Are the Suns the harbinger of doom?

[JCSunsfan]

OK. Here's my question. Are teams conceding when they play the
Suns. Do they figure its a loss anyway, so they rest their banged up stars and mark one up in the loss column?

 

[elindholm]

OK. Here's my question. Are teams conceding when they play the
Suns. Do they figure its a loss anyway, so they rest their banged up stars and mark one up in the loss column?

Maybe everyone feels guilty about the Suns' bad luck getting stuck in Denver, missing out on the chance to play the Nuggets' JV squad, and then eventually running out of gas against the Wizards after barely making it to the arena on time. So now the rest of the league is making up for it, just in the spirit of fair play.

 

[Covert Rain]

OK. Here's my question. Are teams conceding when they play the
Suns. Do they figure its a loss anyway, so they rest their banged up stars and mark one up in the loss column?

I had not really thought about it that way. It would be interesting to see with all the teams, how many games those guys missed after the played the Suns and when they came back, was it against a division foe etc...

 

[jbeecham]

OK. Here's my question. Are teams conceding when they play the Suns. Do they figure its a loss anyway, so they rest their banged up stars and mark one up in the loss column?

I think there's a pretty good chance of that happening in some cases. Now those teams have an excuse why they lost and the Suns lose any mental advantage they could've had over that team if they were healthy. I really think this was the case with the last Rockets game where T-Mac decided to sit out when he had played the night before without any injuries and then got back spasms right before the Suns game.

 

[sunsfn]

OK. Here's my question. Are teams conceding when they play the
Suns. Do they figure its a loss anyway, so they rest their banged up stars and mark one up in the loss column?

Yes.
I agree with what jbeecham said.

 

[joshed]

An interesting theory.

 

[dreamcastrocks]

I think there's a pretty good chance of that happening in some cases. Now those teams have an excuse why they lost and the Suns lose any mental advantage they could've had over that team if they were healthy. I really think this was the case with the last Rockets game where T-Mac decided to sit out when he had played the night before without any injuries and then got back spasms right before the Suns game.

Nah, Not T-Mac's back. His back is truly FUBAR. I don't think that he would fake it, to not play the Suns. He usually plays very well against the Suns.

 

[az1965]

The Bucks are still without injured starters Michael Redd, Charlie Villanueva and Mo Williams. They are 1-8 without Redd -- the league's sixth-leading scorer -- and have fallen into last place in the Central Division. None of the injured players are expected to be available Friday.

 

[JCSunsfan]

Nah, Not T-Mac's back. His back is truly FUBAR. I don't think that he would fake it, to not play the Suns. He usually plays very well against the Suns.

I don't think its so much about faking it. Every team is banged up this time of year. Its just whether its bad enough to sit out or not. Suddenly, when the Suns come into town. Its bad enough.

Its happening again.

My alternative theory is that everyone hates Mark Cuban and they are letting the Suns win to spite him.

 

[ArizonaSportsFan]

The Bucks are still without injured starters Michael Redd, Charlie Villanueva and Mo Williams. They are 1-8 without Redd -- the league's sixth-leading scorer -- and have fallen into last place in the Central Division. None of the injured players are expected to be available Friday.

I believe that Simmons is out as well. I hope that the Suns don't view this as charity work. Blow them out and get JuJo and Rose some meaningful time. Even Banks.

 

[msdundee]

FOXSports.com: <<<Charlie Villanueva, their talented young forward, figures to return to action soon, possibly as soon as Friday night when the Bucks host the white-hot Phoenix Suns at the Bradley Center. Villanueva has been sidelined for almost a month with tendinits in his right shoulder. "He is definitely feeling better,'' Billy Ceisler, Villanueva's New York-based agent, told me Thursday afternoon. "He's not pain-free, but he's at a point where he wants to give it a shot.''>>>

 

[jbeecham]

My alternative theory is that everyone hates Mark Cuban and they are letting the Suns win to spite him.

 

[JCSunsfan]

Interesting fact in Jerry Brown's column today. The Mavs are the only team to have beaten the Suns in regulation since the second week of the season. That would be early November.


Suns pass Mavs for NBA’s best record

By Jerry Brown, Tribune
January 25, 2007

MILWAUKEE - When it comes to compiling the best record in the NBA, the Suns have done all they can over the last 33 games — winning 31. But the Dallas Mavericks weren’t cooperating.

Despite a pair of 15-game winning streaks, the Suns (34-8) had been unable to run down the defending Western Conference champs until Thursday, when the Mavericks lost 96-85 to Chicago to fall to 35-9, percentage points behind the Suns.

Dallas is the only team to beat Phoenix in regulation (twice) since the second week of the season. We’re not worried about Dallas,” forward James Jones said. “I personally like that they are winning, and winning like we are. It’s easier to be the hunter than the hunted.”

 

[ActingWild]

Whenever I hear the term, I can't help but remember the Dread Pirate Roberts.

As old as that movie is, it probably has more memorable one liners per minute than any other movie made.

Agreed...

 

[DeAnna]

Latest victim: Carlos Boozer. The streak lives.

 

[Mulli]

Latest victim: Carlos Boozer. The streak lives.

inconceivable!

 

[az1965]

Iverson, Camby, Evans may not play vs. Suns

Associated Press
Feb. 4, 2007 05:43 PM
DENVER - The Denver Nuggets were to decide at game time whether Allen Iverson would play Monday against Phoenix.

Iverson has missed three straight games with a right ankle sprain.

Marcus Camby and Reggie Evans also were considered game-time decisions, the team said Sunday. Camby left the game Saturday night against Sacramento in the fourth quarter with a left groin strain. Evans sat out the second half with a right ankle sprain.

Steve Blake also was injured Saturday night and needed 12 stitches on his upper lip. He was expected to play Monday.

 

[Ronin]

Nocioni out 7-10 days with plantar fasciitis

February 6, 2007
BY BRIAN HANLEY Staff Reporter
SALT LAKE CITY -- The Bulls likely will be without forward Andres Nocioni for at least the final four games of their seven-game road trip.

Nocioni, who underwent an MRI on Monday and was inactive against the Utah Jazz, has plantar fasciitis in his right foot -- inflammation or small tears on the fibrous band of tissue that connects the heel bone to the base of the toes.

''It was what we expected; right now, it's seven to 10 days,'' Nocioni said of his projected absence. ''I have a little pain. I need to see how I feel each day. If I feel better, I can practice a little and then play, but I think seven to 10 days.

''I've had pain for two weeks, maybe more. But I could play with the pain. The other day at Portland in the second quarter, I feel something different. I think, 'That's it, now it's worse.' Then the next morning, it was difficult to walk.''

http://www.suntimes.com/sports/basketball/bulls/244714,CST-SPT-bullnt06.article