Suns - Blazers 4/19

[jbeecham]

This could be an interesting game for the Suns that I think they really want to win to feel like they're going into the post-season on a positive note. Hopefully they'll come out with a playoff intensity and dominate the game from the start. It may be tough for the Suns to get up for this game though because it is meaningless in the standings and I believe that both Darius Miles and Zach Randolph will not be playing (both were sent home on recent road trips for disciplinary reasons).

For the Suns, Boris Diaw will not be playing because of a 104 degree fever (although others have mentioned strep throat as well) and Marion and Nash's minutes will probably be limited.

 

[elindholm]

I'm sure Diaw will be fine, but it's a shame he's not playing, considering he will have been the last Sun to miss a game this season.

 

[jibikao]

104 degree fever? That's quite high.

Nash said the starters are going to play regular mins so hopefully we win this one!

 

[F-Dog]

I thought Diaw had some kind of injury, maybe a shoulder...didn't he not want to play in the last game until he found out that Marion was sitting...?



Anyway, the Blazers will be desperate to lose tonight (unless the Knicks win their game), plus they're missing Randolph and Miles. The only problem is if their young players are too inexperienced to tank.

Regardless of the score, I expect limited minutes for the key Suns players, and an extended run for Burke and Skita...

 

[jbeecham]

I thought Diaw had some kind of injury, maybe a shoulder...didn't he not want to play in the last game until he found out that Marion was sitting...?

I remember them mentioned Diaw's shoulder was a little banged up before the last game and that he only played because Shawn was sitting out. He still played limited minutes in the last game.

 

[elindholm]

I know we don't really care about the outcome, but judging from the box score, it sure seems like the Suns should be ahead by more than seven at halftime.

Edit: Never mind, I just noticed the FT discrepancy. Kind of strange, since the fouls are almost even.

 

[mribnik]

It appears that Steve Nash is indeed well-rested. Am I reading this right? A triple double by the end of the third quarter? Awesome.

 

[panfolk]

from the boxscore it looked like JR shot terribly from inside the arc. What's the deal?

 

[jibikao]

Looks like we are playing against the Lakers.

 

[Sundance]

Alright! Suns win another game in the orange unis! Always liked the way they looked. Now I can buy one of those jerseys and not have to worry about it jinxing the team.

 

[reader]

Alright! Suns win another game in the orange unis! Always liked the way they looked. Now I can buy one of those jersey and not have to worry about it jinxing the team.

I have always liked the look of the orange jerseys, but cringe when they play in them. Good to see them getting wins wearing them.

On Nash, yup, I guess he is feeling better.

Super efficient line as well
5/6 FG 4/4 3pt 2/2 Ft 4/6=10 RB 12 AST 16 pts .. 3 TO

Guess he wanted that 50/40/90 % added to his CV.

 

[baltimorer]

Nash's line honestly looks like a summer league game. It's like when the veteran all-star plays in an organized pick-up league during the off-season just for fun. He goes in, takes a few 3's, has a few spurts of high energy where he's just moving faster than everybody else so he gets a bunch of rebounds, dribbles through 4 people and always ends of finding the open man wide open for a layup underneath. Then, after a few minutes, decides that he's just plain better than everybody else on the court and lets everybody else handle the ball and do their best impression of him.

16 points on 5-6 shooting, 12 assists, 10 rebounds and 2 steals in just 30 minutes? It's almost comical.

 

[Errntknght]

Marion was the Matrix tonight and hitting everything he threw up.

Brian Grant hit 3 Js - a very welcome sight. But his defense was very sub par. I swear, it looked like he'd been taking lessons from TT on how to play the P&R. Portland was going small most of the time he was on the floor so lets hope that was why he looked painfully slow to react.

Also very good to see was James Jones looking outright frisky. He didn't actually play well but we know he can when he's healthy so he should come around... lets just hope it only takes 3 days.

 

[jibikao]

I hope Diaw is ready.

 

[boisesuns]

Marion was the Matrix tonight .

Isn't He the Matrix every night?