In Episode 30 of the Valley of the Suns Podcast, guest Trevor Lane provides some outsider perspective on the Phoenix Suns vs. Los Angeles Lakers playoff matchup.
Welcome back to a special playoff edition of the Valley of the Suns Podcast, Valley Boyz and Girlz!
In Episode 30, host Gerald Bourguet is joined by Lakers Nation writer and podcast host Trevor Lane to discuss the Phoenix Suns’ upcoming first-round playoff series against the Los Angeles Lakers.
Sun Tzu once wrote: “To know your enemy, you must become your enemy.” In that spirit, Lane provided some expert perspective on the Lakers’ side of things heading into this renewed rivalry. The two discuss their general thoughts on the matchup and the importance of taking Game 1 for Phoenix before diving into the potential advantages and disadvantages for both contenders.
Another topic that comes up is the Andre Drummond factor. The Lakers figure to start him against the Suns in Game 1, but will he punish their smaller lineup on the glass, or will he be a defensive liability that gets played off the court? This is a potential swing factor in the series, since the Lakers’ cheat code is playing Anthony Davis at the 5.
Finally, the two make their series predictions for this brutal first-round matchup. Will the defending NBA champions ride LeBron James, AD and their superior playoff experience to victory? Or will the excellent Suns squad seize their moment against a banged up Lakers team to pull off the only “upset” a 2-seed has ever experienced in the first round?
Suns fans can check out the podcast or the YouTube video below
Here’s the breakdown for Episode 30:
- General thoughts on Suns-Lakers matchup (1:35)
- Lakers’ advantages (6:40)
- The Andre Drummond factor (11:40)
- Suns’ advantages (17:30)
- Series predictions (24:00)
Thanks for listening! Please make sure to subscribe on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, and write us a five-star review if you haven’t yet! If you’d prefer to watch this episode, be sure to check out our YouTube channel.
Also, if you want to have some Lakers insight during this rivalry series, be sure to follow Trevor Lane on Twitter and check out his work for Lakers Nation!