Kobe Bryant did everything he could to help the Los Angeles Lakers win tonight and dropped a series and playoff high of.  His teammates, Smush Parker especially, did not rise to the occasion and play well enough to eliminate the Phoenix Suns at home.

The same player I praised a few days ago for manhandling Steve Nash on offense has gone into a serious cold slump.  While most would say this is expected from a player no one had even heard of before this season, I didn't see it coming, at least not in this series.  The struggles of Smush Parker are not because of the defense Phoenix is playing, so it has to be mental.  If Parker is not able to get it going by the start of game seven it will be next to impossible to beat the Suns. Smush and the rest of his teammates have to play the best game of their lives on Saturday night. 

Kobe Bryant will no doubt be ready to put on a show, and if his teammates can step it up they will be headed home......to play the Clippers.