Suns vs. Sonics 12/17

[SweetD]

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Next Game

Friday, Dec. 17, 8:30pm​

at SuperSonics​

TV: UPN 45, ESPN​

This is going to be a huge game. If the Suns can play the same way they have been playing all year and beat Seattle the same way look for the Suns fever to really catch on. This is going to be a great game to listen/watch/chat!​

If you can't see the game in person join us on the live chat during every game.​

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http://www.arizonasportsfans.com/chat.php​

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[Mike Olbinski]

My wife works with two guys who live in Seattle, so this game has had a huge build up between the three of us...I've been talking smack to them, they've been talking smack to me...

We HAVE to win this game...I can't beat the thought of these two punks holding it over my head all season

Mike

 

[Azlen]

Should be a fun game to watch/listen to. (Eight people are going to say the same thing so I might as well get mine in early.)

I think the key to this game will be JJ. If he can keep Allen in check, I don't think Seattle will be able to keep up. I also don't think that Rashard Lewis is going to have a match up advantage against Matrix like he does against most other teams.

 

[arthurracoon]

Should be a fun game to watch/listen to!

 

[sunsfn]

Should be a fun game to watch/listen to!

 

[scotsman13]

this should a real test to our defense. the suns have been running a defensive plan of packing it inside and making teams beat them from the outside. but playing from the outside is a strenght to the sonics.

all in all, i dont see the sonics being able to beat the suns. they have no answer to amare (fortson are you kidding me?) and they dont have weapons that the suns have.

 

[green machine]

We should beat them.

They live and die by the 3 so much, it's amazing. They shoot really well.

Remember, they don't lose close games. When they do lose, they lose BIG.

 

[Joe Mama]

I believe the keys to this game are Quentin Richardson and Joe Johnson. They had quite subpar games against Sacramento and Minnesota. If they can step up a believe the Suns will win. Unless the referees swallow their whistles Amare Stoudemire should have a huge game.

Joe Mama

 

[MigratingOsprey]

this is a tough matchup for my sonics ... I'm going to be at glendale arena watching some Lax .. but will get back to at least catch the tail end of this one (or possibly replay - does FSN replay games?!)

I'm worried about nash and his ability to drive the ball in the lane .. when seattle has lost and looked bad it's been when a pg attacks them in the middle and can move the ball once in ... also amare is a very tough matchup

should be a lot of fun though

 

[Gaddabout]

I think the thing that favors the Suns is the Sonics aren't the type of team that get others in foul trouble. The more minutes our starters can play, the bigger advantage I think we have.

 

[MigratingOsprey]

actually the sonics do create a lot of fouls and they give a lot as well

about 25 for and 25 against per game

compare that to the suns who commit about 19 and get about 23

 

[sunsfn]

I agree with Joe in that JJ & Richardson need to hit their shots for the suns to win this game.

They are starting James at center. If he decides to play hard (does not always) he can give Amare lots of problems. He is big and hard to get around. I see where Ridnour got 11 assists agains the lakers.

 

[Gaddabout]

actually the sonics do create a lot of fouls and they give a lot as well

about 25 for and 25 against per game

compare that to the suns who commit about 19 and get about 23

That's surprising to me for a team that spends a lot of time on the outside. I imagine the numbers you present have something to do with bigger teams that try to man up the shooters. I'll be interested to see how the Suns D-up on your guys.

 

[jibikao]

Sonics is actually quite violent inside. They hurt my Dirk bad...

Anyway, I agree that JJ and Q must step up. If both of them can play half as good as they were for the past few weeks, Suns should be in good shape.


Many teams have problem with Lewis 'cause he shoots so well. Marion is a very good defender and it will be interesting to see how he guards him. If we can guard both Lewis and Allen, we will be in good shape.

Jimmy

 

[slinslin]

They hurt my Dirk bad...

I'm telling you... If you don't read closely...

 

[thegrahamcrackr]

I also don't think that Rashard Lewis is going to have a match up advantage against Matrix like he does against most other teams.

I disagree. Rashard Lewis has given Marion more fits than most sf's in the league the past few seasons. Of course, with the way Marion is guarding PFs this year, you may be right.


Like every said, JJ and Q are the keys.

I cant wait for the game though

 

[elindholm]

Won't Marion be matched up against Evans?

 

[Joe Mama]

Won't Marion be matched up against Evans?

it should be JJ or Richardson on Rashard Lewis. Of course they can do it anyway they want to, but that's what I would probably do. JJ could probably guard Louis better than anyone else. I'll bet Bo Outlaw could give Lewis some trouble.

Joe Mama

 

[Azlen]

I would rather have JJ on Ray Allen and I still think that Marion is the best option on Lewis.

 

[George O'Brien]

I haven't seen the Sonics play, so it is really hard for me to make sense of them. Based on their stats, they are like these college teams that have no inside offense and just bomb from the outside. Their top four scorers are mostly outside guys:

Allen 23.9
Lewis 21.8
Daniels 12.8
Radmanovic 11.8

Fortson is their top scorer on the inside at 9.6 ppg. Evens averages only 5.1 ppg, James averages 3.8 ppg, and Collison 3.1.

The Sonics rely heavily on their outside shooting. They have hit 191 three point shots out of 489 shot for a 39.1% for three. However, the Suns are not slouches in that category The Suns have hit 194 three point shots out of 509 attempts for a 38.1%.

Seattle is not an exceptional defensive team. Opponents average 44.9% from the field compared to the Suns who hold their opponents to 42.3%.

There is only one statistic that worries me. The Sonics have out rebounded their opponents 2.9 rpg while the Suns are routinely outrebounded by 2.8 rpg.

 

[Errntknght]

I'd like to see D'A get a little creative in this game. Maybe put Lampe in for Amare whenever Fortson is on the floor... Fortson would almost certainly guard him and Lampe could pull him away from the hoop better than Amare could. Besides why give the thug a chance to take a cheap shot at Amare. Six nice hard fouls would be good, too!

 

[scotsman13]

I'd like to see D'A get a little creative in this game. Maybe put Lampe in for Amare whenever Fortson is on the floor... Fortson would almost certainly guard him and Lampe could pull him away from the hoop better than Amare could. Besides why give the thug a chance to take a cheap shot at Amare. Six nice hard fouls would be good, too!

you sound like fortson is a shot blocker, he isnt what he has been is a person that fouls a lot. in 20.8 minutes per game his is averaging 4.8 fouls per game. if the suns start off going into amare for the first couple plays fortson will be out of the game in under 2 minutes.

and as for taking a cheap shot at amare i think amare would love it. remember what happened went francis did the same thing last year?

 

[George O'Brien]

In any case, I think the Suns have to focus on getting the ball to Amare early and often.

James is starting and he is pretty slow. He is a good shot blocker at 1.18 blocks per 15.2 minutes, but only has 2.3 rpg in that time period. His 3.8 fouls per 15.9 minutes suggests he is relatively foul prone.

Fortson is is foul prone. He averages 5 fouls per game in just 18.7 minutes.

Evens is having a breakout season on the boards (8.3 rpg in just 23.9 minutes), but he is only 6'8" and averages just 0.09 blocks.

Getting the ball to Amare has to be a priority. Even great defensive teams have to double team Amare, but this is not a great defensive team and lacks the extra long athletes that Amare struggles against. If the Suns pound it in, they could get the Sonics big guys into foul trouble which would reduce the Sonics advantage in rebounding.

 

[MigratingOsprey]

amare is the tough matchup in this game ... he is very versatile

everyone knows the sonics have great shooters, but what people are missing this year is the style of play and how they are getting shots

at times it looks like they are running a globetrotters-esque weave out there ... others they just catch and shoot ... another time they drive and dish, drive and dish until they get a good shot

then when you man up on them tight on the outside all of them will now up-fake and drive in for a closer shot ... that is how they are getting to the line and that is how they keep their % up ... the long range ability helps set up all the other things

guys like radmanovich and lewis now realize that it can be effective to fake the shot and take the ball in .... that type of aggression hasn't always been there

also the spacing is incredible ... fortson gets a lot of o-boards and gets to the line

collision and evans provide depth

hopefully james shows up and potapenko gets stuck in traffic

flip looked way off the other night ... if he gets some run hopefully he shows as well

this game is going to come down to if amare dominates or not and which team gets out there, plays the passing lane, limits penetration and pushes the opponent strictly to the outside

 

[Yuma]

Zarko puts Fortson out of the game!! That would be sweet! Ain't gonna happen, but it would be cool!

Actually, the only thing I worry about this game is foul trouble. Seattle plays rough in the paint. I am worried Amare, Hunter, etc. will get into foul trouble again. Especially after Seattle saw our last game.