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Why the Los Angeles Lakers would easily handle the Suns in round 1

By Jason Reed

LOS ANGELES, CA - MAY 09: Mikal Bridges #25 of the Phoenix Suns shoots againsst Kentavious Caldwell-Pope #1 and Talen Horton-Tucker #5 of the Los Angeles Lakers during the first half at Staples Center on May 9, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - MAY 09: Mikal Bridges #25 of the Phoenix Suns shoots againsst Kentavious Caldwell-Pope #1 and Talen Horton-Tucker #5 of the Los Angeles Lakers during the first half at Staples Center on May 9, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers
(Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers /

1. The Phoenix Suns cannot handle the Los Angeles Lakers’ size

Playoff series are all about matchups and the Los Angeles Lakers match up nicely against the Phoenix Suns. While Phoenix definitely deserves credit for how quick they turned it around, the team does not match up sizewise with a healthy Lakers team.

Deandre Ayton is really the team’s only option with real size and it is hard to see him having much success if at any against Anthony Davis. Not only can Davis explot him, but Andre Drummond can go toe-to-toe on the glass and help get Ayton in foul trouble as well.

There is not much size-wise to get excited about outside of Ayton and that is a big problem for the Suns. With LeBron James, Davis, Drummond, Montrezl Harrell and even a resurgent Marc Gasol, the Lakers are going to do whatever they want near the rim.

And as we saw last season, the Lakers are a team that can be very successful when they get what they want at the rim.

The Lakers are also geared to stop the backcourt duo of Chris Paul and Devin Booker. While those two will obviously still produce, the Lakers have good perimeter defense that will keep teams from heating up from beyond the arc, and in this case, closing the gap that is created because of the size disparity.

Just ask yourself this: who is going to guard LeBron James? Jae Crowder? Good luck with that working and then who is going to guard Anthony Davis? If you put Ayton on him who is going to guard Drummond, Mikal Bridges?

It is a problem for Phoenix.

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