Game Recap - Phoenix Suns vs Utah Jazz 124:101

by emirem on Oct 16, 2007 12:00 PM MDT

[Editor's Note: Since none of the preseason games other than the first one have been televised, it's great when those who get to attend in person take a few moments to tell us what they saw. Thanks a bunch, emirem!]

Starting line up:
Nash, Hill, Bell, Marion, Diaw
Bench:
Marks, Strawberry, Barbosa, Banks, Tucker, Frahm

Most notable player of the game: Diaw

Boris has lost some weight. He looks really fit. D'Antoni had him playing 40 minutes and he looked like the Boris two years ago getting 11 rebounds and 9 assists. I am really excited to see him play again.

Grant Hill took a lot of open shots, which is exactly what we needed to do. His shot is not there yet, but it will come.

Marion was explosive. He was all over the court.

Boozer and Kirilenko were held to 21 points together (not each) by the two above. Great defensive work. I think D'Antoni has something going on here.

Nash played 24 minutes only and had 12 points and 7 assists, trying really hard to make the new guys look really good.

As usual Raja was the crowd favorite and managed 24 points in 24 minutes with 5/6 from behind the line.

Barbosa, as usual. 20 points in 20 minutes. Took some poor shots, but thats Barbosa for you.

Sean Marks got some playing time. He managed to get up to 11 points, but got himself in foul trouble. A little too aggressive. Occasionally he looked as if this was his first Basketball game :P

Strawberry and Banks were solid. I think we have something going on here. Tucker and Frahm were out there too.

The game started of slow. We scored 7 points in the first 6 minutes, yet finishing with 28 points by the end of first quarter.

Behind the Line we looked really good. At the half time we were 11/12 finishing the game 16/26 versus 2/10 from Utah. Maybe D'Antoni was watching those Warriors games too.

Utah did out-rebound us 44:37 and they had more turnovers. Other than that the Suns were dominating the game in every other category.

Overall Shooting percentage: 52.4 %.

All of this with Amare out injured.

Before the game I wasn't too confident with the new team. However seeing them play last night I believe we will finish in top 3 this season once again.

I hope Mr Stern doesn't destroy our championship run once again!

Go Suns!

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My first game this year!

First, it was just great to be back in the building watching the Suns play. Quite a difference from the last time I was there vs the Spurs what w/ the empty seats, sloppy play and lower energy level all around. But that's to be expected for pre-season.

I don't have too much to add in the way of actual game notes other then:

The Jazz looked really really bad. Sure, the Suns played well but that was a rusty, lethargic Jazz team. Don't read too much into the blow out.
I don't know what happened to the dorky big white guy that Sean Marks ate but I am seriously impressed. How did Burke get ahead of him in the rotation anyway? Marks played w/ a LOT of energy. Had some great blocks and dunks and generally played good agressive defense. Sure, he got some fouls but that's what you want from your big guy off the bench right? To come in and hammer some people and play w/ energy...
..unlike Banks. I was really hoping that I would see some of this effort from Banks we have been hearing about. He didn't look good at all and was seriously outclassed by DJ.
Ok TexSun, I am starting to have a man-crush on this kid. His D we knew about but he finished at the rim well and had very good handle on the ball. Impressive. He did have a very stupid flagrant foul on Deron Williams. He should have just let him go but he challenged the break away and basically threw D Will to the floor. No need for that this time of the year. During the FT's Marion and Marks were talking to him and I am sure conveyed that message. You are up by like 30 in the 3rd Qtr of a meaningless game. Let the guy go.
AT didn't show me that much. Granted he didn't get into the game until the 4th but I am thinking he must not be impressing anyone right now to be behind DJ in the rotation.
Grant Hill. I just have to say that going from JJ to Hill has to be about the biggest upgrade in the history of off season upgrades. Hill was a bit off last night and at one point in the 2nd qtr took about 10 shots in a row (and missed them all)to the point that guy behind me was yelling "pass the ball Grant!". All that was just kind of funny though. Having a guy like this on the floor who can go iso when needed, can hit from anywhere, plays smart, rebounds... I mean seriously - the Suns got a HUGE STEAL with this guy.
Overally, I am SERIOUSLY jazzed about this Suns team. I mean seriously. With this starting five who do teams leave open? Every one of them can score 30 in a heartbeat as can LB and even Diaw. Add in the depth w/ DJ, Marks, Banks and this could and should be a championship team. Very very impressed.
My hopes for the season - bigger rotation at least for the first few months. I would like to see them go about 9 deep depending on match-ups and guys like Marks, DJ, Banks and maybe AT and Skinner getting 5 to 10 min / game. Keep the starting 6 (yes - LB is a starter) to about 30-35 min and Diaw to about 25-30. Let's see what different rotations can do. Experiment a little. Don't overuse Hill. That should keep things interesting and the team focused for the first few months until things get serious come Feb/Mar.

by Seth Pollack on Oct 16, 2007 4:51 PM MDT reply actions

DJ's flagrant

I read about that (didn't see it, of course, since the game wasn't televised, and since I was probably in the car anyway even if it had been). I guess it's kind of a good news/bad news thing. Bad if it becomes a habit and bad that it was just a preseason game, and "let the guy go" is absolutely the right thing to do in that situation. On the other hand, nice to know that he's not likely to be intimidated by anyone in a Spurs uniform.

by TexSUN on Oct 16, 2007 5:04 PM MDT up reply actions

I hear you

but this was a bad and dangerous play. DJ came from the side and grabbed him out of the air. Rookie overly aggressive mistake.

If someone had done it to LB or Marion we would be screaming dirty player.

by Seth Pollack on Oct 16, 2007 5:29 PM MDT up reply actions

Agreed

I don't like seeing Raja make flagrants (not even to guys like Kobe), and the same goes for DJ. But since I didn't see this one (for all I knew it was one of those "went for the ball and missed" things), I didn't want to come down too hard. From what you described, it definitely sounds like a bad thing anyway you look at it. Hopefully the two vets gave him a good talking to and we won't see it again.

by TexSUN on Oct 16, 2007 5:40 PM MDT up reply actions