Kidd Doesn't Attack, Kobe Can't Hit

"All right! We need to figure out how to deal with the Suns now." After the Lakers' routine practice, Harris gathered the players together.

This season, the Lakers had focused their playoff preparations on only three opponents—the Hornets, Spurs, and Rockets.

They were universally recognized within the Lakers organization as the biggest threats.

There was no need to spend too much energy studying the other teams.

Now that the first round of the playoffs was imminent, making tactical arrangements for the Suns and becoming familiar with them had become a necessary task.

The playoffs were completely different from the regular season!

During the regular season, everyone ran conventional schemes. In the playoffs, it became a battle of targeted tactics!

What adjustments would the Suns make specifically for the Lakers? How would the Lakers respond? These were all issues Harris needed to discuss before the series began.

"The Suns' greatest advantage this season is the depth of their roster!"

This season, the league's top five bench units belonged to the Lakers, Suns, Hornets, Rockets, and Portland Trail Blazers!

The Suns' usual starting lineup was Kidd, Hornacek, Clifford Robinson, Ceballos, and Joe Smith!

Their bench lineup was Kevin Johnson, Rex Chapman, George McCloud, Pat Garrity, and Danny Manning!

They were one of the few teams in the league whose starters and reserves were nearly equal in strength.

Although Kevin Johnson had been moved to the bench because of his age, pairing him with his old teammates Danny Manning and Chapman still allowed him to perform at a high level.

As long as Kevin Johnson was feeling it, the Suns' bench was one of the very best!

Moreover, Danny Ainge loved alternating starters and reserves, using lineup changes to win games. Harris had no choice but to prepare in advance for the Suns'