2010 NBA Playoff Picks – Suns vs. Lakers

NBA Betting – Series Picks – Phoenix Suns vs L.A. Lakers

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Phoenix vs. L.A. Series Betting Odds:
3311 SUNS SERIES +275
3312 LAKERS SERIES -335

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Suns vs. Lakers Playoff Schedule – Western Conference Finals

Game 1 – Monday, May 17 at Los Angeles, 9 EST
Game 2 – Wednesday, May 19 at Los Angeles, 9 EST
Game 3 – Sunday, May 23 at Phoenix, 9 EST
Game 4 – Tuesday, May 25 at Phoenix, 9 EST
Game 5 – Thursday, May 27 at Los Angeles, 9 EST
Game 6 – Saturday, May 29 at Phoenix, 9 EST
Game 7 – Monday, May 31 at Los Angeles, 9 EST

The chances are pretty good that the Lakers are spending a decent amount of practice time defending against the 3-point shot, because whoever they play from this point on in the playoffs – starting with the Suns and continuing with either the Celtics or Magic — will be raining 3s for 48 minutes a game.

Coach Alvin Gentry says his Suns can win games without setting tempo and shooting 3s effectively, but he’s whistling past the graveyard if LA can close on outside shooters quickly and neutralize Phoenix’s 3-point game. The Lakers have way too much size for the Suns, and if this becomes a half-court series it could be over in 4 or 5.

The Suns have two paces – fast and faster – and will try to wear down the Lakers before LA can quiet things down and pound the ball in low to Andrew Bynum and Pau Gasol. The only concern is that in playing a game more suited to the Bonneville Salt Flats, have the Suns worn themselves out in series against Portland and San Antonio?

Phoenix overachieved this season after his jettisoned Shaq O’Neal and took the choke chain off the offense. In the Suns’ business model Steve Nash creates, Jason Richardson fires 3s and Amare Stoudemire dominates the paint. Grant Hill is rejuvenated by making it further in the playoffs than he ever has, and there is depth on the bench to keep shoveling coal into the fast-break furnace.

But as all Laker opponents find out eventually, there’s the Kobe Factor to deal with. The Cavaliers’ stunning elimination in the Eastern Conference finals has short-circuited what many felt would be an NBA-mandated LA-Cleveland Finals built around the league’s top two superstars.

Now the league is facing the uncomfortable possibility of a ratings-killing Phoenix-Orlando Finals, and everyone is wondering how many free throws Bryant will get if there is a conspiracy in place to at least get the Lakers on TV in June.

Finally, as different as the teams are on the court, they have become tied together by Arizona’s new law which targets illegal immigrants.

The Suns organization and players are on record as opposing the law (due to take effect in July), and the city of Los Angeles says it will sever all economic ties to its neighbor to the southeast unless the law is repealed.

Suns vs. Lakers Prediction:

The Lakers are favored to repeat as NBA champs (5/2 at bodog) and the Suns are the longest shot on the board at 11/2.

The feeling around the league is that Los Angeles has already had its near-death experience (Oklahoma City in Round 1) and is now in show-no-mercy mode, as evidenced by the sweep of Utah.

On top of that, Bryant’s injured finger gets better by the day, and if games are close in the fourth quarter, more often than not he gets to the line.

Looks like a 6-game series, with the Lakers getting to the Finals for the third straight season.

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Lawrence Paul is a regular contributor to the Cappers Picks Blog, and is a free-lance gambling and travel expert from Massachusetts.