Suns @ Kings Game Thread

[Amare32]

talk about the game here

7.00 start

 

[Chaz]

I see this game in my guide on NBA league pass channel 653.

Maybe they have a preview on right now.

I hope.

 

[Espo]

Looks like the game will be shown on 653 because on 652 im watching houston and washington. My night just got better!

 

[Chaz]

Looks like the game will be shown on 653 because on 652 im watching houston and washington. My night just got better!

Sweet! My TV says it is up next and I have the game on 652.

 

[Truluv]

its also on dishnetwork channel 409 ! comcast sportsnet~


Peace

 

[arthurracoon]

And a shusam to start the game!

 

[Yuma]

Couple of observations from tonight's game.

- The Suns are deep this year. Played a lot of minutes seemingly without Nash and Marion on the floor and looked good doing it.

- Raja Bell can just plain knock down the 3!

- James Jones can hit the 3 also!

- Boris Diaw hits really hard shots and makes them look easy. Spinning the wrong way, using glass, etc. However, seemingly easy straight in shots he misses. Wassup?

- Pat Burke is this year's 50% free throw shooter! He makes Steven Hunter look like a 90% FT shooter.

- Eddie House plays some good PG minutes for us. Not too bad for a back up.

 

[panfolk]

Why on earth did Sac play Stojakovic, Miller, and Bibby a combined 32 minutes? Makes the victory seem hollow. I'm waiting for the box score but I'm hoping we won without playing Marion or Nash much.

 

[Treesquid PhD]

Why on earth did Sac play Stojakovic, Miller, and Bibby a combined 32 minutes? Because these games do not matter Makes the victory seem hollow The game does not mean anything so it is hollow regardless. I'm waiting for the box score but I'm hoping we won without playing Marion or Nash much.

Hope that helps.

 

[carey]

Hope that helps.

Insightful as usual Tree.

I only saw the 4th quarter down here in New Orleans, and it wasn't pretty. Our offense still looks nasty with out Nash in the line-up. Hopefully someone will emerge over time to anchor this offense when he isn't on the floor.

Is Wed.'s game against Sacramento televised? I remember reading something about it being on TnT?

Also, since my home was destroyed in Katrina my fiance and I were thinking of moving back to Arizona. Do the games get shown in Tucson? Or do I have to go with League Pass like I have the last 2 years in New Orleans?

- Carey

 

[George O'Brien]

Box Score

 

[SactownSunsFan]

The game was shown in Sacramento, but I was only able to watch some of the first quarter (had to pick the GF up at the airport). This game was played in the armpit of California- Fresno

 

[panfolk]

Thanks for the link. It just seems painful that we basically played a game against their bench and only won by 12. It just makes Sacramento look like a more formidable opponent than I had thought. If these games are meaningless why did Seattle and the rest of the teams we played use their starters in an equivalent manner to our own use? Carey were you being sarcastic?

The Golden State game will be on TNT if that helps.

 

[Errntknght]

"It just seems painful that we basically played a game against their bench and only won by 12. It just makes Sacramento look like a more formidable opponent than I had thought."

If it's any consolation the Suns 'won' the first quarter against their starters. Heck, maybe Adelman figured it would be too disheartening if his team tried to win the game and failed so he kept his starters off the floor to make it look like they were conceding it. Most likely he just wanted to look more at other guys in game like conditions or certain combinations. The Suns do need the starters to play together since it's such a different team than last year - and even quite different from the one that started training camp since losing Amare changes a large pct. of what they were planning to do.


"If these games are meaningless why did Seattle and the rest of the teams we played use their starters in an equivalent manner to our own use?"

The games aren't meaningless... just the score and who wins. The games are practice sessions where the coach isn't in control of what the opponents are going to do. Actually the outcomes are worse than meaningless... if you win and think it means something.

 

[reader]

Thought I would put the postgame comments. Nash sounds a bit more optimistic than he has previously.

Post-Game Quotes

Posted: Oct. 23, 2005

SUNS HEAD COACH MIKE D’ANTONI: “I thought we played pretty well. We were good defensively and had 29 assists on 39 baskets so we moved the ball around well and hit open shots.”

(On the preseason nearing an end)
“I think everyone’s ready to get started. We still have one more week of good work ahead of us. We’ve gotta keep looking better defensively which we’ve been doing and find our rotation and get guys in the right positions.

“James Jones is really shooting the ball well and Boris Diaw is playing well for us and Raja’s a confident scorer, that’s why we got him obviously. He’s really living up to what we thought.”



SUNS GUARD STEVE NASH (15 PTS, 9 ASSTS): “I thought tonight’s game was decent for a preseason affair. I think we’re building a little bit here and won a couple games and feel a little more confident about our offense and our defense.”

(On visiting Fresno)
“It’s fun to visit with old friends and I enjoyed it—it’s a beautiful arena and the fans were great.”

(On the new NBA dress code)
(smiling) “I think it’s just great.”



KINGS HEAD COACH RICK ADELMAN:
(On the younger guys getting some playing time)
“It’s hard for the young guys to play four or five minutes. When you play extended minutes you get more of a feel for the game.”

(On Brian Skinner’s)
“I though Brian’s played well the whole preseason when he’s played. I wanted he and Kenny to get extended minutes tonight too. He gives you a presence back there, he’s a good rebounder, and he’s going to effect shots.”

(On traveling to Fresno and other arenas beyond)
“I think it’s always good to play in a market that gets our games and it gives the fans a chance to see our players. Unfortunately, the preseason is tough timing because some of the main guys I didn’t play because I needed to get a look at some of the young guys.”



KINGS FORWARD PEJA STOJAKOVIC (10 PTS): “It’s good to play in cities where we can promote our team and at the same time get ourselves ready for the regular season.” On the importance of training camp for the Kings: “We are still learning each other and it will continue to be a learning process.” On the dress code: “I don’t care really, it’s nothing. I don’t think it’s something that should cause any problems. I think anybody can follow it.”

 

[Dustbuster]

I find it both interesting and encouraging that D'Antoni seems so impressed with Diaw. First, because Diaw is not an offensive player, and usually guys that don't have a great offensive game don't get much burn in D'Antoni's system. Diaw does find little ways to score within himself, however, and doesn't jack up a lot of bad shots. The second surprising thing to me is that Boris basically didn't get mentioned in training camp at all. It seemed, in fact, that he was falling out of the rotation, but during this preseason he has essentially becoming the third guy off the bench at worst.

 

[SweetD]

I think since Mike moved him to the 4 he has been happy. Diaw has great timing on blocks and if he gets his O game up to par he can be a huge piece of the puzzle.

 

[George O'Brien]

I find it both interesting and encouraging that D'Antoni seems so impressed with Diaw. First, because Diaw is not an offensive player, and usually guys that don't have a great offensive game don't get much burn in D'Antoni's system. Diaw does find little ways to score within himself, however, and doesn't jack up a lot of bad shots. The second surprising thing to me is that Boris basically didn't get mentioned in training camp at all. It seemed, in fact, that he was falling out of the rotation, but during this preseason he has essentially becoming the third guy off the bench at worst.

One theme kept showing up in the articles written about Boris from Europe, he's a fairly good defender who has the potential of becoming a great defender in Artest/Bowen class. He's very athletic with long arms, good timing and good footwork. During preseason, he's averaged 1.83 blocks in just 22 minutes a game. He may be better suited to play the PF position than Marion and be able to use his quickness to get to the basket on offense.

In the six pre-season games, Boris has averaged 6.2 ppg in 22 minutes shooting 52.2%. His three point shooting remains terrible, but he's not shooting as many as he did in Atlanta.

 

[JCSunsfan]

One theme kept showing up in the articles written about Boris from Europe, he's a fairly good defender who has the potential of becoming a great defender in Artest/Bowen class. He's very athletic with long arms, good timing and good footwork. During preseason, he's averaged 1.83 blocks in just 22 minutes a game. He may be better suited to play the PF position than Marion and be able to use his quickness to get to the basket on offense.

In the six pre-season games, Boris has averaged 6.2 ppg in 22 minutes shooting 52.2%. His three point shooting remains terrible, but he's not shooting as many as he did in Atlanta.

That is interesting. He obviously is able to play the pf even though he's a little light for it.

Why not play our planned starting line up and slip Boris in for Amare? Shawn could slide back over to the 3 and we could work on a little continuity with the starting unit.

 

[Chaz]

That is interesting. He obviously is able to play the pf even though he's a little light for it.

Why not play our planned starting line up and slip Boris in for Amare? Shawn could slide back over to the 3 and we could work on a little continuity with the starting unit.

Well that replaces Jones in the starting lineup.

So far Diaw and Jackson have been replacing Thomas and Jones off the bench.

The lineup with Thomas, Diaw, Marion, and Bell with Nash (or Barbosa) could be pretty good defensively.

However, Jones puts more offense in the starting lineup.
Plus they are relying on Diaw to run alot of the offense when Nash is on the bench.

 

[George O'Brien]

I'd be interested in knowing how much they use Diaw and Barbosa in the lineup at the same time. Diaw seems like an ideal point forward type, but I'm not sure D'Anoni wants him to run the half court offense.

 

[virtual9]

The problem with using Diaw as a point-forward: he doesn't merit a double-team in the post.

IMHO, his natural position may be SF once he develops more confidence in his outside shot. Kinda like a Scottie Pippen - good defender, can pass well, athletic drives (!) - and just maybe a good outside game.

Besides, Barbosa's looking like a decent backup PG nowadays - albeit one that needs some seasoning.

 

[Chaz]

I'd be interested in knowing how much they use Diaw and Barbosa in the lineup at the same time. Diaw seems like an ideal point forward type, but I'm not sure D'Anoni wants him to run the half court offense.

From what I have seen of the last two games, quite a bit.

Barbosa will bring the ball up and then pass to Diaw to start the offense.

 

[jbeecham]

You guys can watch some game highlights here:

Suns - Kings Highlights

Just click on the PLAY button in the middle of the recap. They've got video of Barbosa getting knocked out and Shawn Marion getting his dunk blocked. There's also a lot of great ball movement by the Suns.

 

[Errntknght]

SirChaz, "Barbosa will bring the ball up and then pass to Diaw to start the offense."

Yep, that's just what I observed in the Sonics game - and Barbs didn't seem the least unhappy about it. I assumed at the time it was ordained by D'Antoni because it happened so consistently. After a few times the Sonics started trying to deny the pass to Diaw... I thought Leandro should vary it a little and catch the defense off guard. No doubt he will if the two continue playing together.