Suns vs. Clippers

[Chaz]

We finally get to play a team with a worse record than us. I hope we don't lose this one. To lose to the Clippers again this season would be too embarassing.

For once the Yahoo preview doesn't include the phrase "pitiful Phoenix Suns".

LA Clippers (27-53) at Phoenix (28-52)

Game Info: 10:00 pm EDT Tue Apr 13, 2004
TV: FSW2


Although they are near the bottom of the Western Conference standings, the Phoenix Suns are at least giving reason for optimism.
The Los Angeles Clippers are in the West basement and showing no such promise.

Two young teams that have been headed for the NBA draft lottery for quite some time will meet as the Suns host the Clippers at America West Arena.

Phoenix has knocked off playoff-bound teams in its last two games, beating Pacific Division-leading Sacramento on Friday before defeating Memphis 89-83 on Sunday.

"We're playing hard and strong from the beginning, and we're learning how to close games,'' said Suns forward Amare Stoudemire. "We're playing tenacious defense, crashing the boards. That's what it takes to beat an elite team. All those experiences are going to benefit us for next season.''

Los Angeles is not seeing such good signs.

The Clippers have lost 13 in a row, dating to a win at Phoenix on March 16. This is their worst slide since opening the 1998-99 season 0-17, and the 10th losing streak of 13 or more games in franchise history.

Sunday's 88-79 loss to San Antonio, coupled with the Suns' win, dropped Los Angeles a game behind Phoenix for the worst record in the West.

The latest loss saw the Clippers get back Quentin Richardson and Chris Wilcox from long injury absences, but leading scorer Corey Maggette sat out with an injured hamstring and his status for this contest is uncertain.

Richardson, who had missed seven games and nine of 10 with back spasms, struggled in his return Sunday with five points on 1-of-17 shooting. He's averaged 17.5 points this season.

"When you come back from an injury, you're out of sync, you're second-guessing yourself and you don't have the feel,'' said Clippers forward Elton Brand. ``But at practice, he looked really good, so the coach and the team definitely had a lot of confidence in him.''

The featured matchup will be Brand, averaging 20.0 points and 10.4 rebounds, going up against Stoudemire. The reigning Rookie of the Year has averaged 24.4 points and 10.8 rebounds in five games this month.

Looking forward to the Stoudemire / Brand matchup as well.

 

[Freddie]

I'll be at the game tonight! Ninth row seats!

 

[George O'Brien]

Suns lost on a last second tip in.

It was those damn orange jerseys that did it.

 

[Chaz]

Clippers killed us inside.

It was a close entertaining game, but to lose to the Clippers sucks.

 

[frdbtr]

The Maddening thing about this team is: why can they beat Sacramento, and Memphis and then lose to the Clippers at home? That seems to me to be a lack of focus. The difference between good teams and bad ones (and I assume that all of the Suns players are aspiring to make this a good team) is that good teams beat bad teams most of the time, (or all of the time at home) and beat other good teams some of the time(and most of the time at home). Good teams have a winning record at home. This Suns team will never amount to anything until they start taking care of business at home, especially against teams like the clippers. Watch them come out and beat Utah tonight now: another inconsistancy.

 

[Joe Mama]

The Maddening thing about this team is: why can they beat Sacramento, and Memphis and then lose to the Clippers at home? That seems to me to be a lack of focus. The difference between good teams and bad ones (and I assume that all of the Suns players are aspiring to make this a good team) is that good teams beat bad teams most of the time, (or all of the time at home) and beat other good teams some of the time(and most of the time at home). Good teams have a winning record at home. This Suns team will never amount to anything until they start taking care of business at home, especially against teams like the clippers. Watch them come out and beat Utah tonight now: another inconsistancy.

Matchups. This Suns struggle against teams like the Clippers with strong and athletic frontcourts. Amare Stoudemire has come a long ways offensively. He is already a very good offensive player, but he has a long ways to go on defense.

Joe Mama

 

[George O'Brien]

Matchups. This Suns struggle against teams like the Clippers with strong and athletic frontcourts. Amare Stoudemire has come a long ways offensively. He is already a very good offensive player, but he has a long ways to go on defense.

Joe Mama

That's it in a nutshell. The Clippers send four guys to the offensive glass and the Suns don't have five guys in the paint ready to rebound.

This was the king of game it would have been nice to have White available. Guards don't like to drive to the hole when he is there to take their head off.

Right now the Suns rookie big guys are just not tough enough and fearless enough to be any help; while Amare has to constantly worry about fouling out. Dice is still a guy coming off a major injury.

If the Suns do not sign Kobe, then their first priority must be to get a shot blocking defensive center for situations like the Clippers.

 

[Skkorpion]

Good game. Enjoyed it.

The play at the end of the season is giving fans reason to hope that next year will be better.

It's a shame Joe Johnson's legs finally showed signs of weariness. He was short on his shots all night.

 

[George O'Brien]

It's a shame Joe Johnson's legs finally showed signs of weariness. He was short on his shots all night.

I felt the same way about Dice. He had 8 rebounds, but he was not nearly as active as he has been, which may be due to fatigue.