Dominating performance by Kobe. Forty points on 13-of-23 shooting, 3-of-6 from trifecta and 11-of-12 from line. Pau Gasol added 21 and Lamar Odom had 19 and 19 boards. Lakers outrebounded Suns 42-34. Suns, almost a 40 percent three-point shooting team, went 5-for-22 (22.7%) against Lakers. Amar'e had 23 points but only three rebounds. Nash with 13 points and 13 assists. Not a great scoring night for him.
Lakers look tough after game one. Still have to stick with my Suns pick because I've already committed, but I was a little shaky on picking the Suns to begin with. They need to set the tempo their way, making the Lakers take jump shots and getting out in transition and shooting threes. They also need to hang with the Lakers on the boards.
Game two is Wed at LA 8 p.m. on TNT.
Magic-Celtics game two tonight at 7:30 on ESPN.
(In photo, Kobe, Pau Gasol and Lamar Odom with another unidentifiable player)