Round 1, Game 6: Suns at Lakers GAME THREAD

[KobeMVP888]

(3-2) SUNS AT LAKERS (2-3)

Thursday, June 3, 2021, 7:30 PM PDT
Staples Center - Los Angeles, California

Referees: David Guthrie (#16), Ben Taylor (#46), Tom Washington (#49), Kevin Cutler (#34)

Replay Center: Brent Barnaky

Line: Lakers -2.0
O/U: 207.0

National TV: TNT
Local TV: Spectrum SportsNet



GAME PREVIEW: SUNS AT LAKERS: It's time to walk the walk

by Christian Rivas, @RadRivas, silverscreenandroll.com

Anthony Davis wants to play in Game 6, and it’s safe to assume the Los Angeles Lakers would be happy to have him for what will be their first elimination game since 2013. But LeBron James doesn’t want to think about whether or not Davis is going to play on Thursday; he only wants to think about his opponent, the Phoenix Suns.

“My mindset is that he’s not going to be able to play in Game 6,” James said after the Lakers’ 30-point loss on Thursday. “That’s my mindset, I have to go in with that ... My mindset is as if AD won’t be in the game in Game 6, and if something changes then we’ll go from there, but I’m preparing as if he’s not.”

The problem is that James had that same mentality before Game 5 and the Lakers still lost by 30 points. He and his teammates knew that they’d have to step up with Davis out; they said they were prepared for that challenge; and the Suns thoroughly outplayed them for four quarters.

The truth is that nothing the Lakers say before Game 6 should matter to anyone after the way they played on Tuesday. It also doesn’t matter what LeBron James has done in elimination games up to this point.

It’s simple: the Lakers either play with a sense of desperation in Game 6 or they don’t; they either make their shots or they don’t; they either win the game or they don’t. The time for talking is over.

Notes and Updates

- Anthony Davis (left groin strain) and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (left knee contusion) are questionable for Game 6.

- Davis wants to play on Thursday but he’s yet to be medically cleared by team doctors to resume basketball activities.

https://www.silverscreenandroll.com/202 ... ury-report

[3Peatkb24]

I just want to say no matter what happens tonight it has been an entertaining season. The last 2 seasons (2020, 2021- this one) were so much of a blessing compared to the 2014-2019 seasons where we were a train wreck for 6 straight seasons. I have been a Laker fan longer than a lot of people since the 1977 season when I first started watching basketball. I was 5 years old going on 6 and it was seeing Kareem on TV that drew me in. I remember asking my dad who is that tall guy shooting weirdly (the Sky Hook), my dad said that is Kareem Abdul-Jabbar he plays for the Lakers. The Lakers were my life sports wise in my childhood through the time I graduated High School in 1989. Magic Johnson became my favorite player after the 80 Finals. They gave me 5 Championships that decade, I will always be a Laker fan first over any sport no matter what and I love the Colts and Cubs, I even root for the Pacers but my Lakers are #1.

Lets just enjoy tonight's game and remember the great times the Lakers have brought us as in 5 Championships in the Magic/Kareem/Worthy era, Kobe/Shaq era with the 3Peat, Kobe/Pau era which got us a repeat, and LeBron got us 1. I hope we win but if not it has been a hell of ride Brethren for me since 1977 - 2021 seasons. Go Lakers! No prediction tonight

[lakerevolution]

Hard to lose two at home, so we have that small advantage. Have we ever put a real team game together, where not only LeBron and AD get theirs but the rest of our starters/bench actually show up and contribute? I can't remember the last time that's happened this year, when we were healthy (even if we were missing one of our two stars). The games we won without either were too few and far between and though we have more than enough talent, whatever Vogel's doing has clearly not been working. I pray we see a focused and strong showing from our guys tonight - the Suns smell blood in the water and their franchise history is full of disappointing losses to the Lakers. Best man wins.

[Julius Russell]

Lakers in 7

[3Peatkb24]

Suns are 10-13 from 3 through the 1st Qtr, that is insane shooting They would beat the Dream Team of 92 doing that. We are in a 36-14 hole after the 1st. Still a long way to go but if they keep shooting like that it is over.

[3Peatkb24]

Suns are 10-13 from 3 through the 1st Qtr, that is insane shooting They would beat the Dream Team of 92 doing that. We are in a 36-14 hole after the 1st. Still a long way to go but if they keep shooting like that it is over.

Down 62-41 at Half, without AD we look bad. No other way to put it. We have to cut this lead to at least 10 by the end of the 3rd to have a chance IMO.

[lakerevolution]

Can't win 'em all. Lakers haters will further *asterisk last season based on this one, but the banner don't lie. Thanks to the entire Laker family, franchise and organization for doing its best to give us championship aspirations.

This entire season has felt like a

as we begged our Lakers to

while weathering injury after injury.

The offseason begins tonight, as LeBron, Vogel and Jeannie have a lot of thinking to do about the immediate future of the greatest franchise in sports.

We will always have decades of memories to cherish and reminisce on

[3Peatkb24]

I really don't think a shortened season lessens the value of a Championship. We still played basically a 72 game season in 2020 and had to win 16 games to win a Championship. Everyone was on the same level of playing field, in a bubble with no homecourt. Only haters would put an * by last years Championship. If people want to put an * next to shortened seasons than I guess when the Spurs won it all in 1999 that should have an * by it as that was just a 50 game season. In 2012 the Heat won it all and that was just a 66 game season. How about this year? It was just a 72 game season like last year, whoever wins it this year, does it deserve an *? NO. Unless cheating is proven in a season after a Championship has been won that is the only way an * should be involved - Astros in 2017 for example.

Anyway as TrueFan1947 Sam used to say, health is everything and he was right again because with AD being injured and LeBron not at 100% it was evident. It has still been a good season, we made the playoffs and at least won a couple of games banged up vs a very good Suns team. The 12th season (2010-2021) chatting with guys like Rev, Kenny, Craig, and Jesus has concluded and next season will be interesting to see what moves the Lakers make.

[Lakers4Life]

Asterick? If the 99 spurs and the whole 60's Celtics don't have an asterisk then they better not even mention our legit championship playing in the bubble last year.

[3Peatkb24]

Asterick? If the 99 spurs and the whole 60's Celtics don't have an asterisk then they better not even mention our legit championship playing in the bubble last year.

I agree, I could picked the haters apart on this one. The 99 Spurs only played 50 games, 2012 Heat only 66 games, and when the Celtics won Championships in 1957, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, and 1965 they only had to win 2 series to win a Championship (2 series). If people want to put an * by the Lakers Championship in 2020 then they have to be consistent and put an * by the other Championships won by those other teams I just mentioned.