Game Thread: Phoenix Suns vs Seattle Supersonics

by Dan @ Bright Side Of The Sun on Apr 11, 2007 9:52 AM MDT in Phoenix Suns News

They play again. It seems like forever since the Suns last played even though it was just since Sunday. The good thing is everyone got plenty of rest. Both the Suns and the Spurs play against a weaker opponent tonight. Does that bode well for the Suns? It's hard to say. They haven't showed the killer instinct yet so they may let the Sonics stay in the game much longer than they should. Best case scenario would see the Kings take out the Spurs and the Suns beat the Sonics so Coach D'Antoni can give his guys at least 1 or 2 games of rest. Dirk Nowitzki didn't even travel with the team on Dallas' latest road trip just because they wanted to rest him. I don't think it will matter tons but it is a leg up the Mavericks have on the Suns.

As Turumbar noted in his Diary, James Jones will be starting tonight. It should be interesting to see what he can bring to the table. So far, Boris Diaw has played better coming off the bench than he has starting. If Junior can bring his best game and help the team by starting, I think the Suns will be deadly with Barbosa, Diaw and Thomas all coming off the bench. It's like a new fresh starting team coming in while the other team's starters are tired!

I'm very ready for the postseason to begin. I can only imagine what the players and coaches feel like. The last game of the season is only a week away and boy am I ready for it.

Watch the game tonight and look here for analysis after the game.

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I am going to the game

I will be at the game tonight. I expect to see many empty seats. I think we are all bored and want the playoffs to start today. The Suns lost to Seattle in Feb. I hope they remember that and bring their best game.

I am not happy about Jones starting, and I expressed by opinion on Turumbar's thread. IMO a player that cannot score points should not be a starter. If he does play well, that poses a bigger dilemma- who should start in the playoffs and can he (Jr) be consistently good? I have not seen consistency from him. However, if this gives Boris the much needed motivation, it will serve its purpose. As a side note, Boris should be on the trading block after this season.

I think Seattle is going to be without Ray Allen, but that does not mean anything, as we learned in the Hornets' game last week. If the Suns want to rest, they will have to play their best game for 3 quarters and get a 25-30 point lead.

by Vash01 @ Bright Side Of The Sun on Apr 11, 2007 10:12 AM MDT reply actions

on Boris trade thought

I agree, even though he's had spurts of really great play, including last years playoffs, I agree we could do much better. His passing is his best asset.
What we need is a 6-9 or taller athletic guy who can run and rebound.

by jasonsuns1 on Apr 12, 2007 3:15 AM MDT up reply actions

Playoffs Just Cant Get Here Soon Enough

Man oh man I cant wait for the playoffs. Then the real games beggin. For now we just gotta keep our heads on straight and clinch that 2nd seed. After that the handfull of games left wont matter one bit, except maybe the Clippers game cause i dont want them in the playoffs. Arggg i cant wait for the playoffs to begin!!!!!!!!

"Ultimate excellence lies not in winning every battle, but in defeating your enemy without ever fighting." Sun Tzu

by Turambar on Apr 11, 2007 1:01 PM MDT reply actions

Don't trade Boris!

After Boris came back from his back problems, he seemed to have a couple of good games surrounded by a lot of bad games! I am hoping there are lingering back issues which are affecting his game rather than the alternative, that he is a soft player who can't cut it.

by TwinnerA on Apr 11, 2007 1:04 PM MDT reply actions

Boris vs trade

I also would not trade Boris. First of all, I don't know anyone who would take him (unless Isaiah Thomas wants him) because he's making too much money. Second, he does well because of the system. Third, I think he can help the Suns if he gets motivated and if he's healthy. He can be an integral part to the Suns team in the playoffs. I just think he is coasting more than the rest of the players are at this point.

by Dan @ Bright Side Of The Sun on Apr 11, 2007 1:39 PM MDT reply actions

Boris

I do like Boris. Believe me, I like him better than KT or Jr. He makes some amazing moves when he is on, and he definitely creates problems for the Mavs. It is his intensity/work ethic that has been questionable this season. The back injury made things worse. As with any injury, a player becomes more cautious- unless his name is Raja Bell (LOL). Boris may just be overly cautious- I am giving him the benefit of doubt.

It will be tough to trade him because of the amount of money he will be making. He may not fit into many of the other teams, except perhaps GSW, Toronto. He is a finesse player, and may not do well where they go for power. He fitted into the Suns system beautifully. If he could find the motivation during and between the seasons (Nash being a prime example), it could work out. I would just like to see a consistent effort from him. I am not too concerned about how many points/rebounds he has, as long as he is making the effort and creating opportunities for the team. He has been one of the three big disappointmens for me this year- the others being not signing Tim Thomas, and the way Marcus Banks turned out to be the wrong signing.

by Vash01 @ Bright Side Of The Sun on Apr 11, 2007 3:40 PM MDT up reply actions

Tim Thomas

I agree with you on the Marcus Banks signing but not on the Tim Thomas non-signing. I think it was a good move to not sign him. Thomas is a known slacker and only played well with the Suns because he was in a contract year and because he was with Steve Nash. Without having the incentive of a new contract, I think he would have slacked off just as much as he is with the Clippers.

Now, if they would have signed him instead of Marcus Banks, I think that would have been a good move. But I think they figured they needed a backup point guard for Nash and took the risk on Banks instead. Either way, I don't think either signing would have worked out well.

The sad part for me on Marcus Banks is that Bill Simmons was right. He said that Banks wouldn't work well with the team and so far he is right. I hate it when he is right when he talks bad about the Suns! :-)

by Dan @ Bright Side Of The Sun on Apr 11, 2007 5:36 PM MDT up reply actions

I meant T.Thomas instead of Banks

The Suns really wanted a high quality point guard to back up Steve; they did not know how good LB would become. I think John Salmons was their first choice but it did not work out (he made some strange comments at that time, which made me glad that he did not sign with the Suns). He is playing really well. The Suns obviously did not think they needed Tim Thomas that badly. I think he could have been their #5 guy, and I think he would have played well on this team. Nash can be a good motivator. Anyway, had Banks worked out even 50% for the team, it would not have been this bad. He is not even part of the rotation, so the money was a total waste. It will be tough to trade him too because he did not make the Suns team. I am sure he will be good on the right team.

by Vash01 @ Bright Side Of The Sun on Apr 11, 2007 11:27 PM MDT up reply actions

I just saw on ESPN

that the Suns have won their past 5 home games by 17 points or more. That's not too shabby. Hopefully they can do the same thing tonight.

Good luck, Junior! You'll do great!

by Dan @ Bright Side Of The Sun on Apr 11, 2007 7:21 PM MDT reply actions

Yep, 18 points!

They won by 18 tonight. I would not have guessed it the way the game was played for 3 quarters, but in the 4th Q the Suns tightened the defense and got the job done.

I saw more offensive rebounds from the Suns than we normally do. That was a good sign. There were some silly mistakes on lay ups and passes, but it was not a bad game, like e.g. the Hornets game. Seattle shot really well, even with the Sun defenders harrassing them. Neither team was very physical and not many fouls were called. So the game had a nice flow. It wasn't spectacular but our boys got the job done.

by Vash01 @ Bright Side Of The Sun on Apr 11, 2007 11:23 PM MDT reply actions