Phoenix at Milwaukee
Friday, January 26 2007
Suns-Bucks Preview
Most NBA franchises have never enjoyed a 15-game winning streak. They have become almost commonplace for the Phoenix Suns this season.
The Suns look to set a franchise record with their 16th consecutive victory Friday when they continue a five-game road trip against the struggling Milwaukee Bucks.
Phoenix (34-8) used 63-point second half Wednesday to beat the New York Knicks 112-107.
Barely a month after establishing a team record with a 15-game win streak, the Suns matched that run Wednesday. They are the first team to have two win streaks of at least 15 games in the same season since the Los Angeles Lakers had runs of 19 and 16 in a row during the 1999-00 season.
The other teams with two 15-game winning streaks are the 1996-97 Utah Jazz (both 15); the 1970-71 Bucks (20, 16); and the 1946-47 Washington Capitals (17, 15). Phoenix, though, is the first team to do it before the All-Star break.
"Especially in the first 41 games (actually 42), it's pretty tough," Phoenix coach Mike D'Antoni said of the streaks. "We take care of business, guys come out and play hard every night. They know when we should win. We've had some breaks along the way. Some people have been out. Hopefully it just keeps going and we keep getting better."
Making the Suns' accomplishment even more impressive is how many current NBA franchises have never won 15 straight. Only 10 teams have won 15 consecutive games, and only seven have won more than 15.
"I think you've got to be a good team," guard Steve Nash said. "I think we have a lot of talent and have great chemistry and some mental toughness. Whatever mental toughness we lack to start games we find somewhere in us to win games. I think that's part of the key."
Amare Stoudemire keyed the Suns' big second half Wednesday, scoring 26 of his 30 points after the break.
Nash added 22 points and 14 assists while Shawn Marion had 20 points and 10 boards for Phoenix, which improved to 19-1 against Eastern Conference teams -- 10-0 on the road. The last team to win its first 10 interconference road games was Utah, which opened 11-0 in 1994-95.
Wednesday's victory also meant D'Antoni will coach the West in next month's All-Star game. With Dallas' Avery Johnson ineligible because he coached last year, D'Antoni earned the spot by clinching the highest winning percentage among coaches through games of Feb. 4.
The Suns figure to have a good chance to extend their run against the Bucks (17-25), losers of five straight and 10 of 11.
Despite a career-high 36 points from Earl Boykins, Milwaukee couldn't overcome Ron Artest's 36 points Wednesday in a 114-106 loss at Sacramento.
"The ultimate goal is to win basketball games and whenever you play well (and lose) it's an empty feeling," Boykins said. "Tonight we just didn't start the game in the right mind frame. We got down 10 points in the first quarter, which made it very difficult."
The Bucks are still without injured starters Michael Redd, Charlie Villanueva and Mo Williams. They are 1-8 without Redd -- the league's sixth-leading scorer -- and have fallen into last place in the Central Division.
None of the injured players are expected to be available Friday.
The Suns made it 19 straight home wins over the Bucks with a 122-116 victory on Dec. 1.
Phoenix has won 26 of the last 30 meetings overall, but has lost two of its last three visits to Milwaukee.
Friday, January 26 2007
Suns-Bucks Preview
Most NBA franchises have never enjoyed a 15-game winning streak. They have become almost commonplace for the Phoenix Suns this season.
The Suns look to set a franchise record with their 16th consecutive victory Friday when they continue a five-game road trip against the struggling Milwaukee Bucks.
Phoenix (34-8) used 63-point second half Wednesday to beat the New York Knicks 112-107.
Barely a month after establishing a team record with a 15-game win streak, the Suns matched that run Wednesday. They are the first team to have two win streaks of at least 15 games in the same season since the Los Angeles Lakers had runs of 19 and 16 in a row during the 1999-00 season.
The other teams with two 15-game winning streaks are the 1996-97 Utah Jazz (both 15); the 1970-71 Bucks (20, 16); and the 1946-47 Washington Capitals (17, 15). Phoenix, though, is the first team to do it before the All-Star break.
"Especially in the first 41 games (actually 42), it's pretty tough," Phoenix coach Mike D'Antoni said of the streaks. "We take care of business, guys come out and play hard every night. They know when we should win. We've had some breaks along the way. Some people have been out. Hopefully it just keeps going and we keep getting better."
Making the Suns' accomplishment even more impressive is how many current NBA franchises have never won 15 straight. Only 10 teams have won 15 consecutive games, and only seven have won more than 15.
"I think you've got to be a good team," guard Steve Nash said. "I think we have a lot of talent and have great chemistry and some mental toughness. Whatever mental toughness we lack to start games we find somewhere in us to win games. I think that's part of the key."
Amare Stoudemire keyed the Suns' big second half Wednesday, scoring 26 of his 30 points after the break.
Nash added 22 points and 14 assists while Shawn Marion had 20 points and 10 boards for Phoenix, which improved to 19-1 against Eastern Conference teams -- 10-0 on the road. The last team to win its first 10 interconference road games was Utah, which opened 11-0 in 1994-95.
Wednesday's victory also meant D'Antoni will coach the West in next month's All-Star game. With Dallas' Avery Johnson ineligible because he coached last year, D'Antoni earned the spot by clinching the highest winning percentage among coaches through games of Feb. 4.
The Suns figure to have a good chance to extend their run against the Bucks (17-25), losers of five straight and 10 of 11.
Despite a career-high 36 points from Earl Boykins, Milwaukee couldn't overcome Ron Artest's 36 points Wednesday in a 114-106 loss at Sacramento.
"The ultimate goal is to win basketball games and whenever you play well (and lose) it's an empty feeling," Boykins said. "Tonight we just didn't start the game in the right mind frame. We got down 10 points in the first quarter, which made it very difficult."
The Bucks are still without injured starters Michael Redd, Charlie Villanueva and Mo Williams. They are 1-8 without Redd -- the league's sixth-leading scorer -- and have fallen into last place in the Central Division.
None of the injured players are expected to be available Friday.
The Suns made it 19 straight home wins over the Bucks with a 122-116 victory on Dec. 1.
Phoenix has won 26 of the last 30 meetings overall, but has lost two of its last three visits to Milwaukee.
