Suns @ Blazers Game Thread 12-22-12

[AzStevenCal]

One of our very few national telecasts this season, NBATV tonight. This game will shed a little light on whether our 4 game winning streak means we've solved some of our problems or if it was just a case of the right team at the right place.

Steve

 

[Absolute Zero]

 

[AzStevenCal]

We're in this game right now, I don't know if that will be the case for long. Scola is horrible, absolutely horrible, and after we survive his stint we then get stuck with Beasley who is even worse.

I've decided one thing about this team. They either need to play Scola and Beasley a lot more or not at all. If they want to win, leave them on the bench. If they want a good draft pick, give them 40 + minutes combined. All we're doing now is winning just enough to ruin our draft chances.

Steve

 

[AzStevenCal]

With Aldridge hobbled and Matthews having trouble this is a very beatable Blazers squad but we've squandered some opportunities so far. We have a 6 point lead now but it should be 15. Time to stretch this out guys.

Steve

 

[AzStevenCal]

Morris is having a better game than he's had of late. Keep him out there, keep Scola on the bench!

Steve

 

[AzStevenCal]

Nice pass from Tucker, nice finish by O'Neal.

Steve

 

[AzStevenCal]

It's nights like this that make me wonder where the heck Morris is on the other nights. He's playing hard at both ends of the court.

Steve

 

[AzStevenCal]

Scola is back in, time to blow our 9 point lead.

Steve

 

[AzStevenCal]

53 - 44 half time Suns lead. Tucker, O'Neal, Dragic, Morris and Brown have all played well. Beasley hasn't killed us yet and Scola finished out the half much better than he started the game.

Steve

 

[AzStevenCal]

Again, Scola goes to the bench and we just look like a different team out there. I have to wonder if Gentry supports his one-man zone approach, maybe it's by design? Maybe he's even worse when he actually guards someone?

Steve

 

[AzStevenCal]

Morris has played well but I want to strangle him when he get's lazy and settles for turnaround, fadeaway jumpers from 18 feet. He and Gortat are both so effective when they face up and follow through (forwards) or go strong to the basket but they shoot about 10% when they wimp out and fall away.

Steve

 

[AzStevenCal]

Tie game at the end of the 3rd. The refs have been pretty quiet all night and they stayed that way when the Blazers decided to get a little more physical. We should have had 3 or 4 trips to the line in the last couple minutes that we didn't get. Portland has been missing from the outside all game but now that they have the momentum I wouldn't be surprised to see those shots start falling. Hopefully, Tucker and O'Neal will come in and swing things back our way.

Steve

 

[AzStevenCal]

We're whining to the refs too much. They aren't calling fouls for us but they aren't calling a lot of fouls against us either so just shut up and play.

Steve

 

[AzStevenCal]

Shot clock should have reset for the Blazers, we definitely had possession there before Morris fumbled it out of bounds.

Steve

 

[AzStevenCal]

Hickson made Morris look foolish on that fake.

Steve

 

[AzStevenCal]

Nice work by Tucker there.

Steve

 

[AzStevenCal]

Well, we're paying the price now for not putting them away when we should have. Down by 7 with 4 minutes remaining and Portland is now hitting their 3's.

Steve

 

[AzStevenCal]

1:20 to go and we're down 3 and possession. Hard to believe we're still in this considering Dudley and Dragic have both struggled with their shot. Duds has a billion assists though.

Steve

 

[AzStevenCal]

Obvious basket interference, easy call. Down 3 but we have the ball. Get the ball to Brown of Gortat on pick and roll.

Steve

 

[AzStevenCal]

That's probably the game, Lillard makes it a 5 point lead.

Steve

 

[Phrazbit]

Brown is just awful. Still tons of time left on the clock and he throws that hideous runner against a double team in the lane? It wasnt even a "shot", it was like he spiked it off the backboard.

 

[Phrazbit]

SOMEONE SHOOT THE BALL!!!

GraaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhH!!!

 

[AzStevenCal]

The announcers are giving the Blazers credit for great defense there but the truth is, our guys were all afraid to take the open 3. We passed off of several of them and then ended up forcing up a prayer as a result.

Steve

 

[95pro]

Tie game at the end of the 3rd. The refs have been pretty quiet all night and they stayed that way when the Blazers decided to get a little more physical. We should have had 3 or 4 trips to the line in the last couple minutes that we didn't get. Portland has been missing from the outside all game but now that they have the momentum I wouldn't be surprised to see those shots start falling. Hopefully, Tucker and O'Neal will come in and swing things back our way.

Steve

We're whining to the refs too much. They aren't calling fouls for us but they aren't calling a lot of fouls against us either so just shut up and play.

Steve

That completely took Dragic out of the game. He ended up complaining too much, even tried attacking two times after the initial should-have-been-foul but nothing was called. After that he was useless. He made two stupid fouls too. As well as beasley, he should have had that loose ball btw. I'm all for aggressive defense, but time after time I see Dragic over compensating and then getting blown by.

 

[95pro]

Pretty sloppy 4th qtr by both teams. We forced them to turnover the ball three times down the stretch, but never capitalized. I guess four times if you count the final play. Dragic had an open look there with time winding down, then brown passed as well.