Marion's playoff career.

1:16 Nash gets the three for that long too, as the review shows the truth. Amare makes them both. Amare and Turiaf are battling, and Turiaf is pissing everyone off. Amare strong inside. Bryant chucks long and misses, but Turiaf is everywhere. He's getting under Amare's skin, not so much for his play, but the fact that the refs are letting a lot go, while he has two fouls. I'm sure he'd love to nail him, but he doesn't want to sit. He makes up for it with an ANGRY rebound off a Turiaf missed free throw. Kobe keeps missing, but Stat keeps working the glass. He gets fouled as Raja feeds him inside. 59-47 Suns.

The first is good. The second is even better. Lamar is battling, despite the big boo boos and dead baby. Uh oh. Nash guarding Kobe isn't good. But he gives it up, and the switch is on. Parker forgets that the game is still on, and Nash blows by. To make up for his indiscretion, Smush fouls him. But it's a good one, as Nash misses a rare one. Bender just cannot pronounce VOO ya CHICH. Nash makes the second. Lakers' plan works as Cook hits the three. WOW!!!! MATRIX!!! Weaving up court trying to beat the clock, and he gets it to go as the clock hits all zeros. Decent first half performance, but that's how you do business. Just attack when you can, defend without fouling, and play an all around efficient game. Suns are doing it, the Lakers are not. 64-52 halftime lead for the new Daddy and his gang of godfathers.

Halftime

Chuck attributes Phoenix's success to his sudden jumo on our bandwagon. Good thing we have big honkin' leaf springs on it, or else we'd be busting axels front and back. Lotsa Kobe hating going on at the Paseo. As much as I hate to say it, I respect Kobe's game. He's fighting hard, and this is the perfect situation for him. He likes to dominate the ball, and what better excuse than to have lousy teammates? Still, he's been a good boy after his elbowing suspension on Ginobili, and he's been playing nice with Raja. If Bell can forgive him, can't we? It's a lot easier when the Suns take him out in five games.

Suns are shooting well wnough at 48.9%, but it's down from the 51% they were shooting early in the second quarter. The Lakers are down to 45.8% for the game. It's a good, solid game so far, and TC reads my mind as he says that he expects to come out on fire in the second half. Play time is over, and it's time to put the pedal to the floor. The intensity should ramp up in the back end of this game because the only person who truly loves L.A. is Randy Newman. We don't want to go back there and give San Antonio two extra days to catch up on their Geritol supplements.

Suns only have four turnovers compared to 5 steals, 3 blocked shots, and 14 assists on 22 baskets. That's good for a 63.6% rate, which is how the Suns usually win. The Lakers slowed them down a bit for most of the first quarter, but the Suns picked it up as the half wore on. It's a slow curve, but it keeps rising. Do we need to be reminded again that it IS indeed possible to come back from a 1-3 hole? I don't. Let's leave that alone and just talk about the business of this game. Take care of it, move on, give Raja a day to spend with his new baby boy.

No orange hot pants, but I'm sure that Butler is loving the close up of the Suns dancers on HD. He wouldn't be a man if he didn't.

EJ expects Kobe to come out aggressive, but I'm not so sure. Turiaf is hanging tough, and Lamar is aggressive. He might defer a little to them, still, but he'll certainly try and take over soonish.

3rd Quarter

9:46 Suns start by turning it over. Let's keep that to a minimum. The Cab runs over the MVP. Not a good way to start a quarter when your team is down by 12. How did Odom get so free for a Farmar lob? Suns are sloppy already, but Marion picks his pocket. Kobe's yelling at the official, but he's a superstar. Nash wheels and deals and lays it in nicely. Amare steals Odom's pass to Teflon in the post. Why do they keep trying to post him?! Does Phil see something that we don't, or are they TRYING to lose the game? Nash drives and gets the basket after the foul. Makes the free toss. The theme of the day...Nash's expression is all business. Amare is a beast on the board with his 9th off a Marion missed three. 69-54 Suns.

8:12 Junior fouls Odom, but Lamar's shoulder is killing his free throw percentage. Maybe he should have had surgery earlier? Nah. The playoff paycheck helps ease the pain. Kobe airs it out, and just wishes for a foul call. Shawn is the man on the scene this game with 16 points. Whaty a shock...Teflon can't score over Amare. Amare has to step out and stop Cab door from going inside. 72-59 Suns

7:08 Amare gets his third foul as Teflon flops like a queer dick at the Mustang Ranch. Amare is playing pissed, as he finally draws a foul underneath. I'd hate to see that glare in a dark alley in a bad neighborhood. No three point play, though. Too many whistles blowing on weak fouls, and not enough on the hard ones. EJ doesn't like how close the Lakers are, and neither do I. Still, I'm not worried because the Suns aren't going to stand for this much longer. See? Nash hits a two on his own.

6:46 Teflon gets another benefit as Jones gets position outside the circle. He lets it get to him as he lets the pass slip through his fingers on the other end. Wasted steal by Raja. This is getting ridiculous. Odom gets bailed out as Raja gets position on him. What a joke. The foul chart shows that it goes both ways.

4:43 Junior erases his earlier gaffe with a corner three. Can we see more of that please? Amazingly, Walton gets busted for a loose ball foul that benefits Amare. I disagree with EJ. I don't like all the whistles. Yes, they're both ways, but it kills the rhythm. Let the players decide this game. Now it's getting sloppy as Nash's pass to Stat is deflected to the Lakers. Oh look, it's Odom again. Another missed jumper, and NOW I agree with EJ. Another foul on Phoenix, which gives L.A. a chance to get it to single digits. Time to take a breath, refocus, and get back to it. It's game seven, and our playoff lives are on the line. 78-68 Suns.

3:39 Walton and Odom have four fouls each. It's time to take advantage of it. Odom should not be this aggressive with that many fouls this early. Alley opp to Marion is no good, and now it's a seven point game. Until Boris follows another Nash miss. Geez! Odom has 24? Suns not playing their game on either side, and Nash turns it over. What gives? Why are they letting the Lakers play their game? Is this not our home court? Is this not OUR series to take? Let's get aggressive and foul these guys out. Kobe makes his free throws and it's a 5 point game. Ugh.

3:05 11-2 run over the last 3:00 for the Lakers, but Nash gets inside to Marion to stop it. But Walton follows his own shot. Bender needs to shut up with the negativity. Yeah, it's uncomfortable, but let's try to send good vibes.

2:09 Stat makes his free throws, and it's back to 7. What the hell? Why are they passing up open shots for the half court set? Nash makes a bad pass underneath, and Marion has a chance to corral it, but doesn't. FINALLY Odom gets his fifth foul. That should make for a nice turning point in this game, as he heads for the bench. Yes, I'm testy now. Not nervous...just peeved that the Suns are playing like the Warriors did the last three minutes last night. 84-79 Suns.

1:11 *rolls eyes* Stat misses the first free throw. Could he be distracted? He makes the second. Get the act together. Kobe's back and attacking, and he makes it a four point game. Marion clanks a three, and this is getting uglier by the play. Stat picks up his fourth by pushing Teflon in the back. 2 point game. Amare gets aggressive again, and he's rewarded. This isn't the Suns' game, though, but I'll take it as long as he makes his free throws.

Kobe hits, and it's back to two. Amare goes at Teflon and scores. Yay. Now if the rest of the team would pick it up. Amazingly Kobe gets called for the offensive foul as he loses control and bowls into Diaw. Of course, he whines about it, which gives LB some motivation to score on the other end. The crowd is now awake, as they chant for that vaunted Suns defense. Suns battle for the rebound on the Williams miss, and it's about damn time. It's a good way to end the quarter, but it shouldn't take a Laker run to get the fire lit.

4th Quarter

10:00 Did I hear that right? 50 points in the paint for L.A.? That's not cool. Come one, Amare. Let loose. Wow. Kobe left it short, and Stat grabs it. LB makes it a 5 point turn around. But Kobe gets bumped by Marion on his way inside. He makes them both for the 94-87 Suns lead. Diaw loses his aggressiveness inside, and Marion misses the runner. Not good basketball. Why they were leaving Kobe to double cook earlier, I'll never know. Ball moves everywhere and hits all Suns, and ends in an LB bomb.

8:52 LB gets fouled on the loose ball, and Nash reenters. They're feeding Amare in the post, which might work to open things up for the shooters. Amare is possessed. Marion lobs it to a little too high. Lots of contact results in a miss, but he fights for it hard and eventually draws the foul. Suns inbound. Bell fights Evans for the LB miss and gets it to Nash at the top. He drives, but it's blocked out of bounds. Another round of commercials, and I could sure use a trip to the can. But the timeouts aren't long enough for the amount of Pepsi in my bladder, even with the national coverage. So I'll just sit here and think of waterfalls and rainy days. 99-91 Suns.

8:15 Shooting percentages have flip flopped after a big third quarter for the Lakers. Suns aren't crashing the glass nearly hard enough. Amare gets whacked on the arm on the dunk attempt. Suns have only 7 assists on their last 13 baskets. BALL MOVEMENT! HELLO?! Stat has 15 rebounds, but Marion only has 7. Late whistle as Amare pushes off on Turiaf. Play smart, young man. 100-91

6:46 LB is a pest as he forces the turnover, but Nash is not playing like an MVP as his pass goes out of bounds again. Turiaf goes over Bell's back, but it goes out of bounds. KT sat too long, as his shot is off. Marion swipes the ball from Kobe's hands, and some Globetrotter passing at the offensive end results in a Marion basket. Nice! Now that Amare is out, Marion is going after every miss. He tips it to Nash who leads Leandro out on the break for the lay up. The Throne is unhappy, and he beats the show producers to the timeout call. 104-91 Suns. Must...keep...pushing.

So it seems that, although Amare's been attacking the glass, his frustration is denying Shawn some opportunities underneath. With him sitting out with his fifth foul, we should be getting another double-double out of the Matrix. No sense in letting Stat's bad attitude cost the team the game. Keep him sitting until he calms down.

5:36 Kobe got a technical during the timeout, and Nash gets the freebie. He's not happy. BUT MATRIX IS!!! Nice alley oop to Trix for the one handed throw down over Turiaf and Odom! Odom scores, and it's a replay of the Matrix dunk as Nash finds him inside again on the break. That makes 10 assists for Nash, which is what we've been asking for the last 16 minutes. Marion fouls Turiaf on the other end. 109-94 Suns.

4:33 Marion sits for Diaw. He's earned it with a 14 point lead as Turiaf gets the second free throw. Raja's a tired new papa, as he hasn't scored since the first. Odom is left alone outside and makes a three. Nash can't affect that shot, so why bother trying. Ball goes off LB, and it's getting silly again. Kurt wisely fouls Turiaf underneath to prevent the easy two and to get Amare back in. 109-98 Suns.

4:13 Turiaf has a double-double, making both free ones. Nash sets to break down Kobe, then passes inside to Stat in traffic. He doesn't get the basket, but he gets the foul...Walton's 6th. Hit the road, Luke. 109-100 Suns.

2:58 Amare's smiling after that foul, and it's about time. Coach sat him in the corner until he learned to play well with others, and it's worked as both free throws are good. Kobe's tired. His shot is flat, and he's getting no elevation. Then again...that's a three, and we have an 8 point game. LB's answers, but it's the wrong question. I spoke too soon about Kobe. he just hit his second three to close the Suns' lead to 5. 111-106 Suns.

Maybe it's that I haven't slept much lately, but I'm kind of annoyed with this. The Suns are supposed to be closing this Lakers team out, and they just allowed another big run, 13-2. I'm telling you, Amare needs to sit, and Shawn needs to play. He's the key to this game because he doesn't succomb to physical play. He just snakes his way around and kills the slow-footed Lakers.

1:44 Nice two man game in the corner between Steve and Shawn. He scores on a baby hook, and Nash skies for the Lakers' missed three. between three ugly jerseys, too. Nash drives, delivers the pizza to Amare, and he doesn't get the 15% tip. But he does go to the line and promptly misses the first. Not the second, and it pushes it back to an 8 point game. They double Kobe 30 feet away and let Odom have the inside two. 114-108 Suns. BEAT LA!!!

1:28 Nash misses the inside fall away, but Marion was waiting under the basket for the back tap ro Bell. Good heads up play...followed by another great play by Raja, who streaks under the basket after an Amare miss and secures the rebound. He calls timeout before the officials call the time out. Good call, since we can't trust refs to make the right call along the out of bounds line with three Lakers surrounding a lone Suns player.

34.4 I'm thinking that the waterfall idea wasn't so good. I have a minute and a half of game time to hold it all in. Problem is, the teams have a combined SEVEN timeouts remaining. TAKE THAT, AVERY JOHNSON! Nash does his best Bob Cousy impression, and he's fouled. Lakers are over the penalty. Duh...with all the fouls called on both sides, I'm surprised that didn't start an hour ago. Another Laker three, and it's back to six. Stat gets molested like a 4 year old niece on his spin move, and it's back to the line we go. One of two, and it's a Laker time out. Suns lead is 117-110. Well...it's KIND OF a blow out. Considering how slow the game was, it's as good as we can expect. I'll say again...it went both ways.

One foul out, three players with five fouls, two players with four fouls, and a boat load of three-foulers.

25.0 Bryant misses the three, and the Suns force the ball off the Lakers and out of bounds. Coach D'Antoni wants to have a gloating session on the court, perhaps to find out who wants what on their post-game pizza. Or maybe he just wants to advance the ball and get a play going that gets the ball into Steve's hands for the expected foul. The PA announcer incites the crowd to chant BEAT LA!!! But it seems pointless now. Odom fouls out as he gets Nash in the back court on the inbounds, and his season is over. I gotta hand it to Lamar, he played a great series considering the bangs and bruises that have plagued him all season. He was the most aggressive Laker outside of Kobe, and he deserves a lot of credit for battling.

Farmar misses from outside, Marion secures the rebound, and this one is in the books. Thank, god. Not as professional as I had hoped, but they got it done. At the same time, it was more indicative of the Suns and Lakers season series. Hard fought, guys getting under each others' skin, and no win coming easily. Games 2 and 4 were aberrations in this one.

Nature calls! FINALLY I CAN ANSWER!!! Post game coming soon.

Postgame

Screw the postgame. The game is over, the series is over, let's move on and get ready for an epic battle. Suns versus Spurs analysis and forecast coming soon to A Clockwork Orange near you.