Utah at Phoenix game thread

[sunsfn]

I think Amare32 is busy at work so here we go........discuss the game.
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Utah (4-5) at Phoenix (3-4), 9:00 pm EST


PHOENIX (Ticker) -- Steve Nash and the Phoenix Suns look to get back to the .500 mark on Friday when they host the shorthanded Utah Jazz.

The reigning league Most Valuable Player, Nash has gotten off to a fast start this season despite the absence of running mate Amare Stoudemire. In his first seven games, Nash is averaging 18.1 points and a league-leading 11.6 assists.

Although Nash and forward Shawn Marion have played well, the Suns have been inconsistent so far.

Phoenix jumped out to an early lead over the Memphis Grizzlies on Wednesday before fading in the third quarter of a 115-103 loss.

Nash collected 17 points and 13 assists, Marion finished with 23 and 11 rebounds and Leandro Barbosa chipped in with 17, but the Suns allowed the Grizzlies to shoot 53 percent (44-for-84) from the floor.

The Jazz, who have looked awful during their three-game skid, have been ravaged by injuries over the first two weeks of the season.

Utah likely will be without starters Andrei Kirilenko, Carlos Boozer, Gordan Giricek, and Keith McLeod for Friday's matchup.

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The jazz are missing some starters so the suns should win this game.
I think a fast start if important to this game!

 

[sunsfn]

By the way here is the standings.......can you believe the Clips!!
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2005-06 Pacific Standings TEAM W L GB PF PA

LA Clippers ---6 2 0 99.0 94.0
Golden State -5 4 2 93.7 90.4
LA Lakers ----4 4 2 93.9 94.8
Phoenix -----3 4 3 107.4 105.9
Sacramento --3 5 3 96.0 98.8

 

[fordronken]

The Suns should be able to win by double figures this game. If not, we're in a lot of trouble. Regardless of the opponent, the team should come out with a lot of aggression. Going against a team without Boozer and Kirilenko that can't score points, the Suns should be able to come out and kick some tail. If not, we're in a lot of trouble.

 

[King A]

should be a fun game to watch / listen to

 

[Yuma]

Nash played reduced minutes and the Suns kick A$$! Coincedence?

 

[Billythekid]

4 Posts on this thread. Where's the buzz?

Man it's a shame watching this team struggle against a shocking Utah squad. The difference between winning and losing in this game was Eddie House. Ouch! If we could play D we would've beaten them by 30. They had Okur and that was it and he had his way far too easily.

House played well, lets hope he can do the same against

We need JJ, Q and Hunter back.

 

[fordronken]

This game was a mess. They did play hard, though. They missed a lot of good shots early on. Hopefully Nash and Marion will bounce back tomorrow and get an upset. Although I'm predicting a Spurs rout. At least I'll either be really happy, or correct.

 

[elindholm]

I didn't watch the game, but here are two observations:

1. I've predicted Suns losses twice in the prediction game, and they've won both times. I guess I should keep it up. It's worth tanking the prediction game if it brings more Suns victories.

2. Any team that needs a career high from Eddie House in order to win at home against an injury-ravaged Jazz squad isn't very good.

 

[Chaz]

Any team that needs a career high from Eddie House in order to win at home against an injury-ravaged Jazz squad isn't very good.

Yep, there is not much to be excited about here.

They are not very good yet. They do share the ball though.

I guess we will get to see Burke now.
He is a body in the lane and not useless on offense.

Jackson was part of an effective lineup with House, Barbosa, Diaw, and Burke.

If they can play defense and run off of it they can be deadly. The only problem is you have to rebound.

 

[elindholm]

The only problem is you have to rebound.

Heck, if the problem was that *I* had to rebound, they'd be okay. That's one of the better parts of my game.

 

[Amare32]

Sorry all, been so busy lately that I havn't made the game thread or the prediction game threads. Thanks to those who did.

 

[fordronken]

The interesting thing is that nobody has had even a good game(other than House) over the last two games. There haven't been any "well, at least he looks really good tonight"s.

 

[SirStefan32]

We need JJ, Q and Hunter back.

Actually... we need Amare back.

 

[sunsfn]

Actually... we need Amare back.

You are right but, if the suns continue to think that Marion is going to guard the opposing teams 7' center (who is their leading scorer) (Gasol & Okur) the suns are in trouble even if Amare had played. If Amare was there he would not have guarded Okur and Thomas can not guard Okur.

It is time for the suns to make a move and get someone "TALL" and athletic damn it! (I know they do not grow on trees, but they better find someone soon)

In the game last night Hunter could have guarded Okur as well or better than Marion, and Marion could have played his game by scoring and guarding a smaller player.

The Suns are really hampering Marion this year, more than last year and it is going to take it's toll on him. He will stop having his double doubles and the team will score less. (Or his double doubles will be 10 & 10 not 20 & 10)

They need to decide who they can trade and get a deal done.
I actually think it is a mistake to trade JJackson, he will help this team later in the year in the playoffs with his experience.

The TE and the Suns 2007 1st for Ely or Wilcox would help.

I also do not think it is too early to make a trade. We need someone big to help this team even if Amare comes back.

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[Chaz]

The only problem is you have to rebound.

Heck, if the problem was that *I* had to rebound, they'd be okay. That's one of the better parts of my game.

 

[Errntknght]

One thing I noticed in the game was that James Jones actually tried to rebound! First play in the game he came running in from the corner when a shot went up - and he got his hand on the ball. He went toward the hoop on most shot attempts and grabbed two rebounds that I saw in his short stint. Of course, his shooting was not good so he didn't get back in the game once D'A sat him down. I do hope at least one coach noticed his efforts to rebound, praised him and encouraged him to continue.

I was going to disagree with F-Dog on his complete dismissal of Eddie House yesterday, but Eddie did a better job than I could so I don't have to bother now. I've always liked having a relentless gunner on the team - if the coach will use him appropriately. And House does pick up the pace, too.

IMO, the big news of the game was Burke. I particularly liked his forceful cut off the P&R and, of course, that cute crossunder jam. I almost wish he had no outside shot at all so he'd be more inclined to work inside but, what the heck, if he knocks them down from distance at a decent clip I won't complain too much. Who knows, maybe he can put it on the floor if people play up on him. I don't recall him contributing to the fast break but he does move well enough and I've read that he does run the floor hard so we can hope he'll be a help in that regard. If D'Antoni gives PT. There isn't any obvious reason for coach Mikey to dislike him so there is hope he won't treat him like he did Hunter.

Shawn somewhat reverted to his old self but with any luck he'll miss his next 20 3's and give up on them entirely.

I was one of the people who was very against pursuing Okur but if that game was a good example of how he's playing this year I have to admit I was wrong about him. I watched him carefully his last year with Detroit and he didn't look anything like that, especially on defense - he looked hopelessly slow in his reaction time to what was going on around him - going past him, I should say. His O was better than his D but still not nearly as good it looked last night. (I'm completely blank on how he looked with Utah last year but I'm sure it was not the same or I would remember.)

 

[F-Dog]

I was going to disagree with F-Dog on his complete dismissal of Eddie House yesterday, but Eddie did a better job than I could so I don't have to bother now. I've always liked having a relentless gunner on the team - if the coach will use him appropriately. And House does pick up the pace, too.

I'm not sure what you mean. I said I liked him because he was different (i.e. a relentless gunner) but that it wasn't appropriate to have him in the regular rotation. I'm not even sure how you're disagreeing with me here, much less how I was proved wrong.

I was one of the people who was very against pursuing Okur but if that game was a good example of how he's playing this year I have to admit I was wrong about him.

Apology accepted. (My guess is that you didn't see him before the Pistons traded for Rasheed Wallace.)



Anyway, Spurs are favored by 10 tonight, which sounds about right. Even though they're going to get killed, I think this is an important game for the Suns, because they're starting their 'ideal' match-up backcourt for the Spurs--Barbosa (against TP) and Raja (against Ginobili) to go with Nash (Bruce Bowen). If Raja and Leandrinho can't do their jobs, it's a bad sign for future matchups.

I'll have to tape the game and watch later, but I'm looking forward to it, perversely enough.

 

[Errntknght]

F-Dog, "I'm not sure what you mean. I said I liked him because he was different (i.e. a relentless gunner) but that it wasn't appropriate to have him in the regular rotation. I'm not even sure how you're disagreeing with me here, much less how I was proved wrong."


What you said was, "Eddie House isn't the answer for any question worth asking. I actually like him now, because he gives the Suns a diversity they're sorely lacking at other positions, but the Suns should never be in a position where we're surprised if House racks up a DNP. He's not reliable for anything except FGA's."

You remember your middle sentence but what stuck in my mind were the first and last. I would say a question like, "who would you put on the floor when the offense is sputtering?" is a worthwhile one and Eddie House looked like the answer last night. I'd also say he is fairly reliable in pushing the tempo and in giving the half court offense some movement.

I was rather mystified by the middle sentence, to tell the truth - diversity is not particularly valuable in and of itself and how is it the essence of what we are lacking at other positions? I was too puzzled by that to disagree with it.