Thunder at Suns 2/20

[FArting]

The Phoenix Suns didn't make a major move before Thursday's trade deadline, but if their first two games after the All-Star break are any indication, a coaching change may have been all they needed.

The Suns will try to continue their high-scoring start under coach Alvin Gentry on Friday night against the visiting Oklahoma City Thunder, who will be looking to move on after voiding one of their pre-deadline deals.Phoenix took a step backward in the first half under first-year coach Terry Porter, who had been hired to help convert the Suns' fast-paced style into a more defensive-minded approach.

Sitting on the edge of the playoff picture in the Western Conference, the aging Suns (30-23) considered trading leading scorer Amare Stoudemire and center Shaquille O'Neal, but it turned out that their only major move this week was the firing of Porter and the promotion of Gentry, a former assistant.

Gentry was on the bench in Phoenix for most of Mike D'Antoni's tenure from 2003-08, and he immediately vowed to implement a familiar "breakneck pace" to the Suns' play.The team had little trouble re-adjusting to the previous style, scoring 282 points and shooting 60.5 percent from the field in a home-and-home sweep of the Los Angeles Clippers this week.

"I'm happy with the way we're playing," Gentry said. "I've argued with everybody all along that we can run with Shaq in the lineup, and we've proven that. I'm happy with the way Steve (Nash) is pushing the ball, and I'm ecstatic about what we've done in the paint. The last two games we've had 170 points in the paint -- 90 (Tuesday) night and 80 (Wednesday night)."

Despite rampant trade rumors hanging over his head at the time, Stoudemire led the way in Wednesday's 142-119 road victory with 42 points and 11 rebounds. He shot 75.0 percent in both wins against Los Angeles as Phoenix exploited the Clippers' depleted front line.Stoudemire's scoring and rebounding are down from last season, but the All-Star is already looking better in Gentry's system."I think it plays into Stoudemire's game and everybody else's game," O'Neal said. "However, it doesn't matter what type of game we play. We've still got to make stops. Offense has never been our problem. This team has always been a run-and-gun scoring team, but you don't really win championships like that unless you can make stops."

O'Neal said the Suns are eager for their first game against better competition under Gentry, but they'll have to wait until Sunday's game against Boston.First, they'll try for their eighth straight win against the Oklahoma City franchise, which has lost its last five road games.The Thunder (13-41) appeared to have upgraded their anemic front line earlier this week, agreeing to send three players to New Orleans for center Tyson Chandler. Oklahoma City, though, nixed the trade after discovering a problem with Chandler's toe during his physical.The Thunder did send forward Chris Wilcox -- one of the players that would have gone to the Hornets for Chandler -- to New York for seldom-used forward Malik Rose on Thursday. Later, Oklahoma City acquired shooting guard Thabo Sefolosha from Chicago for a first-round pick in June's draft.

The Thunder have reason for optimism after showing signs of improvement going into the All-Star break. Following a 3-29 start, they were 10-11 in their last 21 games before the break, with Kevin Durant continuing to develop into a star.The rookie of the year last season, Durant is averaging 32.9 points in his last nine games. After a successful All-Star weekend in Phoenix, when he scored 46 points in the Rookie Challenge and won the HORSE competition, Durant had a career-high 47 points in Oklahoma City's 100-98 loss to the Hornets on Tuesday night.

http://scores.espn.go.com/nba/preview?gameId=290220021

 

[Andrew]

Here is to scoring 140+ tonight!

 

[lou_skywalker]

yeah we need some more momentum to get ready for the Celtics on Sunday. Hope KG wont play due to his ankle

 

[Roca Dolla]

yeah we need some more momentum to get ready for the Celtics on Sunday. Hope KG wont play due to his ankle

i hope KG plays its a good matchup with amare and kg

 

[lou_skywalker]

with Amare out 8 weeks this could be a chance for our role players and rookies to gain experience.

 

[Mainstreet]

with Amare out 8 weeks this could be a chance for our role players and rookies to gain experience.

I appreciate the optimism but I was hoping for much more.

 

[lou_skywalker]

I appreciate the optimism but I was hoping for much more.

the best we can do now is to sign guys like mikki or joe smith from free angecy. Otherwise he have to go with this lineup.
No one can predict injuries, think how many season ending injuries this league has this season.

 

[jagu]

Hmmmm what do you guys think of this lineup.

Shaq
Hill
Barnes
Rich
Nash

 

[slinslin]

I have a feeling that Dudley will start at the 4.

 

[Goran Stoudemire]

Barnes better start getting 30 plus min. I picked him up in my fantasy leagues rather than Admunson.

 

[Shzm13]

Barnes and Barbs are going to be the ones getting more PT.

At least, thats what Gary Bender told ESPN.. But what the hell does that old man know anyway

 

[mojorizen7]

Hmmmm what do you guys think of this lineup.

Shaq
Hill
Barnes
Rich
Nash

I think that Hill will get punished & worn the F out inside. I'd rather start either Lou or Duds(leaning towards Duds actually cuz he can shoot better than Lou next to Shaq) in there and keep Hill @ the 3 and bring Barnes off the bench w/Barbs,Lou,Dragic & the Midget Clown.

 

[mjb21aztd]

well it's going to be intresting to see how we do without Amare in the lineup vs the thunder tonight ugh , heres hoping Nash,richardson,and shaq ball....

suns 103

Thunder 97

Suns struggle without amare on the floor but hang on in the end cause it's the thunder....

 

[dodie53]

LB and J-rich has to score more now.

and Barnes too contribute some too.

go suns!

 

[the_future23]

I think Leandro Barbosa and/or Jason Richardson will have a hell of a year because of the injury to Amare.

Also, Paul Coro said Shaq is unhappy because his name was in the trade rumors. **** Shaq.

 

[Andrew]

Shaq has the right to be unhappy, he has been the most consistent player on this team.

 

[Covert Rain]

I think Leandro Barbosa and/or Jason Richardson will have a hell of a year because of the injury to Amare.

Also, Paul Coro said Shaq is unhappy because his name was in the trade rumors. **** Shaq.

Kerr said he talked to Shaq today and Shaq is fine and understands. So another words Kerr told Shaq "we never planned on trading you....cough...cough...or Amare.....cough.....cough".

 

[dodie53]

Shaq has the right to be unhappy, he has been the most consistent player on this team.

we're sure you are unhappy too

 

[Andrew]

no duh, amare is done.

 

[mojorizen7]

Gentry will go very small and quick with:
Nash
Barbosa
JRich
Hill
Shaq

 

[Chaplin]

If we weren't so upset about Amare being out, I'd say this game has the potential to be pretty fun to watch.

 

[mojorizen7]

If we weren't so upset about Amare being out, I'd say this game has the potential to be pretty fun to watch.

I'm excited
Looking forward to watching the SUNS youngins' as well as Durant,Green.

 

[Andrew]

I know there is a game link thread, but does everyone trying to see it online only get audio?

 

[carey]

Nice 360 by J-Rich.

 

[Hat]

No links?? I'm at work right now and want to see the Suns respond to this adversity.