2010 Playoffs: Round 1, Game 4 - Suns At Trail Blazers Game Thread

[taz02]

I wonder if the suns haven't been looking past the blazers and holding lopez out a litle longer than needed.

I hate to say this but it seems as if we are watching the same old suns, even in the wins. We live and die by the three or at the very least our outside shooting. I hate to say this but we need lopez back....

 

[Sunburn]

Was it just me or did Amare seem timid?

 

[hsandhu]

We shouldn't have been in the position to begin with, but come on, even you should be disgusted by the refs in the 4th quarter.

They were incredibly inconsistent throughout the entire game. There was at least 2 or 3 travels that they didn't call, and a BLATANT one by Brandon Roy in the 3rd. In the 1st quarter, Rudy took a charge, which was debatable, but understandable, but the same exact thing happened on the other end and Lou was called for blocking. Terribly inconsistent and horrible officiating on both sides.

Not that it would have mattered--I liked that they kept going to Amare, but they needed to do that more--the key to the Blazers is Andre Miller and getting their big men in foul trouble. Amare tried as best he could, but nobody else was. And Jerryd Bayless is a total punk, sad to say as a UA alum. The guy misses shots badly then finally makes one and starts taunting. Nice.

I didn't see the end of the game, but here is bill simmons tweet:

"Last 8 mins of Por-Phx: classic example of crowd punking out the refs. Some atrocious calls + non-calls vs. Phx. Great job by Port crowd."

 

[jagu]

Was it just me or did Amare seem timid?

Amare is averaging 6.3 RPG this playoffs. Today was an example of missing shots. J-Rich had 2 wide open threes early and clanked both. That's when I knew we'd have a long day. Oh well, back to Phoenix!!

 

[green machine]

These refs are letting the teams play, which is all well and good but goes against the Suns. How many ticky tac fouls do you remember? Hardly any because they're letting them go at it. I like that, but it's definitely to Portland's advantage.

That said, towards the end of the game I do think the refs got caught up with the crowd.

It's OK though. Suns backs against the wall and a must win, they go out and win convincingly. Blazers are in a must win and it's a close one. Today the bounces didn't go the Suns' way, it happens.

Suns will come back home and win an easy one and then finish it off in Portland with a close game.

 

[82CardsGrad]

man, I didn't think they were that bad. I thought the Roy travel was a missed call but other than that, I had no problems with how they called the game. I mean, the flagrant was bad but the game was over and done by that point.

Agreed Cheese... and I really hate to say this, but there is one guy who is making this series as tough as its been - NASH. Again, I love the guy, however, it's clear to me that he is tired. IMHO, he is incapable of playing at the level we need from the point guard position for a sustained period of time. Way too many turnovers. Way too many late passes (waiting to dish off to a teammate who was open all day, only to finally make the pass when Portland is able to rotate and d-up)... I'm at the point where I would prefer to see Dragicor even Barbosa start and have Nash come off the bench.

 

[elindholm]

Way too many turnovers.

His turnovers in this series are right around his season average.

I'm at the point where I would prefer to see Dragicor even Barbosa start and have Nash come off the bench.

Of course that's ridiculous. Nash hasn't been great, but Dragic and Barbosa have been far worse.

 

[82CardsGrad]

His turnovers in this series are right around his season average.



Of course that's ridiculous. Nash hasn't been great, but Dragic and Barbosa have been far worse.

Meh... I love Nash. I do. One of my alltime favorite NBA stars. Wish the league had more guys like him.
But he's killing us. I really believe we need more energy and more point production from his position. IMHO, the drop in his play, his energy, his ability to be a positive force on the floor has been dramatic. I'm willing to throw the dice and start Dragic or LB...

 

[jagu]

Channing Frye is killing the Suns

9 for 30, 4-21 3P FG --- adding to that a whole bunch of ignorant defense and fouls makes him the complete loser that he is.


I'm not going to even get started on no-talent Jaron Collins. I hope Rolo can come back IF we make it to the next round. But with Collins and Frye still playing for the Suns, I really have no hope and am just waiting for an upset by the Blazers. Prove me wrong Suns. Prove me wrong.

 

[AzStevenCal]

Whatever this series is over in six.

Maybe, but I think we still have a shot at winning another game at home.

Steve

 

[Sunshooter]

All the offense goes to Amare in the 4th qtr, others are disappered.

I would give more playing time to Amundson rather than Frye in Game 5. Frye really want to show the long shots and anger to his former team.

 

[Chaplin]

All the offense goes to Amare in the 4th qtr, others are disappered.

I would give more playing time to Amundson rather than Frye in Game 5. Frye really want to show the long shots and anger to his former team.

Amundson was terrible in today's game. Much more so than Channing was.

 

[Errntknght]

The main thing is to get the bench rolling again like they were before - its hard to do since Gentry has undermined their confidence but this team is going no place in the playoffs if he doesn't somehow manage to do it. Eking out a win against the Blazers is not worth diddly-squat with the path he's chosen.

I'd still give starting Frye a shot, see if that could get him untracked but thats very much a secondary consideration.

 

[green machine]

The way people are talking it is as if games two and three were the flukes.

 

[Covert Rain]

I think the Suns bounce back again. Having said that, we need some bench guys to show up in a big way next game.

 

[Ronin]

Maybe, but I think we still have a shot at winning another game at home.

Steve

We're winning this series in six games. Blazers with all that emotion, and they still couldn't blow us out.
I don't think the blazers can win another game in this series.

 

[AfroSuns]

We're winning this series in six games. Blazers with all that emotion, and they still couldn't blow us out.
I don't think the blazers can win another game in this series.

I think it will go 7, they now have Roy, which will automatically reduced JRich offensive production. The only way we win in 6 is if Lopez make a miraculous return before the end of the series. I am hoping for good news at his re-evaluation tomorrow.

 

[Suns_fan69]

The way people are talking it is as if games two and three were the flukes.

They're flukes in that Jason Richardson shot the lights out. Once he was back to his average last game, we lost. Granted that's a gross oversimplification but the point remains that we can't rely solely on Jrich to carry us offensively. Someone else needs to step up and make them pay for packing the lane when Stoudemire gets the ball.

 

[82CardsGrad]

They're flukes in that Jason Richardson shot the lights out. Once he was back to his average last game, we lost. Granted that's a gross oversimplification but the point remains that we can't rely solely on Jrich to carry us offensively. Someone else needs to step up and make them pay for packing the lane when Stoudemire gets the ball.

Yup... In a way, J-Rich going all-world those two games more than compensated for the mediocre performance of Nash. And yes, we need others to step up - mainly Amare, but I still contend that with Nash in the game as a starter, a hole is created at the PG position... He can still dish it, but so can Dragic. And Dragic has way more spring in his stride and pep to the step than does Nash. Which also means Dragic can actually play something that resembles defense, versus Nash is a complete empty uniform on defense.

 

[Hayduke]

So, trade Nash and start Dragic?

 

[AfroSuns]

So, trade Nash and start Dragic?

We all know Nash is not going to be traded, but he is going to lose a lot of admirers if the Suns lose this series.
Dragic has to be given more minutes to improve, i disagree with those that said he is not ready, i think he is.
I remember Dragic starting a game against OKC, and he did a splendid job of it. Nash also came back from that rest and played awesome, which pretty much means, Nash is still capable but his minutes have to be reduced considerably to maximize his output on the offensive end. Right now is defensive liability is offsetting is subpar offensive production.

I doubt those changes will come this PO, but hopefully we will see more of Dragic next season.

 

[Proteus]

We all know Nash is not going to be traded, but he is going to lose a lot of admirers if the Suns lose this series.
Dragic has to be given more minutes to improve, i disagree with those that said he is not ready, i think he is.
I remember Dragic starting a game against OKC, and he did a splendid job of it. Nash also came back from that rest and played awesome, which pretty much means, Nash is still capable but his minutes have to be reduced considerably to maximize his output on the offensive end. Right now is defensive liability is offsetting is subpar offensive production.

I doubt those changes will come this PO, but hopefully we will see more of Dragic next season.

Nah, if the Suns lose this series it'll be blamed on the absence of Lopez and poor performances by the bench.

 

[82CardsGrad]

So, trade Nash and start Dragic?

Trade Nash?? Are you nuts??

 

[AzStevenCal]

Trade Nash?? Are you nuts??

I'm still a Nash fan. And I wish that we had the luxury to hang on to him until he can't take the court anymore but I don't think we do. We don't have a lot of tradable parts that it would make sense to send away but Steve MIGHT be one of them.

Unless Goran really is ready to start here without us missing a beat I see no good reason to keep Steve. He needs to play someplace where he only needs to log 25 minutes or so and if you need him more than that he'll have little left when the second season rolls around. Steve's a bit like what they say about a yacht or luxury vehicle; if you really need him out there you can't afford to have him.

Steve

 

[Proteus]

I'm still a Nash fan. And I wish that we had the luxury to hang on to him until he can't take the court anymore but I don't think we do. We don't have a lot of tradable parts that it would make sense to send away but Steve MIGHT be one of them.

Unless Goran really is ready to start here without us missing a beat I see no good reason to keep Steve. He needs to play someplace where he only needs to log 25 minutes or so and if you need him more than that he'll have little left when the second season rolls around. Steve's a bit like what they say about a yacht or luxury vehicle; if you really need him out there you can't afford to have him.

Steve

I don't think Nash is really ready to accept playing only 25 minutes or so a game.