Warriors at Suns Game Thread Home Opener

[FArting]

Golden State rookie Stephen Curry fit in well in the Warriors' high-scoring offense in his NBA debut, but the real test could be keeping up with his team's next opponent.

Curry and the Warriors visit the Phoenix Suns on Friday night, looking to end an eight-game losing streak at US Airways Center.

Phoenix and Golden State have been two of the NBA's highest-scoring teams over the last three seasons and the games between the two have been particularly fast-paced. The Suns averaged 124.5 points and the Warriors scored 118.0 per game in the teams' four meetings last season.

Curry will get his first look at the rivalry Friday night. The seventh overall pick in June's draft led the nation with 28.6 points per game last season with Davidson, and he looked just as comfortable in his first NBA game Wednesday, finishing with 14 points, seven assists and four steals in Golden State's 108-107 loss to Houston.

Curry was 1 for 6 in the first half but made all six of his shots in the second.

"I just have to have confidence that the next shot is going in," said Curry, who had three steals and three assists in the opening 7 1/2 minutes. "I had a lot of fun tonight, learned a lot and now I'm ready to come back against the Phoenix Suns."

As successful as Curry's debut was, Stephen Jackson had a mixed season opener after a tumultuous summer highlighted by his demand for a trade.

Jackson finished with 17 points on 7 of 16 shooting, getting booed often as rumors continue to circulate that he could be leaving the Warriors soon.

"It is what it is," said Jackson, who handed over his role as team captain to Monta Ellis. "I don't expect everybody to love me. I heard it but I didn't let it affect my game at all. To each his own. I've been booed many times. This isn't the first time."

The Warriors have lost eight in a row at Phoenix since a 110-100 victory March 18, 2005. Suns forward Grant Hill averaged 27.0 points in the two home games against the Warriors last season.

Hill, in his 15th NBA season, will be playing in his 789th career game Friday. The 37-year-old was impressive in the Suns' 109-107 win over the Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday, finishing with 19 points and 13 rebounds.

However, Steve Nash overshadowed Hill's performance, scoring 15 of his 24 points in the fourth quarter, including a layup with five seconds remaining to give the Suns the lead after they trailed by as many as 10.

"He's a warrior and one of the leaders on our team," coach Alvin Gentry said.

Nash, who last season failed to average a double-double for the first time since 2003-04, will be a key factor in whether the Suns can get back to the playoffs after falling short for the first time in five years. Also important will be how Amare Stoudemire, who had 16 points and five rebounds Wednesday, bounces back after playing in only 53 games last season because of an eye injury.

"Primarily because this was our first game of the season and we're really not sure how good we can be yet, it was just a big win for our confidence," Nash said. "We won it with some timely execution and a few stops."

http://espn.go.com/nba/preview?gameId=291030021

Go Suns!

 

[Ronin]

I'm going to say, Amare is going have a big game tonight with 40 points and 12 rebounds.
Suns 137
GSW 129

 

[AsUdUdE]

REALLY hope I am wrong but I have a bad feeling about tonight...

GS- 118
PHX- 106

DOn;t think we match up against this warriors team... but again I hope I am wrong!

 

[mjb21aztd]

Lets go suns lets start off 2-0 would be nice, I think this will be a hard one to win even with being at home but I say we pull of a close one

Suns 113

Warriors 108

Leading scorer Amare 32 pts 7 rebounds

 

[krazyasiankid]

As long as we tighten up on defense, the Suns should take it.

PHX 128-
GSW 115

WHo needs Steph Curry, when we have Taylor Griffin!

 

[Wonder]

I dont know if it's just me but every time like in the last 10 games that the Suns played the warriors, except for one time, Amare usually doesn't go berserk on them. Sub par or worse. But you'd expect something else because of fast pace and the warriors not having that great of a defense.

 

[Ronin]

Nice job by Amare taking the charge.

 

[cly2tw]

Nash now starts his dribble from the sides that created better passing angles to Amare after the pick. Looking good.

 

[Ronin]

Amare with his second foul...I like how this team is attacking the basket.

 

[Black Jesus]

haha Amare won't finish with more than 2222

 

[Black Jesus]

excuse me 22

 

[NoelPHX]

At the game. Disappointed that it isn't packed. Curry has some good talent.

 

[NoelPHX]

Good 1st q. Liking that gentry brought Clark on quick tonight. He will be a solid player.

 

[cly2tw]

Clark and Dragic with great one-on-one defense.

 

[Nash2Amare]

Ugly finish to the quarter, but it didn't affect us.

 

[Bert]

Amare's still S L O W. Hopefully he's just shaking off the rust. He just missed a dunk, he looks like he cant elevate at all...

and When did we forget how to shoot free throws?

 

[Ronin]

Amare......

 

[cly2tw]

Amare is not in best condition and his defensive rotation has always been mechanical leaving him out of position after a screen.

 

[Sovereignz]

Grant always just destroys the W's it seems like.. imagine if we could actually make free throws, we'd be up by like 20.

 

[Nash2Amare]

We'd have this game closed out by now if we could make more than just 1 free throw each trip to the line.

 

[AnonymouslyKnown]

I wish I could watch the game but I made the mistake of purchasing league pass broadband thinking it would actually work.

 

[krazyasiankid]

At the moment, Nash with more boards than Amare...... And more blocks...

 

[Ronin]

Weird third quarter
Curry trips over his own feet
Corey Maggette 3 seconds in the paint on a fast break
Jackson had a traveling call go against him on the fast break
Amare can't make a shot around the basket
Suns turning the ball over

 

[krazyasiankid]

Suns turning the ball over

Yeah... I wouldn't class that as weird.

 

[krazyasiankid]

Come on Gentry! Bring back Earl Clark!