Game 3: The Suns bench deep fries the Lakers.

Last Week, every fan blasted the Suns' matador defense in Los Angeles. They said this series was over before it started. They viewed the Suns as a second-rate team ready for the slaughter.

Tonight, I think it's safe to say that the Suns were anything but a weakling. They played a swarming defense and showed how Suns' basketball was played during the entire season and in the Spurs' series. They showed us a gritty team willing to fight, which was nonexistent during the 7 seconds or less era of Mike D'Antoni. Give credit to Alvin Gentry for a masterful job the last two games. His use of a zone defense helped stymie and bamboozle the Laker Juggernaut. Since game 2, he has been out-coaching Phil Jackson, which begs the question: Is Phil even worth $12 million a year?

In the last 2 games, the Suns have gone to the free throw line 74-33. They outrebounded the Lakers 51-36 by just purely out-hustling them and banging the boards. The Lakers free throw shooting was nonexistent in these two games as they chucked up three pointer after three pointer which played right to the Suns' hands. The Suns bench lit up the Lakers bench 54-20 in this game which explains why the Laker five were on the floor besides Bynum were on the floor for more than 30 minutes. In addition, the Suns have beaten the Lakers for the 7th consecutive time at home during the Playoffs dating back to the infamous Game 7 of the 2006 Playoffs.

The bench for the Suns were on fire and provided the spark needed to tie this series. For three games, Channing Frye was dormant as he could not find his shooting stroke. Tonight, Frye awoke with a vengeance. In the second and fourth quarters, his 3pt. shooting led the charge that eventually led to the Suns putting up big leads. His 3pt. shooting shell-shocked the Lakers and he would continue the barrage in the fourth and deciding quarter. Yet, he was not the only smoking gun on this bench.

Jared Dudley joined in the 3pt. hit parade as he knocked down 3-6 three point shots. None bigger than the one in the fourth quarter that helped spring a game deciding 9-0 run in the fourth quarter. His defense stymied Kobe in the final quarter after he lit the Suns like a Chinese firecracker in the second and third quarter.

Goran Dragic was a magician as he hypnotized the Laker guards and big men to sleep with his sneaky dribbling as well as his passing. None more exciting than when he sent Fisher to school with a dazzling dribble and crazy lay-in that brought the house down in Phoenix. It's a guarantee that it will be a you-tube sensation within hours of this post.

Lou Amundson pestered and fought for every loose ball in this game. He played with fire and energy that was nonexistent in Los Angeles just a week before. Every big play by Amundson, you could hear the fans chant Lou! bellow out like the wind rustling in the fall.

Yet, I cannot help but wonder why this bench has never gotten a nickname. They deserve one after their performance this season and in Game 4. I believe that this bench should be called Desert Swarm. The bench swarms its opponents with their energy and then routs them within a blink of an eye. This was the case with their 3pt. shooting, energetic defense and their penchant for turning close games into comfortable leads.

Robin Lopez was the energizer bunny for the Suns as he set the tone early in the game by working the trenches and keeping the Laker big men off their comfort level. He has gradually gotten better with each game in this series and as his confidence grows so do the Phoenix Suns. I guess he is the barometer for this team as he goes so goes the Suns.

Nash, Richardson, Hill and Amare played a B game as the Suns' bench picked up the slack. It meant they could relax and enjoy the bench put on a clinic of how a bench should play in the NBA. It was reminiscent of the Showtime Lakers when the bench would play the final quarter as the starters rested early.

As for the Lakers, the only thing that killed them was their bench and Pau Gasol disappearing in this game. The Laker bench showed their true colors in this series as they played timid in their time on the floor. It was evident in the second and fourth quarters as the Suns' bench shelled them with 3pt. basket after 3pt. basket. The entire team's defensive rotations were late or lacking which led to those back breaking three pointers in the first place.

Pau Gasol played like a marshmallow and was helpless throughout. In fact, the Suns big men mugged and robbed Gasol for every rebound throughout the game. They denied Gasol position in the post and made him work for every basket, which was nonexistent in the two games in Los Angeles.

Andrew Bynum played effective in some stretches. Yet, he was no match for the Suns' speed and they picked him apart with their penetration rendering him a liability. His running was labored and I cannot help but wonder if his knees can hold any longer as the series wears on.

Lamar Odom played a better game after being invisible in Game 3. Unfortunately, he was a one-man army for the Laker bench fending off the Desert Swarm. Jordan Farmar and Shannon Brown were nowhere to be found. The only evidence of their existence was in the box score. They need to pick it up or they will be looking for another job next season.

Kobe Bryant was brilliant but like the 2006 and 2007 playoffs his efforts were for naught. He lit the Suns' in the 2nd and 3rd Quarter with a determination that the Lakers would not lose this game. He made 3pt. shot after 3pt. shot and brought the Lakers back from the brink in the 3rd Quarter. Unfortunately, he was never heard from again in the fourth quarter as the Suns' made the entire Laker team besides Kobe beat them.

The Lakers must hit the drawing board as a pivotal game 5 awaits them in Los Angeles in less than 48 hours. They must play with the precision of a surgeon to combat the zone defense, making the Suns' pay for doubling Gasol and finding a way to do the things that got them the 2-0 lead in Los Angeles. We shall see if the Lakers still have the heart of the champion or if they are a scarecrow with all straw and no heart.