Raja Ball in projected lineup card tonight

[Joe Mama]

Yuma - I usually think you're totally nutso, but I ws thinking the same thing. I just got a chill watching him out there in uniform.

He hits his first shot - the place will erupt and we win by 20.

This game HAS to be won on emotion - MUST WIN! MUST WIN!

I LOVE RAJA BELL!

Come on, Cheese... you figured out a way to insert that post after the game, didn't you?

I think your new name might be Nostradamus.

Update: Raja went back to the lockerroom to have his calf checked out one more time, but says he feels fine. Charles Barkley said he's watching him warmup and Raja has no explosion when going for him layups (although it's in warm-ups so take it for what it's worth). Charles is also already bagging on the crowd for not being loud enough 20 minutes before gametime.

When are people going to see the difference between "bagging" on the Phoenix Suns and making honest observations. the Phoenix Suns crowd was just dead in the second half of Game 3. They were quiet before Game 4. During the WCF the crowd needs to get the team going sometimes. It shouldn't be the other way around every time.

Charles has said repeatedly that he is cheering for the Phoenix Suns and wants them to win. In fact he was on the local news the other night addressing fans who think he doesn't like the Phoenix Suns. He said he hopes they win the championship, he loves the Phoenix Suns, he lives in Phoenix, and he loves Steve Nash. He just said he doesn't like their defense or lack thereof.

BTW if you guys are looking for another reason to get upset about something Charles Barkley said I heard this one on the local news last night. Bruce Cooper asked him whether Amare Stoudemire or Dwight Howard would be the best, young, power player in the NBA it a couple years. Without hesitation Charles Barkley said that in a couple years Dwight Howard will be the best player in the NBA. He said Howard is an absolute beast.

Of course while I defend Charles Barkley's comments I probably ought to say that he is frequently wrong, especially when it comes to his game analysis. Anybody who's ever thought he would make a great coach just needs to listen to him a couple nights on TNT to know that's a bad idea.

Joe

 

[amare2]

Howard MIGHT develop into a better overall player (although i'm skeptic about all the Howard hype because it's always "in a couple of years", never now), but he'll never be the versatile and explosive offensive player that Amare is.

Put into a system like Phoenix's, I doubt Howard plays much better defense than Amare either.

 

[DeAnna]

He was using reverse pschycology on Amare.

 

[dreamcastrocks]

BTW if you guys are looking for another reason to get upset about something Charles Barkley said I heard this one on the local news last night. Bruce Cooper asked him whether Amare Stoudemire or Dwight Howard would be the best, young, power player in the NBA it a couple years. Without hesitation Charles Barkley said that in a couple years Dwight Howard will be the best player in the NBA. He said Howard is an absolute beast.

Unfortunately, because of Amare's injury, he may be correct.

 

[nowagimp]

Raja Bell goes looking for things to be offended by. It's what motivates him these days, since he's become a multi-millionaire. Bell feeds off negative energy. He's like a 6-4 rat looking for a live wire.

Raja came out of nowhere, he wasnt even recruited by major college programs. Because of this, Raja will always feel he has to work harder to get credit. This is what makes him so tough mentally, his constant desire to work hard and succeed. If Raja didnt do this, he wouldnt even be in the NBA. That being said, when I saw him in the lineup and he hit that first shot, all I could think was that his return from injury to lead the undermanned suns to a win, just by gutting it out, was one of the most powerful moments I have witnessed in sport. To think that Raja was perhaps returning a favor to teammates that had helped him through the difficult flagrant situation with Kobe was as powerful a team story plot line as I've witnessed in a very long time. Raja Bell is a great teammate, and typifies why this suns team is so easy to love. These guys are so unselfish, its great to see them win and overcome obstacles as a team, with a chemistry that is, in my opinion, the best ever among suns teams. Hopefully, Raja will continue to be able to play effective minutes in this series.

When asked about his relieving Leo of the pressure of starting, Raja said:

" I just wanted to do what I could to help out our short rotation. Sometimes playing 47 minutes(referring to Leo) can be difficult if you're not used to it. I just tried to give him 15-20 minutes of rest". How can you not love that guy, with such guts and humility.