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| Final - 11.8.2009 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Phoenix Suns
|
26 | 30 | 24 | 22 | 102 |
|
Washington Wizards
|
29 | 22 | 20 | 19 | 90 |
Just How Good Are The 6-1 Suns?
by Phoenix Stan on Nov 8, 2009 4:33 PM MST
in Commentary
1 comment
Nobody thought the Phoenix Suns would start the season 6 and 1 which ties the 2000/01 team for a franchise best start through seven games. Nobody.
With Amare working his way back into shape and a tough early season road schedule this team was expected to struggle to find it's footing and hopefully come on later in the season when things rounded into form and the schedule lightened up.
Given the great start is it too soon to rethink the preseason prognostications that almost universally predicted this team would win around 46 games and be happy to make it to the playoffs as a 7 or 8 seed?
Yes. It is too soon but that's not to take credit away from what the Suns have accomplished so far in the early days of the season.
1 comment | 0 recs |
Suns Shake Off Slow Start, Down Washington Arenas's, 102-90
by Wil Cantrell on Nov 8, 2009 2:32 PM MST
in Game Coverage
8 comments
The Washington Wizards and Phoenix Suns entered Sunday's contest heading in different directions. The Suns had just come off of a gigantic win versus the Boston Celtics, and the Wizards had just suffered a verbal thrashing from injured Antwan Jamison and the loss of their after game fruit tray; not to mention a nice beating from the Indiana Pacers. The Wizards will have to continue worrying about their chemistry and fruit tray problems as the Suns woke up early enough to defeat the Wiz, 102-90
Four of the Suns starters registered double doubles including Steve Nash(11 pts, 17 assists), Grant Hill, (13 points, 13 rebounds), Amare Stoudemire (17 points, 12 rebounds), and Channing Frye (18 points, 10 rebounds.) The lone starter to not pickup a double double was the lowly Jason Richardson, who led the Suns scoring effort with 22 points. I say lowly in jest obviously, since Richardson was a huge reason why the Suns held off the Wizards in the first half as they struggled to wake up for the early start of this one.
The early start was a concern for the Suns as was a letdown from the huge win in Boston. There was much to be concerned about as the Suns turned in 16 first half turnovers leading to 19 Wizard points. Still, it was virtually a 5 on 1 game with Agent Zero providing the only consistent offensive threat for the Wizards. Without the miscues, this game could have been iced early as the Suns led in virtually every category of the game.
8 comments | 0 recs |
Preview and Game Thread: Suns @ Wizards
by Phoenix Stan on Nov 8, 2009 8:02 AM MST
in Game Coverage
171 comments
171 comments | 0 recs |
The JYD Bark
by JSun on Nov 7, 2009 10:04 PM MST
5 comments
What I can't figure out is why the PA doesn't have a bark every time Dudley makes a hustle play.
Amundson has got the "Louuuu!" thing.
LB gets a "beep, beep"
Dudley yelps and barks if he gets a box out that prevents the other team from grabbing a rebound, resulting in a Suns' side-out.
He deserves a bark. Let's vote on it.
If I was talented like Stan, I might have included clips so everyone could hear what I'm sayin'
5 comments | 0 recs |
Boston, MA: Where the Suns Bench Happened (to kick the C's in the teeth)
by Phoenix Stan on Nov 7, 2009 11:01 AM MST
in Game Coverage
12 comments
The play of the Suns bench in this win can not be overstated. While Rasheed Wallace and his Vitiligo spot was going 0'fer six behind the arc and Goran Dragic was running Eddie House of the line and forcing him to do something he doesn't like to do - dribble - the Suns bench was a combined + 42 compared to the Celtic's - 48.
And it wasn't the offensive punch from Leandro Barbosa that got it done for this group of 6th men. LB is still nursing a sore wrist so it was up to these scrappy youngsters to play...wait for it... DEFENSE!
In fact, Dragic, Dudley, Amundson and Clark only scored 18 total points in their combined 71 minutes of play as compared to 19 points from Daniels, Wallace, House and Mr. Candace Parker.
So how do 4 guys who scored one less point end up having such a huge impact on the game? Wait for it....DEFENSE!
In the second quarter the Suns went on an 11-1 run over a 4 minute stretch with the bench all playing big roles in that period. Dudley hit a big three to start the run. Clark stripped Wallace on the perimeter which lead to a Dragic-lead fast break and Lou did his Lou thing with a rebound and two missed free throws (oops).
Even more impressive and more impactful to the win was the opening stretch of the fourth quarter. The bench went on a 11-2 run to stretch a 2 point lead to 11 points with Nash on the bench. When was the last time that happened Suns fans? 2004? Nope. 2007? Nope. We are seeing something here that we've been waiting for a long, long time.
I am not a big fan of the +/- stat because there are so many other factors but in this game it is fair to say that Dudley (+14), Dragic (+12) and Lou (+10) deserved those numbers compared to Nash (-7), Amare (-9) and Hill (-7).
In fact the only Suns starters in the positive were Richardson (+7) and Frye (+5) and they both played significant minutes with the reserves.
That's not to say that Nash's big shot to seal the win wasn't BIG. Or Amare's block and late basket weren't key. And of course Richardson's (34 and 10) were crucial. But the importance of this young bench unit playing so well on the road and allowing Nash to be fresh for the final run and only play 35 minutes can not be overstated. I think I stated that already.
Here's what Boston coach Doc Rivers had to state about the Suns bench:
"And, hell, it’s rare when I’ll say ‘Keep Grant Hill on the floor,’ but we wanted him on the floor instead of Dudley, the way Dudley was playing. He was just a thorn in our butt. I mean, the biggest, one of their biggest plays is that back-cut down the stretch. But he did it all game. He was absolutely fantastic tonight. I thought Dudley was – him and Amundson – I thought those two were fantastic.”
12 comments | 0 recs |
Between being and becoming..
by Pliny the Elder on Nov 7, 2009 1:17 AM MST
16 comments
There are some of us here who remember the 05-06 team with fond memories. Not because they won a championship, which they didn't, and not because they played flawless ball, which they didn't either.
But because a team consisting of maybe two legitimate NBA starters, and a collection of anonymous and otherwise underachieving players won 54 games and got to the WCF. And not smoothly either: They lost their all-star center for the whole year, before the season started, and his backup/replacement for a third of a season, just after the all-star break. And sometimes that team was beaten like a red-headed stepchild caught with cigarettes.
But that group had heart, grit, tenacity, fearlessness, self-belief and unity. Some players, like Boris and Raja, stepped up from nowhere to show how good they really were. Others like Trix, wallowed in their new found respect and status. All of them, though, played the season of their careers, because of their trust in each other and their leader. That team, ultimately failed, but not for reasons of it's own doing or control. They went down fighting and with defiance.
16 comments | 6 recs |
Richardson, Stoudemire Lead Suns to Big Win Versus Unbeaten Celtics
by Wil Cantrell on Nov 6, 2009 9:53 PM MST
in Game Coverage
21 comments
"Compete on the Boards" was written on the chalk board in the Suns locker room before the game. Not only did the Suns compete on the boards, they actually won against the undefeated Boston Celtics in Boston Friday night, 110-103.
Jason Richardson played a monster game, leading the way in scoring for the Suns with 34. Richardson had to have been motivated by his 0 for in Orlando. Tonight he made up for the zeroes all over the floor in TD Garden, including 6-7 from three point range.
Richardson played a complete game tonight. He mad Ray Allen a non-factor, holding the Celtics guard to 16 points. But J-Rich wasn't satisfied just bombing away from outside, he drove to the hoop, posted up Allen, and even battled for rebounds, leading the team with 10. He even made free throws which hasn't been a given the past two games for the Suns.
21 comments | 0 recs |
Game Thread: Suns vs Celtics
by Phoenix Stan on Nov 6, 2009 5:15 PM MST
in Game Coverage
190 comments
190 comments | 0 recs
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Phoenix Suns
@
Philadelphia 76ers
Monday, Nov 9, 2009, 5:00 PM MST
Wachovia Center
Suns Schedule
Next 5 Games
|
@
Philadelphia
|
Mon 11/09 | 5:00 PM MST |
|
New Orleans
|
Wed 11/11 | 8:30 PM MST |
|
@
Los Angeles Lakers
|
Thu 11/12 | 8:30 PM MST |
|
Toronto
|
Sun 11/15 | 6:00 PM MST |
|
@
Houston
|
Tue 11/17 | 6:30 PM MST |
Last 5 Games
|
@
Washington
|
Sun 11/08 | W 102 - 90 |
|
@
Boston
|
Fri 11/06 | W 110 - 103 |
|
@
Orlando
|
Wed 11/04 | L 100 - 122 |
|
@
Miami
|
Tue 11/03 | W 104 - 96 |
|
Minnesota
|
Sun 11/01 | W 120 - 112 |
Pacific Standings
| W | L | PCT | GB | STRK | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Phoenix
|
6 | 1 | .857 | 0 | Won 2 |
|
Los Angeles Lakers
|
5 | 1 | .833 | 0.5 | Won 4 |
|
Los Angeles Clippers
|
3 | 4 | .428 | 3 | Won 3 |
|
Sacramento
|
2 | 4 | .333 | 3.5 | Won 1 |
|
Golden State
|
1 | 3 | .250 | 3.5 | Lost 1 |
(updated 11.8.2009 at 1:24 PM MST)
Certain photos copyright © 2009 by Associated Press or Getty Images. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of Associated Press and Getty Images is strictly prohibited.
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