This was one of those games that makes me feel like keeping Nash and Hill and Marion and dumping everyone else to start fresh. I lost track of the number of plays in the first half where the Suns were "running" up the court, only to see Nash start sprinting ahead of everyone else and arrive on the fast break before anybody else. It almost looked at times like Nash was trying to show up his teammates a bit (as well he should), as in "you all had the head start, so how did I get here first?" Touch comes and goes, but why oh why can't this team seem to bring the effort consistently?
Some plays that stood out:
1. Skinner's steal in the second quarter, runs -- really runs -- it all the way to the hoop for a left-handed dunk. He's get a pretty decent handle in the open court for a big man.
2. Hill's dunk over Jiop. I was already a big Hill fan, but that play showed me a whole other side to his game. His elbow was above the rim, almost like Marion only with the ability not only to finish above the rim but to get there from the outside as well. I'm starting to believe that by the end of the year, Hill may turn into a real clutch player. Between him and Nash, at least that's two guys that you know will show up every night.
3. Amare's missed dunk in the first half. Nash gave him the ball in the open under the basket, and did everything but set up a footstool below the basket, and Amare misses the dunk. I guess Amare's earned a few whiffs, but if I'm Nash, that play plants a little seed of doubt in my mind. Still, I think Amare will come around when it matters, at least offensively.
