Can the Lakers Keep It Up?

   Steve Nash returns to the desert tonight as the Lakers face the Suns in a couple hours. Since Kobe modified his game, the Lakers are 3-0. Expect that to continue tonight.
   The Suns are, well, not good. They're a .500 team at home and a miserable team away. And while the Lakers only have five wins on the road, things are different now.
   Phoenix is a good matchup for the Lakers, with a finesse frontcourt and lacking a go-to scorer, this looks to be an easy win on paper for the Lake Show. The Suns are a sub-par team in most offensive categories, but they won't beat themselves (unless Michael Beasley throws up 15+ shots, a true possibility). But if you're the Lakers, what do you look for as a indication that you can get easy road wins? Here's three things.
   1. Dominant Dwight: It's no secret that bench players are less efficient on the road, so Howard needs to do his job. Look for Dwight to be smart defensively, moving his feet and not picking up bad fouls early. The rebounds should come as much of the Suns game is played 8+ feet from the basket.
   2. Gasol Involved: Pau has been better of late, it helps that Kobe's been giving him the ball. But it's more than scoring. He's playing in more familiar areas of the court. He's finding open shooters. He's working well with Howard and Earl Clark. Look for him to play well against similar players in Luis Scola and Marcin Gortat.
   3. Clark Continues His Run
       Is Earl Clark emerging as a near-essential Laker? Sure looks that way. He can thank his leader for that. With Kobe passing, he's realizing that he has four other teammates. Clark is finding all the good space that's available when you're on a team with Dwight Howard, and he's being rewarded. D'Antoni will want him for rebounding and size, but when Clark his scoring, that's all gravy for L.A.
   So Laker fans, the Grammy trip starts tonight and realistically, they should go 5-2 or better. But you have to win this one tonight. A happy Steve Nash reunion will mean the Lakers are 4-0...and still under .500.

Check back after the games for a complete breakdown on the Rudy Gay deal.