Suns rue shooting mistakes in Game One
May 18, 2010 13:30:08 UK
When the Phoenix Suns can't hit a 3-pointer, they realize their chances of winning the Western Conference finals are a long shot.
The Suns went 5 for 22 on 3-pointers in their series-opening 128-107 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers on Monday night, getting practically nothing from the most impressive area of their offense.
Phoenix made 101 3-pointers while hitting nearly 42 percent from behind the arc in the first two rounds of the postseason, easily the best numbers for any playoff team.
The Suns relied heavily on the 3-pointer to beat Portland and San Antonio, but their touch abandoned them at Staples Center.
So was the Lakers' defense or the Suns' streaky shooting responsible for what likely was the decisive factor in Game 1 on Phoenix's end of the court?
"It was a combination," Phoenix coach Alvin Gentry said. "They do a really good job of running you off from 3-point shots. We have struggled some against them from the 3-point line. We had a lot of shots available to us that we didn't make. They're No. 1 in 3-point percentage defense in the league, so they do a good job of closing out on that."
Phoenix struggled both with open 3-point shots and contested tries against the Lakers. Channing Frye went 1 for 7, and fellow reserve Jared Dudley was 1 for 5 after the duo combined for 34 3-pointers in the first two rounds.
Steve Nash was 0 for 2 behind the line, while 3-point dynamo Goran Dragic missed his only attempt in nearly 21 minutes of play.
Only Jason Richardson enjoyed the Suns' usual success, going 3 for 6 to keep his postseason 3-point shooting percentage above 50 percent.
"We didn't really do everything we were supposed to do, but I can't take a win away from them," Richardson said.
"They came in and played a great game."
While the Suns led the NBA in 3-point shooting during the regular season, the Lakers were the NBA's best at defending the 3-pointer.
Los Angeles' perimeter players give the credit to 7-foot duo of Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum, who patrol the paint well enough to allow the Lakers' outside defenders to overplay long shots.
"I think mostly they missed shots," Lakers coach Phil Jackson said.
"They had a good look. There were a couple of times we kept them off balance, some of their 3-point shooters, but for the most part, I think they'll be back on beam come Wednesday night."
View all Basketball lines