January 18th, 2008 
Stephen Rhodes 
Posted in ?????????????????????????????????????
Two things doomed the Los Angeles Lakers Thursday night: cold shooting plus the lack of an inside presence in the paint; those 2 factors benefitted the Phoenix Suns as they shellacked the Lakers at Staples Center 106-98.? Despite the final outcome, the game was not nearly as close as it seemed.
The Suns’ Shawn Marion scored 8 points and Steve Nash added 6 points and 4 assists as Phoenix, who never trailed in the game, took a 19-8 lead.? However, Los Angeles scored the last 8 points of the quarter to cut the Suns’ lead to 27-24.? The Suns’ Leandro Barbosa scored 6 straight points before a dunk by Amare Stoudemire, which capped an 18-4 run to begin the second quarter, giving Phoenix a 45-28 advantage.? The Suns would go into halftime leading 56-43, thanks to Phoenix shooting 59.5% from the floor to Los Angeles’ 31.9%.
With the Lakers’ Kobe Bryant on the bench, Sasha Vujacic scored the first 8 points of the fourth quarter and Lamar Odom scored a basket, cutting Phoenix’s lead to 79-71; but that’s as close as the Lakers would get until the final minute of the game.? Phoenix was led by Barbosa with 22 from off the bench with 2 rebounds and 5 assists; Marion added 20, along with 16 boards and 4 assists.? Boris Diaw pitched in with 19 and 6 rebounds and 5 assists, while Raja Bell and Stoudemire contributed 16 each.
Los Angeles was led by Bryant with a quiet 30 points, 7 rebounds and 4 assists, while Odom added 19 with 19 rebounds; Jordan Farmar chipped in with 16 in a losing effort.? Phoenix (27-12) hopes to hold onto their half-game lead in the Pacific Division as they return home to host the Minnesota Timberwolves Friday night, while Los Angeles (26-12) remains home to host the Denver Nuggets Monday night.
yea kobe needed to step things up in the 2nd and 3rd quarter, and kwame needed to stop sucking and finish the easy baskets. sux they are w/o bynum, especially since as he has been coming around to his full potential.
Now’s the time for LA to go after JERMAINE O’Neal ~ Pending he’s HEALTHY (I Hope he will get back to FULL STRENGTH). He is a legitimate elite big man in the Association when’s he’s able to play without the injuries, and he can play past ‘em. He can do it all for a “4″ and is big enough to play Center if needed. He is a tough player that can brings solid offense and above average defense and LA needs to make a trade for him. Jermaine will make a big difference in the west and LA has plenty of good, young talent to give Indiana. LA is a deep squad and to get #7 would help out KOBE and make things more easier for Odom too. Fisher, Kobe, Odom, Jermaine, Bynum (When he Returns) would be one of the best Starting 5′s in the NBA.
LA would have to give up: 1st Rounder, Crittenton, and Radman to complete this deal.