azdad1978
Championship!!!!
By Craig Morgan, Tribune
Every time the Suns score 100 points or more at America West Arena, Jack in the Box hands out two free tacos to ticket holders.
The fast-food giant might want to choose a new promotion before the Suns put it out of business. Riding their most torrid stretch of the season and the energy of a sellout crowd, Phoenix made dog food out of the Eastern Conference's leading horse, scoring more than 120 points for the second straight game in a 122-107 win over the Miami Heat on Tuesday night.
Amaré Stoudemire led Phoenix with 34 points on 13-of-19 shooting, but every Suns starter reached double figures — by halftime!
“We're back," said Suns coach Mike D'Antoni, whose team has won seven straight after a pre-New Year's lull. “Right now it's kind of fitting altogether. I think this is probably our best stretch we've had all year."
It's hard to argue with the numbers. Since a lackluster win Dec. 29 in New Orleans, Phoenix is outscoring its last six opponents by an average of 17 points. The Suns also topped 120 points in back-to-back games for the first time since March 3 and 5, 1995. “We're moving the ball so well and that makes it a lot of fun," said guard Joe Johnson, who had an incredibly well-rounded game with 24 points, nine rebounds, five assists and three steals.
The much-hyped battle between Heat center Shaquille O'Neal and Stoudemire lived up to its billing. Each converted eight of his first nine shots — O'Neal mostly via the dunk and Stoudemire on a variety of drives and mid-range jumpers — and both finished with 34 points.
But the battle between the East and West's top teams was over by the time the Suns had finished dumping in a season-high 40 first-quarter points to grab a 40-25 lead. “I don't know what to tell you," Miami coach Stan Van Gundy said. “We got absolutely dominated right from the get-go.
“I don't know if I've seen a quicker team in my 10 years in the league."
The Suns got 26 points and 11 rebounds from Shawn Marion, 16 points and 16 assists from Steve Nash and 14 points and seven rebounds from Quentin Richardson. In all, the Suns starters accounted for 114 points.
Miami mounted its only threat early in the third quarter when it pulled within 71-61 on a jumper by Dwyane (cq) Wade (23 points, eight assists). But the Suns responded with an 18-4 run, capped by a Stoudemire dunk over O'Neal to open a 24-point lead.
“I just tried to mix it up and give him a little bit of everything," said Stoudemire, who downplayed the matchup with O'Neal. “It was more like the Suns against Shaq."
MILE-HIGH DREAMING
With Utah's win over San Antonio Monday the Suns now own a four-game lead in the loss column on the Spurs and Seattle. If Phoenix has the best record in the Western Conference on Feb. 6 (14 games away) D'Antoni will be the West’s All-Star game coach, but he isn't thinking about that possibility. He's still worrying about whether his 31-4 team will make the playoffs.
“You don't know how much I root for those eighth-place teams to lose," D'Antoni said, laughing. “Every night, it's draining me."
Ironically, the All-Star game will be held in Denver this year where D'Antoni got his first NBA head coaching opportunity during the strike-shortened 1998-99 season — albeit, a lousy opportunity given the dearth of talent the Nuggets sported.
“I would love to have the best record and that would be reward enough," D'Antoni said. “If the other thing would happen, great. But we've got a lot of road trips and back-to-backs. If we can get out of this month good then I'll be happy."
BACK ON THE JOB
Suns chairman Jerry Colangelo was back at work Tuesday for the first time since undergoing surgery for prostate cancer Dec. 30. He had good news.
“I got a complete bill of health," Colangelo said. “I have a lot to be thankful for. I still have to be a little cautious and not go full speed but when you get a clean bill of health after being diagnosed with cancer you feel very blessed.
“It was a turbulent 2004," added Colangelo, referring to the death of longtime friend Cotton Fitzsimmons, the sale of the Suns, his induction into the National Basketball Hall of Fame and his ouster as CEO of the Diamondbacks, “but 2005 is off to a good start."
http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/index.php?sty=34593
Every time the Suns score 100 points or more at America West Arena, Jack in the Box hands out two free tacos to ticket holders.
The fast-food giant might want to choose a new promotion before the Suns put it out of business. Riding their most torrid stretch of the season and the energy of a sellout crowd, Phoenix made dog food out of the Eastern Conference's leading horse, scoring more than 120 points for the second straight game in a 122-107 win over the Miami Heat on Tuesday night.
Amaré Stoudemire led Phoenix with 34 points on 13-of-19 shooting, but every Suns starter reached double figures — by halftime!
“We're back," said Suns coach Mike D'Antoni, whose team has won seven straight after a pre-New Year's lull. “Right now it's kind of fitting altogether. I think this is probably our best stretch we've had all year."
It's hard to argue with the numbers. Since a lackluster win Dec. 29 in New Orleans, Phoenix is outscoring its last six opponents by an average of 17 points. The Suns also topped 120 points in back-to-back games for the first time since March 3 and 5, 1995. “We're moving the ball so well and that makes it a lot of fun," said guard Joe Johnson, who had an incredibly well-rounded game with 24 points, nine rebounds, five assists and three steals.
The much-hyped battle between Heat center Shaquille O'Neal and Stoudemire lived up to its billing. Each converted eight of his first nine shots — O'Neal mostly via the dunk and Stoudemire on a variety of drives and mid-range jumpers — and both finished with 34 points.
But the battle between the East and West's top teams was over by the time the Suns had finished dumping in a season-high 40 first-quarter points to grab a 40-25 lead. “I don't know what to tell you," Miami coach Stan Van Gundy said. “We got absolutely dominated right from the get-go.
“I don't know if I've seen a quicker team in my 10 years in the league."
The Suns got 26 points and 11 rebounds from Shawn Marion, 16 points and 16 assists from Steve Nash and 14 points and seven rebounds from Quentin Richardson. In all, the Suns starters accounted for 114 points.
Miami mounted its only threat early in the third quarter when it pulled within 71-61 on a jumper by Dwyane (cq) Wade (23 points, eight assists). But the Suns responded with an 18-4 run, capped by a Stoudemire dunk over O'Neal to open a 24-point lead.
“I just tried to mix it up and give him a little bit of everything," said Stoudemire, who downplayed the matchup with O'Neal. “It was more like the Suns against Shaq."
MILE-HIGH DREAMING
With Utah's win over San Antonio Monday the Suns now own a four-game lead in the loss column on the Spurs and Seattle. If Phoenix has the best record in the Western Conference on Feb. 6 (14 games away) D'Antoni will be the West’s All-Star game coach, but he isn't thinking about that possibility. He's still worrying about whether his 31-4 team will make the playoffs.
“You don't know how much I root for those eighth-place teams to lose," D'Antoni said, laughing. “Every night, it's draining me."
Ironically, the All-Star game will be held in Denver this year where D'Antoni got his first NBA head coaching opportunity during the strike-shortened 1998-99 season — albeit, a lousy opportunity given the dearth of talent the Nuggets sported.
“I would love to have the best record and that would be reward enough," D'Antoni said. “If the other thing would happen, great. But we've got a lot of road trips and back-to-backs. If we can get out of this month good then I'll be happy."
BACK ON THE JOB
Suns chairman Jerry Colangelo was back at work Tuesday for the first time since undergoing surgery for prostate cancer Dec. 30. He had good news.
“I got a complete bill of health," Colangelo said. “I have a lot to be thankful for. I still have to be a little cautious and not go full speed but when you get a clean bill of health after being diagnosed with cancer you feel very blessed.
“It was a turbulent 2004," added Colangelo, referring to the death of longtime friend Cotton Fitzsimmons, the sale of the Suns, his induction into the National Basketball Hall of Fame and his ouster as CEO of the Diamondbacks, “but 2005 is off to a good start."
http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/index.php?sty=34593
