76ers vs Suns 7:00 FSN AZ

[FArting]

Phoenix has struggled since acquiring Shaquille O'Neal, but a game against Philadelphia might help get it back on track.
The Suns will try to continue their recent domination of the 76ers at home as the teams square off on Saturday.
Phoenix (39-19) picked up O'Neal on Feb. 6 in a deal that sent Shawn Marion and Marcus Banks to Miami. The 35-year-old center, who was nursing a hip injury at the time of the trade, made his Suns debut on Feb. 20 and has averaged 10.8 points and 10.4 rebounds in five games with his new team.
However, Phoenix has dropped three of those games, including Wednesday's 120-103 loss at New Orleans.
"I think he's doing fine," coach Mike D'Antoni said. "I think that offensively we'll be fine. It's our defense that we have to get better, with our schemes and knowing each other.
"It takes a lot to develop that chemistry, and I think we'll do that. Right now we just have to play better, we just didn't do it."
O'Neal had 15 points and seven rebounds against the Hornets, and Amare Stoudemire led Phoenix with 32 points and 14 rebounds. However, the defense yielded more than 100 points for the third straight game and eighth in 11.
Phoenix ranks 26th in the league with 104.6 points allowed per contest.
"We are still learning what we have to do to win games. We'll be fine," O'Neal said. "We just caught a team that was called out by their coach and they played very well."
If recent history is any indication, Phoenix should be able to bounce back against Philadelphia (26-33).
The Suns have won five straight home games against the 76ers since a 102-81 defeat on Jan. 2, 2002. Overall, Phoenix has won eight of 10 in the series, but lost 99-94 in Philadelphia in the last meeting on Feb. 28, 2007.
O'Neal has averaged 25.7 points and 11.7 rebounds in 39 career games against the 76ers. However, he had just five points in his last game against them, a 96-85 loss while playing for the Heat on Dec. 26.
The Sixers are clinging to the eighth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference with a half-game lead over Atlanta. They had won eight of 10 before falling 119-97 at Golden State on Friday.
Andre Miller and Rodney Carney each scored 18 points for Philadelphia, which missed its first 14 shots and committed five turnovers before making its first basket.
"It's tough when you get down," said Andre Iguodala, who had 15 points. "You try to speed it up and play right into their hands. I think we struggled to get back in transition and once we couldn't hit a shot we started quick shooting and from there we played into their hands.
"Earlier in the day, the 76ers released guard Gordan Giricek, who was acquired in a late December trade that sent Kyle Korver to the Utah Jazz. Giricek needed to be waived by Saturday to be eligible for postseason play with another team.

http://scores.espn.go.com/nba/preview?gameId=280301021

76ers 96 Iguodala
Suns 110 Amare

 

[TJ]

On paper, this looks like a lop sided match up. But the 6ers have some weapons. Iguodala is the man (he went to a fabulous college). This one is going to be closer than some will think.

 

[Nash2Amare]

Iguodala is the man (he went to a fabulous college).

Indeed.

 

[elindholm]

There are no easy wins for the Suns right now, but this game should be manageable.

 

[Steel Sun]

Indeed.

Yea.Too bad it's in the smelliest,most disgusting town in the country.

 

[Nash2Amare]

Yea.Too bad it's in the smelliest,most disgusting town in the country.

At least you agree it's a fabulous college and that's all I care about.

 

[mjb21aztd]

Suns better beat the 76ers at home that is all it boils down to, also even if we do beat the 76ers can we try to hold a team to under 110 pts for once this season heh

suns 114

76ers 102

Leading Scorer Amare 33 pts 9 rebounds

 

[az1965]

We just need to hang in there until the team / coaches figure it out (hopefully, they will...) and not try to fall below 5th place by at least beating the teams we are supposed to beat.

 

[CaptainInsano]

I don't think we can figure out, yesterday a terrifying thought came into my mind.

I was reminiscing about the 05/06 season and how we were the underdogs with just jumpshooting. Thinking about Nash + Marion and the combo of

Bell + Tim Thomas

And then I remembered 04/05 and Nash + Marion combined with Joe Johnson + Quentin

And I realized during those times we had FOUR people on the floor who could hit the 3.

Think about our starting lineup from a 3 point shooting perspective now:

Nash + Bell and....

and.....

From the get go of the 04/05 season up until the shaq trade we had a plethora of 3 point shooters and that is one of the biggest parts of the D'antoni system. It was really what made it work. Without that I think now we are going to see these losses by 20-30 points against playoff teams from now on.

Our team is just too weak in a D'antoni system, heck I don't even know if a good coach could fix it anymore with what a liability shaq is on offense.

Grant Hill is great and all but he doesn't fit the system, and shaq so far has been terrible on offense. So without being able to spread the floor, and not having multiple people who can score in more ways then one..

This just might be it for us. I hate to bring the doom and gloom but when I realized we went from 4 starting capable 3-point shooters with two reliable (Jim Jackson/Eddie House/James Jones and barbosa) 3-point shooters on the bench to 2 starters that can hit the 3 and one starter that can there just might be no way to do it unless shaq can return to at least semi-mvp form (not happening).

 

[Kody Rumin]

The Sixers aren't as bad as they look on paper. Still should be an easy win though.

 

[arwillan]

grant hill doesn't fit the system? our more consistent player on both ends of the floor this season? he isn't the problem, it's nash and everyone else.

 

[Hat]

Grant Hill a problem, wtf?

He is more of a benefit than a hazard. I don't understand why you say that when he's playing great. He is absolute steal for the Suns for the money they are giving him imo.

 

[dodie53]

go suns!

 

[TJ]

Grant Hill has been such a steal for us at $1.8 mil a season. He plays with so much heart and desire on both ends of the floor. I wish all of our players would embody this.

 

[dodie53]

especially Diaw!

 

[Michael]

Grant Hill doesn't fit into the "stand in the corner and spot up for a 3" system. However, he's giving us so many other things on the court, including the ability to create his own shot (we were complaining about the lack of that for so long), defense, hustle, playmaking, rebounding and everything.

In just one season, he's become one of my all-time favourite Suns players.

Regarding today's game: I expect a hard fought win. Suns 101 Sixers 95. Topscorer Amaré with 27 points.

 

[btimsah]

I have no idea who's gonna win this one. If the Sun's (Nash in particular) can't defend again it's going to be close for most of the game.

 

[BeeBeard]

Here comes a 30 point night from Giricek, as he burns his former team!*







*

 

[dodie53]

raptorsnation not working?

 

[LV-Suns]

raptorsnation not working?

gone for me too

 

[TJ]

Go Suns!!!!

 

[KloD]

raptorsnation not working?

Don't know... try here. Link

EDIT: I have to use firefox by the way, doesn't work w/ ie for me.

 

[BeeBeard]

Those commercials of Barbosa shilling for home appliances are pretty funny.

Good lord, why is Mo Cheeks still coaching?? Portland has gotten way better since he left, and Philly has gotten only worse since he started coaching for them. He must have pictures of somebody.

 

[CardEd]

Don't know... try here. Link

Both raptorsnation and your link not working for me.

Stuck at work tonight, anyone have another link?

 

[LV-Suns]

Don't know... try here. Link

EDIT: I have to use firefox by the way, doesn't work w/ ie for me.

Thnx man