Suns Choke Against 76ers

by Dan on Feb 28, 2007 7:29 PM MST in Suns News Comment 7 comments

The Suns had a chance to make history. Instead they crapped out and lost to a terrible team. Granted, the Suns didn't have Diaw and Marion playing tonight. But they were tied at 84 at the end of the game and just choked at the end. They couldn't make shots when they needed to and the 76ers were making hard shots in the last 2 minutes when they needed to. There were a couple of poor shot selections at the end of the game as well.

I can't be too frustrated because the Suns didn't have two of their main players but still, it's the 76ers. They should have won. I just don't know what to say. I'm a little frustrated with the whole game. From getting down by 10 at the beginning of the game to playing a poor 3 quarters to not doing the things they needed to do at the end of the game.

It really goes to show how much Shawn Marion means to the team. The Suns have been rolling even without Diaw. But without Shawn, they have a bit of a problem.

If there is a bright spot, it's that Marcus Banks is getting more minutes and more experience. That can only be a good thing - even if it means that the Suns lose a few games now.

I can't look at the numbers right now. I'm just too frustrated. Maybe more on the game later tomorrow.

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Half empty, or Half full?

Maybe it's just the optimist in me, but every chance the Suns have to "make history", and don't, I think it only means it's more inevitable they'll make history at a more critical juncture (like when they win that 4th game in late June).

flim springfield

by DrStrom on Mar 1, 2007 12:44 AM MST reply actions 0 recs

Half Full

It may just be me but I think these past two years I've seen the Suns play some ok ball during the regular season. OK in that they'll get wins, and lots of em, but against lesser teams they arent "well played" wins and against competetors we see the Suns at their true best. Lest night's game was the Suns just kinda hohumming it on the floor, and they got burned for it. We've seen it happen to our boys before, even though if they came in focused they woulda have eaten the souls of the 76ers. Thus we'll go through a season with 60 or 55 wins and lose to a few craptastic teams, big deal. Yet in the playoffs I think i've noticed the Suns bring a whole new intensity to their game. This relates back to what Doc said, in that though the Suns get some bad breaks or miss some chances, they'll always bring their A game to the playoffs.
Now with that in mind one must ask why we havent gone all the way yet if we have brought our A game the previous 2 playoffs? Well in 2005 we had mad skill and kicked some ass, but once we reached the Conference finals two things happened. One being the very untimely Joe Johnson injury, which screwed us against the Spurs. Two we were, for the most part, an unexperienced playoff team. Sure guys like Amare had been there before, but none of them had tested the worth of the new offensive system. Thus we hit a brick wall in the form of the Spurs. Then in 2006, now here was a team that wasnt even supposed to get out of the first round, much less win over 50 games with Amare out for the season with knee surgery. But our boys came into the playoffs and fought with some real heart and beat teams that outsized them. Then Bell went and got himself hurt and the Suns got worn out after two 7 game series, finaly sucombing to Dallas in 6.
This year though i feel something different shall occur. I feel that once again we shall prove the legions of naysayers wrong yet again. Glory is there for the Suns to take, they just got to want it bad enough and for work it hard enough come playoff time.

by Turambar on Mar 1, 2007 8:01 AM MST up reply actions 0 recs

Thanks guys

I know these comments should make me feel better. As you said, the Suns usually come to play in the playoffs. But it scares me that they feel like they can just "flip the switch" in any game and win. And maybe they can when they're at full force but without Shawn and Boris, they just couldn't do it. Of course, they were at the end of a road trip as well. It's just frustrating to lose to the 76ers.

by Dan on Mar 1, 2007 8:07 AM MST reply actions 0 recs

Meh

Don't sweat it Dan. Our boys will rusume the ass kicking soon enough. Let me ask you this. Would you rather have them lose to the 76's or the Lakers on Sunday? I know the 76's are craptastic, but losing to the Lakers (especially after they embarassed us back in Oct) would make me far more angry. The 76ers loss is the kind of loss one tends to see with a team like the Suns thats trying ot get back into the groove with Nash and Kurt back after injury. Plus Diaw and Marion were out. I mean even without those two we should have won, but lets face it our boys have been in a bad offencive funk these last two nights. That kinda shit happens, part of it is focus and part of it is injury. I expect them to return to form as they return home for Friday's game and prepare for the big one against LA on Sunday.
Don't worry Dan, the Suns will return to form in good time.

by Turambar on Mar 1, 2007 8:34 AM MST up reply actions 0 recs

half empty

There was a stretch there in the fourth where Banks made some awful fouls on defense and some awful plays on offense.

I love the Suns. But championship teams do not lose these games.

downintx.com

by kidjay on Mar 1, 2007 4:54 PM MST reply actions 0 recs

I'm curious about that...

Every season there are going to be games you should have won and didn't. This year Dallas lost to Golden State and the Clippers. Granted, it was in the first part of the season when they weren't doing very well, but still. I can't remember who the Bulls lost to in the 72-10 season. Anyone remember?

by Dan on Mar 1, 2007 8:26 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs