Phoenix @ Philadelphia - Game Thread - Wed. Feb. 28, 2007 - 5:00 pm

[Bufalay]

James Jones is completely outplaying Raja Bell right now and should be getting some of his minutes. Bell's defense has been pretty bad lately.

 

[TJ]

Im very disappointed tonight. Even though we were missing Matrix and 3D, we still should have controlled the tempo of this game. Instead, we let a much inferior team dictate the pace. This was partially because D'Antoni resorted to a 7 man rotation, which included Marcus "destroy the flow" Banks.

Thankfully, the playoffs dont start for another couple of months.

 

[Chris_Sanders]

I would be interested to know the Suns record when Marion doesn't play. His entire hand was taped up, so I would be suprised if he plays against Indiana. He took that broken finger and bruised thigh in last night's game and still finished with some big dunks and blocks.

Raja has been hurting us as of late since his shot has somewhat abandoned him. Since February 11th he has shot 29/83 for 34%. He has also played 39 minutes a game during that stretch. My guess is he is also suffering from some aches and pains which is why his shooting percentage is 10% down from his season average. We can say that with Nash back it is better but that hasn't been the case.

D'Antoni has clearly decided to let him play through it, but teams are now doubling Amare off of him and it hurts the offense. We saw this plenty tonight. Unfortunately D'Antoni's war with Barkley is only going to make him more stubborn about allowing his bench to play.

 

[Chris_Sanders]

Im very disappointed tonight. Even though we were missing Matrix and 3D, we still should have controlled the tempo of this game. Instead, we let a much inferior team dictate the pace. This was partially because D'Antoni resorted to a 7 man rotation, which included Marcus "destroy the flow" Banks.

Thankfully, the playoffs dont start for another couple of months.

Banks didn't hurt us when he was in the game. He really couldn't have done much worse than Raja did and has for about 3 weeks.

 

[SO91]

I saw a stretch where he put up a dumb shot over a guy he should take to the basket, then fouled Korver on a three point play, then didn't get back on D when one of our guards put up a shot, allowing Kyle freaking Korver to get behind him for an easy basket. He was immediately yanked and didn't get off the bench again. I'd say that was worse

 

[fordronken]

This team is just playing the bored basketball of a group that has nothing to strive for in the regular season. They're pretty much locked into the number two spot and need to get inspired before the playoffs start or they're gonna get crushed in the second or third round of the playoffs-- if not the first. They have no excuse for playing with a sense of entitlement. None whatsoever.

 

[TheHopToad]

I would be interested to know the Suns record when Marion doesn't play.

They are 0-1 this season, this being his first game missed.

Overall, they are 20-22 in games in which he did not play throughout his career, 4-7 excluding his rookie season:

2005-06: 1-0
2004-05: 0-1
2003-04: 1-2
2002-03: 1-0
2001-02: 0-1
2000-01: 1-2
1999-00: 16-15 (rookie year)

As you can see, he's been pretty durable throughout the years. He's also averaged close to 40 MPG for the past six seasons as well. Probably the best iron man we've had recently.

 

[Chris_Sanders]

I saw a stretch where he put up a dumb shot over a guy he should take to the basket, then fouled Korver on a three point play, then didn't get back on D when one of our guards put up a shot, allowing Kyle freaking Korver to get behind him for an easy basket. He was immediately yanked and didn't get off the bench again. I'd say that was worse

You are talking a 42 second stretch out of 15:59 of play. Prior to that he had played fine, far better than Bell. And he got yanked because there was 9 minutes left in the 4th quarter and D'Antoni played Barbosa as he always does.

You can take a small snippet of any game and say "that guy played bad" right there. Overall, Raja's 30% shooting in this game hurt us far more than a small snippet of a person's play.

 

[Chris_Sanders]

They are 0-1 this season, this being his first game missed.

Overall, they are 20-22 in games in which he did not play throughout his career, 4-7 excluding his rookie season:

2005-06: 1-0
2004-05: 0-1
2003-04: 1-2
2002-03: 1-0
2001-02: 0-1
2000-01: 1-2
1999-00: 16-15 (rookie year)

As you can see, he's been pretty durable throughout the years. He's also averaged close to 40 MPG for the past six seasons as well. Probably the best iron man we've had recently.

Thanks, I appreciate the work putting that together.

 

[CaptainInsano]

If marion and boris are out for a couple games, that is the time you play nash 20 mins a game and just give the bench some burn while we lose games.

This is where we will truely see if D'antoni is a competent coach or not, because if he burns nash out again playing him 38-40 mins a game in these we are going to go down in a fiery cascade of complete meltdown destruction come 2nd round of the playoffs.

Good job signing banks to that 4 mil per though, that is only going to completley screw us because even for a pick no one will screw themselves over for such a longterm with that lengthy expensive contract.

The best we can hope for next year is banks + clev pick + suns pick for cash considerations come the draft to get rid of him.

 

[Hugh D'Man]

Banks = our new Q. Mgt doesn't want him, it just a matter of coming to terms of how bad they don't want him.

Does the local press ever question D'Ant about not playing Rose, Pike and Jumaine ? A while back, he 'spun' off a comment about how 'they were not ready to play' and 'he wouldn't do that to them'...like he was looking out for them.

Are there any hecklers who get on him at the games? That can be surprisingly effective. GD, we used to torture McLeod, especially when he'd play 5 white guys. It was comical, you could see the crowd counting then the light bulb would go off and half a section would be screaming for a time out.

I get the feeling that D'Ant is Saint Mike with the desert media.

 

[elindholm]

Does the local press ever question D'Ant about not playing Rose, Pike and Jumaine ?

The only real candidate for playing time is Jumaine Jones. It's clear that Rose is a terrible fit for the Suns' style, and the notion that Piatkowski could help any NBA team at this stage of his career is laughable.

 

[JCSunsfan]

Banks = our new Q. Mgt doesn't want him, it just a matter of coming to terms of how bad they don't want him.

Does the local press ever question D'Ant about not playing Rose, Pike and Jumaine ? Saint Mike with the desert media.

Yes they have--about Rose anyway. The "whisper" answer is that Rose is as yet unable to play at the Suns pace. Press that have watched practice agree.

Please put me on the record as being just peachy with the coach's sub patterns.

 

[phillycard]

Does D'Antoni see something I don't? When your shooting guards go 9/30 and your not getting any production from Kurt, why not try other guys on the bench?

We were playing the freaking 76ers. If you were going to go deep into your bench, tonight was the night to do it. I don't freaking care if Jalen can't run. You trying to tell me he could have done any worse? Why wasn't Jumaine in there?

The use of the bench is getting extremely fustrating. So is losing to such horrible teams healthy or not.

I agree 100% SteelDog. I don't see why D'Antoni is hesitant to go deeper against bad teams. I think that cost them this one.

 

[Hugh D'Man]

Yes they have--about Rose anyway. The "whisper" answer is that Rose is as yet unable to play at the Suns pace. Press that have watched practice agree.

Please put me on the record as being just peachy with the coach's sub patterns.

The Whisper ? So Rose-spud has been playing, er rather practicing for the past 2 + mos and he still is not ready ??? Is there ANY reason to believe he WILL EVER be ready ? The guy showed up in reasonable shape, didn't he? And Jumaine , is he just flat out done ala Bo Outlaw ? I guess Marks is this yrs version of PShirley, less the towel. Jeezus, D'Ant might as well hired the Rockettes for his bench. They'd get about as much playing time and atleast could work up a sweat during the time outs.