Western Conference Finals Preview

Will the Suns be the "Departed"?

Western Conference Finals

What you need to know about the Lakers

• Lakers won season series 3-1
• Andrew Bynum still has a torn meniscus (but will play)
• Kobe is coming off 4 straight 30 point games

What you need to know about the Suns

• Jason Richardson is averaging 21.9 points in the playoffs but only 8.9 PPG against LA
• The 7 foot Robin Lopez should be back in the lineup for Game 1
• In case you forgot back-up point guard Goran Dragic scored 24 points in the 4th quarter against the Spurs solid D

The Lakers seem the heavy favorite to advance to the NBA Finals but don't expect LA to sweep this high octane Suns squad. Both teams are coming off impressive series sweeps of solid teams in the Spurs and Jazz. The Lakers size was too much for the banged up Jazz, and the same might be true for a Suns squad that will need to look to push the pace. However both teams are averaging 110 points in 3 of their last four games.

A big reason for the Suns high scoring is the impressive production from its stars as well as its deep bench (21.9 from Richardson, 20.5 from Amare, and just under 18 from Nash). The Suns bench is so effective because they play together as one unit, led by back up point guard Goran Dragic. The others include names like Barbosa, Frye, and Dudley who can all fill it up from long range.

Kobe and Pau. The two of them are averaging a combined 55 points in the last four games which is over 50 percent of the Lakers points. If Bynum is ineffective for LA, the Lakers are going to need a solid performance from Lamar Odom to keep up with the scoring of the Suns. Odom will also need to be strong against Amare or he could become the next posterized victim for Stoudermire.

Outcome

Looking at the numbers the series looks almost too close to call. Both are scoring at a high rate, Bynum is injured but the Suns don't have a ton of size, Suns have a strong supporting cast but it has faltered against the Lakers, and Grant Hill is a strong defender but Kobe is playing like Kobe. I think we will see a very close series similar to the OKC LA first round matchup. Both teams should take care of business at home and one road win could ultimately decide this series. I think Pau and Kobe will be too much for the Suns in this series simply because they have been there and they are peaking at the right time. The only way I see the Suns stealing a win in LA is if Richardson and the bench play like they can.

Lakers win in 6

Jace P.