Nuggets vs Suns 4/18

[Cheesebeef]

I will never understand why Kenyon Martin doesn't just become an Amare Stoudamire-like dominating player. They guy ash inside game, can put the ball on the floor, shoot from outside and power it up with the best of them. It really says something about Amare's drive and Kenyon's lack thereof because that guy SHOULD be a monster and just never seems to put it all together for a sustained period of time(not that I'm complaining mind you - just a head scratcher).

 

[arthurracoon]

good game guys - came out ON FIRE. you will be tough in the post season. good luck vs the grizz.

Good luck to you guys as well!

Hopefully Camby, et.all., get healthy.

That Spurs-Nuggets series is going to be good.

 

[az1965]

Nugz 0-2 for 3 pts, Suns 11-23... Interesting.

 

[Chaplin]

Ok. We just intentionally fouled for a timeout.

Is it Paul Shirley Time??

 

[arthurracoon]

Shirley shoots!

HE SCORES!!!

Suns win 128-114, even though they played the last quarter almost with their bench.

 

[cly2tw]

good game guys - came out ON FIRE. you will be tough in the post season. good luck vs the grizz.

Good luck to you guys too! Hope we can meet in the WCF!

 

[thegrahamcrackr]

Denver Nuggets: Forward Eduardo Najera broke a bone in his right hand late in Monday night's loss to the Phoenix Suns.

The Nuggets said his status for the first-round playoff series against San Antonio would be determined later in the week.

Najera has averaged 5.2 points in 25 games with Denver since being acquired in a trade with Golden State.

When did this happen?

 

[jibikao]

We don't need Spurs' loss to get the #1 spot. We beat the hell lot of Nuggets instead. I like the 2nd approach better.


I agree that Q is the guy I worry about the most. I don't see confidence in his shots. I am glad he made a few 3pt and I am sure those help.

Q needs to step up on Wed and I think we are set for playoffs!


PS: I don't like Nuggets but I definitely would cheer for them to beat Spurs.

 

[clif]

When did this happen?

probably right when he tried to block hunter's dunk attempt and fouled the hell out of him in the 4th

 

[myrondizzo]

marions numbers were amazing. only 31 min.he really did it all even though his rebs. were down a little.
S. Marion
Points: 18
Reb: 9
Ast: 3
Stl: 3
Blk: 3

 

[jibikao]

marions numbers were amazing. only 31 min.he really did it all even though his rebs. were down a little.
S. Marion
Points: 18
Reb: 9
Ast: 3
Stl: 3
Blk: 3

This just points out that how people are so wrong about us. OK, we are not the #1 defensive team but we are not that bad either. Last night our defense in the first half totally dominated Nuggets. Marion's 3 steals and 3 block shots totally explained it. And I think Amare had a few blocks and Nash had 1-2 steals. Ok, if you don't call that defense, I don't know what it is.

Nuggets had been on winning streak because their defense had turned up, but not against us. Our offense is too much for them to handle baby.

 

[JPlay]

The 1st half and 1st quarter of last night was the best defense I have seen the Suns play all year. I knew they were capable of it. Challenging shots and passes. Use those fouls if you have to. It was a great win. The lost defensive focus in the second half but were able to keep scoring. I know this team has the potential to be even better which is scary. Great Win!

 

[JCSunsfan]

I sure wish we could play the winner of the 3-6 matchup in the second round rather than the winner of the 4-5.

There should be some good series in the first round. Dallas/Houston should be very good, as should Denver/San Antonio.

Let's root for Dallas to take out Houston. Ming seems to frustrate Amare, and we match up with Dallas well.

 

[elindholm]

Let's root for Dallas to take out Houston. Ming seems to frustrate Amare, and we match up with Dallas well.

I agree. I said a couple of weeks ago that Houston was the potential first-round opponent that scared me the most. I'm not exactly thrilled about meeting them in the second round, either.

And I hadn't really thought about the break the Spurs are getting. Denver might be tough in the first round, if they can recover from their recent swoon. But if San Antonio wins that series, I can't imagine them being seriously challenged by either Seattle or Sacramento. Basically they'll coast to the conference finals if they can take care of business against the Nuggets.

 

[Chaplin]

Let's root for Dallas to take out Houston. Ming seems to frustrate Amare, and we match up with Dallas well.

No thanks. Besides maybe us, Dallas is the one team that is on a roll going into the playoffs. Yao Ming and Tracy McGrady can't carry their whole team into beating us in a 7-game series. It's that simple. Dallas has a lot of weapons, too many for a Houston team with no point guard to speak of and without their starting PF.

Doesn't matter anyway, I think Dallas won't have any trouble taking Houston out.

 

[elindholm]

Yao Ming and Tracy McGrady can't carry their whole team into beating us in a 7-game series. It's that simple.

Your contempt for Yao is clouding your judgment. Yao has more or less neutralized both Stoudemire and Nash, because Stoudemire insists on running directly into him and Nash loses his penetration threat. The Rockets have played the Suns very tough, and if they can do it in one game, they can do it in seven. Phoenix would be favored, but to dismiss the Rockets as an automatic series win is incorrect.

 

[Chaplin]

Yao Ming and Tracy McGrady can't carry their whole team into beating us in a 7-game series. It's that simple.

Your contempt for Yao is clouding your judgment.

Wow, what a patronizing and arrogant statement. I can't believe you wrote that.

Yao has more or less neutralized both Stoudemire and Nash, because Stoudemire insists on running directly into him and Nash loses his penetration threat. The Rockets have played the Suns very tough, and if they can do it in one game, they can do it in seven. Phoenix would be favored, but to dismiss the Rockets as an automatic series win is incorrect.

I stand by what I said, no matter what your opinion is. And that's just what you have, an opinion. So don't talk down to me like you're talking in indisputed fact...

 

[Joe Mama]

No thanks. Besides maybe us, Dallas is the one team that is on a roll going into the playoffs. Yao Ming and Tracy McGrady can't carry their whole team into beating us in a 7-game series. It's that simple. Dallas has a lot of weapons, too many for a Houston team with no point guard to speak of and without their starting PF.

Doesn't matter anyway, I think Dallas won't have any trouble taking Houston out.

I agree with your preference for facing Houston rather than Dallas. Dallas is finally healthy, and they are playing pretty good defense under Avery Johnson. Other than San Antonio they are probably the team that scares me the most at this point followed by Denver if they have a healthy lineup.

However I do disagree about Yao Ming and Tracy McGrady carrying the Rockets against the Suns. Tracy McGrady almost single-handedly beat Detroit a couple years ago in the playoffs. He didn't have nearly the supporting cast he does now with Houston. If the referees treat Yao Ming like they did in the last quarter of that game a month ago against the Suns it's going to be very difficult for Amare and the rest of the Suns to get the ball inside. Besides, it isn't just McGrady and Yao. There are some other players on that team like David Wesley who are very capable of getting hot.

Still, I agree with you that the Phoenix Suns are better off facing the Rockets than the Dallas Mavericks. The Mavericks might be playing the best basketball in the NBA right now. I love the fact that one of these two teams is not going to make it to the second round, and the survivor is likely to be at least slightly worn from a tough first-round series.

I don't think the Memphis grizzlies are going to be a cakewalk, but I don't think the playoff match ups could have worked out any better for the Phoenix Suns. Perhaps if Sacramento had dropped all the way to #8 that would be better.

Joe Mama

 

[Amare32]

Great game, one you want to continue to play back over and over again.

Was surprised at how much Lenard gave the Nuggets. Out all season and gets 14 points in 17 minutes. Credit to him. Melo was also on fire, yet we still won easily.

Can't wait for the playoffs.

 

[JCSunsfan]

So, we have 2 votes for playing Houston in the second round (chap and Joe) and 2 who would prefer Dallas (Eric and JC). Anyone want to break the tie?

BTW, is there any argument about the fact that we would much prefer Sac or the Sonics over either of those teams?

We do have to beat Memphis first.

 

[Chaplin]

So, we have 2 votes for playing Houston in the second round (chap and Joe) and 2 who would prefer Dallas (Eric and JC). Anyone want to break the tie?

BTW, is there any argument about the fact that we would much prefer Sac or the Sonics over either of those teams?

We do have to beat Memphis first.

I think Sacramento is the team most of us would like us to face the most in the playoffs. But it won't happen.

 

[Cheesebeef]

I really think it's a toss-up between Houston and Dallas. They both have size advantages on us and both have dynamic scorers who can take over a series - that being said - I think we eek out series wins in 7 games over Dallas and probably 6 games over Houston (but EVERYONE in the media picks that series to be their upset special - no matter who play).

 

[George O'Brien]

One thing we have not seen is what D'Antoni can do when given a chance to prepare for one team. My suspicion is that he will make a few adjustments. Here are a few I'd like to see:

1. Have Q attack the basket more. He is very strong, a great leaper, and a good fould shooter. Equally important, when he goes to the boards there is a reasonable chance that Shawn or Amare could get some offensive rebounds.

2. Move the ball more before taking three point shots. The purpose is not so much to get better shots (doesn't hurt), but to make the opponent's defense work harder.

3. Run more plays to have Amare shoot from the elbow. Most centers are not prepared to come out to defend him since he can blow right by them, so he is typically open and shooting well from there. This is especially true against the Rockets.

4. Run more back door plays for Marion. Teams are having to foul him almost every time they run cut and alley oop plays.

5. Have Hunter deliberately try to miss his foul shots so the Suns have a chance of getting the ball back.