scoutmasterdave
Board Certified Suns Fan
http://www.azcentral.com/sports/suns/articles/1021sunsonline1022.html
Suns close LA stay with win
Paul Coro
The Arizona Republic
Oct. 21, 2007 10:13 PM
LOS ANGELES - When the Suns simulate a game at Tuesday's open practice, there probably will be more people watching than there were at the opening act to Sunday's Lakers-Clippers nightcap at Staples Center.
The next time the Suns play a preseason game, Amaré Stoudemire will not be watching in a suit as he did for the sixth preseason game of the year Sunday.
The Suns won, beating Charlotte, 98-88, but there is more to look forward to than to reflect upon this weekend, especially after forward Grant Hill exited in the second quarter with back spasms. Hill said he expects to practice Tuesday after today's day off.
"This is not a good venue to play basketball," Suns coach Mike D'Antoni said of a four-team shootout that put Phoenix in the 4:30 p.m. game Saturday and Sunday.
"There's no energy with two teams who have nothing to do with the Staples Center.
"I can't even hardly evaluate our guys because it's not fair to them. It's almost one of those games where a coach wants to walk on the floor and say, 'Stop,' explain some stuff and reset it and say, 'Let's do it again.' "
The arena was empty for warm-ups and did not get much louder during the game, except for when Lakers fans arrived early to boo Raja Bell's every move.
The game moved slowly during the Suns' 20-point first quarter. Phoenix missed 22 of its first 32 shots but still led at halftime because Steve Nash cranked up his aggressiveness.
Nash scored eight points and assisted on two baskets in the half's final 90 seconds to put Phoenix ahead, 46-42. He left in the third quarter with the Suns ahead 72-62 after putting up eight points, four assists and four rebounds in the third.
"You've got to get out there and try to treat it like a practice and go to work," Nash said. "We handled our business, I suppose. It's going to heat up really fast this week."
D'Antoni said he plans to use a regular season look for Thursday's home game against Denver but may not repeat that for Friday's preseason finale in Vancouver against Seattle because it is a back-to-back set with a long trip. The Suns have five practices and two games to work in Stoudemire, who is coming off an Oct. 2 knee scope but has participated in recent practices without contact.
"He's looking forward to seeing how much he's improved his game," D'Antoni said.
The Suns looked like they could lose Hill when he took a hit in the second quarter to trigger a middle back spasm.
"I went up and strained it and locked up a little," Hill said. "Boris (Diaw) kept yelling, 'Get out of the game.' I've never had that happen before."
X-rays on Hill were negative.
"I would expect that it's day-to-day," Suns assistant athletic trainer Mike Elliott said. "We'll treat him again (today) and see. If we get that spasm to calm down, he should be good to go."
Suns rookie Alando Tucker had his best game. He scored 14 points in the fourth quarter, starting with a three-pointer.
Suns close LA stay with win
Paul Coro
The Arizona Republic
Oct. 21, 2007 10:13 PM
LOS ANGELES - When the Suns simulate a game at Tuesday's open practice, there probably will be more people watching than there were at the opening act to Sunday's Lakers-Clippers nightcap at Staples Center.
The next time the Suns play a preseason game, Amaré Stoudemire will not be watching in a suit as he did for the sixth preseason game of the year Sunday.
The Suns won, beating Charlotte, 98-88, but there is more to look forward to than to reflect upon this weekend, especially after forward Grant Hill exited in the second quarter with back spasms. Hill said he expects to practice Tuesday after today's day off.
"This is not a good venue to play basketball," Suns coach Mike D'Antoni said of a four-team shootout that put Phoenix in the 4:30 p.m. game Saturday and Sunday.
"There's no energy with two teams who have nothing to do with the Staples Center.
"I can't even hardly evaluate our guys because it's not fair to them. It's almost one of those games where a coach wants to walk on the floor and say, 'Stop,' explain some stuff and reset it and say, 'Let's do it again.' "
The arena was empty for warm-ups and did not get much louder during the game, except for when Lakers fans arrived early to boo Raja Bell's every move.
The game moved slowly during the Suns' 20-point first quarter. Phoenix missed 22 of its first 32 shots but still led at halftime because Steve Nash cranked up his aggressiveness.
Nash scored eight points and assisted on two baskets in the half's final 90 seconds to put Phoenix ahead, 46-42. He left in the third quarter with the Suns ahead 72-62 after putting up eight points, four assists and four rebounds in the third.
"You've got to get out there and try to treat it like a practice and go to work," Nash said. "We handled our business, I suppose. It's going to heat up really fast this week."
D'Antoni said he plans to use a regular season look for Thursday's home game against Denver but may not repeat that for Friday's preseason finale in Vancouver against Seattle because it is a back-to-back set with a long trip. The Suns have five practices and two games to work in Stoudemire, who is coming off an Oct. 2 knee scope but has participated in recent practices without contact.
"He's looking forward to seeing how much he's improved his game," D'Antoni said.
The Suns looked like they could lose Hill when he took a hit in the second quarter to trigger a middle back spasm.
"I went up and strained it and locked up a little," Hill said. "Boris (Diaw) kept yelling, 'Get out of the game.' I've never had that happen before."
X-rays on Hill were negative.
"I would expect that it's day-to-day," Suns assistant athletic trainer Mike Elliott said. "We'll treat him again (today) and see. If we get that spasm to calm down, he should be good to go."
Suns rookie Alando Tucker had his best game. He scored 14 points in the fourth quarter, starting with a three-pointer.
