Suns Vs Sixers Game Thread

[az1965]

I think Marion intentionally doesn't pass to Amare. Actually, I don't recall the last time he actually DID.

Last time it happenned it was... ummm... in the 3rd quarter of today's game... Marion passed to Amare inside, Amare passed back to Marion... I could see the hatred in both when doing that.

 

[hsandhu]

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/dailydime?page=dailydime-061118-19

Kg on the block is a possibility, marc stein is one of the few credible reporters. Marion, atlanta pick, let's get this done. (That ain't enough I now, but he mentions the suns, along with several other teams to be fair, and we have a lot of pieces).

 

[Treesquid PhD]

The Suns are WINNING so whats with all the COMPLAINING???

we have really high expectations I guess.

 

[Cheesebeef]

banks really is a black hole, but at least he's producing tonight. needed that with Nash out.

 

[Treesquid PhD]

banks really is a black hole, but at least he's producing tonight. needed that with Nash out.

He is pure late 90's basketball.

 

[Cheesebeef]

He is pure late 90's basketball.

yeah - I really just think he's a SG in a PGs body. The guy can get to the rim, but he almost NEVER looks to dish. If he could shoot, he'd be really dangerous for us, but as a backup PG, he ain't.

 

[az1965]

WTF, the last two calls, or non-calls???

 

[Treesquid PhD]

yeah - I really just think he's a SG in a PGs body. The guy can get to the rim, but he almost NEVER looks to dish. If he could shoot, he'd be really dangerous for us, but as a backup PG, he ain't.

well he has played a decent game tonight. I think you're right, but most of the bigtime 1's in the late 90's were really 2's if you know what I mean.

 

[az1965]

Barbosa with 10 rebounds!! Leads both teams, wow!

 

[JS22]

Banks is just relentless, and the Suns are taking it to the hoop almost non-stop right now, hence the lead building. This is what happens when you dont just stand around and shoot threes!

 

[Treesquid PhD]

Banks is just relentless, and the Suns are taking it to the hoop almost non-stop right now, hence the lead building. This is what happens when you dont just stand around and shoot threes!

interesting what some think of as relentless others think selfish black hole. Like I said eaarlier in the year it's a style many love and many hate.

 

[Cheesebeef]

Barbosa with 10 rebounds!! Leads both teams, wow!

man, Barbs really was a steal.

 

[Treesquid PhD]

Amare 23 and 10, pretty close to 2005 form.

 

[JS22]

When Nash retires I expect Barbosa to take his place. He's not exactly a true PG, but I could honestly see him averaging 26/6/5/2 (points, assists, rebounds, steals.)

I'm sure the Spurs aren't too happy right now. What a steal that was!

 

[Nasser22]

I love Marcus Banks' agressiveness. We need more players who drive to the basket. He had a very nice game today, give the guy a break.

Cheesebeef on Marion just like last season. X-(

 

[Romp]

I said in another thread that Banks can produce for us if given the chance

 

[Ronin]

Phoenix won the battle of the boards 46-41

 

[cly2tw]

Defensive focus has been great. Without Nash we had season high 24 fastbreak points, mainly due to great team D! Banks has indeed great potential to be an integral part of the team. His D is really good and he is among the few on this team who could use his body to draw fouls. He and Barbs are just different kind of PGs than Nash.

 

[cly2tw]

yeah - I really just think he's a SG in a PGs body. The guy can get to the rim, but he almost NEVER looks to dish. If he could shoot, he'd be really dangerous for us, but as a backup PG, he ain't.

I believe coming to Suns he said that he wanted to learn from Nash. Well, if he tries to emulate Nash right away he won't be good at anything. So, the best is that he maintains his own way of playing for awhile to make himself useful for the team and get pieces from Nash slowly in 2-3 seasons.

 

[elindholm]

I've been down on Banks, but he played very well tonight. He was disruptive defensively, drove the ball hard, and even got some shots to drop. (Sure, they were circus miracles, but I'll take what I can get.) He passes only as a last resort, and that's unfortunate, but there is more than one way to be effective, I guess. (The comparisons to Marbury are grossly unfair to Marbury, but that's another topic.)

Barbosa is unbelievable. He even hit a couple of mid-range shots today, creating space with a crossover dribble and then stepping back. I could see Bell's minutes start to go way down, because right now Barbosa is far ahead of Bell offensively and isn't giving up that much defensively.

Marion did a pretty good job on defense, often on Iverson, but was a phantom on offense. He had two wide-open dunks, a three-pointer he shouldn't have taken, and only one other make. The Suns can't trade him now; they blew it by stubbornly hanging onto him each of the last two summers.

Stoudemire moved very well, although in fairness it should be noted that Philadelphia's big men are pretty poor defenders, and their best one, Hunter, had to leave the game with an injury. Unfortunately we're all in the mode of waiting for the other shoe to drop with Stoudemire's knees, but until that happens, it looks like he will be a force again. I'm sure anyone who listened to the ESPN broadcast felt queasy hearing about how Stoudemire has been consulting his "friend" Penny Hardaway for advice on how to come back from microfracture surgery. That's the last thing he needs. (The capper, of course, was Jim Gray then going on to report that Hardaway feels better than he has in years and is ready to come back to the league.)

Here's what I don't get. How come, when Nash is out the whole game, the Suns can actually move pretty well, but when it's a game where Nash plays and he sits for only a few minutes, everyone goes to sleep?

Overall, a nice win. Except for collapses at the end of each half, the Suns played very well.

 

[JS22]

(The capper, of course, was Jim Gray then going on to report that Hardaway feels better than he has in years and is ready to come back to the league.)

I vomited in my mouth a little bit when he said that.

 

[PetryJr]

(The capper, of course, was Jim Gray then going on to report that Hardaway feels better than he has in years and is ready to come back to the league.)

I was laughing out loud when I heard that. therealhardaway must be very happy and optimistic right now.

Nice recap, by the way.

 

[cly2tw]

Here's what I don't get. How come, when Nash is out the whole game, the Suns can actually move pretty well, but when it's a game where Nash plays and he sits for only a few minutes, everyone goes to sleep?

My theory is they were to reliant on Nash when he was in the game. It's hard for them to switch mode mid game when Nash sits. Yet, with him out the whole game, everybody has to take much more responsibility. Another important thing, with Amare now a lot better defensively than before surgery, the defensive pressure by the Suns without Nash is much greater which fuels the Suns' style fastbreak even better. Well, the fact that the Sixers don't have many sophisticated variations on offense certainly helped.

 

[panfolk]

Nice, reassuring game. Some of us have been mad at the mention of Phoenix depth, but this game gave hints of what could be coming. We all know KT and Bell will produce in the playoffs (if healthy) so with them not having big nights and Nash being out the Suns could have a legit 9 man rotation (I still hang hope on James Jones making it 10 by seasons end).

Banks does appear to be a black hole, but luckily he sucks up a few steals too.

Barbosa was awesome. Unless I'm mistaken I noticed his head is up on more and more drives.

Seeing Diaw play so aggressively made me deliriously happy to watch.

With Barbosa, Banks, and Amare we shouldn't be dead last in FTA anymore.

I did notice the Amare avoidance, but am not too worried. If need be the two man game will be there for Amare and Nash/Diaw, besides which he doesn't seem to be as good at getting in position as he was in the past. Maybe this is just a misperception. I look forward to seeing some games where Amare lights it up (particularly when his jumper is back) but in the meantime I would be happy to see him continue to improve his rebounding and dishing. I think he's doing fine and the team is responding adequately for now.

Good game!

 

[HooverDam]

I just got back from the game, great game especially considering there was no Nash.

When the Suns were up big though I was VERY annoyed that D'Antoni didn't go to the bench a bit more. He should've at least put James Jones in, that guy hustles his ass off...was disappointed I didn't get to see him.