This Friday night two Western Conference playoff teams will square off in the desert when the Los Angeles Lakers travel to Phoenix to take on the Suns.

Los Angeles Lakers (47-18, 1st in Western Conference) @ Phoenix Suns (40-25, t-5th in Western Conference)

NBA Odds: (*note lines are approximate as they have not been posted at the time of writing)

Spread: Lakers -2
Over/Under: 216.5
Money Line: Lakers -145, Suns +120

Key Matchups

Bronze Medal: Lakers big men vs. Suns big men

• The Lakers boast one of the biggest lineups in basketball starting two seven footers at the same time in Gasol and Bynum, a 6’10” forward in Odom, a 6’9 forward in Ron Artest and Kobe is around 6’5”-6’6”. The Lakers height and the skill of the group are unmatched in the NBA. Phoenix however has a markedly improved defensive center in Robin Lopez who played his way into the starting lineup this year, his second out of Stanford. Lopez and All-Star Amare Stoudamire provide offense and defense in the post for the high scoring Suns. The Lakers will have an advantage due to their height at the small forward position with either Artest or Odom against the like of Grant Hill and Jared Dudley.
Advantage: Lakers

Silver Medal: Steve Nash vs. Derek Fisher/Jordan Farmar

• How long can Nash keep producing at this level? The 36 year old Nash has numbers similar to those when he won back to back MVP awards and is averaging 17 points, 11.2 assists and 3.3 rebounds a game. Defensively, Nash has been showing his age. He is unable to defend the more athletic point guards in the league and has been beaten by them repeatedly over the course of the season. Farmar and Fisher however are backups platooning as a starting point guard and will not be able to take advantage of Nash’s defensive short comings while Nash will school them all day on the offensive end.
Advantage: Suns

Gold Medal: Kobe Bryant vs. Jason Richardson, Leandro Barbosa

• The Suns will get back former sixth man of the year, Leandro Barbosa from wrist surgery. Barbosa is a lightning quick combo guard that can put up points in a hurry. This season he was struggling but the hand injury was likely the culprit. Jason Richardson has been very strong in his last nine games averaging 20 points a contest.
• Kobe Bryant is one of the best players who has ever lived and the Lakers have far too many options on the roster that if Kobe is doubled, they can turn to. There will be little opposition for Kobe in this game as the pace will be fast and transitional play being key. Kobe will have a big game.
Advantage: Lakers

Prediction:

• In a game that should feature fast breaks galore, look for the Suns and Lakers to come down to the wire Friday night. The Lakers have Kobe Bryant who is a mismatch for just about everyone.
• Final: Lakers 117 - Suns 113.
• So before you bet on march madness, take the Lakers and the over.