Western Conference First Round Game 2 - Grizzles @ Suns Game Thread

[Cheesebeef]

There's going to be a tribute to someone who died this year. He's actually the brother of an old friend of mine. I can't go to Coachella, but I'd really appreciate it if you can let me know how it goes.

will do - will it be it's own little tent or something or on one of the stages?

Sorry to hear about your friend.

 

[Mike Olbinski]

NICE GUT CHECK WIN!

Marion continues to make me look like a fool caling him soft. He was huge on the boards again, took it strong to the hole, hit two HUGE shots and had a couple nice blocks on Pau.

How on EARTH, could anyone call Marion soft???? To rebound like he does, you CAN'T be soft...

And he's never afraid to take a hit...

You ARE a fool

Mike

 

[Cheesebeef]

But a tough series of the top like this may help them in the end this team is still relatively inexperienced playoff wise.

agree - the physical play and winning is also a boost.

Averaging 113 in the playoffs - of course that would go down though once the playoffs started though, right?

 

[Lefty]

could john thompson have ragged on the suns any more tonight? I mean we all know the defense is suspect, but geez. Can we get some better announcers?

I watched FoxSportsArizona and Thunder Dan.

 

[Cheesebeef]

How on EARTH, could anyone call Marion soft???? To rebound like he does, you CAN'T be soft...

And he's never afraid to take a hit...

You ARE a fool

Mike

why do people think soft is about "physical" play - I use the term soft for mental purposes (insert your own joke here). I hadn't seen him step up like he has the last two nights before in the playoffs - and now he's doing it and I'm stoked (although a flicker of anger came up on that airball )

 

[elindholm]

He said something like, "I said at halftime that the Suns had to send a message that 'we are an elite team and nobody can come into our house and beat us'"

I guess it's better to actually lose a game, like the Spurs did, so long as you come back with a blowout to even the series.

 

[Azlen]

Anybody like Charles Barkley's quote at the end of the game?

He said something like, "I said at halftime that the Suns had to send a message that 'we are an elite team and nobody can come into our house and beat us'"

Then Charles said, "but they lost that battle tonight."

What? Last I checked, nobody came into our house and beat us.

Does Charles like the message that San Antonio sent to Denver in game 1. I would rather be up 2-0 then tied 1-1 with a blowout win.

 

[sly fly]

he said at halftime - we needed to KILL them and make that point - that's what he was talking about at the half.

Barkley can suck it. Memphis is playing good ball.

Not much you can do when J Wil comes out and hits his first 6.

How may teams would have blown out Memphis tonight? None.

 

[Cheesebeef]

He said something like, "I said at halftime that the Suns had to send a message that 'we are an elite team and nobody can come into our house and beat us'"

I guess it's better to actually lose a game, like the Spurs did, so long as you come back with a blowout to even the series.

hey - I think he's wrong - just repeating what he said which actually - as stupid as it was - stayed consistent.

 

[Treesquid PhD]

My wife thought I was cute tonight...until the cursing started...lol

LOL. My wife knows that I am a pyscopath during the game, she just gives me the look (The look of you aint gettn none for a long time) then shuts the door in our bedroom. At least I have my beer downstairs.


Oh and Chuck was right they need to step up the D, Gasol is good but against a 6/7 forward man to man he was like jabar tonight.

And Nash, dude maybe yu just had an off night...yes please let it be that.

 

[Cheesebeef]

Barkley can suck it. Memphis is playing good ball.

Not much you can do when J Wil comes out and hits his first 6.

How may teams would have blown out Memphis tonight? None.

Hey Sly - I don't agree with him - just saying he's staying consistent.

I agree though - the ROUND mound of rebound sounded like a moron with that statement.

 

[George O'Brien]

The Suns proved a lot. They proved they could win on a night when the Grizzlies took away the outside shoots and hacked repeatedly. The Suns shot 40 free throws and should have had 20 more.

Obviously Gasol is a problem if Amare gets called for doing to Pau what the Griz do him. It is frustrating watching the way Amare can get mauled when on of offense and gets phantom fouls on defense. That one at the end of the first half was called with zero contact.

I am developing a real hatred of Frattello the way he has the Griz flagrantly fouling. Somebody is going to get hurt.

 

[Cheesebeef]

I LOVE AMARE - just seems like a superstar even in his press conference - a presence!

 

[Treesquid PhD]

I agree 100% sign Randy Livingston and have him take out Battie's knee just like he did googs.

you owe us one RANDY!

 

[Cheesebeef]

I am developing a real hatred of Frattello the way he has the Griz flagrantly fouling. Somebody is going to get hurt.

It;s playoff basketball - get used to it - NO LAY-UPS. I don't hate Fratello - he's doing whatever it takes to win. And to complain about Amare not getting calls on a night where he shoots 22 FTs is a little silly.

 

[sly fly]

why do people think soft is about "physical" play - I use the term soft for mental purposes (insert your own joke here). I hadn't seen him step up like he has the last two nights before in the playoffs - and now he's doing it and I'm stoked (although a flicker of anger came up on that airball )

Cheese, sorry bro... You don't make it to this level being "mentally" soft.

"Mentally Soft" is reserved for the players playing on the streets or NBDL or overseas who possess all the talent in the world, yet can't get to the next level.

Let's see you step up to the line with the whole world watching. 10 bucks says you can't hit the backboard.

 

[Treesquid PhD]

Cheese you are right! Amare was treating Cardinal like a bitch.

22 22 22 22 22 22 22 22 22 22 22 yep that's his age he aint getting old and he aint getting worse

 

[George O'Brien]

It;s playoff basketball - get used to it - NO LAY-UPS. I don't hate Fratello - he's doing whatever it takes to win. And to complain about Amare not getting calls on a night where he shoots 22 FTs is a little silly.

Brian Cardinal's defense of Amare was based entirely on grabbing hold of him so he couldn't catch the ball. It was pure crap and the refs let him get away with it.

BTW, I wouldn't mind having a healthy Jahidi White back on the team. Just having him on the bench seemed to have a calming influence on teams who tried to get rough. His best play was to take the ball from the elbow and drive the basket in the hopes some idiot would try to take a charge.

 

[elindholm]

That one at the end of the first half was called with zero contact.

That was a terrible call, but I don't think it was part of a pattern. Williams slipped and fell, and the official thought he saw something he didn't.

Stoudemire panicked after he got his second foul early in the first quarter, then made no attempt to play defense for the rest of the night. That's a big part of the reason that Gasol had such a big night. Marion did a pretty good job guarding him, but that should be Stoudemire's assignment -- at least when Wright is on the bench.

 

[Cheesebeef]

Cheese, sorry bro... You don't make it to this level being "mentally" soft.

"Mentally Soft" is reserved for the players playing on the streets or NBDL or overseas who possess all the talent in the world, yet can't get to the next level.

Let's see you step up to the line with the whole world watching. 10 bucks says you can't hit the backboard.

give me a break - there are players who shrink when the game's on the line and THAT is what I consider "soft" - evey team has them. Finley, The BLAZERS against the Lakers, Chris Webber, Karl Malone, Peja, Pippen... and the list goes on and on. What do YOU call guys like Webber, Peja, everyone on that Blazers squad that blew that lead to the Lakers?

And who cares what I can do - I ain't being paid millions of dollars. What does that have to do with anything? That's always such a weird thing to throw into an argument.

 

[Mike Olbinski]

give me a break - there are players who shrink when the game's on the line and THAT is what I consider "soft" - evey team has them. Finley, The BLAZERS against the Lakers, Chris Webber, Karl Malone, Peja, Pippen... and the list goes on and on. What do YOU call guys like Webber, Peja, everyone on that Blazers squad that blew that lead to the Lakers?

And who cares what I can do - I ain't being paid millions of dollars. What does that have to do with anything? That's always such a weird thing to throw into an argument.

Keith Van Horn is soft...he turned down a shot last night...

Mike

 

[mribnik]

he said at halftime - we needed to KILL them and make that point - that's what he was talking about at the half.

Oh ok, he didn't fully say what he said at halftime then. Regardless, I disagree. Wins in the playoffs are huge for a young team, no matter how you get them.

 

[Cheesebeef]

Keith Van Horn is soft...he turned down a shot last night...

Mike

your damn right KVH is soft.

Look - all I'm saying is in the playoffs - the BEST players - the toughest players - guys who I DON'T consider to be soft not only get their averages - they GO ABOVE them - Shawn's a career 18.9 ppg player and .468 shooter - in the playoffs - in 20 games - he average 13.9 ppg and shoots .401 - that ain't exactly stepping up to the plate in the past.

But he sure is this year - and I'm loving it!

 

[George O'Brien]

That one at the end of the first half was called with zero contact.

That was a terrible call, but I don't think it was part of a pattern. Williams slipped and fell, and the official thought he saw something he didn't.

Stoudemire panicked after he got his second foul early in the first quarter, then made no attempt to play defense for the rest of the night. That's a big part of the reason that Gasol had such a big night. Marion did a pretty good job guarding him, but that should be Stoudemire's assignment -- at least when Wright is on the bench.

The Suns did manage to outrebound the Grizzlies.

I hope Nash finds his jump shot pretty soon. If not, he'd be better off passing it. If Nash had a good shooting night (hitting shots he usually hits) this game isn't close.

BTW, JJ had an incredible game. He repeatedly hit clutch shots to break up Grizzlie runs in addition to doing a very good job on Mike Miller. It is hard to believe this is the same guy everyone wanted to run out of town a year and half ago.

 

[Cheesebeef]

Oh ok, he didn't fully say what he said at halftime then. Regardless, I disagree. Wins in the playoffs are huge for a young team, no matter how you get them.

totally agree - this was a huge gut check for the squad and they passed with flying colors.