Suns at Sonics Game Thread

[Mainstreet]

Sorry, I didn't have time to read the whole thread. This is the first game I have seen Durant play. I'm duly impressed. The thought kept running through my mind, Lebron who? Durant looks like the next super star.

 

[cly2tw]

Amare and Nash, with some heroic Banks 3s and Hill drives inbetween made the game. Well, we need a little more than that.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

marion looked distracted on defense for most of the game. barbs looks uncomfortable. and bell just couldn't shoot straight to save his life tonight. boris started out aggressive with his jumper but then in the second half reverted back to the confounding "going-for-the-layup-and-throwing-it-out-for-a-20-footer" . . . the no-look one over his head to amare made me want to throw up.

on the plus side, i thought skinner gave us good minutes. he didn't look awkward out there. and banks made some timely shots. if he shoots well and doesn't hesitate he just might find his way back into the rotation.

 

[Mainstreet]

The Suns looked lethargic for most of the game until the fourth quarter. The Suns look to have the weapons when energized. I agree with many posters that Grant Hill is the most effective slashing to the basket and shooting the mid range shot. I don't know why the Suns want to go away from his best qualities by shooting 3's.

 

[D-Dogg]

Sorry, I didn't have time to read the whole thread. This is the first game I have seen Durant play. I'm duly impressed. The thought kept running through my mind, Lebron who? Durant looks like the next super star.

I was desperate for the Lakers to do something to get Durant pre-draft. He's a SF version of Kobe, with possibly a better all around game.

He's going to be a super, super star. I wasn't a big Oden fan...I've been jocking Durant since jump.

 

[YouJustGotSUNSD]

Did anyone just see the commercial on TNT for NBA '08? Piatkowski, banks, and Stoudemire starred in it.

wtf?!

 

[Mainstreet]

I was desperate for the Lakers to do something to get Durant pre-draft. He's a SF version of Kobe, with possibly a better all around game.

He's going to be a super, super star. I wasn't a big Oden fan...I've been jocking Durant since jump.

What can I say. You have great taste.

 

[D-Dogg]

Did anyone just see the commercial on TNT for NBA '08? Piatkowski, banks, and Stoudemire starred in it.

wtf?!

Uh, and also Brian freaking Cook. WTF indeed!!!

 

[fordronken]

Uh, and also Brian freaking Cook. WTF indeed!!!

Name players don't appear in other people's commercials. It's all publicity and image control.

 

[oneofthesedays]

Wow that was one ugly game for the Suns minus the 4th quarter. But that is the difference between a veteran team and a young team, vets know how to close games out.

 

[D-Dogg]

Name players don't appear in other people's commercials. It's all publicity and image control.

Usually no-name players don't either. Actors do.

Cookie got paid for that. He looked like he played tougher D for that commercial than he EVER has in a real game.

 

[mribnik]

The Suns defense and rebounding were much better in the second half. Seattle ended up shooting something like 41% despite their hot first half.

I'm surprised nobody has demanded to see a lineup with Amare and Skinner out there at the same time yet.

Edit: I was also much more comfortable watching the team with Nash on the bench, although D'Antoni didn't appear to be.

 

[az240zz]

it was deju vu all over again with Diaw. Passed on two layups or dunks. I don't think he has the heart to be a good NBA player.

 

[Stargazer]

Credit where it's due:

1. D'Antoni played 9 guys, and even better, kept Nash on the bench and let the second team (with Banks) keep playing all the way to the 8:00 mark in the fourth, even with the game on the line, without panic-ing and overplaying the starters. Very good sign (especially since it worked out; hopefully he'll be encouraged to keep doing it)

2. Banks still had a lot of frustrating fouls and defensive lapses, but obviously if he can keep hitting 3's like that, who cares?

3. Finally the Suns close out a game in the fourth instead of letting teams back in in teh fourth. 33-17 run -- and they did it with defense and rebounding.

4. And the Suns finally win a season opener.

Change is good!

 

[Griffin]

I think DA brainwashed him to take 3's.

the stubborn fool dantoni seemingly hasn't tweaked his offense to take into consideration hill's best attributes, and instead just plunks him into a corner and encourages him to shoot threes. ugh.

Well, I tend to think that D'Antoni gives the players plenty of freedom to make the best play, whatever it may be. The burden is on the player to know his strengths and to make the right decision. Yes, there was some emphasis in the off-season on Hill getting more comfortable shooting the three, but that doesn't mean he is supposed to launch them like Bell. According to Coro, Hill "talked after the game about doing a better job of mixing up his shots." I think Hill will watch a tape of the game, see where he could have (should have) taken the ball to the basket or pulled up for a midrange jumper, and make some adjustments.

 

[Folster]

Well, I tend to think that D'Antoni gives the players plenty of freedom to make the best play, whatever it may be. The burden is on the player to know his strengths and to make the right decision. Yes, there was some emphasis in the off-season on Hill getting more comfortable shooting the three, but that doesn't mean he is supposed to launch them like Bell. According to Coro, Hill "talked after the game about doing a better job of mixing up his shots." I think Hill will watch a tape of the game, see where he could have (should have) taken the ball to the basket or pulled up for a midrange jumper, and make some adjustments.

Good point. Hill is way too smart and talented a player to sit out there and brick threes all season like Jr. and Jumaine did last year.

 

[Rab]

Hill doesn't look comfortable on the wing shooting three's. He shot way too many tonight, and I hope that's not a sign of things to come.

 

[Errntknght]

Actually I was somewhat encouraged about Hill tonight. Yes he did launch too many 3's but as the game went on he moved out the corner more and got involved in making some plays. I'm convinced that its D'Antoni pushing him to take 3s but I expect Grant to push back before too long.

After this game I think we can stop hoping Amare will become dominant on defense and be happy with him just staying awake.

 

[CaptainInsano]

I am actually quite surprised we won this game because barbosa and especially bell seem to be really out of it with their injuries, bell on the offense looked like a different person out there tonight, passing up easy 3's it was scary and depressing.

It is going to get ugly, avery has finally tweaked dallas to perfection IMO and our team has some difficult injuries nagging bell and barbosa, 2 of our very important players.

I think Hill should keep taking a few 3's for a few more games though, besides nash and banks the entire rest of the team combined shot 18% for 3 so it could have been first game rust.

The fact we won after that too, I think it might get ugly vs the lakers though unless amare has a huge game.

 

[az1965]

Instead of taking 7 3 point attempts, I'd like to see him go 7 times to the foul line... That's what we were excited about when Hill signed, another player who can create his shots and go to the hole.

 

[mojorizen7]

Instead of taking 7 3 point attempts, I'd like to see him go 7 times to the foul line... That's what we were excited about when Hill signed, another player who can create his shots and go to the hole.

For sure. Hill be very valuable in the post-season when Marion can't find or create a shot of his own.

 

[Arizona's Finest]

Instead of taking 7 3 point attempts, I'd like to see him go 7 times to the foul line... That's what we were excited about when Hill signed, another player who can create his shots and go to the hole.

Relax - Both Hill and DA will adjust.

Grants just trying to fit in in the first game. If nothing I am MORE excited about his prospects for this season.

 

[Bufalay]

I'm curious to see the plus/minus ratings of Nash and Banks. Seems like the Suns played better both times Banks was in the game.

 

[jbeecham]

The minutes distribution in the 1st game was actually pretty good:

Hill: 34
Marion: 34
Nash: 34
Amare: 32
Bell: 32
Barbosa: 28
Diaw: 26
Banks: 14
Skinner: 8

I hope this stays similar to this for the rest of the season, maybe with Hill getting about 4 less minutes per game.

Banks was a nice spark plug last night. He was like an Eddie House that can actually play defense. Hopefully he'll be able to bring that kind of effort off the bench all season. He won't always hit 4/5 3ptrs, but if he can shoot 38-40% on 3's then that would be great.

The game was weirdly officiated, with very few fouls being called on either end. Amare got some cheap ones early while Wilcox got to just manhandle and bowl over people and then in the 2nd half the refs seemed to let Amare play. It was like someone told the refs at halftime: "Hey, we come to see Amare Stoudemire play, not his backup" (I think it was David Stern). The constant traveling calls are annoying, but if they help clean up the game then I'm fine with it. They need to start calling moving screens also and clean that up some.

 

[da_suns_fan]

Yeah...three point shooting aside, I loved what I saw from Hill last night.