If Alvin Gentry had not called a timeout, Phil Jackson would have.
He also felt that the Lakers' offense had become too fierce and overheated during that half quarter. Some of their original sets had disappeared, leaving only brute-force attacks and drives to the rim, which directly lowered their offensive efficiency and led to more fouls.
That was not good.
So this timeout was necessary for both sides to settle down.
After the timeout, both teams stayed just as focused and just as hungry to win, but the game gradually returned to its proper rhythm, turning back into a structured exchange of attacks.
By the end of the first quarter.
Lakers (24): (24) Suns.
The two teams were tied.
Neither team had scored much, which only showed how intense the defense had been.
At the commentary table, Jeff Van Gundy glanced at the score and the player stats before saying, "Both teams are really fighting tonight. The defense on both sides has been relentless.
The Lakers have always been a strong defensive team.
As for the Suns, it isn't just George and Blake holding down the defense tonight. Frye, Curry, and even Nash are all defending actively.
The Suns are really giving everything they have. They clearly want this game."
"Of course."
Mike Breen nodded in agreement. "The Lakers are going all out on offense too. If they lose, they'll be pushed to the brink.
Naturally, they want to win as well.
Tonight is going to be a battle where both teams leave everything on the floor. And... it's going to be a defensive slugfest. With efficiency this low, it'll be hard for either side to pull away."
"Exactly."
The two commentators sighed with emotion.
On the court, the brief break between quarters ended.
The second quarter began with the bench rotations. Both teams went with full bench units, which made it obvious that the first quarter had taken too much out of the starters.
They had no choice but to rest.
Odom's scoring and playmaking fully showed why people called him a left-handed Magic Johnson.
During the stretch when he led the unit, the Lakers went up by 5 points.
The Lakers' bench was far stronger than the Suns' bench, so that lead was nothing surprising. It was still within a manageable range.
However, just four minutes into the quarter, Kobe became the first starter to return, and the Suns immediately sent Blake back in to contain him.
That triggered a chain reaction.
Within a single minute, the starters from both teams returned one after another, and the second round between the starting units arrived early.
"Blake is one-on-one against Kobe. Is he going to post him up? No... a double crossover in front, and he shakes Kobe loose by half a step.
He rises straight up.
Bang!
A jumper right over Kobe, and it drops in cleanly.
Compared to Gay's 'unblockable shot,' this is even more unreasonable, an 'upgraded unblockable shot.' Blake, the 'Human Mismatch,' is just automatic from mid-range.
There's no answer for that!"
"Kobe goes one-on-one against Blake as well. A crossover in front, then he accelerates down the right wing. Blake covers ground with long strides and stays with him.
The two bodies collide.
Kobe... Kobe turns his back to Blake, uses the contact to half-spin, gives a few shoulder fakes, reads the defense from the corner of his eye, then suddenly turns around.
He creates space from Blake and releases a fadeaway jumper.
Blake turns and jumps to contest it. He got so high, and those arms are so long. Is this going to be blocked? Wow, Kobe leans way back and still gets the shot off.
That fadeaway was incredibly difficult.
Does it go?!
Bang!
It's good too. That picture-perfect fadeaway is a thing of beauty!"
"George is guarding Kobe in the low post. Kobe goes between the legs, accelerates, powers through George, protects the ball, and goes up for the layup like he's carrying explosives into the paint.
Wow.
George got up so high.
This time Kobe's layup was bothered, and it misses."
"Artest is glaring at Blake with that fierce look on his face. Blake gives him a shot fake, accelerates, and cuts into the paint like lightning.
He gathers and takes off.
Is he going to dunk?!
Artest pounces like a starving tiger. The two collide in midair, and Bynum is also there with help defense underneath?
Is Blake about to get blocked?!
Wow.
A midair switch, double-clutch, and the layup goes in.
That wingspan is ridiculous. That body control is ridiculous. Artest, a defensive stopper, had already done a great job defensively, but unfortunately, his opponent was Blake.
There was nothing he could do."
"Pau Gasol facilitates for Kobe at the high post. Kobe uses it to curl away from Blake and accelerate toward the rim, running into Curry and George.
Double team.
What will Kobe do? Force it, or... Kobe makes a very decisive pass back to Pau Gasol at the free-throw line.
Pau Gasol takes the mid-range jumper.
Good.
No wonder he's the Lakers' second option. Other than himself, he's the finisher Kobe trusts most."
"Nash hands the ball to Blake at the top of the arc. Artest and Kobe immediately rush up to trap him, but Blake doesn't pass.
Is he going to force his way through both of them?
Wow, he really is forcing it. Blake is playing with real force here. Is he trying to break the Lakers' confidence with his own tough offense?
No.
He passes.
After drawing enough defensive attention, Blake sends it back to Nash, who swings it to Curry in the left corner. Curry is completely open.
Curry was already set and waiting. He catches, loads up, and fires the three!
Bang!
Nothing but net.
Curry is the Suns' second option, and his three-point shooting is excellent too. If you let him shoot as comfortably as he does in practice, you're going to pay for it."
"Kobe has the ball at the top of the arc. He lowers his center of gravity, drives to the left low post, and turns into a back-down against George. Curry comes over from the wing to pressure him with a double team.
Kobe isn't afraid to attack.
He drives into the lane, facing Frye, George, and Curry all at once. He forces his way up as if going for the layup, then slips the ball through the crowd to Bynum on the other side.
Bynum catches it and springs straight up.
Boom!
A two-handed slam.
Bynum is extremely aggressive around the basket. He's one of Kobe's best helpers in the paint."
"The Suns counter. Nash looks for Blake while moving. It's only a fake. Instead, he accelerates all the way to the basket himself. A hop step. Is he going for the floater?
No.
It looks like a layup, but it's actually a no-look pass behind his head.
He somehow slips the ball to Frye at the right side of the arc. Frye catches it and sees nothing but open space in front of him.
Why not take the three?
Bang!
Splash.
The three goes in.
Frye is a power forward, and he can even play center, yet he's out there shooting threes? That's right. Frye is a big man with three-point range.
It's just that his teammates are such strong three-point shooters that his own shooting gets overlooked."
"..."
Jeff Van Gundy spoke at a blistering pace, his commentary full of energy.
And under his animated call, the second quarter came to an end. At halftime, the Suns entered the break with a slim 2-point lead.
At the commentary table, Mike Breen sighed. "Fantastic. This game is truly fantastic. This is an extremely important game for both teams, one they both have to win.
Because of that, it has brought out both teams' potential.
It isn't just Blake and Kobe doing everything they can to lead their teams. Every player is doing his job and bringing out the strongest part of his game.
They're pushing it to the limit.
That's what has made this matchup so incredibly tight."
Exactly.
Just as Mike Breen had said, everyone on both teams, from the starters to the bench, was doing his job. That turned this fierce battle into a tight contest from start to finish.
...
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