Suns @ Magic , Dec 11th Game Thread
- Thread starter goldseraph
- Start date
Have I ever told you that Luke Jackson would be a good player for the Suns? (Luke is a free agent after Boston released him)
His agent says he is in good condition, ready to play and no one calling. I am surprised at that.
thegrahamcrackr
Registered User
Luke needs to go to the NBDL. He wanted to last season (and this season before being traded by Cleveland). He knew he wouldn't get any PT and he really needs to show that he can still play.
He isn't the type of player that teams call on for some extra help - he is just too unknown right now. Teams would rather look to someone who has at least played somewhere, at some point...
He isn't the type of player that teams call on for some extra help - he is just too unknown right now. Teams would rather look to someone who has at least played somewhere, at some point...
S_Nash
Funky Fresh
LMAO at a post by (I'm guessing) the same guy...
I seriously hate the PHOENIX SUNS. I hate their style of play. I hate their coach. I hate everything about them. They are frauds. They won't win a title with this style of play. In the playoffs, the tempo slows down and they get exposed.
I hope the Magic will continue to develop Dwight and Darko because those two in their primes will beat this style of PHX play everytime in the playoffs
That is unreal. Pure babyish hatred.
They should nickname this guy Annakin.
I seriously hate the PHOENIX SUNS. I hate their style of play. I hate their coach. I hate everything about them. They are frauds. They won't win a title with this style of play. In the playoffs, the tempo slows down and they get exposed.
I hope the Magic will continue to develop Dwight and Darko because those two in their primes will beat this style of PHX play everytime in the playoffs
That is unreal. Pure babyish hatred.
They should nickname this guy Annakin.
CaptainInsano
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I guess that worthless idiot would rather see another spurs vs detroit finals I guess.
His opinion is basically directly against the vast VAST majority so he doesn't have a point whatsoever.
Suns were highest rated on tv the last 2 years, and the spurs vs detroit final was one of the lowest rated in history.
I am actually quite baffled and disgusted at this person at the same time. Was he really that deadset in his mind that the game was a win for orlando and is throwing a fit?
Does he not like the small ball, fastbreak, offense based game the suns brought to the nba?
How could he honestly dislike a team like the suns over teams like the spurs or miami which slow the game down so bad I literally have to struggle from falling asleep?
I think I know what it is though, he looks at the mirror thinking orlando ranked very high in the east was a better team then it was, and thought when he asked the mirror "who is the fairest team with a monstrous young inside player and potent offense?" that it would answer orlando.
Instead he sees:
Amare emphatically posturizing dwight and scoring 30 points and dwight basically doing next to nothing. With the suns on a back to back. With the suns playing 4 out of 5 nights.
I guess that would make me hate the suns too. Biotch!
His opinion is basically directly against the vast VAST majority so he doesn't have a point whatsoever.
Suns were highest rated on tv the last 2 years, and the spurs vs detroit final was one of the lowest rated in history.
I am actually quite baffled and disgusted at this person at the same time. Was he really that deadset in his mind that the game was a win for orlando and is throwing a fit?
Does he not like the small ball, fastbreak, offense based game the suns brought to the nba?
How could he honestly dislike a team like the suns over teams like the spurs or miami which slow the game down so bad I literally have to struggle from falling asleep?
I think I know what it is though, he looks at the mirror thinking orlando ranked very high in the east was a better team then it was, and thought when he asked the mirror "who is the fairest team with a monstrous young inside player and potent offense?" that it would answer orlando.
Instead he sees:
Amare emphatically posturizing dwight and scoring 30 points and dwight basically doing next to nothing. With the suns on a back to back. With the suns playing 4 out of 5 nights.
I guess that would make me hate the suns too. Biotch!
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krispydude
\_ \_ \_ \_ \_ \_ \_
nice win, especially when most of the team didnt seem to play too well offensively (except amare). great defense though.
OP
OP
goldseraph
Irrelevance Sucks :(
Meh not really the game I had been hoping for. I do think Howard got jobbed a bit by the officials, Kurt and Amare were roughing him up most of the game, and it seemed like whenever he threw an arm or shoulder back, they would flop and stare at the officials. It seemed to work and threw the Magic off their game plan. I def think we are the better team, and played better tonight, but I can understand some of the griping from Magic fans. Great job by the Suns winning an east coast back-to-back! Amare looking great! If he can just get a little more explosiveness back he is gonna be scary.
Bufalay
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I was just watching the highlights on ESPN.com and they said Shawn Marion with the triple-double 19/11/11. This kind of shocked me so I check the box score, sure enough he had 19 pts 11 rebounds and 11 defensive rebounds.
Chaz
observationist
I think Howard got frustrated and was pressing a little.
The first call was borderline but the second he clearly pushed Thomas in the back with two arms extended going for the o-reb.
The 5th I think it was where he threw his arm back at Thomas was a little ticky tack but he was frustrated and complaining and the refs were watching him close.
The one where he threw down Diaw (4th?) he needs to use his body not his arm to clear people out.
Great third quarter defense by the Suns. It gave them enough of a cushion to hold on for the win.
Whoever put that stat up on ESPN deserves to be fired. What is Shawn Marion's career high in assists? Four?
What did you guys think of Amare tonight? In my opinion, he really didn't play that well. Maybe that is a testament to how good he really is, but I don't know. I hate to take anything away from him, but I kind of wonder what kind of player he would be at this point if he wasn't on the Suns. On one hand, he would likely get more touches on the block, and hence more opportunities to make moves and create for himself (or others), but a lot of his baskets come almost completely from Diaw or Nash creating for him. Could he be as effective without those guys?
I guess the obvious answer is: no. However, that could be said about anybody, especially on a team that plays good team basketball. I just don't know if Amare is that great right now.
Chaz
observationist
Amare is very efficent, strong around the basket, and has a great touch.
His statistics may not be the same somewhere else but he is a talented player no matter where he is.
CardNots
ASFN Addict
Are you serious? All great inside players get fed by someone. When history is written, Amare will be one of the best.
DeAnna
Just A Face in The Crowd
Yeah, some of the calls against Howard I thought were ticky-tacky as well. I've seen a lot worse not get called.
Chaplin
Better off silent
If anyone cares, Dwyane Wade will be out in the game against us--he had a couple wisdom teeth pulled today.
scoutmasterdave
Board Certified Suns Fan
That's too bad - I love watching Wade play. However, I think the Suns will take it.
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well, that should be number 12!
jbeecham
ASFN Addict
Amaré Shows His Magic In 11th Straight Win
By Jerry Brown
East Valley Tribune
Dec. 11, 2006
Six months ago, Dwight Howard dominated a rehabbing Amaré Stoudemire at Team USA’s training camp in Las Vegas, earning a spot on the roster and letting both Stoudemire and the Suns know how much hard work still lay ahead from a pair of knee surgeries.
Monday, back where he grew up, Stoudemire showed Howard and the Orlando Magic that not only is his comeback bordering on completion, but he’s adding new wrinkles to his already-impressive game.
Stoudemire dominated the head-to-head matchup. He not only scored a season-high 30 points with an impressive array of slams, jumpers and offensive put-backs, but he blocked three shots and completely frustrated Howard with a defense effort seldom seen from even the pre-microfracture Amaré.
The Suns broke open a close game with a 20-3 run to open the third quarter and won their 11th straight game impressively, an easy 103-89 win. With four wins in five days, Phoenix has now tied the second-longest winning streak in franchise history and can win 12 straight for the first time since the 1992-93 season, and wrap up a perfect 5-0 road trip, Wednesday in Miami against the Shaquille O’Neal-less Heat.
“We wanted to continue our streak and contain Dwight as much as we can,” said Stoudemire, who came up two rebounds shy of his eighth double-double in the last nine games but had five on the offensive glass in 41 minutes. “It was more of a defensive win for us.”
Steve Nash had 18 points and 15 assists for the Suns, who haven’t lost since the Jazz beat them in overtime Nov. 20 in Salt Lake City. That game, and that Phoenix team, like the picture of Stoudemire limping on sore knees, is now a distant memory.
“That was Amaré’s best performance. When he plays defense like he did tonight – active, alert – we’re a totally different team,” Nash said. “We have Amaré. We have more depth and experience. We have a great opportunity to be better than we were last year, or the year before.”
Howard won’t argue. He fouled out after just 19 minutes of play – earning all six fouls either on offensive or loose-ball situations – scoring four points and three rebounds before departing with 6:44 left. The last foul came just as the Magic had cut a 21-point Suns lead to 12, sending a dagger through any comeback hopes.
“Even Superman has his Kryptonite,” Orlando guard Keyon Dooling said.
“I thought the third quarter was by far the best defense we’ve ever played, that was kind of shocking,” Phoenix coach Mike D’Antoni, said, only half-kidding. “Amaré was obviously huge at both ends; his defense was probably the best he’s ever played.
“I don’t think we envisioned that Amaré would be this good, this quick. We said that when he was 60 percent, we were going to struggle, and we did (a 1-5 start). But as he gets close – and he’s really close – we’re getting pretty good.” Playing their fourth game in five nights, the Suns turned a close game at halftime into cruise control for the second time in 24 hours. But while Sunday was against hapless Charlotte, this came against a rested, 15-win team that leads the Eastern Conference.
Stoudemire’s performance overshadowed a great effort from Shawn Marion, who not only had 19 points and 11 rebounds but added four steals, three assists and three blocks. All five starters were in double figures again – each played at least 36 minutes – and outscored Orlando’s starters by a whopping 90-37 margin.
No 3’s? No problem
One of the most impressive aspects of this winning streak is the Suns have kept it going while their 3-point shooting has gone south. Phoenix missed 12 of 16 3-pointers Monday – no one made more than one – and went 9-for-34 in the last two games, but won both comfortably by taking the ball inside for high percentage dunks, layups and bank shots.
Wayward 3s and all, Phoenix still shot 51.4 percent for the game and had 52 points in the paint and 27 fast-break points against the Magic.
“We lived by the jump shot last year. Well guess what, we don’t have to do that anymore,” D’Antoni said. “Amaré is really pounding it in there and Shawn is taking it to the hole, we have Boris who can post up … it’s a different ballgame.”
But don’t expect the Suns to abandon their bombing ways anytime soon.
“We’re on a road trip and we’re a little leg weary, but I don’t think our 3s are going to go away for a long time,” he said.
Bonus shots
D’Antoni continues to shorten his bench – only Leandro Barbosa and Kurt Thomas played more than 10 minutes – and his starters outscored the Magic 90-37 with all five starters again hitting double figures. They scored 33 of the 38 baskets.
“LB’s been good in spots and Kurt has really helped out, but our top guys are really busting it right now,” D’Antoni said. “We want to keep winning and I don’t hear anyone asking to come out.” …
Nash was named the NBA Western Conference Player of the Week for the fifth time in his career after averaging 20.0 points and 14.3 assists in four Suns wins. Nash shot 57.1 percent from the field and 58.8 percent from 3-point range. He had a 20-assist game against Sacramento (Dec. 5) and a career-high 42 points against New Jersey (Dec. 7). …
Sunday’s 114-84 win in Charlotte marked only the second time in franchise history the Suns trailed on the road after one period and still won by more than 30 points. The only other time was on Nov. 15, 1989, against Sacramento.
http://www.nba.com/suns/news/tribune_061212.html
By Jerry Brown
East Valley Tribune
Dec. 11, 2006
Six months ago, Dwight Howard dominated a rehabbing Amaré Stoudemire at Team USA’s training camp in Las Vegas, earning a spot on the roster and letting both Stoudemire and the Suns know how much hard work still lay ahead from a pair of knee surgeries.
Monday, back where he grew up, Stoudemire showed Howard and the Orlando Magic that not only is his comeback bordering on completion, but he’s adding new wrinkles to his already-impressive game.
Stoudemire dominated the head-to-head matchup. He not only scored a season-high 30 points with an impressive array of slams, jumpers and offensive put-backs, but he blocked three shots and completely frustrated Howard with a defense effort seldom seen from even the pre-microfracture Amaré.
The Suns broke open a close game with a 20-3 run to open the third quarter and won their 11th straight game impressively, an easy 103-89 win. With four wins in five days, Phoenix has now tied the second-longest winning streak in franchise history and can win 12 straight for the first time since the 1992-93 season, and wrap up a perfect 5-0 road trip, Wednesday in Miami against the Shaquille O’Neal-less Heat.
“We wanted to continue our streak and contain Dwight as much as we can,” said Stoudemire, who came up two rebounds shy of his eighth double-double in the last nine games but had five on the offensive glass in 41 minutes. “It was more of a defensive win for us.”
Steve Nash had 18 points and 15 assists for the Suns, who haven’t lost since the Jazz beat them in overtime Nov. 20 in Salt Lake City. That game, and that Phoenix team, like the picture of Stoudemire limping on sore knees, is now a distant memory.
“That was Amaré’s best performance. When he plays defense like he did tonight – active, alert – we’re a totally different team,” Nash said. “We have Amaré. We have more depth and experience. We have a great opportunity to be better than we were last year, or the year before.”
Howard won’t argue. He fouled out after just 19 minutes of play – earning all six fouls either on offensive or loose-ball situations – scoring four points and three rebounds before departing with 6:44 left. The last foul came just as the Magic had cut a 21-point Suns lead to 12, sending a dagger through any comeback hopes.
“Even Superman has his Kryptonite,” Orlando guard Keyon Dooling said.
“I thought the third quarter was by far the best defense we’ve ever played, that was kind of shocking,” Phoenix coach Mike D’Antoni, said, only half-kidding. “Amaré was obviously huge at both ends; his defense was probably the best he’s ever played.
“I don’t think we envisioned that Amaré would be this good, this quick. We said that when he was 60 percent, we were going to struggle, and we did (a 1-5 start). But as he gets close – and he’s really close – we’re getting pretty good.” Playing their fourth game in five nights, the Suns turned a close game at halftime into cruise control for the second time in 24 hours. But while Sunday was against hapless Charlotte, this came against a rested, 15-win team that leads the Eastern Conference.
Stoudemire’s performance overshadowed a great effort from Shawn Marion, who not only had 19 points and 11 rebounds but added four steals, three assists and three blocks. All five starters were in double figures again – each played at least 36 minutes – and outscored Orlando’s starters by a whopping 90-37 margin.
No 3’s? No problem
One of the most impressive aspects of this winning streak is the Suns have kept it going while their 3-point shooting has gone south. Phoenix missed 12 of 16 3-pointers Monday – no one made more than one – and went 9-for-34 in the last two games, but won both comfortably by taking the ball inside for high percentage dunks, layups and bank shots.
Wayward 3s and all, Phoenix still shot 51.4 percent for the game and had 52 points in the paint and 27 fast-break points against the Magic.
“We lived by the jump shot last year. Well guess what, we don’t have to do that anymore,” D’Antoni said. “Amaré is really pounding it in there and Shawn is taking it to the hole, we have Boris who can post up … it’s a different ballgame.”
But don’t expect the Suns to abandon their bombing ways anytime soon.
“We’re on a road trip and we’re a little leg weary, but I don’t think our 3s are going to go away for a long time,” he said.
Bonus shots
D’Antoni continues to shorten his bench – only Leandro Barbosa and Kurt Thomas played more than 10 minutes – and his starters outscored the Magic 90-37 with all five starters again hitting double figures. They scored 33 of the 38 baskets.
“LB’s been good in spots and Kurt has really helped out, but our top guys are really busting it right now,” D’Antoni said. “We want to keep winning and I don’t hear anyone asking to come out.” …
Nash was named the NBA Western Conference Player of the Week for the fifth time in his career after averaging 20.0 points and 14.3 assists in four Suns wins. Nash shot 57.1 percent from the field and 58.8 percent from 3-point range. He had a 20-assist game against Sacramento (Dec. 5) and a career-high 42 points against New Jersey (Dec. 7). …
Sunday’s 114-84 win in Charlotte marked only the second time in franchise history the Suns trailed on the road after one period and still won by more than 30 points. The only other time was on Nov. 15, 1989, against Sacramento.
http://www.nba.com/suns/news/tribune_061212.html
jbeecham
ASFN Addict
Post-Game Quotes
Posted: Dec. 11, 2006
SUNS HEAD COACH MIKE D’ANTONI:
(On the win)
“That was obviously a good game. I thought the third quarter was I thought the best defense we ever played, kind of shocking. We really defended well. Offensively we were okay, it looked like we played 4 games in 5 nights, offensively our three’s weren’t falling. They found a lot of heart and played some defense. Amare (Stoudemire) obviously was huge at both ends of the court. His defense was really good; best probably he’s ever played. He was awesome. Offensively he is what he is, he’s a beast there but now it’s rebounding and defense. Shawn (Marion) was all over the place was so active at blocking and rebounding, he had 12 rebounds all on defense. Everybody did their part again and made big plays and we were good.”
(On not allowing the Magic to get on a run): “Well when Boris (Diaw) hits that big three in the corner that sealed the deal. We showed a little bit offensively. But give them credit. They’re long and athletic and they bothered us, especially with their three’s. But overall we had a great performance.”
(On the Suns-Magic match-up): “They’re good. They don’t have (Hedo) Turkoglu or Keith (Bogans). You just have to come in and take advantage of breaks and that’s a break for us. But they’re a good team. They’ll be fighting it out in the playoffs in the East. I hope we see them again. I’d love to see them later on. I’d love to see anybody later on.”
(On the possibility of a perfect road trip): “We won 11 a couple years ago and we won 11 last year, we’ve never really won more then 11 with this group but that’s something we want to shoot for. Miami is going to be tough obviously and it won’t be easy being the last game of the road trip. But we have our goal to do that and we’ll see if we can do it.”
(On Amare Stoudemire coming home to Orlando): “I think the water here helped him a little bit, something helped him. But he’s been playing pretty good. I don’t want to say that this is different from the seven or eight other games he’s played in a row. This was great, he had a hell of a match-up with (Dwight) Howard and he took the challenge.”
SUNS FORWARD AMARE STOUDEMIRE: “It was a good game for us. We wanted to continue our streak. We have been playing great basketball right now and coming into Orlando, a team that is playing great, this is a big win for us.”
“You just have to go out there and play hard. I let the game come to me. It felt pretty good to me on the offensive end.”
“It doesn’t really matter to me. I grew up on the playgrounds where a ball is a ball. You shoot to score so it is whatever the commissioner decides I am down for. New ball or old ball, it doesn’t really matter to me.”
“We just came out with a strategy to keep scoring and playing great defense. Once we continue to play great defense our offense seems to come pretty easily.”
“It was definitely a team effort. We just tried to contain Dwight as much as we can. We did a good job of corralling the whole team. It is good for us. I think it was more of a defensive win for us even though we scored over 100 points tonight.”
SUNS GUARD STEVE NASH:
“It was a matter of all five guys concentrating and being disciplined to be consistent defensively. Tonight I thought our schemes worked. Our attentiveness and concentration were great.”
(on Suns defense in third quarter) “It was a great performance in the third quarter on. We have had flashes of that type of play. I think our success will ultimately be decided on how we continue to develop consistently.”
“At first the new basketball was very difficult. After playing with an authentic leather ball for your whole life and then to a composite was very difficult. But after playing with it everyday, you become used to it. Now we have to adjust back and it would have been great if they hadn’t done it until the summer and gave us an opportunity to play this season with the new ball. Then we could revisit it at the end of the year. But that is not the case.”
“The new ball is just so sticky and is a totally different feel and it plays differently. It sticks on the backboard and plays different on your hand. You have to adjust. You have to shoot the ball slightly differently, and they way you prepare to shoot and prepare to pass off the dribble. It is just a different game.”
(on how they will re-adjust back to old ball) “Practice I guess. You don’t get a chance to practice very often during the season though.”
MAGIC HEAD COACH BRIAN HILL: “I thought we played pretty good basketball for a half and then obviously in the third quarter, we couldn’t get any stops and we couldn’t do anything offensively and that was pretty much our wrong-doing during the course of the game. Give Phoenix credit. They’re a very difficult team to defend, obviously they’ve won 11 in a row now. They’re just an excellent basketball team.”
(On turnovers and free throw stats): “Seventeen turnovers against a team like this - you can’t afford. And to shoot 52 percent from the foul line you can’t afford either if you expect to win games like this. This is the third game in a row where we have shot poorly from the free throw line. I can assure you we will be spending some time on that tomorrow.”
(On Dwight handling the frustration of the fouls being called): “Just have to tell him to try and keep his composure. You can’t manage him while he’s out there. You have to try to point it out to him and just try to tell him to keep his composure. Other than that, there’s not much you can do.”
(On second half of the game): “We helped their break by missing a lot of shots. But we basically did what we wanted to do for the first two quarters as far as controlling the tempo of the game with our offense. The third quarter we took some ill-advised shots and didn’t make the ones that we did get and got them out and running and opened up that lead, which was hard to come back from.”
(On Travis Diener): “I thought Travis looked fine. I thought he got tired at the end, but that’s to be expected, he was expending a lot of energy out there. I thought by and large he did a pretty good job for us.”
MAGIC CENTER DWIGHT HOWARD:
“It’s a new situation for me. I’ve just got to learn. The next time we play them, I’ve really have to be careful about how they play defense and try and not get frustrated with not getting calls, and plays.”
MAGIC GUARD KEYON DOOLING: (On Dwight) “Even Superman has his Kryptonite. There are going to be nights like this where he can’t catch his rhythm. And nights like that is where we have to pick him up. We tried to do it but that team right there, you blink and they can put 20 points on the board. They made a great run there in the third quarter.”
“Hey, we never said that we’re a great team. You’ve never heard one quote from us saying that we’re a great team. But what we have said is that we’re going to play the right way, play, execute, do the game plan and it’s been working out well for us. Internally, we’ve got a little swagger about ourselves.”
“You’ve got to understand that we’ve got guys down. Phoenix is on a ten-game winning streak, 11 games now. They came out and executed their game plan with the best point guard in the league, 2-time MVP, and they were able to get the win.”
MAGIC GUARD TRAVIS DIENER: “Coach said at halftime that they were a great third quarter team. We didn’t come out with the same energy that we did in the first half. They got up big, and we got put in there and we tried to make a run. It was just too much to overcome. There are nights where the starters bring all the energy, and the guys on the bench like that. But weare deep enough where most nights we can overcome that. But a team like Phoenix, who has won ten in a row, that’s tough to overcome.”
(What they tried to accomplish in the 4th qtr.) “Just play hard, play with energy, get the crowd back into the game try and make a run and hopefully they’ll miss some shots, make some mistakes. We’ll try and hit some shots, get back into the game. But that’s all you can really ask for, not to give up. We’re going to keep playing until the horn blows and unfortunately it was too late tonight.”
http://www.nba.com/suns/news/quotes_061211.html
Posted: Dec. 11, 2006
SUNS HEAD COACH MIKE D’ANTONI:
(On the win)
“That was obviously a good game. I thought the third quarter was I thought the best defense we ever played, kind of shocking. We really defended well. Offensively we were okay, it looked like we played 4 games in 5 nights, offensively our three’s weren’t falling. They found a lot of heart and played some defense. Amare (Stoudemire) obviously was huge at both ends of the court. His defense was really good; best probably he’s ever played. He was awesome. Offensively he is what he is, he’s a beast there but now it’s rebounding and defense. Shawn (Marion) was all over the place was so active at blocking and rebounding, he had 12 rebounds all on defense. Everybody did their part again and made big plays and we were good.”
(On not allowing the Magic to get on a run): “Well when Boris (Diaw) hits that big three in the corner that sealed the deal. We showed a little bit offensively. But give them credit. They’re long and athletic and they bothered us, especially with their three’s. But overall we had a great performance.”
(On the Suns-Magic match-up): “They’re good. They don’t have (Hedo) Turkoglu or Keith (Bogans). You just have to come in and take advantage of breaks and that’s a break for us. But they’re a good team. They’ll be fighting it out in the playoffs in the East. I hope we see them again. I’d love to see them later on. I’d love to see anybody later on.”
(On the possibility of a perfect road trip): “We won 11 a couple years ago and we won 11 last year, we’ve never really won more then 11 with this group but that’s something we want to shoot for. Miami is going to be tough obviously and it won’t be easy being the last game of the road trip. But we have our goal to do that and we’ll see if we can do it.”
(On Amare Stoudemire coming home to Orlando): “I think the water here helped him a little bit, something helped him. But he’s been playing pretty good. I don’t want to say that this is different from the seven or eight other games he’s played in a row. This was great, he had a hell of a match-up with (Dwight) Howard and he took the challenge.”
SUNS FORWARD AMARE STOUDEMIRE: “It was a good game for us. We wanted to continue our streak. We have been playing great basketball right now and coming into Orlando, a team that is playing great, this is a big win for us.”
“You just have to go out there and play hard. I let the game come to me. It felt pretty good to me on the offensive end.”
“It doesn’t really matter to me. I grew up on the playgrounds where a ball is a ball. You shoot to score so it is whatever the commissioner decides I am down for. New ball or old ball, it doesn’t really matter to me.”
“We just came out with a strategy to keep scoring and playing great defense. Once we continue to play great defense our offense seems to come pretty easily.”
“It was definitely a team effort. We just tried to contain Dwight as much as we can. We did a good job of corralling the whole team. It is good for us. I think it was more of a defensive win for us even though we scored over 100 points tonight.”
SUNS GUARD STEVE NASH:
“It was a matter of all five guys concentrating and being disciplined to be consistent defensively. Tonight I thought our schemes worked. Our attentiveness and concentration were great.”
(on Suns defense in third quarter) “It was a great performance in the third quarter on. We have had flashes of that type of play. I think our success will ultimately be decided on how we continue to develop consistently.”
“At first the new basketball was very difficult. After playing with an authentic leather ball for your whole life and then to a composite was very difficult. But after playing with it everyday, you become used to it. Now we have to adjust back and it would have been great if they hadn’t done it until the summer and gave us an opportunity to play this season with the new ball. Then we could revisit it at the end of the year. But that is not the case.”
“The new ball is just so sticky and is a totally different feel and it plays differently. It sticks on the backboard and plays different on your hand. You have to adjust. You have to shoot the ball slightly differently, and they way you prepare to shoot and prepare to pass off the dribble. It is just a different game.”
(on how they will re-adjust back to old ball) “Practice I guess. You don’t get a chance to practice very often during the season though.”
MAGIC HEAD COACH BRIAN HILL: “I thought we played pretty good basketball for a half and then obviously in the third quarter, we couldn’t get any stops and we couldn’t do anything offensively and that was pretty much our wrong-doing during the course of the game. Give Phoenix credit. They’re a very difficult team to defend, obviously they’ve won 11 in a row now. They’re just an excellent basketball team.”
(On turnovers and free throw stats): “Seventeen turnovers against a team like this - you can’t afford. And to shoot 52 percent from the foul line you can’t afford either if you expect to win games like this. This is the third game in a row where we have shot poorly from the free throw line. I can assure you we will be spending some time on that tomorrow.”
(On Dwight handling the frustration of the fouls being called): “Just have to tell him to try and keep his composure. You can’t manage him while he’s out there. You have to try to point it out to him and just try to tell him to keep his composure. Other than that, there’s not much you can do.”
(On second half of the game): “We helped their break by missing a lot of shots. But we basically did what we wanted to do for the first two quarters as far as controlling the tempo of the game with our offense. The third quarter we took some ill-advised shots and didn’t make the ones that we did get and got them out and running and opened up that lead, which was hard to come back from.”
(On Travis Diener): “I thought Travis looked fine. I thought he got tired at the end, but that’s to be expected, he was expending a lot of energy out there. I thought by and large he did a pretty good job for us.”
MAGIC CENTER DWIGHT HOWARD:
“It’s a new situation for me. I’ve just got to learn. The next time we play them, I’ve really have to be careful about how they play defense and try and not get frustrated with not getting calls, and plays.”
MAGIC GUARD KEYON DOOLING: (On Dwight) “Even Superman has his Kryptonite. There are going to be nights like this where he can’t catch his rhythm. And nights like that is where we have to pick him up. We tried to do it but that team right there, you blink and they can put 20 points on the board. They made a great run there in the third quarter.”
“Hey, we never said that we’re a great team. You’ve never heard one quote from us saying that we’re a great team. But what we have said is that we’re going to play the right way, play, execute, do the game plan and it’s been working out well for us. Internally, we’ve got a little swagger about ourselves.”
“You’ve got to understand that we’ve got guys down. Phoenix is on a ten-game winning streak, 11 games now. They came out and executed their game plan with the best point guard in the league, 2-time MVP, and they were able to get the win.”
MAGIC GUARD TRAVIS DIENER: “Coach said at halftime that they were a great third quarter team. We didn’t come out with the same energy that we did in the first half. They got up big, and we got put in there and we tried to make a run. It was just too much to overcome. There are nights where the starters bring all the energy, and the guys on the bench like that. But weare deep enough where most nights we can overcome that. But a team like Phoenix, who has won ten in a row, that’s tough to overcome.”
(What they tried to accomplish in the 4th qtr.) “Just play hard, play with energy, get the crowd back into the game try and make a run and hopefully they’ll miss some shots, make some mistakes. We’ll try and hit some shots, get back into the game. But that’s all you can really ask for, not to give up. We’re going to keep playing until the horn blows and unfortunately it was too late tonight.”
http://www.nba.com/suns/news/quotes_061211.html
elindholm
edited for content
Sunday’s 114-84 win in Charlotte marked only the second time in franchise history the Suns trailed on the road after one period and still won by more than 30 points. The only other time was on Nov. 15, 1989, against Sacramento.
LOL, who comes up with these things?
LOL, who comes up with these things?
boisesuns
Standing Tall And Traded
It also was most the first time we've played the Magic on a Monday in Orlando, following a game where we beat the Bobcats and extended our winning streak to 11.
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