Suns blowout Lakers in Game 5, Bell & Bryant Ejected Late
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Game 5 between the Suns and Lakers was just about as intense as you can get.
Both Raja Bell from Phoenix and Kobe Bryant for the Lakers were ejected from the game. Bell was ejected after clotheslining Bryant on the baseline late in the game, and Bryant was ejected with just a few minutes remaining in the game. With the game out of hand down the stretch, Phoenix took out Nash and a few other players as a precaution to make sure they weren't involved in anything that would affect them down the road.
Boris Diaw, who received his Most Improved Player award before the game, did not disappoint. Diaw was one assist away from a triple-double and helped lead the Suns to the Game 5 win. His energy and hustle were a big part in the win. Shawn Marion on Steve Nash also played solid games and they were able to minimize the efforts of the Lakers' squad, aside from Kobe Bryant.
Raja Bell could get a one-game suspension for the near tackle of Bryant, but based on other hard hits throughout the series (see Kwame Brown), no penalty should be given.
The series heads back to LA for Game 6 and I'm sure the Lakers will make some adjustments, including being more physical to keep the Suns from running so much. If Phoenix can simply match the Lakers level of intensity and continue to push the ball, I think they'll be fine.
Update 5/3/06
Raja Bell was suspended by the league for Game 6 of the Lakers/Suns series for the flagrant II foul he committed on Kobe Bryant in Game 5. I still think Kwame Brown should have gotten a suspension for the hits he laid out in the first two games of the series, but the league has to set an example if you attack their star player(s). It remains to be seen if Reggie Evans from Denver will be suspended for grabbing & yanking on Chris Kaman's nuts during Game 5 of their series.