azdad1978
Championship!!!!
By Mike Tulumello, Tribune
MIAMI - The Suns would love a return engagement here this season.
"I’ll sign on the dotted line right now," coach Mike D’Antoni said.
That’s because the Heat — in one of the NBA’s mostanticipated games this season — ripped open the Suns’ inconsistent defense in roaring to a 125-115 win Friday night at American Airlines Arena.
The only way the teams can meet again, of course, would be in the finals.
But that seems unlikely unless the Suns can patch the holes burned by the Heat.
"We gotta learn how to play defense," a disappointed Amaré Stoudemire said.
The Suns were sluggish at both ends as the Heat — playing the "best quarter of defense all season," according to coach Stan Van Gundy — blitzed the Suns 22-4 in the first six minutes.
The Suns spent the rest of the game playing catch-up. They actually did it, once, 71-71, midway through the third quarter.
Then the Heat took command again, and wobbled only briefly near the end.
"It took a lot out of us to get back in the game," Steve Nash said.
The chief meaning of this result: The Heat (53-17) moved one game ahead of the Suns (51-17) in the race for the NBA’s best record.
Also, the Heat broke the Suns’ nine-game road winning streak, which had tied a franchise record.
"It’s not like the world is ending," Nash said, talking about all the Suns’ road magic this season. "We’ve just got to go on."
The Suns’ plan was to concentrate on Shaquille O’Neal and Dwyane Wade, even if that meant leaving open such complementary players as Eddie Jones and Udonis Haslem.
O’Neal, bogged down by foul problems, had 25 points and eight rebounds in just 26 minutes; about half of his points came late, when the Heat were comfortably ahead.
"That was the ugliest 25 points of my whole career," Shaq said.
But the Suns could do nothing to slow Wade, who — much like Stoudemire in Phoenix — seems to be complicating the MVP chances of a teammate (O’Neal could be the favorite for the prestigious award).
He bombed home 35 points, including a 55-footer to close the third quarter.
That made the score 94-82 and helped beat back the Suns’ attempted comeback.
Wade, guarded mostly by Joe Johnson, had 20 points in the first half, which minimized the fact that Shaq played only 11 minutes before the break.
"When Shaq went out, Dwyane Wade played great and took over the game," Nash said. "We didn’t have an answer."
D’Antoni said, "Wade is a tough cover. He got away from us a couple of times. We couldn’t stay in front of him. He kept getting to the rim."
And Jones took advantage of his openings, knocking down 8-of-13 shots for 23 points.
All in all, D’Antoni said, "We scored enough to be in the game. . . . But we didn’t get enough stops."
The loss closes out the possibility the Suns can become the most improved team in NBA history. They would have needed 66 wins; now the most they can win is 65.
They can claim an impressive 60-win season, however, merely by finishing 9-5.
They also remain one-half game ahead of San Antonio for the No. 1 record in the West.
The Heat clinched the new Southeast Division.
"It feels great to be in a new division and dominate it the way we have," Wade said.
SUNS GET TIEBREAKER
Before the game, D’Antoni said he told his players, "If we win, we’ll get the tiebreaker" with the Heat should the two meet in the NBA Finals.
This was only half-true. By this time, D’Antoni had been told the Suns already had clinched the tiebreaker, win or lose.
That’s because a tiebreaker would be decided by the two teams’ records vs. the opposite conference. The Suns have a much better record against the East than the Heat have vs. the West.
"That’s the only positive thing about this game," Stoudemire said. "Everything else sucks."
Though the Suns now are one game behind the Heat, the teams are tied in the loss column. So if both teams win every game the rest of the way, the Suns would get the nod as the NBA’s No. 1 regular-season team.
"You gotta take something positive out of it," Quentin Richardson said.
LB’S BIG GAME
Leandro Barbosa was a big factor off the bench for the Suns.
"He did a good job," D’Antoni said. "He gave us energy and quickness."
He had 18 points in just 21 minutes and at times played alongside Nash in the backcourt, an alignment he enjoys.
"That might bode well as we go down the road," D’Antoni said.
BONUS SHOTS
Alonzo Mourning didn’t get into the game, as Michael Doleac played well in relief of Shaq. . . . The game attracted tennis greats Boris Becker, Steffi Graf, Andre Agassi and Gabriella Sabatini plus football’s Warren Sapp and baseball’s Cal Ripken.
Suns at Magic
When: 5 p.m. today
Where: T.D. Waterhouse Centre, Orlando, Fla.
TV: KUTP (Ch. 45)
Radio: KTAR (620 AM)
Records: Suns 51-17, Magic 32-36
Line: Phoenix by 5 1 /2
Series history: Suns lead, 20-11 all time, including a 9-6 mark in Orlando. The Suns have won 10 of the past 14, though they’ve only split in the last eight. This season, the Suns won 121-100 on Dec. 13 in Phoenix.
Scouting report: Suns — Look to finish successful road trip. They are now 10-4 after the All-Star break and are 8-3 in March. They are 20-7 after their six-game losing streak in January.
Magic — They appear to be sliding out of the playoffs after an impressive early-season run. The killer may have been Steve Francis’ three-game suspension for kicking a photographer. He returns tonight, but the Magic went 1-2 in his absence. The two losses were against the expansion Bobcats, so the suspension may well cost his team the final playoff spot in the East. All-Star Grant Hill continues his successful comeback season by averaging 19.6 points on 51 percent shooting (No. 11 in the NBA).
http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/index.php?sty=38594
MIAMI - The Suns would love a return engagement here this season.
"I’ll sign on the dotted line right now," coach Mike D’Antoni said.
That’s because the Heat — in one of the NBA’s mostanticipated games this season — ripped open the Suns’ inconsistent defense in roaring to a 125-115 win Friday night at American Airlines Arena.
The only way the teams can meet again, of course, would be in the finals.
But that seems unlikely unless the Suns can patch the holes burned by the Heat.
"We gotta learn how to play defense," a disappointed Amaré Stoudemire said.
The Suns were sluggish at both ends as the Heat — playing the "best quarter of defense all season," according to coach Stan Van Gundy — blitzed the Suns 22-4 in the first six minutes.
The Suns spent the rest of the game playing catch-up. They actually did it, once, 71-71, midway through the third quarter.
Then the Heat took command again, and wobbled only briefly near the end.
"It took a lot out of us to get back in the game," Steve Nash said.
The chief meaning of this result: The Heat (53-17) moved one game ahead of the Suns (51-17) in the race for the NBA’s best record.
Also, the Heat broke the Suns’ nine-game road winning streak, which had tied a franchise record.
"It’s not like the world is ending," Nash said, talking about all the Suns’ road magic this season. "We’ve just got to go on."
The Suns’ plan was to concentrate on Shaquille O’Neal and Dwyane Wade, even if that meant leaving open such complementary players as Eddie Jones and Udonis Haslem.
O’Neal, bogged down by foul problems, had 25 points and eight rebounds in just 26 minutes; about half of his points came late, when the Heat were comfortably ahead.
"That was the ugliest 25 points of my whole career," Shaq said.
But the Suns could do nothing to slow Wade, who — much like Stoudemire in Phoenix — seems to be complicating the MVP chances of a teammate (O’Neal could be the favorite for the prestigious award).
He bombed home 35 points, including a 55-footer to close the third quarter.
That made the score 94-82 and helped beat back the Suns’ attempted comeback.
Wade, guarded mostly by Joe Johnson, had 20 points in the first half, which minimized the fact that Shaq played only 11 minutes before the break.
"When Shaq went out, Dwyane Wade played great and took over the game," Nash said. "We didn’t have an answer."
D’Antoni said, "Wade is a tough cover. He got away from us a couple of times. We couldn’t stay in front of him. He kept getting to the rim."
And Jones took advantage of his openings, knocking down 8-of-13 shots for 23 points.
All in all, D’Antoni said, "We scored enough to be in the game. . . . But we didn’t get enough stops."
The loss closes out the possibility the Suns can become the most improved team in NBA history. They would have needed 66 wins; now the most they can win is 65.
They can claim an impressive 60-win season, however, merely by finishing 9-5.
They also remain one-half game ahead of San Antonio for the No. 1 record in the West.
The Heat clinched the new Southeast Division.
"It feels great to be in a new division and dominate it the way we have," Wade said.
SUNS GET TIEBREAKER
Before the game, D’Antoni said he told his players, "If we win, we’ll get the tiebreaker" with the Heat should the two meet in the NBA Finals.
This was only half-true. By this time, D’Antoni had been told the Suns already had clinched the tiebreaker, win or lose.
That’s because a tiebreaker would be decided by the two teams’ records vs. the opposite conference. The Suns have a much better record against the East than the Heat have vs. the West.
"That’s the only positive thing about this game," Stoudemire said. "Everything else sucks."
Though the Suns now are one game behind the Heat, the teams are tied in the loss column. So if both teams win every game the rest of the way, the Suns would get the nod as the NBA’s No. 1 regular-season team.
"You gotta take something positive out of it," Quentin Richardson said.
LB’S BIG GAME
Leandro Barbosa was a big factor off the bench for the Suns.
"He did a good job," D’Antoni said. "He gave us energy and quickness."
He had 18 points in just 21 minutes and at times played alongside Nash in the backcourt, an alignment he enjoys.
"That might bode well as we go down the road," D’Antoni said.
BONUS SHOTS
Alonzo Mourning didn’t get into the game, as Michael Doleac played well in relief of Shaq. . . . The game attracted tennis greats Boris Becker, Steffi Graf, Andre Agassi and Gabriella Sabatini plus football’s Warren Sapp and baseball’s Cal Ripken.
Suns at Magic
When: 5 p.m. today
Where: T.D. Waterhouse Centre, Orlando, Fla.
TV: KUTP (Ch. 45)
Radio: KTAR (620 AM)
Records: Suns 51-17, Magic 32-36
Line: Phoenix by 5 1 /2
Series history: Suns lead, 20-11 all time, including a 9-6 mark in Orlando. The Suns have won 10 of the past 14, though they’ve only split in the last eight. This season, the Suns won 121-100 on Dec. 13 in Phoenix.
Scouting report: Suns — Look to finish successful road trip. They are now 10-4 after the All-Star break and are 8-3 in March. They are 20-7 after their six-game losing streak in January.
Magic — They appear to be sliding out of the playoffs after an impressive early-season run. The killer may have been Steve Francis’ three-game suspension for kicking a photographer. He returns tonight, but the Magic went 1-2 in his absence. The two losses were against the expansion Bobcats, so the suspension may well cost his team the final playoff spot in the East. All-Star Grant Hill continues his successful comeback season by averaging 19.6 points on 51 percent shooting (No. 11 in the NBA).
http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/index.php?sty=38594
