Suns at Blazers 7:30PM MY45

[FArting]

When the Suns met the Trail Blazers two weeks ago, they were having a hard time adjusting to life with Shaquille O'Neal.
Phoenix appears to have solved those problems.
The Suns look to win five straight games for the first time in three months and move closer to first place in the Pacific Division when they visit Portland on Tuesday.
The Suns (44-22) hoped O'Neal would help bolster their inside presence when they acquired the 14-time All-Star from Miami on Feb. 6. The 36-year-old O'Neal, however, didn't immediately jell with Phoenix's up-tempo style.
The Suns had the best record in the Pacific at 37-16 before O'Neal joined the lineup, but went 3-6 in his first nine games, dropping them four games behind the division-leading Los Angeles Lakers. Phoenix has managed to turn things around though, winning its last four games to move within one-game of the first-place Lakers.
The Suns raced past Sacramento 127-99 on Saturday, shooting 60.8 percent from the floor and 11-of-19 from 3-point range. Phoenix has won its last three games by an average of 19.0 points, while shooting 58.4 percent from the field.
On Saturday, the Suns were up 37-34 after the first quarter, but blew open the game in the second, outscoring the Kings 42-14.
"It's beautiful. It's totally beautiful," Amare Stoudemire said. "When you're playing great basketball and you're playing team basketball, there's no sport greater -- when you're just enjoying yourself and everybody gets along."
Stoudemire had 30 points on 10-for-15 shooting and 10 rebounds against Sacramento. He is averaging 31.7 points on 66.0 percent shooting and 11.3 boards in his last three games.
Steve Nash finished with 18 points and eight assists on Saturday, while Gordan Giricek had a season-high 23 points off the bench.
"I've been on a lot of good teams," said O'Neal, who had 17 points on 6-of-6 shooting and eight rebounds versus the Kings, "but this team actually has every piece from one to 12. It probably is the first team I've played on that has every piece one to 12."
In the Suns' first meeting of the season with the Blazers (35-32) on March 4, O'Neal had six points on 1-of-5 shooting and 13 rebounds in a 97-92 victory at the Rose Garden. Stoudemire had 22 points and seven rebounds in that win, while Nash had 19 points and four assists.
The Suns have won seven straight and 11 of their last 12 games against the Blazers. Phoenix also has won the last four at the Rose Garden, where Portland has split its last 12 overall games.
The Suns, who play six of their next seven on the road, have not won five in a row since Nov. 30-Dec. 7.
Portland opened a three-game homestand Saturday with a 107-96 victory over Minnesota.
LaMarcus Aldridge had 26 points and five rebounds, while Brandon Roy finished with 25 points and eight assists.
"By now we know each other and each other's shots that we're going to take," Aldridge said of the chemistry between him and Roy. "The coaches know what we both can do so we can incorporate both things now. I think we have a good rhythm."
Aldridge is averaging 23.7 points -- 6.2 better than his season average -- in his last six games, while Roy is averaging 24.3 points -- 4.5 more than his season average -- in his last three.
Roy had 25 points against the Suns earlier this month, and is averaging 24.6 points in his last three games versus them.
Aldridge, though, has not had the same success against Phoenix. He had 11 points on 3-of-15 shooting against the Suns two weeks ago, and is averaging 6.0 points in five career games versus them.

http://scores.espn.go.com/nba/preview?gameId=280318022

 

[LV-Suns]

any update on Hill?

 

[Bufalay]

any update on Hill?

He's awesome

 

[KidPhoenix]

http://www.azcentral.com/sports/suns/articles/0317suns.html

Forward Grant Hill didn't participate in Monday's practice to protect his sprained right wrist. D'Antoni said he expected him to play Tuesday night at Portland

 

[Kody Rumin]

I hope Phoenix starts off hot, and Hill only has to play limited minutes tonight and tomorrow in Seattle.

 

[nashman]

Hopefully the way we have been playing we can put them away early.

Suns 120
Blazers 98

 

[mjb21aztd]

Could be hard game to win in Portland the blazers are a real streaky team, but I have no doubt the suns will pull this win off or atleast I hope they do GO SUNS

Suns 112

Blazers 107

Leading Scorer Barbosa 27 pts

 

[TJ]

We were still in "training camp" mode last time we played them. Im curious to see how we play tonight

I hope Grant is OK

 

[Griffin]

By no means is this an easy game. Portland has been tough at home. They outplayed us last time in the second half, although we came away with the victory. So far we've been playing really well at home for the past several games. Can we finally take this show on the road?

 

[cly2tw]

anyone has a link for game online?

 

[Andrew]

that sideline reporter is hot.

 

[mojorizen7]

anyone has a link for game online?

http://www.janeironation.5gigs.com/cc.html

 

[TJ]

Not a great start for the Suns

 

[Lynx280]

wouldnt say its a bad start. that pryzbilla guy is a major dud, pain in the heiny

 

[Lynx280]

wow barbossa has been great lately, doin his job steppin in and hitten the 3

 

[Andrew]

Amare with poor decision making, picking up his 2nd foul already...

 

[cly2tw]

http://www.janeironation.5gigs.com/cc.html

Thanks. It wasn't working moments ago.

 

[mojorizen7]

Who is that in Diaw's body?

 

[Hat]

D'Antoni feeling some confidence in his bench.

I'm liking it

 

[mojorizen7]

Thanks. It wasn't working moments ago.

Sure.
We have a Skinner sighting.
Nice.

 

[cly2tw]

Skinner lost an offensive rebound to Frye by not boxing out properly!

 

[Hat]

man these commentators are annoying!

 

[Andrew]

stupid foul on Gordan...

 

[mojorizen7]

WhyTF was Gears contesting a 50 foot shot attempt?

 

[Hat]

Dumb foul Girick

C'mon!