Los Angeles Lakers: 4 Lessons in series tying win over the Phoenix Suns

The Los Angeles Lakers needed to win Game 2 after a listless Sunday loss capped by a subpar performance by superstars LeBron James and Anthony Davis. In the last six minutes, these two reminded everyone how two of the top five players in the NBA close out games to even the series!

Lake Show Life breaks down what else happened in Lake Show Life Lessons! The only Los Angeles Lakers extended post-game report with in-depth analysis and highlights.

Game 2 was one of those games that would expose fans that did not watch the game, but looked at the box scores and highlights. The final score did not reflect how hard this game was played and how evenly matched the level of play was.

Coming out of halftime. it looked like the Los Angeles Lakers had the Phoenix Suns on the ropes. LeBron James knocked down a 3 pointer to spark a 10-1 run, opening up a 63-48 lead opening the floodgates to a perceived Lake Show blowout.

Then…the possibility of a 2-0 series deficit became a serious storyline.

• Cam Johnson knocked down back to back 3 pointers (Including one to beat the buzzer!) to shrink the Lakers’ lead to 79-72 after three quarters.
• Alex Caruso fouled Jae Crowder in the left corner giving up a four-point play. Why Caruso didn’t let the man shoot is a mystery. Crowder missed 11 straight to that point.
• Cameron Payne hit a huge 3 pointer to force a Lakers timeout.
• Then Deandre Ayton skied for a tip dunk of an offensive rebound to give Phoenix’s first lead since the first quarter. 

It was at this point the Lakers showed their two reasons why they are favored to win this series. First reason is LeBron James and the second one is Anthony Davis.

LeBron and AD put on a Master Class on how to turn it on in an NBA Playoff game and led the Lakers to a 109-102 win to gain the important split on the road and even the series.

Charles Barkley is one of the most polarizing figures to Lake Show Life (He’s this writer’s favorite NBA analyst!) and the Lakers fanbase (Swears he’s a hater!). But to be honest, Barkley basically told everyone the outcome before the game even started with his infamous “GUARANTEES” with some new TNT flavor with the red and blue lights. Things were a little different about two and half hours later.

Barkley is right. This series is perilously close to being over already. Chris Paul is injured. The Suns are calling CP3’s injury a shoulder contusion. Don’t be surprised if it’s closer to a separated shoulder. He played 23 minutes, scoring 6 points with 5 assists and 3 rebounds. Monty Williams pulled him after only four minutes in the second half. He discussed his decision after the game via ESPN.

"“I took him out,” Williams said. “That was all me looking at him hold his arm the way he was holding it, I just couldn’t watch him run like that. He was trying to make plays, he battled, he is a warrior. We all know that.”"

The Phoenix Suns will not challenge the Los Angeles Lakers without their franchise point guard and if you are a true basketball fan, you should be very disappointed. This game was supposed to be a Suns team led by Chris Paul against a Lakers team led LeBron James. The injury robbed a potentially highly intelligent and skilled series.

Fun fact: The Los Angeles Lakers basically beat the Suns with four players. LeBron, AD, Drummond and Schroder combined for an absurd 96 of the total 109 points.

Spoiler Alert: Lake Show Life Lessons might be talking about these players in this extended report.

To the new Los Angeles Lakers fans that are checking us out for the first time, welcome to Lake Show Life Lessons. Our extended post-game report with video analysis will cover the progress for the Los Angeles Lakers this entire postseason!

Over the next several pages we will provide highlights of certain players and coaches. Afterward, the comment section is loaded with knowledgeable fans adding their basketball knowledge. We usually start with the stars.

Let’s get to Lesson One to find out who!