Suns At Thunder Game Thread

[AfroSuns]

The Phoenix Suns can’t afford to lose any momentum as they wrap up the regular season. They certainly don’t want to have a letdown against a possible playoff opponent.
The Suns, looking to at least keep pace in the Western Conference, visit the Oklahoma City Thunder on Friday night.
Phoenix (51-27) has won 11 of 12 and 25 of 31, but needs to stay sharp over its last four games. The Suns are battling three teams for second place in the West.
Phoenix faces two of those clubs, Denver and Utah, next week. The matchups will likely help determine the Suns’ first-round opponent.
That may very well end up being Oklahoma City (48-30), which is in a three-way tie for sixth in the conference.
Phoenix and Oklahoma City have each won a road game in this season’s series. The Suns have won five straight on the road against the Thunder franchise and 10 of 11 overall meetings.
Phoenix is coming off a 112-101 victory over San Antonio on Wednesday night, reaching the 110-point mark for the 13th time in 19 games.
Though healthy and having a strong game, Suns point guard Steve Nash(notes) was rested for the entire fourth quarter. Backup Goran Dragic(notes) replaced him.
“One, it’s important to give those guys confidence and, two, it gives us some rest,” Nash said.
With the reserves playing so well, Jason Richardson(notes) also sat out the fourth quarter. The veteran guard has been bothered recently by a sore back, but had 20 points after being held scoreless in 22 minutes of a 107-98 loss to Milwaukee on Saturday night.
The Suns have played six straight games without starting center Robin Lopez(notes) (back). There is no timetable for his return.
Jarron Collins(notes) has given Phoenix little production in place of Lopez. Collins is averaging 0.8 points and 2.3 rebounds since joining the starting lineup.
Oklahoma City, though, lacks depth at center, as it starts Nenad Krstic(notes). He was limited to four points in a 98-94 loss to Denver on Wednesday night.
Oklahoma City was held without a basket for the final 9 minutes.
“We didn’t try to be aggressive,” forward Jeff Green(notes) told the Thunder’s official Web site. “But that’s something we have to take into the next game and learn from and get better from.”
The Thunder were coming off an emotional game, losing 140-139 in overtime to Utah the previous evening. The NBA admitted Wednesday that officials failed to call a foul that could have given Kevin Durant(notes) a chance to shoot the potential winning free throws.
Durant had an opportunity for redemption, but missed his final six shots versus the Nuggets. Durant, however, has averaged 39.3 points and 9.0 rebounds while shooting 45.5 percent (10 for 22) from 3-point range over his last three games.
Durant scored 37.0 points a game in two contests against the Suns this season

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/preview?gid=2010040925

C'mon Suns, you need to beat the Thunders, every single game is huge now; not only for seeding but also potential PO match-up.

Go Suns!!!

 

[AsUdUdE]

BIGGEST game of the year folks! Lets go Suns...


looking at the remaining schedule, this is IMO, the most difficult game left, if we can win, we remain in the hunt, if we lose we are in all likelyhood done..

And the funny thing is, the Denver and Utah games will be bigger than even this one, but for right now, up to this moment, THIS is the biggest game of the year..

 

[jagu]

HOw exactly are we "done." We are going to the playoffs and if we get hot from 3 point land we'll be a tough team to stop. We knocked off many good teams this year and we definitely can be a threat. I know our chances aren't great but hey, being an underdog is fun.

 

[Cheesebeef]

we win tonight and I'm confident we'll end up with one of the top 3 seeds.

 

[SactownSunsFan]

If we can win out, I think more than likely we'll get the # 2 seed. I don't think Dallas can win out with 3 road games and a home game against the Spurs to end the season. They'll lose at least one of those games. Our schedule is no cakewalk either, though.

GO

 

[Cheesebeef]

If we can win out, I think more than likely we'll get the # 2 seed. I don't think Dallas can win out with 3 road games and a home game against the Spurs to end the season. They'll lose at least one of those games. Our schedule is no cakewalk either, though.

GO

I can see us winning the next three, but a deciding game in Utah on a back to back? That one will be almost impossible to win.

 

[Suns_fan69]

I can see us winning the next three, but a deciding game in Utah on a back to back? That one will be almost impossible to win.

Agreed, and my gut tells me that will be what determines the 3rd and 4th seed meaning Denver in the first and lakers in the 2nd (if we even make it that far).

 

[AzStevenCal]

I can see us winning the next three, but a deciding game in Utah on a back to back? That one will be almost impossible to win.

I see us going 1 and 3 with both Jason and Nash on the sidelines resting and hopefully healing. And tonight is the one game we win. The losses drop us to the 6th seed from where we knock out Utah while San Antonio dismisses LA. That's what I see - but I need glasses.

Steve

 

[Cheesebeef]

I see us going 1 and 3 with both Jason and Nash on the sidelines resting and hopefully healing. And tonight is the one game we win. The losses drop us to the 6th seed from where we knock out Utah while San Antonio dismisses LA. That's what I see - but I need glasses.

Steve

whoa... are Nash and Richardson out tonight?

 

[Ronin]

Where does it say that Nash and Richardson are out?

 

[AzStevenCal]

whoa... are Nash and Richardson out tonight?

No, I was suggesting they should be.

Steve

 

[Tyler]

What a shame I agreed with the girlfriend to make tonight a date night. Looks like we are going to Native for dinner.

 

[Arizona's Finest]

What a shame I agreed with the girlfriend to make tonight a date night. Looks like we are going to Native for dinner.

I'm sure ASUChris will understand

 

[AsUdUdE]

HOw exactly are we "done." We are going to the playoffs and if we get hot from 3 point land we'll be a tough team to stop. We knocked off many good teams this year and we definitely can be a threat. I know our chances aren't great but hey, being an underdog is fun.

I meant "done" from being a 2-3 seed... and being 4th, with the possibity of playing Utah/Denver/Dallas, and then playing LA, seems daughting at best... not saying we can't pull it off, but the Suns best bet of advancing in the 2010 playoffs hinge on getting a top 3 seed, period... IMO

 

[Bert]

Nice start thus far, I think the Suns matchup well with OKC. Even though Collins sucks.

GO SUNS!

 

[AfroSuns]

Nice start Suns, nice start

 

[AfroSuns]

Collins is truly, utterly useless on offense

 

[Ronin]

Amare blocked by Thabo? Kinda looked like a foul

 

[AfroSuns]

Amare blocked by Thabo? Kinda looked like a foul

That's what i thought too.

 

[Ronin]

Jebus getting killed on the glass. I think the thunder had 12 offensive rebounds on the previous possesion

 

[slinslin]

Frye is useless defensively and on the boards.

Amare can't control the boards alone against all those athletic Thunder players that crash the boards because they know we are vulnerable.

Really missing Lopez..

 

[Ronin]

Good 3 by LB.

 

[slinslin]

Our luck, Amare limping..

 

[slinslin]

The way Amare limped scares me, hopefully it is not the knee. Maybe a sprain or something.

 

[AfroSuns]

The way Amare limped scares me, hopefully it is not the knee.

He did? didn't look like it when he was going to the bench. I sure hope its nothing serious