Andrew
flamboyantly righteous!
The Phoenix Suns and Denver Nuggets have been two of the NBA's highest-scoring teams over the last several years, but both clubs have rededicated themselves to defense this season.
Based on recent results, the defensive development of each team is still a work in progress.
The Suns and Nuggets look to bounce back from disappointing defensive efforts as they square off Saturday night in Phoenix, where Denver hasn't won in more than three years.
Phoenix has ranked in the league's top three in scoring in each of the last four seasons, finishing first three times in that stretch thanks to a fast-paced offense that often left the team vulnerable defensively.
General manager Steve Kerr has made major changes over the last year to help the Suns strike a better balance, including the trade for Shaquille O'Neal last February and the offseason hiring of coach Terry Porter to replace Mike D'Antoni.
The results, however, have so far been disappointing. The Suns (15-11) have given up at least 100 points in 11 straight games, and are allowing 103.0 points per game to rank near the bottom of the league in scoring defense.
They delivered a strong offensive showing against Portland in their last game Thursday night, shooting 56.9 percent from the field and making 12 of their 18 3-point attempts. But they couldn't stop Trail Blazers guard Brandon Roy, who scored a career-high 52 points as Portland beat Phoenix 124-119.
"We gave another game away," O'Neal said. "We're not getting loose balls, and you can't have 16 turnovers. And you've got to stop somebody. You can't let a guy go for 52. It was not acceptable."
Like Phoenix, Denver has earned a reputation as a dominant offensive team, ranking in the top five in scoring in each of the last three seasons, including second in 2007-08.
This year's Nuggets (17-9) came into the season determined to fare better on the other end, a focus they emphasized with the trade of Allen Iverson for Chauncey Billups in early November.
The Nuggets' transition has so far been smoother than the Suns'. They're in the middle of the pack in scoring defense, holding opponents to 98.4 points per game.
But Denver's defense has slipped in back-to-back losses. The Nuggets allowed Houston to shoot 55.3 percent in their 108-96 loss Tuesday before giving up 37 first-quarter points in a 105-88 loss to Cleveland on Friday night.
Denver center Nene had a tough time in both contests while matched up against Yao Ming and Zydrunas Ilgauskas, but Nuggets coach George Karl isn't overly concerned with his club's recent struggles.
"There's no question that we need more out of Nene, and we need more out of everybody," Karl said. "But I don't think the game is bad enough to get depressed. I mean, we're in a good place. You always stub your toe. You always fall down. It's early in the season. Nothing is written in stone."
The Nuggets have done a lot of falling down in Phoenix, where they've dropped seven straight games since the beginning of the 2004-05 season. Denver won its two home games against Phoenix last season, but gave up 134.5 points per game in its two losses at US Airways Center. All-Star Nuggets forward Carmelo Anthony averaged 27.5 points while shooting 56.3 percent (18-for-32) in the two home wins, but was held to 19.0 points per game and 41.0 percent shooting (16-for-39) in the road losses.
http://www.nba.com/games/20081220/DENPHX/preview.html
Based on recent results, the defensive development of each team is still a work in progress.
The Suns and Nuggets look to bounce back from disappointing defensive efforts as they square off Saturday night in Phoenix, where Denver hasn't won in more than three years.
Phoenix has ranked in the league's top three in scoring in each of the last four seasons, finishing first three times in that stretch thanks to a fast-paced offense that often left the team vulnerable defensively.
General manager Steve Kerr has made major changes over the last year to help the Suns strike a better balance, including the trade for Shaquille O'Neal last February and the offseason hiring of coach Terry Porter to replace Mike D'Antoni.
The results, however, have so far been disappointing. The Suns (15-11) have given up at least 100 points in 11 straight games, and are allowing 103.0 points per game to rank near the bottom of the league in scoring defense.
They delivered a strong offensive showing against Portland in their last game Thursday night, shooting 56.9 percent from the field and making 12 of their 18 3-point attempts. But they couldn't stop Trail Blazers guard Brandon Roy, who scored a career-high 52 points as Portland beat Phoenix 124-119.
"We gave another game away," O'Neal said. "We're not getting loose balls, and you can't have 16 turnovers. And you've got to stop somebody. You can't let a guy go for 52. It was not acceptable."
Like Phoenix, Denver has earned a reputation as a dominant offensive team, ranking in the top five in scoring in each of the last three seasons, including second in 2007-08.
This year's Nuggets (17-9) came into the season determined to fare better on the other end, a focus they emphasized with the trade of Allen Iverson for Chauncey Billups in early November.
The Nuggets' transition has so far been smoother than the Suns'. They're in the middle of the pack in scoring defense, holding opponents to 98.4 points per game.
But Denver's defense has slipped in back-to-back losses. The Nuggets allowed Houston to shoot 55.3 percent in their 108-96 loss Tuesday before giving up 37 first-quarter points in a 105-88 loss to Cleveland on Friday night.
Denver center Nene had a tough time in both contests while matched up against Yao Ming and Zydrunas Ilgauskas, but Nuggets coach George Karl isn't overly concerned with his club's recent struggles.
"There's no question that we need more out of Nene, and we need more out of everybody," Karl said. "But I don't think the game is bad enough to get depressed. I mean, we're in a good place. You always stub your toe. You always fall down. It's early in the season. Nothing is written in stone."
The Nuggets have done a lot of falling down in Phoenix, where they've dropped seven straight games since the beginning of the 2004-05 season. Denver won its two home games against Phoenix last season, but gave up 134.5 points per game in its two losses at US Airways Center. All-Star Nuggets forward Carmelo Anthony averaged 27.5 points while shooting 56.3 percent (18-for-32) in the two home wins, but was held to 19.0 points per game and 41.0 percent shooting (16-for-39) in the road losses.
http://www.nba.com/games/20081220/DENPHX/preview.html
