Phoenix Suns must start Lakers series strong

As the Phoenix Suns are set to face the Los Angeles Lakers in round one of the playoffs they are going to be in for possibly the toughest challenge a two seed has ever faced in the first round. That is why, because of a few distinct advantages, the Suns must have a strong two games at home to begin the series.

In a seven-game series, it might sound silly to say that the first two games are very important. But the Phoenix Suns are facing a situation that no team ever has, where the first two games could determine everything.

Obviously, the Lakers are the Suns opponent in the first round, but that is only because you can’t say they are facing LeBron James, whose presence still seems to loom larger than the league itself. Recently some might say that LeBron eases his way into the playoffs, and that winning the first game in the opening round might not matter. After all, he is 0-2 in the first game of his past two appearances.

Over the course of his career, though, that has not been the case, as the record swings to 12-2. He went on to win every series, so take it how you will, but what that does show is LeBron does not waste time in the playoffs, which he shouldn’t in order to stay healthy.

This year the Phoenix Suns might be in a favorable position to make LeBron sweat early on in the first round, and maybe translate that into a series victory. This will be the first time a LeBron James-led team has played its first playoff game on the road. With fans and no travel, the Suns should be at an obvious advantage from that perspective to start the series.

Where the Suns advantage gets interesting has to do with preparation. In a normal playoff series, each team would have the same time to prepare for the other team to begin a first-round series. With the Lakers in a play in game, the Suns had nearly three full days where the Lakers were more focused on the Warriors than for Phoenix.

While the Suns were also preparing to face Golden State in the first round, I would be hard-pressed to believe that a majority of the attention was going toward the team in purple and gold. If that is the case, from a tactical advantage the Suns should have the edge the first time the two teams will face off. That advantage will fade quickly after the two meet on the court, which is why attacking early is key.

In the playoffs, coaching and schemes are more important than ever. Everybody knows more than ever about the team they are facing. So if the Suns have an advantage in those areas, along with playing at home, the first two games become even more important.