Nash AND Barbosa injured at practice...

[jbeecham]

I think they'll have to go big if Nash & Barbosa are both going to miss the Memphis game. CJ will be the only guard on the bench so he can't start. They'll probably go with Hunter or Jake at C.

 

[Joe Mama]

Well, that's one way to get Barbosa out of the lineup. Why does everybody feel the need to blame somebody for this? We don't even have an idea of what happened. It's just a crappy situation.

Unfortunately this happened during a difficult stretch of the schedule. At least they have a nice record. Steve Nash would have to be out a long time, and the team would have to play absolutely terrible basketball to miss the playoffs.

I'm hoping this will be good for the team. We might get to see some other players step up, and hopefully they will get more serious about their defense since they won't be able to just outscore everyone.

Joe Mama

 

[AZZenny]

No one is saying it's his fault or that he did it deliberately - perhaps just another example of lousy court vision? I heard he stepped on Nash, who was moving very well on court, per radio. Barbosa is not exactly a good luck charm, it seems.

And yes, DAntoni IS going to have to earn his bread now. Interesting times.

 

[JS22]

Bring Back Yuta!

..atleast he knows the offense.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

And yes, DAntoni IS going to have to earn his bread now. Interesting times.

i am not confident in this.

 

[PhxGametime]

Wonder if Maciej Lampe will play at SF for periods of time - I've seen it before but not extended minutes and it's usually in garbage time...


Regardless who starts or who plays - I do believe Suns will show they can win, skillball or not...

 

[goldseraph]

I think we should bring KJ back!!! He could run the point for 15 minutes a
game I'm sure. Too bad he is too busy doing charity work!

Seriously though, I think this may be a good thing. The Suns will surely
face adversity in the playoffs and this is a challenge for them.
If they had kept cruising along at their pace, the season would start
to get boring and they would be vulnerable and cocky once the playoffs started.

 

[Lefty]

Too bad we don't have Howard Eisley

Seriously, if Barbosa is out for an indefinite period of time, should the Suns look to make a trade or go out and sign someone?

I hope no one is going to blame Barbosa because if anyone does, then that person is a complete moron.

If we had to experience any kind of setback I'm glad it's now and hopefully not in April.

 

[AZZenny]

I suspect many people had the same immediate knee-jerk reaction I did, which was, "FIRING LINE, you clumsy bastid!" But you know me, Zona - my mood is totally reactive to my team's circumstances, until I take time to digest. I've given up apologizing for it.

I did think, 'well, a little interesting Karma here - not letting D'A and the boys off the hook quite yet; maybe force them to actually deal with playing without Nash rather than thinking they can just sit out a couple dances like it didn't matter.'

 

[Wally]

ten bucks says they start casey instead of hunter. hummmmmmmmmm

I'd bet on either CJ or Vroman. I don't have a clue as to D'Antoni's use (or lack of) of Hunter. If it's due to a mistake or two while playing, D'Antoni wouldn't have anyone in the game.

 

[devilalum]

Associated Press
PHOENIX -- After limping home from an 0-4 road trip, the Phoenix Suns thought they would have Steve Nash back in the lineup Wednesday night against Memphis. Then Nash had his foot stepped on in Tuesday's practice by his backup.



[size=-2] [/size]
[size=-1] Steve Nash[/size]
[size=-2]Point Guard
Phoenix Suns[/size]

You must be registered for see images attach

[size=-2] Profile
[/size]
[size=-2] [/size]
2004-2005 SEASON STATISTICS [size=-2]GM[/size] [size=-2]PPG[/size] [size=-2]RPG[/size] [size=-2]APG[/size] [size=-2]FG%[/size] [size=-2]FT%[/size] [size=-2]37[/size] [size=-2]15.3[/size] [size=-2]3.1[/size] [size=-2]10.9[/size] [size=-2].516[/size] [size=-2].910[/size] Now, the Suns may have to get along without either one.



The bruised left thigh that sidelined Nash for the last 2½ games is no longer a problem, but he twisted his back when backup point guard Leandro Barbosa stepped on his foot. Nash was in obvious discomfort after more than an hour of treatment.



"It was painful," coach Mike D'Antoni said. "We'll see if he can get the spasms out and he might be fine, or he might have to take a few days off."



Nash is questionable for the Grizzlies game. Barbosa, the starter in Nash's absence, left America West Arena on crutches with a sprained left ankle and won't play on Wednesday.



If Nash and Barbosa both are out, Joe Johnson will move to point guard.



"I don't have any movement right now, but hopeful it will subside and I'll feel better soon," Nash said. "It's very frustrating. I was feeling great and was ready to get it going again."



With Nash -- the runaway NBA leader in assists at 10.9 per game -- at the controls, the Suns bolted to 31-4, one of the best starts in league history. Their style was fast and entertaining, a refreshing change from the plodding half-court game that dominates the NBA. Three-pointers rained from all sides, and lightning-quick Amare Stoudemire created havoc in the middle.



Their 122-107 home victory over Miami a week ago was their seventh win in a row, and 18th in 19 games. But the next night, the cold-shooting Suns lost at Utah 115-108, the first of four road games in six days.



Nash had missed just four games in the previous three seasons with Dallas. But last Friday at Indiana, he went down in the first half with a bruised thigh. He sat out the next two, a 108-103 defeat at Washington and a listless 94-80 pounding at Detroit on Monday. The cohesive, fast-paced play that had made the Suns special disintegrated.



"I think everybody tried to take the burden on their shoulders to a certain extent and do it themselves," said Shawn Marion, who was 3-for-9 shooting against the Pistons. "We can't be that way. We've got to do it collective, do it together."



Without the even distribution that Nash facilitates, the Suns suddenly look a lot like the team that went 29-53 last season.



"We still have the best record in the league and we've got to start acting like it," Johnson said. "With Steve out, we've been a little tense, we've been a little undecided. We've got to get that out of our heads."



From the bench, Nash watched the team concept evaporate.



"I don't think anyone was being selfish," he said. "I just think guys were trying too hard to make things happen. You've got to try to trust each other and allow each other to do it."



D'Antoni, meanwhile, said there is no way the Suns would have gone 0-4 on the trip if Nash had played.



"You can go stretches without Steve in there," he said, "but if you try to do it over a 48-minute game, it just changes the way we play. We've never practiced for that way, or we don't run training camp for that way."



After Memphis, the Suns host the San Antonio Spurs for the first time Friday night. The three-game homestand ends Sunday against New Jersey, then the Suns hit the road for their longest trip of the year -- six games in eight days.



"We know we've got a job ahead of us, and we know that we've got to hunker down a little bit," D'Antoni said. "We've always talked about that there would be some stretches where it won't be fun and it will be tough. This is a tough stretch. It doesn't help when you have injuries, but you deal with it and try to get wins no matter what."

 

[devilalum]

D'Antoni, meanwhile, said there is no way the Suns would have gone 0-4 on the trip if Nash had played.

"You can go stretches without Steve in there," he said, "but if you try to do it over a 48-minute game, it just changes the way we play. We've never practiced for that way, or we don't run training camp for that way."

This is reassuring?

 

[arthurracoon]

AAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHH!!!!!!!

DANG
ANDG
aDng
ASDNG
ADng
ANDg
NAdg
Nadg

*sigh*

 

[Sundance]

Barbosa and his damn foot! In some countries they might cut that foot off as punishment--he's lucky!

 

[Chaz]

I don't know what else to say but this sucks.

They should not rush Nash back. The rest of the guys will just have to get it done somehow. Thighten up the defense a little and run as much as you can.

JJ is not as good at setting guys up but he is a threat to drive or shoot and his height does give him a passing advantage over other PG. The real problem is we don't have the speed to bring the ball up the court.


If he wasn't such a defensive liability I would say Tabuse, of course I doubt he would have quite the assist percentage and his shot is not respected. .....OK nevermind, forget I mentioned it.

 

[Chaplin]

Of course, this is all moot if Nash's back has stopped spasming in the morning and he starts the game!

 

[Sundance]

While his back has improved, he's still not playing tomorrow's -- whoops (looks at clock) today's game.

 

[Joe Mama]

Of course, this is all moot if Nash's back has stopped spasming in the morning and he starts the game!

that is some wishful thinking. You know that back spasms and groin pulls put guys on the IL more than anything else. Isn't that what happened to guys like Cabarkapa, Ford, and/or Daniel Santiago all those times?

Joe Mama

 

[jibikao]

We have another road trip? 6 games in 8 days?

HOLY COW. Who made up this schedule????

Are we going to be like this for the rest of the year????

Well, I say let Nash rest now and let him get ready for the next long road trip.

 

[binkar]

Man this is a time where I wish we could just bring Vujanic over.

 

[Wally]

Man this is a time where I wish we could just bring Vujanic over.

I seriously doubt he will be with the Suns this year as his team is in the running for the championship and the final 4 in Europe is not until March.

http://www.euroleague.net/teams/teamCard.jsp?id=FOR
It took 40 minutes of struggle, but the reward was great as Climamio finally folded up visiting Adecco Estudiantes with an 84-78 victory on Wednesday to seal its place in the Top 16. The victory also gave Climamio back possession of first place a week after it lost that position to Efes Pilsen. Both teams are now 8-2 after Efes lost at Cibona, but Climamio would win any eventual tiebreak between them by virtue of a better points average in their two games. Estudiantes, meanwhile, saw its record drop to 3-7, a pair of victories behind the last sure Top 16 spot with only 4 games to play. Climamio was driven to victory by its captain, Gianluca Basile, who scored 11 of his 17 points in the first quarter and iced the victory with 6 straight free throws in the last minute. For the home team, Ruben Douglas added 16 points, Milos Vujanic 13, Matjaz Smodis 12 and Martin Rancik 10. For Adecco Estudiantes, Ruben Garces posted a huge 22-points, 12-rebounds double-double, while Hernan Jasen scored 15 points and Andres Miso 11

 

[zett]

I just called Nash, He said he was feeling much better and was going to play tonight.

 

[Joe Mama]

I just called Nash, He said he was feeling much better and was going to play tonight.

Do you mean you just called the Phoenix Suns, or were you just kidding?

Joe Mama

 

[jibikao]

I just called Nash, He said he was feeling much better and was going to play tonight.

Should I fall into your trap? lol

 

[zett]

Do you mean you just called the Phoenix Suns, or were you just kidding?

Joe Mama

JK I don't want all of you asking me for his #