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Suns-Lakers Game 2 Preview Longley must step up against Shaq if Phoenix is to rise
Posted: Wednesday May 10, 2000 02:01 PM
First-year head coach Scott Skiles isn't letting on what his troops might do tonight to try and slow down Shaquille O'Neal. "What we do about Shaq will unfold when they ball goes up," Skiles said Tuesday. The consensus is that Luc Longley must remain on the floor, and be a factor on both ends. Longly can't stop Shaq one-on-one, but the Suns seem to think that they can hang with the Lakers on the scoreboard if the big Aussie gets it going on the offensive end. Ideally Longley would be able to draw Shaq outside and make him defend the mid-range jumper which he can hit. If Shaq's not bunkered in the paint, things open up for guys like Penny Hardaway to slash to the hole. The key is Longley's ability to hit that shot, and make O'Neal respect it enough to come out. Longley played just 17 minutes in the opener, picked up three fouls, turned the ball over four times and scored just four points. Obviously that's not gonna cut it against the best team in basketball. Not that Luc's the only key. Cliff Robinson hit just 4-of-11 in Game 1, and the NBA's top sixth man, Rodney Rogers, 3-of-13. The timing couldn't be worse for the Suns. The Lakers at home a day after Shaq claims the MVP award in a near unanimous vote. Here's hoping for the Suns' sake that he's not visualizing Fred Hickman in his way as he operates tonight.
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