azdad1978
Championship!!!!
Paul Coro
The Arizona Republic
Nov. 28, 2004 12:00 AM
What is a guy such as P.J. Brown to do?
It is as if he and other power forwards have been caught in some sort of horrid mismatch after switching off a pick. For an NBA post player, guarding Suns forward Shawn Marion is like trying to catch a slithering snake.
When Brown respected Marion's athleticism by giving him space at the start of Friday's game between the Suns and New Orleans, Marion hit back-to-back three-pointers. A minute later, the defense tightened and Marion was floating by with a one-handed runner.
For all the praise heaped upon Steve Nash and Amaré Stoudemire, Marion's seamless adjustment to power forward is just as much responsible for Phoenix's 11-2 start.
His first turn in the limelight this season came in Friday's win, when he scored a season-high 33 points. His 15 rebounds were not even a shock, given that he has averaged 13.5 boards over the past 10 games.
The Suns played most of the night without a true point guard, although Joe Johnson's seven second-half assists would suggest otherwise. Still, the Suns were grateful on such a night that they have a player who does not need set plays or help from the league's top passer to score. Marion is going to get points, whether it be off fast-break dunks, put-backs, runners or open jumpers.
"We've just got to be active," Marion said. "With the team down, it showed character for us to step up and get a win without a point guard out there."
Clutch foul
An overlooked play in Friday's game came with 3 minutes, 19 seconds to go when Casey Jacobsen fouled New Orleans center Jamaal Magloire.
The Hornets were set to retake the lead when Magloire was left open under the basket, but Jacobsen's hard foul made Magloire miss. He also missed both free throws, and New Orleans never led again, going the final four minutes without a field goal.
Q tips
Quentin Richardson was just fine with Johnson at point guard Friday.
Richardson hit four three-pointers in the second half, and each came off a Johnson assist.
His shooting slump appears to be over after hitting 7 of 15 three-point shots in the past two games.
Free throws
The Suns did not practice Saturday. Nash is expected to practice today after recovering from Friday's concussion.
• Leandro Barbosa turns 22 today.
• Two of the Suns' three sub-100-point games have come against New Orleans.
http://www.azcentral.com/sports/suns/articles/1128sunsnb1128.html
The Arizona Republic
Nov. 28, 2004 12:00 AM
What is a guy such as P.J. Brown to do?
It is as if he and other power forwards have been caught in some sort of horrid mismatch after switching off a pick. For an NBA post player, guarding Suns forward Shawn Marion is like trying to catch a slithering snake.
When Brown respected Marion's athleticism by giving him space at the start of Friday's game between the Suns and New Orleans, Marion hit back-to-back three-pointers. A minute later, the defense tightened and Marion was floating by with a one-handed runner.
For all the praise heaped upon Steve Nash and Amaré Stoudemire, Marion's seamless adjustment to power forward is just as much responsible for Phoenix's 11-2 start.
His first turn in the limelight this season came in Friday's win, when he scored a season-high 33 points. His 15 rebounds were not even a shock, given that he has averaged 13.5 boards over the past 10 games.
The Suns played most of the night without a true point guard, although Joe Johnson's seven second-half assists would suggest otherwise. Still, the Suns were grateful on such a night that they have a player who does not need set plays or help from the league's top passer to score. Marion is going to get points, whether it be off fast-break dunks, put-backs, runners or open jumpers.
"We've just got to be active," Marion said. "With the team down, it showed character for us to step up and get a win without a point guard out there."
Clutch foul
An overlooked play in Friday's game came with 3 minutes, 19 seconds to go when Casey Jacobsen fouled New Orleans center Jamaal Magloire.
The Hornets were set to retake the lead when Magloire was left open under the basket, but Jacobsen's hard foul made Magloire miss. He also missed both free throws, and New Orleans never led again, going the final four minutes without a field goal.
Q tips
Quentin Richardson was just fine with Johnson at point guard Friday.
Richardson hit four three-pointers in the second half, and each came off a Johnson assist.
His shooting slump appears to be over after hitting 7 of 15 three-point shots in the past two games.
Free throws
The Suns did not practice Saturday. Nash is expected to practice today after recovering from Friday's concussion.
• Leandro Barbosa turns 22 today.
• Two of the Suns' three sub-100-point games have come against New Orleans.
http://www.azcentral.com/sports/suns/articles/1128sunsnb1128.html
