Kings at Suns 2-13-2011

[FArting]

Game is at 6pm.

Go Suns!

 

[Mainstreet]

I'm going to post again my comments from another thread as I think it is more applicable to tonight's game:

Dragic will miss the seventh consecutive game tonight. He apparently has trouble pushing off on the foot that has the cut toe and he has not practiced with the team. See part of Paul Coro update at azcentral dated 2-13-11. I'm wondering if the Suns really miss him.

* Suns guard Goran Dragic will miss his seventh consecutive game due to his cut toe. All of the stitches have been removed but it is still hard for him to push off and he has not practiced with the team. Plus, Zabian Dowdell is playing well, particularly on defense. The Suns are 5-1 without Dragic. Dowdell has not shot well (37 percent) but that was the well-known hole in his game. He has been tremendous defensively and has shown instincts for where to find Suns in their offensive system.

Also from the same article, it appears Gentry is concerned more about winning than playing Vince Carter.

On Friday night, that meant sitting Carter out of the entire fourth quarter. Carter has never played fewer minutes in consecutive games in his career than he has in getting 36 minutes combined in the past two games. Part has to be that Carter missed several critical shots at the end of the recent New Orleans and Oklahoma City games but Mickael Pietrus also gave Gentry a reason to leave him in the whole quarter with the defense he was playing. Stats don't show the plays he made, like stripping Deron Williams at the end of a shot clock or knocking a ball off Gordon Hayward out of bounds in the backcourt.

http://www.azcentral.com/members/Blog/PaulCoro/118539

 

[BC867]

Also from the same article, it appears Gentry is concerned more about winning than playing Vince Carter.

If we can jump out to early leads (whether Carter is scoring or not) and defense becomes the order of the day (hold that lead with our best defensive players -- who give a $hit), this might mean that Dowdell can still get playing time when Dragic returns, by giving Goran more time at the "2" for his defense and less time at the Point.

Another side benefit for the Suns, which has been happening a lot lately, starting with the removal of Hedo.

 

[Mainstreet]

If we can jump out to early leads (whether Carter is scoring or not) and defense becomes the order of the day (hold that lead with our best defensive players -- who give a $hit), this might mean that Dowdell can still get playing time when Dragic returns, by giving Goran more time at the "2" for his defense and less time at the Point.

Another side benefit for the Suns, which has been happening a lot lately, starting with the removal of Hedo.

Yes, Goran gives the Suns depth at the SG position with the addition of Dowdell. I would like to see Dragic play alongside Nash at least on occasion. It can relieve some of the relentless pressure Nash gets. Also it reminds me of the Pistons playing Dumars and Thomas together. Playing two PGs can work. It's been proven.

 

[desertdawg]

These games against the teams like the queens scare me. We can't let up tonight, I want to see more of that crazy defense.

 

[Proteus]

Suns haven't really showed up tonight.

 

[desertdawg]

Can someone defend the friggin paint?

 

[desertdawg]

I hope Frye isn't building another house tonight.

 

[Proteus]

Suns down 17-7 with 6:24 left in the 4th quarter.

Suns shooting 27%, Kings 57%.

Wake up Suns.

 

[Proteus]

Who is the team on the back to back?

 

[desertdawg]

LOLopez airballs from one foot away.

 

[desertdawg]

Hammertime!

 

[Proteus]

Rebound the ball guys.

 

[Proteus]

Nice layup by Nash.

 

[desertdawg]

Starting to pick it up now with the D and we got our first lead.
DEFENSE!

 

[edukator1]

We have Gortat We have score

 

[AfroSuns]

Suns finally showing up

 

[desertdawg]

Jared Studley

 

[AfroSuns]

Suns needs to wake up, 30pts qtr for a Kings team that played last night is nuts.

 

[Proteus]

Suns up 32-30 after the 1st quarter. Suns were up by as many 9 points and down by as many 10 points. Suns shooting 50% with 3/5 3 pointers, Kings 43% with 1/2 3 pointers.

Suns have committed 3 turnovers, Kings 2.

Suns have 1 offensive rebounds, Kings 7.

Suns have hit 7/7 free throws, Kings have hit 5/7 free throws.

Mediocre quarter from the Suns. Poor start to the game, good middle of the 1st quarter, and then a bad finish to the quarter.

 

[desertdawg]

Gortat scores on one end and goes to the ground with a rebound on the other.

 

[Proteus]

Suns giving up too many 2nd chance points.

 

[Ronin]

Not liking the suns shot selection in this quarter.

 

[desertdawg]

I'm hoping they tune it up after halftime again, need to box out, get tough.

 

[desertdawg]

It aint a game until Gortat misses a dunk or layup, now he should be fine.