Game Day Open Thread: Phoenix Suns at Houston Rockets

by TexSUN on Nov 17, 2007 12:51 AM MST in Phoenix Suns: Game Coverage

	at
7-2		6-4
6:30 PM Mountain/8:30 PM Eastern
TV: My45 HD, NBA League Pass
Probable starters:
Steve Nash	PG	Rafer Alston
Leandro Barbosa	SG	Bonzi Wells
Grant Hill	SF	Chuck Hayes
Shawn Marion	PF	Shane Battier
Amare Stoudemire	C	Yao Ming

Up next for the Suns is the Houston Rockets, a team that would have been a great early season test had they not lost Tracy McGrady to an elbow injury on Wednesday. But the Rockets should still be more of a challenge than most of the teams the Suns have faced so far. With a healthy Yao Ming, newcomer Luis Scola (who broke out for 20 points on 10-of-11 shooting against San Antonio last night), and an offensively-minded coach, the Suns might be facing a different Rockets team than the one they have beaten eight times in the last 11 meetings. Tracy McGrady's absence hurts the Rockets tremendously (their record without McGrady is similar to the Suns' record without Steve Nash). However, from watching Scola play for Argentina against Team USA this past summer, I have a feeling that given the opportunity, he could make a good deal of trouble for the Suns. With McGrady out, he just might get that opportunity. Still, the Suns have typically not been a good matchup for the Rockets, and Scola's presence can't make Yao Ming capable of running up and down the floor all night without tiring. Hence for the Suns, it is vital that they stick to their game. Push it, and keep pushing it until the Rockets are huffing and puffing. When they Suns do that, they usually beat this team.

The Suns will likely be without Raja Bell, whose ankle acted up again after Thursday's game. That means Leandro Barbosa will probably return to the starting lineup in his place, possibly leaving a few bench minutes for someone else. Another Eric Piatkowski sighting, perhaps? Maybe, but I'm guessing D.J. gets the nod this time.

I'll be doing the Willie Nelson thing again today (on the road, for those who don't know their country music), so sunofa will be providing the recap. Have a great weekend, everyone!

Here's what happens to the Rockets when the Suns play their game:

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Comments

I can't watch this game.... AGAIN

Why are the Suns always on the road!? GAAAGGGHH Let's hope Shawn Marion does THIS tomorrow against the Rockets wuahahahaha

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JPQJdDKCsJM

by whatisboxhappening on Nov 17, 2007 1:34 AM MST reply actions

Yeahhhh

I was bored last night and so I recorded all my saved replays from NBA 2K8 feel free to watch those lol.

by whatisboxhappening on Nov 17, 2007 1:36 AM MST up reply actions

Holy Virtual Reality!

Wow - that is amazing graphics!

by Seth Pollack on Nov 17, 2007 9:17 AM MST up reply actions

As I mentioned

after going off on a Minute Miser Mike post in the other thread, watch out for a more balanced team than the one we usually handle without McGrady there to miss 2/3 of his shots vs Shawn. This is still a better test than ORL, CHI, or LAL. Besides Scola (why did SA trade him?, and to Hou??), watch for Bonzi, Mike James, and Luther Head. Shane Battier is like an admirable BBowen. With Adelman, they're free to run now.

If Raja sits out, there's 35 min available......Coach?

by marionette on Nov 17, 2007 3:40 PM MST reply actions

Sunofa here

gonna do the liveblog thing.

Your starting liniups
Nash
Barbosa
Hill
Marion
Amare

vs.

Mike James
Chuck Hayes
Rafer Alston
Shane Battier
And that big Chinese guy.

by Ridiculous Matt on Nov 17, 2007 6:38 PM MST reply actions

I'm pretty excited about

that whole, fewer commercials thing. That's pretty exciting, as a whole.

NBA League Pass

"Where Not Having A Game Take 15 Hours Happens"

by Ridiculous Matt on Nov 17, 2007 6:43 PM MST reply actions

Mmm...jacked tip.

That's always a fun start. Both Centers just look annoyed.

Suns control tip. and amare lights up a long jumper. He's got so much range.

by Ridiculous Matt on Nov 17, 2007 6:44 PM MST reply actions

interesting thing on Amare

His jumpshot, from 15+ and further, he really has a sweet shot, most of his shots tend to be swishes, nice form, etc. It's a funny thing to have Nash and others kind of be against Amare shooting threes, while they're such big fans of Dirk, a taller player than Amare who shoots a lot of threes. Ok, Amare might not be a good a shooter as Dirk, but he is getting better, and better at shooting, especially for a big. Nice to hear he starts off with a long shot

by jasonsuns1 on Nov 17, 2007 9:26 PM MST up reply actions

Hill

seems to have started to "get his Phoenix Suns legs" as he said the other night. He's learning to sprint, not run full speed constantly, and fit in, which is good.

Amare's been super active on defense lately, getting his first block there.

by Ridiculous Matt on Nov 17, 2007 6:45 PM MST reply actions

Swing out to Yao, driving

and Hill knocks it away, but picks up the foul.

I think Mike James isn't getting enough credit this season.

Yao with a rare miss at the line.

by Ridiculous Matt on Nov 17, 2007 6:47 PM MST reply actions

yao

another big with a soft touch

by jasonsuns1 on Nov 17, 2007 9:26 PM MST up reply actions

James hits a three

and Nash answers with a jumper, james answers with a jumper, nash gets the assist to amare, and the Rockets are falling into the Suns kind of game.

But so far they're scoring, 12-10 Suns. Great shooting so far by both teams, which is great to see.

by Ridiculous Matt on Nov 17, 2007 6:49 PM MST reply actions

Grant Hill

three pointer airball, followed by a rockets three. Rockets are 2/2, Suns 0/2 from beyond the arc.

I'm going to need to get a running boxscore up if I'm going to keep track of this.

by Ridiculous Matt on Nov 17, 2007 6:50 PM MST reply actions

cheat

have a second window open (split screen) with the stats from nba.com

by jasonsuns1 on Nov 17, 2007 9:27 PM MST up reply actions

Great defense

by both teams early. They're both attacking the rim and getting met there.

Ming's picked up 2 early fouls. Scola comes in on relief and makes a nice pump fake to get separation and scores.

Nash has 7, Hill and Amare with 6.

Mike James with 10, Suns lead 25-19

by Ridiculous Matt on Nov 17, 2007 6:57 PM MST reply actions

Marion

misses a three, gets the rebound, then comes back off a Diaw dish fora floater.

Matrix has been obscenely consistent this year.

You know? When Skinner just kind of sits down in the paint, he's not bad.

Also, Louis Scola took about 2.2 games to get used to NBA speed, and has played terrific since then.

29-23 Suns.

by Ridiculous Matt on Nov 17, 2007 7:02 PM MST reply actions

The Rockets dancers

have a whole "nurse" thing going on. It's about as classy as it sounds. No, wait, less so.

Suns doing a great job attacking the basket and drawing fouls.

And yeah, Grant hill has figured this thing out.

Diaw playing well tonight, I've really been impressed with him in the games i've gotten to see.

Mike James is KILLING it.

by Ridiculous Matt on Nov 17, 2007 7:05 PM MST reply actions

rockets dancers....

this is where pictures would help me...with the game
I mean..

by jasonsuns1 on Nov 17, 2007 9:29 PM MST up reply actions

I DID notice the Dancers

Class is waaay overrated.

by marionette on Nov 18, 2007 12:08 AM MST up reply actions

Someday, oneday

The Suns will hit three pointers. Today is not that day. Neither was yesterday. Or the day before. Gah.

Blur
Hill
Matrix
Skinner
Diaw

Interesting lieup. Especially because it's a big lineup, but they're not going low.

37-30 Suns after 1.

by Ridiculous Matt on Nov 17, 2007 7:08 PM MST reply actions

I don't know if you've heard this

but that Hill guy? He can shoot 18 footers.

Reeeeally well

by Ridiculous Matt on Nov 17, 2007 7:12 PM MST reply actions

coooooool

I knew he'd be really good for us, and once I heard Nash getting so excited in workouts before preseason, and the suns putting hill's name on the allstar ballot, it's just been getting better and better!

by jasonsuns1 on Nov 17, 2007 9:31 PM MST up reply actions

yao back on the court

and barbosa getting into it.

We have a Steve Francis sighting! Repeat! Steve Francis is in the game for the first time this season!

Suns shooting 77%

Yeah.

by Ridiculous Matt on Nov 17, 2007 7:14 PM MST reply actions

Scola

hurting us on the glass and showing great moves.

Piatowski is in and called for an offensive foul. Good job, Patty!

44-37 Suns.

by Ridiculous Matt on Nov 17, 2007 7:21 PM MST reply actions

Piatowski

for three!

by Ridiculous Matt on Nov 17, 2007 7:21 PM MST reply actions

Steve Francis

hit a three.

47-44 Suns

The Rockets are on fire from three.

by Ridiculous Matt on Nov 17, 2007 7:23 PM MST reply actions

Rockets

are 80% from beyond the arc. Little ridiculous.

Nash has been quiet lately.

Wells shaken up.

by Ridiculous Matt on Nov 17, 2007 7:29 PM MST reply actions

Nash

hits consecutive threes. He grows weary of your shooting.

Does someone want to remind Steve Francis he sucks?

HILL HIT A THREE! HILL HIT A THREE!

by Ridiculous Matt on Nov 17, 2007 7:30 PM MST reply actions

Either

I'm smoking crack or it was a long two.

by Ridiculous Matt on Nov 17, 2007 7:48 PM MST up reply actions

on nash

Interesting thought here, I know Nash is a great decision maker, but he is getting older, I wonder if we could groom a young guy with a good head, and great speed in Nash's position, and have Nash be one of the shooting guards. I've always thought Nash was an assassin on offense, one of my favorite games was 2 yrs ago in the playoffs against Dallas, where dallas decided to make Nash shoot, and he did, I think he scored 48 points and was fantastic, but the suns still lost, the rest of the suns stunk that night, but watching nash score like that, pretty cool to see. My thought is Jason Terry of Dallas has really been doing well not being the point guard and taking advantage of his shooting, I'd love to see Nash as a scorer, its there...

by jasonsuns1 on Nov 17, 2007 9:42 PM MST up reply actions

Scola is

everywhere. Stealing the ball, making the outlet pass, banging down low, hitting contested shots, playing great defense, everything. I'm really impressed with him.

Stat and Diaw both have 3 fouls.

60-50 Suns.

by Ridiculous Matt on Nov 17, 2007 7:32 PM MST reply actions

At the half

Suns 69
Rockets 57

Barbosa with 15 and 4
Hill with 14 and 4

James with 15, Scola with 14 for the Rockets.

They had 10 first half offensive rebounds. 10.

But we finally started shooting well.

Shooting 73% at the half.

Redonkulous.

by Ridiculous Matt on Nov 17, 2007 7:42 PM MST reply actions

The Room Store

For those of you on League Pass, you may not realize this ... but Cindy Crawford is now doing Room Store commercials and there's not a Shawn Marion Room Store commercial in sight.

I wonder if he's going to demand a trade to Levitz?

Mmmmm ... Guinness

by JSun on Nov 17, 2007 7:50 PM MST reply actions

on marion

I've heard from my suns team contact that Marion loves the room store and was always hanging out there (not sure on which location(s)). Interesting...Might be as simple as his contract with them was up, maybe the room store considers Crawford a better rep, or maybe it was the off season, I like Marion, and he's been playing awesome this year, really. But, to hear a player complain about a contract, or being traded when he makes $18 million a year is stupid. It's like he's treating the suns like a father trying to abandon him or something, silly

by jasonsuns1 on Nov 17, 2007 9:46 PM MST up reply actions

His father did abandon him.

He and Amare grew up fatherless. Don't know of any other players...

by marionette on Nov 18, 2007 1:06 AM MST up reply actions

didn't know that, thx

explains some stuff, I really like Marion, to me, he is as much the franchise as Nash or Amare.

by jasonsuns1 on Nov 18, 2007 9:09 AM MST up reply actions

Scola

Let me just say that my response from this point foward to anyone that complains about Sarver trading KT and draft picks to save money...is Scola.

The Spurs let this guy go to save $ and traded him to a division rival for squat.

Besides his obvious basketball skills his flopping and Euro hair would have been a great fit on the Spurs.

Oh, and the ref's suck. Amare has 3 fouls and is a non-factor in the game but 2 out of 3 were horrible calls.

Oh, and Amare is a non-factor in the game and Suns scored 70+ in the first half. I hope that glass went from 60% to at least 65% full...

by Seth Pollack on Nov 17, 2007 7:51 PM MST reply actions

Oops - only 69 pts in the 1st half

by Seth Pollack on Nov 17, 2007 7:54 PM MST up reply actions

Suns should've moved up to take Scola

as many suggested on the sites. Just because the Spurs were stupid/cheap is no logical reason to let Sarver and Kerr off the hook. That's another way you beat teams. Scola's only played 9 games and already it's clear Houston won this one against SA.

Will never understand why SA drafted him just before PHX, only to trade him. They didn't need to pay him, they could've kept his rights and kept him out of HOU also, no?

But I don't think we had interest if he was there to draft, and D'Antoni wouldn't play him anyway, probably.

by marionette on Nov 18, 2007 12:35 AM MST up reply actions