Nets @ Suns Game Thread

[Amare32]

New Jersey Nets (5-6 ) @ Phoenix Suns (5-6)
​

When Friday 24th November
Time: 8.30 PT
Location: Phoenix
TV: ESPN, FSN AZ

Probable Starting Lineups:

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PG-Jason Kidd
SG-Vince Carter
SF-Richard Jefferson
PF-Jason Collins
C-Nenad Kristic

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PG-Steve Nash
SG-Raja Bell
SF-Shawn Marion
PF-Boris Diaw
C-Amare Stoudemire


Key Bench Players

Nets

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Antonie Wright -- 8.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, 46% FG

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Bostjan Nachbar - 6.5 points, 2.5 rebounds

Suns

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Leandro Barbosa- 18.5 points, 5.2 assists on 45% FG

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Kurt Thomas- 7.4 points, 6.7 rebounds on 63% FG



Injury Update

Nets

Vince Carter was grabbing his left hamstring at the end of Wednesday's game and it seemed to be tight after the showers

Jazz

Leandro Barbosa left Wednesday's game with a left ankle sprain with 8:33 remaining in the second quarter.


Team Stat Leaders

Nets

PPG- V. Carter 28.2
RPG- J. Kidd 8.1
APG- J. Kidd 9.0

Suns

PPG- S. Nash 19.3
RPG- S. Marion 9.0
APG- S. Nash 10.9


Amare32's Key Player of the game

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Vince Carter- Had a great start to the season averaging 28.2 points per game on 46% from the floor and 38% from three. He will be the key man to stop for the Suns to be successful.


Final Thoughts (preview from Yahoo)

Former teammates Steve Nash and Jason Kidd are widely regarded as two of the best point guards in the NBA.


They've got another thing in common this season - they're both playing for teams off to surprisingly slow starts.


Nash and the Suns look for a season-high third straight win when they host Kidd and the Nets on Friday in a matchup of 5-6 teams.


Nash and Kidd are linked from their days together in Phoenix from 1996-98. It was the first two NBA seasons for Nash, who served as Kidd's backup.
Both players truly flourished after leaving the Suns. Nash blossomed into an



All-Star while playing with Dallas before returning to Phoenix in 2004 and becoming a two-time league MVP, leading the Suns to two straight appearances in the Western Conference finals.


The second team change for Kidd also resulted in the most successful years of his career, having led New Jersey to two straight appearances in the NBA finals in his first two seasons with the Nets.


The Nets have lost 12 straight trips to Phoenix since March 13, 1993, and have managed an average of only 84.4 points in five visits since Kidd joined the team. They fell 92-81 last season.


Phoenix and New Jersey are both considered contenders to reach the NBA finals this season, but neither team has been consistent to this point.


The Suns appear closer to getting back on track after winning for the fourth time in five games on Wednesday, 92-83 over New Orleans.


The usually offensive-minded Suns limited the Hornets to a total of 25 points in the second and third quarters combined in their best defensive performance of the season.



Amare Stoudemire had a forgettable night, missing his only shot and being held scoreless for only the third time in his career. Stoudemire, returning from microfracture knee surgery, averaged 20.8 points and 10.3 rebounds over his four previous games.


``It was pretty rough, but why shouldn't he have a rough game, we thought he would and he's been playing unbelievable,'' D'Antoni said. ``He's got ups and downs and he's just got to have some patience.''


Suns guard Leandro Barbosa sprained his left ankle with 8:33 remaining in the second quarter and did not return. Barbosa, listed as day to day, is second on the team with 18.5 points per game.


New Jersey has lost three straight after falling to 0-2 on a four-game road trip with a 100-97 loss at Portland on Wednesday.



The Nets blew a 13-point halftime lead, two nights after being up by six at the break in a 99-87 loss at Seattle.





Thought I may as well do a mini preview for my 1000 post here on ASN

 

[Ronin]

Barbosa out,Banks sick, but i still think that the Suns can win this one.

Barbosa out for Nets game
11/24/2006 02:51:45

Suns guard Leandro Barbosa will not play in tonight's home game against New Jersey due to a left ankle sprain.

Barbosa originally injured the ankle Monday at Golden State but aggravated it in the second quarter of Wednesday's home game against New Orleans. Barbosa, averaging 18.5 points and 5.2 assists this season, came downtown on Thanksgiving for treatment but the ankle was still too swollen today.

He will be "day-to-day." After tonight's tilt, the Suns' next game is Sunday at Portland.

Marcus Banks is also questionable for tonight's game because of flu symptoms. If Banks can't play, the Suns would likely use Jalen Rose some at the point or even Boris Diaw as a distributor. Steve Nash may also have to play more minutes. Nash is averaging 36 minutes per game, which is more than any season average of his previous 10 years.

http://www.azcentral.com/blogs/inde...ets_game&more=1&c=1&tb=1&pb=1&blogtype=Sports

 

[F-Dog]

I think the Suns will need Banks, believe it or not. They haven't done well playing 'big' over the last couple of years.


Anyway, this is a game the Suns should win handily--New Jersey hasn't been playing well, and they don't have much depth, with Antione Wright as the team's sixth man and Uncle Cliffy still pulling major minutes. The Suns should be able to run them right out of the building.

On the other hand, the Suns have never had an answer for Vince Carter.



Suns are favored by six, a suspiciously small number in my eyes; it probably means the sharps are expecting this game to go down to the wire. Probably because of something related to tryptophan.

 

[Louis]

I thought the Suns paid $21 million to ensure Nash gets a break in minutes?

 

[elindholm]

I'm starting to think that they paid $21 million in order to get Barbosa to agree to an affordable extension.

 

[az1965]

Nice start... although already have 3 turnovers

 

[boisesuns]

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"RIIIIICHARD JEFFERSON!"

 

[az1965]

I hope they keep up the pace and not go into a shell with a big lead that has been the problem this season.

 

[BuddyFranklin]

The Suns are playing very solid defense. Stoudemire is off to a super start. Nice block just then. Suns looking very good.

Might I say the Eastern conference is joke.

 

[slinslin]

4 Quarters of this please.

 

[BuddyFranklin]

Stoudemire to Marion. NICE.

 

[az1965]

Amare looks active today.

Bell is on fire from 3 pt land.

 

[az1965]

God, Suns shooting 83%!! 67% from 3 pt!!

Keep it up! Keep it up!

 

[BuddyFranklin]

Raja Bell has been sensational in the last few games.

Banks got his 40 seconds of game time, take him out now.

 

[az1965]

Let's see if Banks can sustain the intensity... if not, I would pull him out in an eye blink before losing too much of this lead.

 

[Ciani]

This is now something we expected from the Suns, great offense and good D - especially Amare's defence was great in the 1st quarter. Lets see the 2nd unit without Barbosa.

 

[tobiazz]

Why aren't you guys logging into http://arizonasportsfans.com/chat.php ?

 

[BuddyFranklin]

Ok... leave Banks in a lil bit longer.

 

[krispydude]

god i hate when our offense goes stagnant

 

[BuddyFranklin]

James Jones should look up 'Good shot selection'.

Suns just forcing everything. Stoudemire need to kick that ball back out rather than try and put it up with 3 guys on his back.

Put the starters back in. This is terrrrrrrrrrrible.

 

[slinslin]

James Jones man, he sucks, everytime..

 

[Nash]

what the HELL! we're getting murdered. the defense in the paint stinks.

update: MVP! MVP!

 

[krispydude]

jeeze..amare has like 5 blocks already?

 

[Ronin]

please take James Jones out of the game.

 

[Treesquid PhD]

jeeze..amare has like 5 blocks already?

shhhhhh