Suns @ Jazz Game Thread

[Nashfan]

JR did not deserve to be in the game. I would have rather had Jalen Rose in there, at least he isn't afraid to shoot or go to the basket. I cannot believe Kurt missed those two free throws. I got the same bad feeling when Raja missed that one free throw against the Spurs this year that would have won us that game. Not saying it was Kurts fault we lost this game, it was a collective effort and bad coaching towards the end. Barbosa played 47 minutes and I would expect that he was exhausted at the end so not a good idea for him to be taking those shots. Diaw looks scared at times out there and is not aggressive enough. He has to do what he did in the playoffs for us last year and score. I know he was in foul trouble but still play with more heart than that!

 

[cly2tw]

how come that Williams got 35/14, Barbs with 5 fouls the whole 4th q. and Banks was not playing? And couldn't we foul Williams out with his 5 fouls?

 

[Ronin]

this video approximates how I feel, after being on course for a win.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X8iztY-U9lQ

 

[elindholm]

Well, let's see.

1. The officiating was terrible, on both sides, but the Suns got the worse of it:

1a. I've never before seen traveling called when no one has possession of the ball. That was a good one.

1b. The Jazz have learned the Pistons' trick of holding back the opponent's hip while rolling from a screen. They do it very artfully.

1c. They've also learned that if you stick your face right in someone's armpit, and then that person moves, you can fly backward and draw an offensive foul.

1d. And finally, they know that if you look clumsy enough while shooting flat-footed from the perimeter, you can fool people into thinking you have been fouled.

2. The Suns played well enough to win and should have won. But, they didn't. If they were 5-4 now instead of 3-6 it wouldn't seem so bad. This was a good game and they did a lot of things well.

3. Stoudemire has gone back into the mode of being afraid to play defense because it will put him in foul trouble. He looks confused every time a foul is called against him, and I don't think he's acting. He needs to re-learn which things get called and which don't.

4. The difference between Boozer and Stoudemire is the difference between someone who learned good fundamentals in college and someone who has gotten by on superior talent. Boozer uses his feet and positions his body much better than Stoudemire does.

5. The Suns need to learn that if you let Okur get the ball five feet from the basket against a single, much smaller opponent, it's too late to start thinking about how to defend him.

6. Marion played very well at the end. I don't think he did much until the last few minutes of regulation, but he was great then and superb in overtime. I really wanted the team to win this one for him; he deserved it.

7a. For all of his alleged basketball genius, I don't think Diaw is very good at recognizing how his role can change throughout a game. If he is told to be the focal point, he can do that, and if he is told to be a playmaker, he can (usually) do that, but he doesn't understand how and when to adjust on the fly.

7b. The Stoudemire/Marion/Diaw triangle is incompatible from a personality standpoint, and there is only one way this can turn out.

8. The Jazz have seven second-round draft picks on their roster. Conclusion: Coaching matters.

9. I'd like to see the Suns play a few weeks without Nash. I think they'd learn a lot. They lost tonight, but they looked pretty good a lot of the time. Even though he couldn't hit a shot, Barbosa is really starting to develop as a playmaker, even though I insisted quite recently that this would never happen.

10. Whoever said that Rose is this year's Jim Jackson was spot on, except I think Rose is a little better.

 

[sly fly]

how come that Williams got 35/14, Barbs with 5 fouls the whole 4th q. and Banks was not playing? And couldn't we foul Williams out with his 5 fouls?

Deron Williams is scary good. I don't know if he'll keep it up, but he's an All-Star.

 

[Chaz]

Good points elindholm.

We have clutch shooter but he was on the bench at the end with 6 fouls along with 3/5 of our starting lineup. Not to mention the guy in the training room all night.

Amare is frustrating me on defense as well. I think he is frustrated also with all the blocks that have been called fouls the last few games.

Barbosa's shot was short all night. I can't be too hard on him he has been playing well and that shot will drop for him.

Disappointing loss but we went head to head on the road with probably the best team in the league right now without Nash and probably should have won.

It is tough in the early going but it will come around. The important thing is to make the playoffs (hopefully win the division) and be playing well in May.

 

[sly fly]

Well, let's see.

1. The officiating was terrible, on both sides, but the Suns got the worse of it:

1a. I've never before seen traveling called when no one has possession of the ball. That was a good one.

1b. The Jazz have learned the Pistons' trick of holding back the opponent's hip while rolling from a screen. They do it very artfully.

1c. They've also learned that if you stick your face right in someone's armpit, and then that person moves, you can fly backward and draw an offensive foul.

1d. And finally, they know that if you look clumsy enough while shooting flat-footed from the perimeter, you can fool people into thinking you have been fouled.

2. The Suns played well enough to win and should have won. But, they didn't. If they were 5-4 now instead of 3-6 it wouldn't seem so bad. This was a good game and they did a lot of things well.

3. Stoudemire has gone back into the mode of being afraid to play defense because it will put him in foul trouble. He looks confused every time a foul is called against him, and I don't think he's acting. He needs to re-learn which things get called and which don't.

4. The difference between Boozer and Stoudemire is the difference between someone who learned good fundamentals in college and someone who has gotten by on superior talent. Boozer uses his feet and positions his body much better than Stoudemire does.

5. The Suns need to learn that if you let Okur get the ball five feet from the basket against a single, much smaller opponent, it's too late to start thinking about how to defend him.

6. Marion played very well at the end. I don't think he did much until the last few minutes of regulation, but he was great then and superb in overtime. I really wanted the team to win this one for him; he deserved it.

7a. For all of his alleged basketball genius, I don't think Diaw is very good at recognizing how his role can change throughout a game. If he is told to be the focal point, he can do that, and if he is told to be a playmaker, he can (usually) do that, but he doesn't understand how and when to adjust on the fly.

7b. The Stoudemire/Marion/Diaw triangle is incompatible from a personality standpoint, and there is only one way this can turn out.

8. The Jazz have seven second-round draft picks on their roster. Conclusion: Coaching matters.

9. I'd like to see the Suns play a few weeks without Nash. I think they'd learn a lot. They lost tonight, but they looked pretty good a lot of the time. Even though he couldn't hit a shot, Barbosa is really starting to develop as a playmaker, even though I insisted quite recently that this would never happen.

10. Whoever said that Rose is this year's Jim Jackson was spot on, except I think Rose is a little better.

Agree on all points.

 

[AZ Shocker]

The Suns are not world beaters this year (yet), but they are playing well enough to win more than their record shows. The refs are really calling a lot of stuff on us this year. Things that I'm left wondering if the NBA is simply "done" with the Suns and ready to get some new blood in the Western Conference. Seriously...not blaming all our troubles on bad officiating, but gee-zus...we have been getting some bad "phantom" calls and no-calls this year. There is no doubt we have fallen out of NBA "favortism" this year.

Example: Twice this year with the game on the line in the closing seconds...Barbosa has been hacked going to the rack. Last week, and last night against Utah. No call. Go figure....
There are plenty more, but that should suffice for now. lol

 

[Gaddabout]

This game has me convinced. The Suns need to go acquire another 6-8 combo guard/forward so D'Antoni can play with the lineup/rotation some more. There just hasn't been nearly enough sudden or last-minute tinkering going on this season. Maybe we just need to sign four more vet minimum players and the Suns could play two games a night, just like spring training in baseball. They almost have enough for the 40-man roster!

OK. I'm done now.

 

[CaptainInsano]

tim donaghy is the hellspawn satan-child of dick bavetta

 

[Folster]

Did anyone see late in the game Marion demand the ball when the Suns were running back on D after a couple Marion makes? He mouthed "I want the ball" to Barbosa, but the next time down the court he didn't get it. He was the only one who could score.

 

[DeAnna]

Did anyone see late in the game Marion demand the ball when the Suns were running back on D after a couple Marion makes? He mouthed "I want the ball" to Barbosa, but the next time down the court he didn't get it. He was the only one who could score.

Ugh. And, of course, LB proceeds to ignore him and try to take all the shots.

 

[CaptainInsano]

Ugh. And, of course, LB proceeds to ignore him and try to take all the shots.

Even if barbosa were to get 10 assists, that right there is the reason we need nash on the floor more then utah needs krilenko.

A lot of people are angry about this loss but utah is going crazy right now. The suns are still stinging from a horrid early season schedule.. I'll wait until the full suns team runs into utah and THEN loses by more then 5 points to call it over.

Whether we lost a big lead or not, losing by 3 points is losing by 3 points in my book. It is just a lot more frustrating to watch your team lose big leads all the time then, say, trail behind an entire game by 3-6 points and never win, or lose by 15 points pretty solidly.

When you think about it, it is the MOST frustrating to watch OF ALL but a hell of a lot better then what else could happen.

And the big thing is, if we 3peat a WCF drop. Then all the better because we got some mighty fine draft picks coming up this year.

Oh, and after this year either trade banks, or take him into the gym and make him shoot 500 3 pointers every day because this is %*#! ridiculous!

 

[slinslin]

did tim donaghy call that ****? ****ing idiot

tim donaghy is the hellspawn satan-child of dick bavetta

I feel bad bumping so much.