Suns at Heat 3/4

[FArting]

After failing to lead the Phoenix Suns to a win against one of his former teams his last time out, center Shaquille O'Neal is hoping to avoid a similar fate versus another.
O'Neal returns to Miami for the first time since last season's trade, looking to help the Suns bounce back as he matches up against red-hot Dwyane Wade and the Heat on Wednesday night.

O'Neal was dealt from the Los Angeles Lakers to Miami in July 2004, and helped the Heat win the NBA title in 2006. But after averaging 19.6 points and 9.1 rebounds in three-plus injury-plagued seasons, the big man was traded to Phoenix (34-26) on Feb. 6, 2008.He's yet to play in Miami (31-28) since the move, but was in Florida on Tuesday night to face current Orlando center Dwight Howard and the Southeast Division-leading Magic -- the team that selected O'Neal first overall in 1992.

Howard scored two more points than O'Neal, whose technical foul with 3:38 left contributed to the Magic's late surge in the Suns' eventual 111-99 loss."I'm really too old to be trying to outscore 18-year-olds," O'Neal said, referring to the 23-year-old Howard. "It's not really my role anymore."O'Neal finished with 19 points and 11 rebounds, while Jason Richardson scored 27 for Phoenix, which lost for just the third time in nine games since the All-Star break. Steve Nash, meanwhile, had 20 points and eight assists after missing the previous three contests with a sprained right ankle.

Phoenix may have stumbled in the opener of its current four-game road trip, but has fared better in recent visits to Miami, winning three straight there. The Suns have a good chance of extending that streak if they get another solid effort from the resurgent O'Neal.O'Neal, who turns 37 Friday, is averaging 18.2 points this season but has scored 24.0 per contest over his last seven, helping the Suns move within two games of eighth place in the Western Conference.

He's averaged 24.0 points and 10.9 rebounds in 28 career games versus the Heat, but a 12-point, nine-rebound performance in his first matchup against them since the trade was bested by Wade, whose 43 points led Miami to a 107-92 victory in Phoenix on Nov. 28.Wade, among the league's leading scorers with 29.2 points, has been even more productive lately. He's averaging 34.2 points and 8.9 assists over his last nine contests, eclipsing the 40-point mark in each of his last two games and three times during that span.But after scoring 46 points -- four shy of the career high he set Feb. 22 -- in Saturday night's come-from-behind win over New York, Wade's 41 weren't enough to prevent a 107-100 loss to Central-leading Cleveland on Monday night.Miami led 91-80 following Wade's dunk with 7:52 remaining, but the team shot 2-for-17 with four turnovers the rest of the way, getting outscored 27-9."That's a tough one to swallow," Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. "We had opportunities ... and just couldn't close the game."

The Heat have alternated wins and losses in their last 10 and are 3-1 in their last four at the American Airlines Arena. Miami's three-game homestand concludes Wednesday.Wade has averaged 28.9 points in seven career matchups against the Suns.

http://espn.go.com/nba/preview?gameId=290304014

 

[lou_skywalker]

GO SUNS!!!!!
This game could be Stro's debut
Tough back to back games for the team. Hope they can get a win.

 

[windshi]

can Stro play this game?

 

[Mainstreet]

can Stro play this game?

If he passes his physical and signs, sure. However, whether he is in condition and ready to play is another matter.

 

[Shzm13]

He already cleared and signed. Swift will be in uniform tonight, according to suns.com



GO SUNS!!

 

[AfroSuns]

Back-to-back? not optimistic.

 

[Hat]

Barnes needs to be put back in starting PF. He always plays horrible when he comes off the bench. My lineup would be this:

shaq/swift
barnes/lou
hill/duds
rich/barbs
nash/drag

 

[lou_skywalker]

how about

shaq/lou
barnes/swift
rich/duds/Hill
LB/rich
nash/drag

Hill deserves some rest.

 

[AfroSuns]

Barnes needs to be put back in starting PF. He always plays horrible when he comes off the bench. My lineup would be this:

shaq/swift
barnes/lou
hill/duds
rich/barbs
nash/drag

I am all for that, pretty sure he is got more in the tank than Hill right now.

 

[Covert Rain]

Barnes needs to be put back in starting PF. He always plays horrible when he comes off the bench. My lineup would be this:

shaq/swift
barnes/lou
hill/duds
rich/barbs
nash/drag

We will get eaten alive by bigger teams if Barnes is our starting PF. That cannot be our long term solution. Barnes is too small to play against legit PF's in this league and so is Grant Hill. Last nights game was a perfect example of missing Amare's size.

If (yes I know a big if) Swift has any game, I would like to see him play PF and backup Shaq at Center (when going small for short streteches).

PS. D-Wade goes for 40 points or more tonight.

 

[Andrew]

I am most likely going to miss this entire game because of class, but...

GO SUNS.

 

[lou_skywalker]

I think Stro was promised the starting position when he signed the contract.
Expect minimum defense and another great loss.

 

[Covert Rain]

I think Stro was promised the starting position when he signed the contract.
Expect minimum defense and another great loss.

Considering Amare doesn't play defense and our other forwards are too small to "D" up real PF's, how would this expectation change just because Stro is in the lineup?

 

[Hat]

We will get eaten alive by bigger teams if Barnes is our starting PF. That cannot be our long term solution. Barnes is too small to play against legit PF's in this league and so is Grant Hill. Last nights game was a perfect example of missing Amare's size.

If (yes I know a big if) Swift has any game, I would like to see him play PF and backup Shaq at Center (when going small for short streteches).

PS. D-Wade goes for 40 points or more tonight.

The lineup I posted was only intended for tonight, or until Swift becomes more familiar with the team. Then Barnes can move over to SF.

 

[Yuma]

Well, most guys we sign tear it up their first game. Recently J-Rich was killing it his first couple games. I remember Barnes playing well his first couple. I'm hoping we get a Swift lift tonight.

 

[mjb21aztd]

meh not really confident about the suns winning this game, but man it would suck to lose to magic and heat. I like our chances of beating the heat a lot more than the magic though. However I think the suns lose a close one show a lot of heart to start but fade away in the 4th .

Heat 112

Suns 107

 

[Covert Rain]

The lineup I posted was only intended for tonight, or until Swift becomes more familiar with the team. Then Barnes can move over to SF.

So long term you like Hill coming off the bench?

 

[Hat]

So long term you like Hill coming off the bench?

Until he's healthy, yes.

That will give us points from Barbosa, Hill, and the occasional Lou basket coming off the bench.

 

[Covert Rain]

Until he's healthy, yes.

That will give us Barbs, Hill, and the occasional Lou basket coming off the bench.

Well someone needs to figure out how to come off the bench and be a contributor. I love Grant but don't feel he is playing well as of late so I would be OK with moving him to the bench.

 

[Ronin]

PS. D-Wade goes for 40 points or more tonight.

Agreed, The guy is playing some good basketball right now.

 

[Mainstreet]

Well someone needs to figure out how to come off the bench and be a contributor. I love Grant but don't feel he is playing well as of late so I would be OK with moving him to the bench.

I don't want Grant Hill breaking down like last season heading into the playoffs. I'm worrying about this happening right now but it's such a close playoff race. Maybe with the addition of Swift at PF, the Suns can find a game or two to rest Hill down the stretch. Maybe Barnes can play more at SF along with Dudley and JRich.

 

[mojorizen7]

SUNS starting:
NASH
JRICH
HILL
BARNES
SHAQ

 

[mojorizen7]

Wade's gonna go nuts tonight.
This would be a huge win.

 

[Ronin]

Good shot by Richardson.

 

[Ronin]

C'mon Barnes....