Suns at Kings Game Thread 10:00ET MY 45

[FArting]

A hot-shooting start to the season made it seem that the Phoenix Suns might not be so different under new coach Terry Porter.
The offense has since cooled off considerably, and so have the Suns.

They'll look to put a lot more points on the board Friday by taking advantage of one of the league's worst defensive teams in a matchup with the Sacramento Kings.Under former coach Mike D'Antoni, the Suns were third in the NBA in scoring with 110.1 points per game last season after leading the league in each of the previous three. They also topped the NBA in field-goal shooting each of the last three seasons.

The offense was expected to slow down under the more defensive-minded Porter, not to mention Phoenix (6-3) has one of the NBA's oldest rosters with Steve Nash and Shaquille O'Neal leading the way. However, the Suns are back among the league leaders in scoring (100.9 ppg), thanks mainly to their 55.4 percent shooting during a 4-1 start.Their shots haven't been falling as much recently, hitting 42.6 percent while averaging 94.0 points to go 2-2.

"We're struggling and we believe in one another and we just have to keep working together, keep communicating and stay having a positive attitude even when it's difficult," Nash said.Since a 49-point outing Nov. 5, Amare Stoudemire has seen his point total decrease in four consecutive games while shooting 43.2 percent, compared to 69.6 during his first five contests.He had a season-low 11 points Wednesday and Phoenix shot a season-worst 37.6 percent in a 94-82 home loss to Houston.

The Suns are 0-3 when failing to score 100 points, compared to 6-0 when they do."We just have to stay with it and take the high-percentage shot and not rely on the jump shot all the time," said O'Neal, who moved past John Havlicek into 10th place on the all-time scoring list with 26,402 points. "When we do that I think we'll be fine."Visiting the Kings could help. The Suns averaged 117.8 points in sweeping last season's four-game series and they've won nine of the last 10 meetings.Sacramento is giving up 105.2 points per game this season to rank near the bottom of the league and allowing opponents to shoot 41.4 percent from 3-point range.The Kings, though, have held five straight opponents below 45 percent from the field and let only one of them score more than 100 points. They've gone 4-1 in that span after losing their first four games.

They've split two games since losing leading scorer Kevin Martin, who won't return until next week due to a sprained ankle.Point guard Beno Udrih has stepped up, scoring a then-season high 18 points against Detroit on Tuesday before scoring a career-high 30 in a 103-98 win over the Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday.The Kings also have been missing Francisco Garcia, sidelined all season by a strained calf after averaging 12.3 points in 2007-08."Kevin's out. Francisco's out. Somebody has to step up," Udrih said. "I have to be more aggressive."

http://scores.espn.go.com/nba/preview?gameId=281114023

 

[Griffin]

Looks like we will be playing without Nash, Barnes and Barbosa. Fortunately, we're playing a sub-500 team that we've swept last season.

 

[mojorizen7]

I almost posted in the Houston game thread LOL
Amare sits early with 2 fouls.
Kings moving the ball well.
SUNS shooting bricks and a little slow to the ball on rotations....
KINGS 15
SUNS 13 early 1st.

 

[mojorizen7]

Dragic looking good on offense & decision making but getting smoked by Udri(spelling?)defensively.

 

[mojorizen7]

Hill may have injured himself. Hill also making some bad passes into the post.

 

[mojorizen7]

Singletary,Amundsen in.

 

[mojorizen7]

Bell is JUNK.

 

[mojorizen7]

Singles playin well.
SUNS 27
KINGS 23 after 1 qtr.


Where TF is everybody? Arby's roast beef sale?

 

[shazaam6]

Singletary ...not bad so far.

 

[cly2tw]

Udrih has 5 years of NBA experience over Dragic

Singletary made smart decisions with the ball too. Way better than Banks and LB.

 

[SirStefan32]

Singles playin well.
SUNS 27
KINGS 23 after 1 qtr.


Where TF is everybody? Arby's roast beef sale?

LOL, on my way to work, I really picked up 5 melts for $5 from Arby's.

Interesting game so far. I am worried about what's gonna happen when Shaq sits.

 

[SirStefan32]

Dammit Amare!

 

[Proteus]

Argh...2 offensive fouls by Boris in about 30 seconds.

 

[cly2tw]

So far, Amare is forcing it too much and lacks a bit luck too. However, we are scoring on fastbreaks on good defense, w/o our MVP.

 

[Black Jesus]

Amare needs to figure his **** out.

 

[mojorizen7]

Impressed with Singles.

 

[mojorizen7]

Shaq owning. Amare having a tough time doing anything.

 

[mojorizen7]

Shaq has this habit of bringing the ball down and giving a pump fake everytime he gets an offensive rebound underneath. Like to see him just go straight up with it more often.

 

[Brianellsworth]

Shaq is going to have a good night. 15 pts 5 rebs with 3 left in 2nd quarter.

 

[mojorizen7]

Wow Bell got one.

 

[mojorizen7]

SUNS up 47-38

 

[shazaam6]

Since they are talking to the new mayor KJ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ifx_gRF-ouU

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NAEoMsHHfa4&NR=1

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lhkQFkv-c9M&feature=related 2:14 he puts the moves on Porter

 

[mojorizen7]

SUNS up 11 at the half 53-42.
Shaq abusing Miller & co. Nice
I guess if i keep calling Bell "junk" he'll answer by elbowing his way into the box score on a nightly basis.....whatever works.

 

[Griffin]

Shaq is having another great game. Also, we are getting some rare second chance points.

Dragic with 4 assists and no turnovers in the first half, but his defense on Udrih is pretty horrendous and he is only 1-5 from the field. He picked up some offensive rebounds though.

I like what I see from Singletary, but then again, I have low expectations of him.

Where is Amare? Last game, he complained of not getting enough touches. What will be his excuse tonight?

Grant Hill very active: 12 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists in the first half.

 

[jagu]

Raja Bell is done. We should try and get Hedo Turkoglu.