Suns Beat the Kings

[azirish]

http://www.nba.com/suns/news/recap_071011.html

Marion Paces Suns Past Kings for 110-99 Victory
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Posted: Oct 12 2007 1:01AM
Posted: Oct. 11, 2007
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) -- Shawn Marion had 18 points and 12 rebounds for the Phoenix Suns as they opened the preseason with a convincing 110-99 victory over the Sacramento Kings on Thursday night.

With Grant Hill getting 17 points and eight rebounds in his first game in a Phoenix uniform, the Suns were off and running from the start, outscoring the Kings 29-18 in the first quarter and led the rest of the way.

Hill, who signed as a free agent in the offseason, appeared to have no problem adjusting to the Suns' uptempo pace, taking 11 first-half shots and scoring 13 points to help the Suns to a 55-46 lead.

Both Kevin Martin and Quincy Douby scored 17 points for the Kings (1-1). Mike Bibby had 10 points and led Sacramento with seven rebounds.
The Kings had trouble stopping the Suns and were also unsuccessful at the free-throw line, converting 13 of 23 attempts.

Disgruntled in the offseason and in trade rumors for much of the summer, Marion looked as motivated as any Suns player, making 7-of-10 shots and adding four assists and two blocks.

Leandro Barbosa scored 14 points and Sean Marks added 13 points and nine rebounds for Phoenix, which made 13 of 26 3-point shots. Raja Bell and Marcus Banks both scored 13 points and Boris Diaw had 10.

Seemingly content to look for teammates all game instead of shoot, Steve Nash had 11 assists and scored three points, taking just three shots. Last year's leading scorer for Phoenix, Amare Stoudemire, recently had arthroscopic knee surgery and watched the game in street clothes.

http://www.azcentral.com/sports/suns/articles/1011suns1012.html

Suns start preseason with win

Paul Coro
The Arizona Republic
Oct. 11, 2007 09:52 PM
SACRAMENTO - The Suns began their preseason Thursday night deliberately, taking on the look of a youth-league team that is under orders to have everybody to touch the ball before taking a shot.

That lasted three possessions, and then the 2007-08 Suns were off and running. Phoenix opened up the offense with a 110-99 victory against the Kings.

Suns forwards Grant Hill and Shawn Marion offered early answers to two of the Suns' biggest training camp questions.

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Just how much of an impact would Hill, who was signed in the off-season, have on the Suns? A lot, if his 13-point, eight-rebound first half is any indication.

Hill finished with 17 points in 24 minutes. He took nine shots in his first 11 minutes, showed a second speed in transition and hit 1 of 3 three-pointers, a rarely used shot during his career.

Just how will Marion play after a tumultuous summer in which he requested a trade? Just fine, judging by his 15-point, nine-rebound first half.

Marion made 2 of 3 three-pointers, finished with 12 rebounds in 27 minutes and induced "oohs" from the crowd at Arco Arena when he blocked John Salmons' shot.

Suns coach Mike D'Antoni offered a peek into his rotation plans, going with nine players in the first three quarters. Hill, Marion, Steve Nash, Raja Bell and Boris Diaw started. Leandro Barbosa and Sean Marks subbed first, but Amaré Stoudemire usually would start, and Diaw would come in with Barbosa.

Marcus Banks and second-round draft pick D.J. Strawberry, who guarded Ron Artest initially, also were in the rotation, and Hill returned to the floor as a veteran playmaker with the young reserves.

First-round draft pick Alando Tucker made his debut to start the fourth quarter. D'Antoni rested every starter but Diaw after 2:56 of the third quarter.

The Suns went without two big men Thursday, but Stoudemire, who is recovering from right knee surgery and Brian Skinner (left-knee bruise) made the trip.

Their absence put Marks on the court for more minutes Thursday (22) than he played all of last regular season (17). Marks, billed as a possible platoon backup with Skinner, had 13 points and nine rebounds.

Marks hit a three-pointer and made one of the game's prettiest plays when he screened for Hill and split the double team to take Hill's pass for a dunk attempt that was halted by a Kings foul.

The Suns had built a 78-62 lead when Nash and Marion left the game for good. The battle of the teams' backups got dicey for the Suns (the Kings cut it to three twice) until Banks got hot with a string of three three-pointers. Diaw was the fourth quarter group's stabilizer, but Marks' return coincided with the Suns opening the lead back up.

Nash did not take a shot until midway through the second quarter but racked up 11 assists and had one turnover in 27 minutes.

The Suns made 13 of 26 three-pointers.

 

[JCSunsfan]

Who is this Marks guy and where did he come from?

 

[YouJustGotSUNSD]

definitely have 2 threads on preseason games already

 

[Sunsman44]

it's only preseason.

 

[joshstmarie]

it's only preseason.

i <3 it all!!!

 

[green machine]

it's only preseason.

And if the Suns had lost 103-78 people would be screaming about how bad they will be this year.

It's better to look good then not in preseason games, means the team is sharp and ready to get off to a good start.

 

[YouJustGotSUNSD]

If marion posted 5/5/1, Sunsman would have started a Kill Marion thread.

 

[dodie53]

If marion posted 5/5/1, Sunsman would have started a Kill Marion thread.

haha!

 

[TucsonDevil]

Though it's only pre-season, there are some interesting points to be learned, or observed. Grant Hill was taking three point shots - much was speculated this summer on whether he would be forced/encouraged to shoot it since its something he hasn't done in his career. Shawn Marks will see the floor this year as a role player, although his role was increased with the absence of Amare. It looks like DJ will see the floor as a defensive stopper... translation, he has a role whereas Tucker is a garbage player.

Interesting, but early.

 

[nashman]

One more interesting thing, we are GOOD, even without our most dominate player on the floor! We are gonna roll some teams this year, maybe have starters on the bench alot of 4th qtrs.

 

[zett]

One more interesting thing, we are GOOD, even without our most dominate player on the floor! We are gonna roll some teams this year, maybe have starters on the bench alot of 4th qtrs.

Don't count on it, this was the Kings, There really not that good.
we will have some games like that, but I think we will be in alot of dog fights.

 

[Rab]

Nice to see that Grant played well in the uptempo style the Suns run.

 

[Sunsman44]

Today:

If marion posted 5/5/1, Sunsman would have started a Kill Marion thread.

Two Days Ago:

Guys, I finally took the high road and ignored him. Please stop quoting him. I took the proper steps to not devolve every thread he posts in.

I truly cant sit here quietly while he spews his bile, but if im going to get flak for cutting him down, me ignoring him is the only way to keep it civil.

So for the sake of the childrens, choose ignore over reply.

LMAO. Amazing. You choose to ignore, yet are quick to come back with a comment about me just a day later. You could have just kept quiet and not made any remarks by following your supposed "ignore" on me. This only proves you love to argue and take any spare moment of your life to post garbage here.

You love to instigate arguments for the sake of argument. Clearly I am still not on ignore list for you and you take every single effort to make comments about me - regardless if my remarks are valid or invalid.

Enough is enough. I understand you hate every single word I type here. I get your point. Just follow up on your word and keep me ignored. Stop refering back to me.

 

[carey]

Clearly I am still not on ignore list for you and you take every single effort to make comments about me - regardless if my remarks are valid or invalid.

Clearly someone quoted you, which clearly means that someone that has you on ignore can clearly read what you wrote.

 

[asudevil83]

Today:



Two Days Ago:



LMAO. Amazing. You choose to ignore, yet are quick to come back with a comment about me just a day later. You could have just kept quiet and not made any remarks by following your supposed "ignore" on me. This only proves you love to argue and take any spare moment of your life to post garbage here.

You love to instigate arguments for the sake of argument. Clearly I am still not on ignore list for you and you take every single effort to make comments about me - regardless if my remarks are valid or invalid.

Enough is enough. I understand you hate every single word I type here. I get your point. Just follow up on your word and keep me ignored. Stop refering back to me.

oh holy hell....this fued crap needs to stop....seriously

its like two children duking it out

 

[Rab]

Clearly someone quoted you, which clearly means that someone that has you on ignore can clearly read what you wrote.

Seriously....it's not rocket science.

oh holy hell....this fued crap needs to stop....seriously

No kidding.

 

[Maligzar]

The Suns had built a 78-62 lead when Nash and Marion left the game for good. The battle of the teams' backups got dicey for the Suns (the Kings cut it to three twice) until Banks got hot with a string of three three-pointers. Diaw was the fourth quarter group's stabilizer, but Marks' return coincided with the Suns opening the lead back up.

That's some good news right there. We're like the only team in the league that goes up by 40 points in the 3rd quarter and you hold your breath until 4 minutes to go in the 4th. The blame rested with our bench being unable to close out games. This made our starters work harder than necessary. Come playoff time it spelled having guys on the bench that weren't going to play since the coach didn't trust them enough to make mistakes.

Maybe if the bench plays better earlier in the season then D'Antoni will consider playing them more when it counts.

 

[Sunsman44]

Clearly someone quoted you, which clearly means that someone that has you on ignore can clearly read what you wrote.

ok? someone quoted me saying, "It's only preseason."

What's the big deal? Or does saying "it's preseason" fall under the Sunsman44 being an offensive jerk category too?

Some of you are pathetic.

Hope the mod can sweep away some of the garbage around here. You know who u are...

 

[Sunsman44]

oh holy hell....this fued crap needs to stop....seriously

its like two children duking it out

Exactly. Please infom that to your buddy YouJustGotSUNSD. He can't see what I type. So if u can pass along this information I'd be great. Now move along fella....

 

[playstation]

Hope the mod can sweep away some of the garbage around here.

agreed

 

[phxrising]

Some of you are pathetic.

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Hope the mod can sweep away some of the garbage around here.

First pre-season game and you can tell it's going to be a very long season here on the board.

 

[Sunsman44]

First pre-season game and you can tell it's going to be a very long season here on the board.

haha.

 

[azirish]

I listened to the game on the radio, which is great but you miss a lot. None the less, it was a quality win even if the Kings aren't that good.

1. Very good ball movement: 28 assists leading 51.5% shooting was only part of it. It sounded like everyone was passing and cutting.

2. Three pointers: The Suns shot 50% for three including 2 of 3 by Marion, 3 of 4 by Banks, and 1 of 1 by Marks. Even Hill is shooting them, although it was only 1 of 3, this is a guy who has rarely shot threes sinc '99, it is very interesting.

3. Marks was impressive: He grabbed 9 rebounds in 22 minutes (about as long as he played total last year, for an incredible 0.421 per minute. Add in his 11 rebounds in last Sat. scrimmage and he is definitely turning heads. Plus he shot 3 of 6 for 2 and 1 of 1 for three plus 4 of 4 from the line. It is hard to believe this is the same guy who couldn't beat out Pat
Burke last season.

4. Hill is quicker than advertised: He did not score a huge amount, although 17 points in 24 minutes is not bad. What impressed me was his 8 rebounds. He was just so so rebounding in Orlando, but the switch to SF from SG may work out better than expected.

5. Defense Both Good and Bad: Ron Artest shot only 1 of 5 from the field and Bibby was just 5 of 13. However, Douby was very impressive at 7 of 13 including 3 of 5 for three and Kevin Martin was even more impressive at 6 of 10 including 3 of 4 for three. But overall, the Suns held the Kings to 45.9% with limited damage by the Kings bigs despite the absence of Amare and Skinner.

6. Nash Letting Others Make Plays: Steve took only 3 shots but got 11 assists - yet the team scored 110 points.

7. Too Many Turnvers: The dark side of the game was that the Suns made 20 turnovers. This is going to have to be an area to concentrate on.

There were enough good things that the game was enouraging, but clearly they are not in mid season form yet.