Friday: Suns at Celtics
When: 5:30 p.m. | Where: TD Banknorth Garden.
TV/radio: My45/KTAR-AM (620).
Celtics update: Boston (6-0) already had a claim on the NBA's best defense but adding Rasheed Wallace has strengthened it. The Celtics are giving up 41 percent field-goal shooting. The Suns need to be more careful than they have been with 17.6 turnovers per game. Paul Pierce is averaging 19.7 points on 53 percent shooting, including 54 percent on 3-pointers. Rajon Rondo's 9.7 assist average is second in the NBA to Steve Nash (10.8).
Notes:
http://www.azcentral.com/sports/suns/articles/2009/11/05/20091105spt-sunstopteams.html
by Paul Coro - Nov. 5, 2009 08:56 PM
The Arizona Republic
BOSTON - It used to be that a season's defining moments for the Suns came against the top teams. They were games that would state grandly whether Phoenix was living up to its championship-caliber dreams.
This week, Wednesday night's loss at Orlando and Friday's visit to Boston are simply for good measure. Nobody expects the Suns to operate at the level of those teams. Many wonder whether the Suns are a playoff-caliber team. Their 4-0 start this season and their wins against the league's bottom half all the more important.
"I don't know if we're ever going to get to that level but we've got to keep fighting and see how good we can be," Suns guard Steve Nash said. "But I like our team a lot. I envisioned it being like this. We've got a lot of work to do. I like where we're going and I'm excited by the prospects."
Facing Orlando on the second night of a road back-to-back was a formidable test for the Suns, even with the Magic missing stars Vince Carter and Rashard Lewis. Friday might be the toughest game the Suns have all season, playing at superpower Boston. The Celtics have not given up more than 90 points in any game during their 6-0 start and are shooting 50.1 percent, as are the Suns.
"We don't want to put added pressure on ourselves," said Suns power forward Amaré Stoudemire, who lost his first game Wednesday with Alvin Gentry as coach in seven tries. "The Orlandos and Bostons and Lakers are well-established teams and they've been in the playoffs for years and been in Finals and won championships. I do think we're on our way to being a successful team and getting back into the playoffs and then going a little further."
Gentry is going for his 200th career head coaching win Friday night but could not have a tougher place to do it. The Suns have lost 104-87 and 117-97 in their past two visits to Boston.
Phoenix, Toronto and Golden State are the only teams to score at least 100 in each game this season, and the Suns barely got there in Wednesday's 122-100 loss at Orlando. They fell behind 27-13 before Howard's foul trouble allowed them back into the game. Howard's second-half return, however, made it a Magic blowout.
"I think we're going to be OK," Gentry said. "I have a tendency to look at the positives. I think we're growing as a team. As long as we continue to compete the way we will, good things are going to happen."
When: 5:30 p.m. | Where: TD Banknorth Garden.
TV/radio: My45/KTAR-AM (620).
Celtics update: Boston (6-0) already had a claim on the NBA's best defense but adding Rasheed Wallace has strengthened it. The Celtics are giving up 41 percent field-goal shooting. The Suns need to be more careful than they have been with 17.6 turnovers per game. Paul Pierce is averaging 19.7 points on 53 percent shooting, including 54 percent on 3-pointers. Rajon Rondo's 9.7 assist average is second in the NBA to Steve Nash (10.8).
Notes:
- Barbosa could return vs. Celtics. The pain and swelling have reduced and Barbosa says "If feel good, I'll go".
- Suns are currently the 2nd worst Free Throw shooting team in the NBA at 68.8%.
http://www.azcentral.com/sports/suns/articles/2009/11/05/20091105spt-sunstopteams.html
by Paul Coro - Nov. 5, 2009 08:56 PM
The Arizona Republic
BOSTON - It used to be that a season's defining moments for the Suns came against the top teams. They were games that would state grandly whether Phoenix was living up to its championship-caliber dreams.
This week, Wednesday night's loss at Orlando and Friday's visit to Boston are simply for good measure. Nobody expects the Suns to operate at the level of those teams. Many wonder whether the Suns are a playoff-caliber team. Their 4-0 start this season and their wins against the league's bottom half all the more important.
"I don't know if we're ever going to get to that level but we've got to keep fighting and see how good we can be," Suns guard Steve Nash said. "But I like our team a lot. I envisioned it being like this. We've got a lot of work to do. I like where we're going and I'm excited by the prospects."
Facing Orlando on the second night of a road back-to-back was a formidable test for the Suns, even with the Magic missing stars Vince Carter and Rashard Lewis. Friday might be the toughest game the Suns have all season, playing at superpower Boston. The Celtics have not given up more than 90 points in any game during their 6-0 start and are shooting 50.1 percent, as are the Suns.
"We don't want to put added pressure on ourselves," said Suns power forward Amaré Stoudemire, who lost his first game Wednesday with Alvin Gentry as coach in seven tries. "The Orlandos and Bostons and Lakers are well-established teams and they've been in the playoffs for years and been in Finals and won championships. I do think we're on our way to being a successful team and getting back into the playoffs and then going a little further."
Gentry is going for his 200th career head coaching win Friday night but could not have a tougher place to do it. The Suns have lost 104-87 and 117-97 in their past two visits to Boston.
Phoenix, Toronto and Golden State are the only teams to score at least 100 in each game this season, and the Suns barely got there in Wednesday's 122-100 loss at Orlando. They fell behind 27-13 before Howard's foul trouble allowed them back into the game. Howard's second-half return, however, made it a Magic blowout.
"I think we're going to be OK," Gentry said. "I have a tendency to look at the positives. I think we're growing as a team. As long as we continue to compete the way we will, good things are going to happen."
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