Clippers Drop Suns (97-90)

by TexSUN on Jan 15, 2008 11:36 PM MST in Game Coverage Comment 14 comments

It doesn't take long to figure out what went wrong here. When you get out-shot 53% to 41% and get out-rebounded 47-36, you're going to lose more often than not. I hope I'm not sounding like one of those spoiled fans who goes ballistic every time their team loses a game, but this stinks. Not only did the Suns again accomplish the dubious task of giving a losing team's fans something to feel good about, they did it in a way that had "looking ahead to the next game" written all over it. I guess that's human nature, but it sure didn't make it any more fun to watch. Oh well, the Clippers were due after coming oh so close against Dallas, San Antonio, and the Suns in recent weeks. They deserved this win, and maybe if I weren't so tired and grumpy right now, I'd be able to better appreciate that. Instead, I'm going to leave that part to Clips Nation, and skip ahead to the awards.

Player of the Game: Sam Cassell. 32 points, 7 assists, 6 rebounds, and unlimited determination.

Runner-Up: Amare Stoudemire with 29 points, eight rebounds, three assists and two blocks.

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Arg

The one thing I truly hate about the Nash-era Suns is that there are so many inexcusable times when they play down to the level there apponent. This year more than any other the Suns cannot afford to do that. This conference race is too tight to let games like this one occur.

Ok maybe i'm a bit tired and way too worked up over this game but I grow weary of waiting the Suns to show their true potenial.

THE TIME IS NOW!!!!

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

by Turambar on Jan 15, 2008 11:42 PM MST reply actions 0 recs

Cassell

We make him look good, don't we? Actually, what stood out to me was the bench play (or lack of it) We didn't force the Clips to play good defense. And Maggette, we always make him look good.

Here's an all star team of players that we make look much better than they are:

PG - Sam Cassell
SG - Cory Maggette
SF - Mike Dunleavy
PF - Nick Collison
C - Eddy Curry

'06-'07 Suns: It's clobberin' time!

by Hawk42 on Jan 16, 2008 6:49 AM MST reply actions 0 recs

worried

I am seriously worried about this team at this point. I live out of market and watch the games on the satellite package. But lately it's hard to bring myself to do it, and quite honestly I've started to forget when the games come on and have missed a couple by sheer thoughtlessness.

I used to know every upcoming opponent and tip off time two weeks in advance. But the way this team is playing makes it difficult to care.

downintx.com

by kidjay on Jan 16, 2008 9:11 AM MST reply actions 0 recs

Nash ran out of gas

Given how poorly the Suns offense was in the 2nd half, I think you could sum up this game by saying that Nash ran out of gas as a result of his recent illness.

I think sometimes we underestimate the impact of being sick on these top-notch athletes. This goes for Bell, LB, Marion and yes even Diaw w/ his iffy back (and iffy heart).

I had the stomach rot a few weeks ago and for the first time in years I was up all night sick and in bed the entire next day. I am no athlete but I do play tennis regularly and am gererally very healthy. After one night of illness and the following day of not really eating, it took about 5 days to really recover. It is not surprising that Nash is going to have a poor 2nd half as his body recovers its stregnth and this was the kind of game that Nash needed to carry the team late to overcome a decent Clips D and a great shooting night by Sam w/ some good supporting help.

I think we need to cut these guys a little slack. They aren't going to play great all the time over 82 games.

I was actually struck in the 4th quarter by how close the game was considering that the Clips had three guys hitting their shots (Sam, Cory and Cat) while the Suns only had Amare playing well. Once they packed it in the paint defensively and no other Sun could hit a J then really they didn't have much of a chance.

And yes, the Suns need a back up PG. But you can't name one top team that is competitive with their top player(s) not playing well.

There is no replacement for Steve just like there is no replacement for Kobe, TD, Dirk (ok, maybe Dirk), and the Celtics even lost two quick games to the Wizards b/c Rondo was out and suddenly everyone is asking if they can really win it all. And that's just Rajon Rondo!

No team is perfect and no team is going to win at the same pace without their key guys healthy.

I don't know if the Suns will win the ring. The competition is fierce and I no long believe Diaw is going to help the Suns which leaves them VERY thin up front. But I would put serious money that at the end of the season the Spurs, Mavs and Suns will finish in the top 3 spots and those other up and coming teams will have their own weaknesses exposed.

The playoff's (still 3 months away) could easily be decided by who's healthy April - June. Let's hope this year the Suns will finally get over that hump and maybe even get a bit lucky.

Orangutans are this year's Lemurs

by Phoenix Stan on Jan 16, 2008 9:20 AM MST reply actions 0 recs

Agreed

Yeah I guess I should cut the Suns some more slack. I guess that after so many almost-but-not-quite playoff runs I just want to see some sign that this team will finally push through to the Finals.

It's just that despite the fact that Nash has been sick I just dont get the feeling that this team is playing well together. And God knows just how pissed I am at Diaw.

Well like you said it's a long season, but the Suns need to start playing and acting like the basketball gods they should be!!

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

by Turambar on Jan 16, 2008 9:36 AM MST up reply actions 0 recs

My New Theory

Here's my theory of the day on fan psychology: I will call it the Theory of Over/Under Achievement.

When teams like the Suns 04-05 or this year's Celtics, Lakers, Hornets, Blazers and maybe Warriors and Magic over perform expectations then everyone from their fans to the entire sports fan-world get excited. There's just something naturally fun about these teams and people get worked up. We all get that.

But on the other hand when teams like the Suns under perform expectations - losing to the Magic, T-wolves and Clips - then the emotional impact is hieghtened. The same thing happens in SA btw if you read their blogs...

But if you look at past NBA champions you really can't find one that over performed during the regular season. Teams that we have admired for their veteran toughness and ability to peak at the right time (Spurs and Pistons come to mind) are not the teams that generate excitment during the season. So if the Suns - so far - are less exciting then maybe that's a good sign. Maybe they will peak when it matters most.

The only games so far that to me have mattered in terms of our chances to win the chip and have been disappointing were the loses to the Hornets and Lakers. When those teams beat us it helps them get better and makes them more dangerous if we should meet them in the playoffs. In April, I doubt this loss to the Clips will really matter.

There's a reason that the Warriors beating the Mavs was such a big deal. In the NBA the better team almost always wins the series and the Suns, if healthy, are one of the best 2 or 3 teams in the West and top 3 or 4 in the NBA. I don't know if we could ask for more then that as fans....We aren't going to be better then the Spurs, Mavs or Pistons until we beat them in the playoffs just like the Lakers, Hornets or Jazz aren't going to be better then us until they beat us in the spring.

And btw, I don't think there's anyway the Celtics are going to be a top five team this year no matter how many games they win this season.

Orangutans are this year's Lemurs

by Phoenix Stan on Jan 16, 2008 10:02 AM MST up reply actions 0 recs

Roger that.

I think the best thing that could happen to the Suns this season is go into the playoffs red hot, just like the Warriors last season. But waiting for that i'm sure will be a killer. I just wish the playoffs were here right now, it just cant get here fast enough.

I agree that overall we should be fine as far as our record goes, but I worry about those lower tier teams we could face like the Hornets or Lakers. A first round exist would just about kill this team and guarantee some kind of major moves in the off season. But as you said the season is a marathon and we have a long way to go before we can really start worrying.

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

by Turambar on Jan 16, 2008 10:43 AM MST up reply actions 0 recs

BTW

SA boards are doom-and-gloom now? Dont they realize that the damned Sterns always go a little soft at some point in the season only to roar back? They have no excuse to be worried or mad. They've got a slew of damned rings for crying out loud!!!!! While we've been lusting for a Championship for FORTY YEARS!!!!!!!!!!!!

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

by Turambar on Jan 16, 2008 10:45 AM MST up reply actions 0 recs

Makes you wonder

which team might have the happiest fans right now if Suns and Spurs fans are complaining this much...

Orangutans are this year's Lemurs

by Phoenix Stan on Jan 16, 2008 11:58 AM MST up reply actions 0 recs

True that

My money has to be on the Boston fans. They've had a craptastic team for a few years, only to wake up to this season to find a team with the best record in the league. If they aint happy then Boston has some serious issues.

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

by Turambar on Jan 16, 2008 12:03 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

Even so

Here's an article called "Fixing the Celtics"

http://www.celticsblog.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2171&Itemid=189

So, I guess there's no such thing and full season utter happiness with one's team. Must be the nature of fans...

Orangutans are this year's Lemurs

by Phoenix Stan on Jan 16, 2008 1:37 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

1st to 5th

Crap, 1st to 5th in the conference with the loss last night. I thought Nash looked worn out at one point when they showed him close up and he was bent over waiting for the inbound pass. Nobody able to stop Cassell was pretty pathetic. Diaw with one technical and one rebound?? Consideration should be given to cut his minutes and give it to Strawberry or someone else, who I am not sure, but he does not deserve to be playing 35 plus minutes in a game. Please get well soon, Grant, cuz you are desperately needed. I really thought they'd win easily and they give up a 10-point lead early in the 1st quarter and trail the rest of the game. Thanks to the Suns, I am grumpy today!

The lead in the conference could be changing day by day until and unless one or two teams make a charge.

by TwinnerA on Jan 16, 2008 1:18 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

i think srp said it best

it takes a few days for people to recover from being sick, and I think nash is still recovering, my bet is that big game he had the night before really took a lot out of him, and like often happens to me, he got weak after not recovering fully from being sick.

by jasonsuns1 on Jan 16, 2008 8:29 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs