Suns at Jazz 8:30 MY45 HD TNT HD

[FArting]

Considering how well they fared without Steve Nash down the stretch on Wednesday, the Phoenix Suns may not have much to worry about if the two-time league MVP is unable to play Thursday.
While Nash deals with the stomach flu, the Western Conference-leading Suns look to carry some momentum from a hard-fought victory when they visit the Utah Jazz.Phoenix (25-10) rallied from 16 points down to beat Indiana 129-122 in overtime on Wednesday. It was the Suns' sixth win in seven games, and came despite Nash sitting out the final 22 minutes, 18 seconds.Down 14 when Nash left, Phoenix used a 17-4 outburst in a four-minute span to go up 97-96 with just over 10 minutes left in the fourth quarter. The Suns already were without Grant Hill, who underwent an appendectomy earlier in the day and is expected to be out two to three weeks.They rallied behind Raja Bell, who scored a season-high 27, including six 3-pointers in 11 tries. Bell sank two 3s in the final 2 1/2 minutes of overtime, and Amare Stoudemire clinched the victory by making five of six free throws in the final 1:18."Every quarter was better and the energy was good. It was a good win for us to come back without Steve. Steve was hurting the whole game and we are lucky to escape," said Phoenix coach Mike D'Antoni, who added that Leandro Barbosa and Shawn Marion also were feeling ill, yet they combined for 50 points.After Wednesday's win, Nash didn't travel with the team to Utah, but may rejoin the team before this game. The Suns, who own a 1 1/2-game lead over the Los Angeles Lakers in the Pacific Division, and a one-game lead over San Antonio in the West, went 2-4 in games Nash missed last season.Nash, who finished with nine points and four assists in a season-low 24 minutes on Wednesday, had 29 points on a season-best 10-of-12 shooting with 11 assists in the Suns' 103-98 victory over the Jazz on Dec. 12.Stoudemire, who is averaging a team-high 22.1 points, had 18 and nine rebounds against Utah earlier this season. He had 25 points and 11 boards on Wednesday.The Jazz (19-17) are coming off a 111-89 win over Indiana on Tuesday. Utah jumped out to a 40-19 first-quarter lead, and led by as much as 32 en route to their third win in four games after dropping 11 of 14."Our energy was definitely higher than it has been in a long time. We had 29 deflections by halftime, so guys were hustling," said Jazz guard Deron Williams, who had 10 points and nine assists in just 25 minutes. He finished with 18 points and six assists in the loss to the Suns last month.Carlos Boozer scored 22 on 9-of-14 shooting against the Pacers, after a season-low six points on 3-of-16 shooting in Saturday's 103-89 loss to Portland. Boozer had 24 points and 13 rebounds in the loss to the Suns earlier this season, and is averaging 21.6 points and 12.2 rebounds in his last five games against them.Utah has won three straight at Energy Solutions Arena to improve to 13-3 there this season.

http://scores.espn.go.com/nba/preview?gameId=280110026

Suns 106
Jazz 114

Amare

Prove me wrong by winning this game.

 

[mjb21aztd]

Without Nash I see us having a hard time winning this one epsecially since its in utah. I think we fight hard and the bench plays pretty good but we lose a somewhat close game in the 4th qtr

Utah Jazz- 104

Suns- 97

Amare

 

[Griffin]

So long as the Suns have confidence that they can win, they can win. But if they start using Nash's and Hill's absence as an excuse even before the game starts and don't play hard as a result, they will most likely lose. I don't know what to except, since it's been awhile since we played an entire game without Nash. But I remember it was some of the most horrible Suns basketball I've ever seen.

Banks will certainly get a bigger role tonight. Let's see how he responds. He can make a statement with his defense on Williams. I'd also like to see a big game from Diaw. He is really, and I mean really, (over)due for one.

Of course if Marion is out too, that could be too much to overcome. But we still have Amare. Is anyone, other than Nash, capable of getting him the ball in the paint?

 

[mojorizen7]

mojo starts:
BANKS
BELL
MATRIX
SKIN
STAT
It's a night featuring big minutes for all. Give BANKS an entire game to develope some
synergy with these guys. I keep BARB's at the 2 as much as possible.
MARION is going to have to create a little offense tonight.
I think we need to dump it in to STAT(in the paint,not at the elbow)and let him go hard to try and get their big's in some foul trouble.
Get BELL involved early too.
The JAZZ have some shooters so i don't want to see any double-downs.
Let Boozer get his.
Make D.Williams finish at the basket.
GO SUNS

 

[Proteus]

Well this should be interesting without Nash or Hill. I think we have very little if any chance of winning without those two, but the rest of the team does need to play with a lot of effort none the less. I'd consider it very good if they could just keep the game close/respectable.

Hopefully Strawberry and Tucker see playing time ahead of Pike and Marks. Knowing coach D though, they won't get in til garbage time if at all.

 

[bigfoot]

DET-SAS will go into 3OT. We'll be pleasantly surprised that our Suns lead by 11 in the 2nd quarter when the broadcast finally switches over!

 

[cly2tw]

I'd like to see Amare on Boozer a lot to work on his man defense.

 

[Mainstreet]

I'd like to see if Strawberry has the makings of a PG and if he brings an attitude which the Suns sorely need.

 

[TheHopToad]

I'd like to see if Strawberry has the makings of a PG and if he brings an attitude which the Suns sorely need.

He will never see the floor tonight unless it is a blowout.

 

[Mainstreet]

I'd like to see Amare on Boozer a lot to work on his man defense.

I wouldn't mind it either if they give Amare 12 fouls to give. I'd rather Amare just be giving help defense (trying for some blocks) on Boozer. I'm afraid if Amare tries to guard Boozer by his lonesome, he will be spending much of the night on the bench.

 

[mojorizen7]

If by chance Marion doesn't play with the bad arm & DA goes with only a 7 man rotation without getting everyone involved and spreading the minutes he should be canned tomorrow morning.

 

[mojorizen7]

It's official, no Marion. Banks to start with Barbosa,Bell,Diaw & Stat.
Should be fun.

 

[Mainstreet]

He will never see the floor tonight unless it is a blowout.

Perhaps. I know D'Antoni thinks this way. However, if Marion is out I can see a rookie getting some minutes especially if the fouls accumulate. I think the Suns might eventually be forced to play even smaller and faster... I guess I'm just dreaming. Anyway I would like to see how a rookie responds if he is given some minutes. Instead I guess the Suns will get a steady diet of Pike and Marks even if it is a blow out.

 

[mjb21aztd]

oh man with nash,marion, and hill out this game could get ugly pretty quick. I predict we get outrebounded pretty bad in this one... Come on bench step up huge tonight. Cool that banks is starting lets see what he can bring to the table with full playing time

 

[dogpoo32]

Sweet! I finally get to see a Suns game from the beginning!

 

[jbeecham]

Maybe the Jazz will play like crap because Nash, Marion & Hill are out.

 

[mojorizen7]

Sloan looks nervous.

 

[PoolBoy]

statement game right here.

 

[PoolBoy]

this is a game where amare could get 20 rebounds. ak47 isn;t playing, and either is marion, so amare will get his usual 12 real rebounds along with 8 more junk ones that marion would get, like off missed freethrows.

we need to establish amare early this game or we are in trouble. diaw cannot lead the team in points today.

 

[mjb21aztd]

pretty good start for the suns so far especially barbosa

 

[PoolBoy]

diaw can't play defense down low against okur. SKINNER ALERT.

 

[mojorizen7]

SUNS looking loose offensively BARBS playing well at the point.
Forget about getting any rebounds though. We're gonna have to shoot lights out.

 

[Griffin]

It appears that neither of our rookies are at the game? So we only have eight players available.

 

[Bufalay]

where is Tucker?

 

[PoolBoy]

i think tucker would be better suited at the 3 right now than bell.