Kobe Bryant's Near Triple Double Can't Save the L.A. Lakers From Themselves

Kobe Bryant was definitely prepared to face the Phoenix Suns in Game Three of the Western Conference Finals, but his near triple double was not enough to offset the Los Angeles Lakers' glaring flaws in other areas of the game.

On most evenings a 36-point, 11-assist, nine-rebound effort from Bryant would be enough to clinch a victory—but the Lakers were facing a desperate Phoenix Suns team who employed the most basic strategies to climb back into the series.

The Suns had success using the pick and roll offense in the first two games of the series, but on Sunday night they were the beneficiaries of a fully engaged Amar'e Stoudemire who dominated the paint.

Stoudemire, who has been the object of relentless criticism for his lackluster play, responded with a 42-point, 11-rebound performance, which erased all the memories from the first two games.

Phoenix may have the NBA's best two man scheme in point guard Steve Nash and Stoudemire, and on this night the Lakers had no answer for Nash's "pocket passes" to Stoudemire after he rolled to the basket.

Los Angeles has long been troubled by the pick and roll, but they have never looked as helpless as they did on Sunday, with Pau Gasol, Lamar Odom, and Andrew Bynum providing Suns-like resistance in their defensive efforts.

I'm sure Phoenix fans will take that as a slight, but the Suns actually did perform a little better on the defensive end, although it was due in large part to the decision to employ a zone defense.

Under most circumstances, the Lakers would prey on a zone defense by forcing the ball into the post to their larger players, but in this game they fell victim to the normal response to the gimmick defense.

Los Angeles lofted 32 three pointers and only connected on nine, as they attempted to prove their long distance artistry from the first two games was no mistake.

It was a critical mistake, because the only way the Suns can win in this series is by slowing down the post players, and with Bryant shooting an efficient 13-24 from the field, the stage was set for the Lakers to steal Game Three.

Gasol had an even better field goal percentage than Bryant going 11-14 from the field with 23 points, and his efficient performance made the Lakers decision to become a perimeter team more puzzling.

The Lakers still managed to shoot 48 percent from the field as a team, but that's a far cry from the 58 percent they were shooting at home, and in a series that they have dominated in the paint, the Lakers could only outscore Phoenix by four in this game.

Robin Lopez teamed with Stoudemire to score a combined 62 points in the paint, and if they can muster that type of performance each evening, the Suns will remain competitive.

Nash still seemed a little tentative in finding his offense, but he did score 17 points, and dished out a game-high 17 assists, mostly to the cutting Stoudemire and Lopez.

But the stage was set for the Lakers to spirit this win away, and instead they fell under the sway of a long distance spell, rather than trusting what had gotten them this far.

Bryant definitely can't be blamed, because he approached this situation like he has done on so many other occasions, fully cognizant of what this victory could have meant to his team.

Gasol decided to follow Bryant's lead, and most evenings the pair combine for 59 points one could usually conclude the Lakers would end the game with their arms raised in victory.

But the Lakers' supporting cast, besides Derek Fisher who scored 18 points, were undone by the road, and the Suns mustered the will to find life in the series.

If Phoenix decides to employ the zone defense in Game Four, I have no doubt the Lakers will be prepared for it, but as a way to swing momentum, it proved to be a master strategy.

Nash said in his post game interview that the zone was employed mostly out of desperation, but it looked like the Lakers were the desperate ones, judging by the various errant shots from the perimeter.