The Lakers got back in their series at the Staples Center in large part to who else but their only real player (kidding) Kobe Bryant. He scored 45 in his team’s Game 3 95-89 victory over the Suns to cut Phoenix’ series lead to 2-1 with a crucial Game Four this weekend.

So, how did a game which started out so well for the Suns in which they scored the first 11 and led by 31-17 after one quarter go so wrong?

The answer is simple: Kobe! Sure, I admit it. I love to criticize the star at every turn because there’s never been a shot he didn’t like. But without him, the Lakers would be a lottery team and an utter laughingstock.

When on, he is just deadly. The good news for the Lakers is that he got his shots more in the flow of the game and didn’t jack up as many poor attempts. Not only was he 15-of-26 from the field making two-of-three from three but he also sank all 13 of his free throws and distributed the ball (six dimes) and rebounded (six boards).

This was a great effort by a superstar capable of carrying his team to a big ‘W.’ But he also got support from Lamar Odom with a double double (18 and 16 plus six offensive) and Kwame Brown, who decided to dust off his sneakers and actually play a little in finishing with a playoff career best 19 inside on 8-of-14 shooting.

The Lakers’ decision to go inside to Odom and Brown on the low post worked as each made the Suns D work and were able to get easy baskets. Credit Phil Jackson for this smart adjustment.

Aside from that, if you thought Kobe’s effort was brilliant, his teammates were equally inspired on the defensive end. After playing matador D in the first quarter continuing a disturbing trend from Game Two’s blowout in the desert, they collectively got out and defended the Suns slowing them down. They forced Phoenix into some contested perimeter shots and boxed out to outboard their opponents 44-35.

Despite struggling offensively, this game was tied late thanks to super sixth man Leandro Barbosa’s trey but the Lakers made the plays in the final minute-plus to earn this hard fought win. Bryant put the finishing touches on it with a routine left baseline fadeaway from 17 to get his desperate team back in the series.

They’ll still have their work cut out for them as NBA history points to. Only 11 of 193 (5.7 percent) teams in league history have rallied from an 0-2 deficit to win a best-of-seven series. 

For Phoenix, Barbosa came off the bench for 20 including five treys. Nash handed out 13 assists and 10 points but forced a few plays in the final quarter leading to a team high five turnovers. Amare Stoudemire finished with a double double (24 and 10) on an array of powerful dunks. But his easy buckets decreased in the second half which was a big reason LA prevailed. The Suns also got a lackluster performance from Shawn Marion, who had only 10 points on 4-of-12 shooting. He also didn’t rebound the ball getting just an uncharacteristic four.

Final thought: Free throws!

Suns as a team- 8-for-12

Kobe Bryant- 13-of-13

Lakers overall- 22-for-28

Nothing else really needs to be said!

In the other two Game Three’s, Detroit made it three straight over the Magic by posting a routine 16-point victory (93-77) in the Sunshine state.

The minute this series was announced, it was a mismatch from the beginning. The Pistons just have too much championship experience. Their five starters continued to perform well with all five getting double digits- paced by the always overlooked Tayshaun Prince’s 23 on an efficient 8-of-16. The ex-Kentucky star also was 3-for-5 from downtown and 4-of-4 from the charity stripe.

Did we also mention he added seven boards, five assists and three steals? There’s nothing this versatile small forward can’t do. He just gets better and better all the time. Most consistent Piston night in and night out. And also the youngest (27) starter left.

Chris Webber (15 and 7) has fit in well.

For the Magic, ex-St. Joe’s standout Jameer Nelson was oustanding in finishing with 27 points on 10-of-19 from the floor including three-of-five from three and making all four free throws. He also added four assists.

To think a few years ago he feel to 20th overall. What were those other GMs thinking? This guy just continues to get better and better. I hope that wasn’t the same draft that Portland took Sebastien Telfair, who now might never see another NBA uniform with his idiotic off the court antics. The former Lincoln star has embarrassed himself with his gun possession charges getting himself released from the Celtics a few days ago. The Coney Island kid needs to wake up and stop hanging with the wrong crowd before it costs him more than his NBA career!

Meanwhile in Salt Lake City, the Jazz got back in their series by defeating the Rockets 81-67 in Game Three to cut that series to 2-1.

How dreadful were the Rockets in the second half? They were held to a combined 25 points in the final two quarters. Is that even possible?!?!?!?!?! Please don’t answer it.

It’s just sad to think that their two stars Yao Ming (26 and 14) and Tracy McGrady (24) could combine for 50 of their team’s points and only get 17 from their supporting cast. And even more alarming was that those 17 came from two other starters in Shane Battier (11) and Rafer Alston (6)- meaning no other Rockets got into the scoring column! Are you kidding? You can’t win games that way.

And so the 67 points and the loss is what they got allowing the Jazz to make Game Four on Saturday night huge.

Meanwhile, the Jazz got another big game from Carlos Boozer, who finished with 22 (10-of-18 FG), 12 boards and four assists. The former Duke star is his team’s best player and will need to continue to carry them to have a chance in this one.

They also got 11 points, seven boards and eight dimes from second-year point guard Deron Williams. And unlike the Rockets who got zero bench support, Jerry Sloan’s Jazz got plenty from Matt Harpring (13), Gordan Giricek (10) and Paul Millsap (9 on 4-of-4 FG).  They combined to outscore Houston’s bench 33-0.

And as McGrady pointed out during the postgame aired on TNT, that can’t happen.

Aside from that, he and Ming combined to turn the ball over 13 times. The Rockets finished with 19 miscues compared to their opponents’ 11.

Big difference there.

We’ll end this with an observation about TNT’s postgame show featuring Ernie Johnson, Charles Barkley, Kenny Smith and guest Sam Cassell:

These guys are the best at what they do. They have fun with breaking down games. The fishing photos are great. You should’ve seen the Knicks one a few days ago, which even included recently fired Don Imus in the background. Classic stuff!

The other night, Barkley lost in a contest choosing the wrong curtain during EJ’s Stat of the Night segment. His reward was a kid’s tricycle instead of a motorcycle. They even somehow computerized an image of the Mouth that always roars on it.

The computerized image of Donald Trump next to Smith tonight was great.
They are also good at breaking down games. But there’s always fun to be had at the expense of someone which is great. This is how a studio show should be!

A must watch in our book.