Game Day Open Thread: Phoenix Suns vs. Dallas Mavericks

by TexSUN on Feb 14, 2008 1:17 PM MST in Phoenix Suns: Game Coverage

Phoenix Suns	vs.	Dallas Mavericks
36-16		35-17
8:30 PM Mountain / 10:30 PM Eastern
TV: TNT
Probable starters:
Steve Nash	PG	Jason Terry
Raja Bell	SG	Eddie Jones
Grant Hill	SF	Devean George
Boris Diaw	PF	Dirk Nowitzki
Amare Stoudemire	C	Erick Dampier

One last time without Shaq. At least that seems to be the plan anyway. The Suns will take on the Dallas Mavericks at home in the final game before the All-Star break. It would seem all that Jason Kidd (non)trade talk may have gotten the Mavericks fired up a bit. They thoroughly trounced the Portland Trailblazers last night, despite missing Josh Howard, Jerry Stackhouse, and Devin Harris. Then again, maybe it's just more proof that for whatever reason, this team plays much better against their fellow Western Conference foes. The Mavericks are 23-6 against the West. The only team even close to that is the Lakers at 19-8.

Howard isn't listed as a probable starter in the Mavericks' game notes for tonight. He is "questionable", Stackhouse is "day-to-day", and Harris is a definite scratch. For more from the Mavericks' side of things (including the ongoing saga of Devean George), visit Mavs Moneyball.

Keys for tonight:

No looking ahead to the All-Star break.
Boris Diaw seems to bring it big every other game, so he's due.
Feed the "beast".
Make Devean George beat you (0-11 last night).

What a shame these two teams didn't meet in the playoffs last season. Imagine seven games of this:

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Comments

Distraction

I'm sure that the 1/3 of the Mavs that were supposed to be traded are a bit distracted tonight. That's got to be another key. Keep the Mavs in their heads while they're on the floor.

by Genesius on Feb 14, 2008 2:16 PM MST reply actions

Playing hard

One thing you can't say about the Suns since the trade is that they have been playing hard. They barely got edged by both the Hornets and the Warriors.

If they come out tonight with the same focus and energy we should be able to put the depleted and distracted Mavs away.

I am predicting a 12 pt win.

Phoenix - where bitter happens

by Seth Pollack on Feb 14, 2008 4:02 PM MST reply actions

Certainly hope we win...

...if only to silence those unnamed members of Planet Orange that are predicting the end of the world after the Marion trade. Plus it'd be nice to get a win before the week off.

I'm really excited for next Wednesday though. I can't wait to see how Shaq fits into the offense.

by Genesius on Feb 14, 2008 4:33 PM MST up reply actions

OMG!!

not a bad prediction!! 109-97 srp the psychic, what about the lakers, will kobe keep playing or surgery?

by jasonsuns1 on Feb 14, 2008 11:18 PM MST up reply actions

ohmmmmm

Phoenix - where bitter happens

by Seth Pollack on Feb 14, 2008 11:57 PM MST up reply actions

Give it up, guys

Geez. Miami-Chicago taking forever to end.

by TexSUN on Feb 14, 2008 8:43 PM MST reply actions

Game on (finally)

Well, the ultra-late start time has pretty much killed any hopes I had of staying for the duration tonight. I'll live blog the first half, but after that, bedtime. Late TNT games + early meetings the next day = not good.

On to the game, the Suns lead 3-2 after Nash hits a three.

by TexSUN on Feb 14, 2008 8:52 PM MST reply actions

Q1 10:32 - Nice rebound by Diaw...

...leads to jumper by Hill. Suns out to the early lead at 7-4.

The projected lineups were right, btw. Howard is out, Devean George in.

...Amare's stuff from Diaw's assist as I was typing the above extends the lead to five. 9-4, Suns.

by TexSUN on Feb 14, 2008 8:53 PM MST reply actions

Q1 9:11 - Nash taking it to his old team

That three looked sweet. Lead now at 12-4. Mavs sort of look like they'd rather be elsewhere.

by TexSUN on Feb 14, 2008 8:54 PM MST reply actions

Q1 8:16 - Nice defense by the Mavs

Blogger's jinx on that possession. Devean George, he of the Bird rights, shuts down Nash and the Suns can't make good on the second attempt.

by TexSUN on Feb 14, 2008 8:59 PM MST reply actions

Q1 7:01 - What I hate about Dallas games

The first of 25 closeups of Mark Cuban we'll probably see tonight.

...meanwhile, Raja Bell and Jason Terry exchange two for three, shrinking the lead to two. 14-12.

by TexSUN on Feb 14, 2008 9:01 PM MST reply actions

Q1 4:29 - Nice hustle by Diaw

Gets the block, then the offensive rebound. Unfortunately, he picks up a foul going for the second one, but nice to see him going for it.

by TexSUN on Feb 14, 2008 9:04 PM MST reply actions

Q1 4:00 - Devean George

Finally hits. Mavs up one, 17-16. I should learn to keep my mouth shut.

by TexSUN on Feb 14, 2008 9:05 PM MST reply actions

Q1 3:54 - Didn't see that one coming

Mike D'Antoni puts in Sean Marks? HUH??? Is Skinner sick? Injured? On the trade block?

...scratching head.

by TexSUN on Feb 14, 2008 9:09 PM MST reply actions

did you see marks attack the hoop

and try to dunk, have to love that

by jasonsuns1 on Feb 14, 2008 9:12 PM MST up reply actions

Feed the beast!

I don't understand why they don't just throw it to Amare 10 times in a row. Who's going to stop him?

'07-'08 Suns: It's clobberin' time!

by Hawk42 on Feb 14, 2008 9:11 PM MST reply actions

Maybe because he's not on the floor?

Amare's taking a break while Sean Marks (not a typo) gets some burn.

by TexSUN on Feb 14, 2008 9:14 PM MST up reply actions

Q2 1:59 - Block party!

First an awesome one by Hill from behind, and now Sean Marks. No love for the Mavs on that one.

...but, you gotta get those rebounds. Mavs end up with the three-point play opportunity after Barea makes good on the third chance. At lead he missed the free throw.

by TexSUN on Feb 14, 2008 9:13 PM MST reply actions

After one

Well, the Mavs have made me pay for typing that they looked like they didn't want to be here. They've come back, and take a one point lead going into the second. Suns are shooting 57% to the Mavs' 47%, but the Mavs have had seven more opportunities. Still no word on why Marks is in ahead of Skinner. Maybe D'Antoni just likes the matchup. It's not like he's been terrible. He's going for loose balls and rebounds, etc.

by TexSUN on Feb 14, 2008 9:20 PM MST reply actions

Q2 11:10 - Lineup to start the second

DJ, Marks, Diaw, Hill, LB.

Dirk makes a pair of free throws to extend the Mavs's lead to three.

by TexSUN on Feb 14, 2008 9:21 PM MST reply actions

Q2 10:00 - Dirk trying to do it by himself

Back to the line for another two. 25-30, Mavericks.

by TexSUN on Feb 14, 2008 9:23 PM MST reply actions

Q2 9:36 - Phoenix: Where ending your slump happens

Did they just say Eddie Jones was one of his last 21 before that three?

by TexSUN on Feb 14, 2008 9:27 PM MST reply actions

yep

by jasonsuns1 on Feb 14, 2008 9:34 PM MST up reply actions

Q2 8:52 - Too bad

Nice steal by Amare, nice ankle-breaking by Nash, but the turnover leads to the Dampier and-1 on the other end. Dampier bricks the free throw at least and Nash gets the second-chance three. Guess it turned out OK. 30-35, Mavericks.

by TexSUN on Feb 14, 2008 9:29 PM MST reply actions

Q2 7:24 - Nice move by Diaw

Spins and lays it in. More, please.

by TexSUN on Feb 14, 2008 9:31 PM MST reply actions

diaw

has some great moves for a big guy, if he'd just keep doing that terry hitting his shots

by jasonsuns1 on Feb 14, 2008 9:35 PM MST up reply actions

Q2 6:52 - OK, guys, the All-Star break...

...starts tomorrow, not today. Nash has to wait impatiently for his teammates to figure out somebody needs to receive the inbounds pass. And now a turnover. Come on, guys.

...yeah, like that. (LB with the three-point play)

by TexSUN on Feb 14, 2008 9:36 PM MST reply actions

Q2 4:10 - Nash to Amare

Yeah, more of that.

by TexSUN on Feb 14, 2008 9:40 PM MST reply actions

Q2 3:38 - Times two

Definitely more than that. That one was even better. Amare flying in for the dunk.

...but again, you gotta get the rebound on the other end. 41-48 Mavs after the two free throws by Bass.

by TexSUN on Feb 14, 2008 9:42 PM MST reply actions

Q2 2:45 - Interesting call

...It works in our favor, but I guess I missed it. Nash draws the charge, Barea's layup canceled.

by TexSUN on Feb 14, 2008 9:43 PM MST reply actions

Rewind

OK, guess it really was a push-off. Missed it the first time.

by TexSUN on Feb 14, 2008 9:44 PM MST up reply actions

can't help but wonder

how we'd be doing wit shaq in there against bass and damp

by jasonsuns1 on Feb 14, 2008 9:44 PM MST reply actions

Late to the party-

Suns a bit sluggish, but not too bad yet. What's wrong with Skinner? How come the Marks sighting?

by SmittyLite on Feb 14, 2008 9:44 PM MST reply actions

Q2 2:00 - Well-earned rebound by Amare

...and nice layup by Diaw off Nash's pass.

by TexSUN on Feb 14, 2008 9:46 PM MST reply actions

Who The F

is this white point guard for Dallas and where did he come from? I've never heard of him, how is he getting PT?

by SmittyLite on Feb 14, 2008 9:48 PM MST reply actions

he's been playing some for them

this last yr, he's had some good games, he's not doing much for them tonight, if terry wasn't hitting, we'd be up big

by jasonsuns1 on Feb 14, 2008 10:20 PM MST up reply actions

Q2 1:15 - LOL

Not sure why, but that made me laugh out loud. Barea thinks he's got everybody beat only to get annihilated by Diaw.

...LB's two free throws on the other end closes it to 47-50.

by TexSUN on Feb 14, 2008 9:48 PM MST reply actions

Foul On Nash

TERRIBLE CALL

by SmittyLite on Feb 14, 2008 9:50 PM MST reply actions

Q2 00:35 - Nice close to the quarter

LB with the three. Now we just need a stop.

...semi-bogus foul call on Nash sends Barea to the line, though. Bogus if for no other reason than the ref waited to see if the shot would go in before calling it, apparently.

by TexSUN on Feb 14, 2008 9:50 PM MST reply actions

Take that, Barea!

Nash fires one in his eye to close the lead down to 52-53 going into halftime.

Speaking of closing it down, I'm afraid I have to call it a night. It will be after 11 here before halftime is over, and I have an early workday tomorrow (I hate late TNT games on Thursday nights). Mr. DVR will have to take over from here. Unfortunately, he doesn't have hands, so he can't type. Bummer. Apologies to those outside the US who can't see the action live.

Srp will have the recap once he returns home after the game. 'Night all.

by TexSUN on Feb 14, 2008 9:56 PM MST reply actions

suns take lead

nash drills a three on nash, i'm a fan of nash, but the bad passing / turnovers, 9 vs N.O, a couple in a row here tonight! Frustrating, I think players guarding him are looking for the pass instead of the shot, as a young player, there were basic rules I always came back to shoot to make them guard you pass if your double teamed shoot outside if open, when the defense starts guarding you closer, drive it seems nash needs to shoot more in my opinion

by jasonsuns1 on Feb 14, 2008 10:23 PM MST reply actions

Amare

How the F does Amare only have 2 boards?

by SmittyLite on Feb 14, 2008 10:25 PM MST reply actions

Raja

DUMB

by SmittyLite on Feb 14, 2008 10:29 PM MST reply actions

Barbosa

Damn, how about Barbosa at the end of the the third? The last 2 minutes or so he's just been a stud.

by Genesius on Feb 14, 2008 10:40 PM MST reply actions

4th Quarter

Let's do it Suns!

by SmittyLite on Feb 14, 2008 10:43 PM MST reply actions

Good start...

...to the fourth quarter so far. Barbosa is playing strong, and Diaw looks like he cares, which is always a bonus.

Someone's gotta call out to DJ about those screens though. He's gotten beaten to the left side off a screen the last few times he's been in a one-on-one defensive situation.

by Genesius on Feb 14, 2008 10:50 PM MST reply actions

Mavs are starting to lose their cool.

This is boding well for us! Mavs are starting to lose their cool, Nowitzki is looking tired (did anyone else see the resemblance to Tom Brady on that bad pass where he just laid on the floor for a minute?), and Nash is fired up.

by Genesius on Feb 14, 2008 10:56 PM MST reply actions

7 point lead, 7 minutes left.

Let's go Suns!

by Genesius on Feb 14, 2008 10:59 PM MST reply actions

SICK DUNK

Amare and Dirk, coming soon on a poster in your Suns Team Shop.

by Genesius on Feb 14, 2008 11:04 PM MST reply actions

Amare

Wow. Thank you Dallas for leaving the ENTIRE lane open for Amare and the and one...

by SmittyLite on Feb 14, 2008 11:05 PM MST reply actions

TImes like this...

...I wish I were in Phoenix instead of Flagstaff so I could hear Al McCoy on the radio.

What a great game!

How long are they going to continue to leave Diaw open at the top of the circle? That's been his bread and butter all night!

by Genesius on Feb 14, 2008 11:11 PM MST reply actions

ktar online

I live in dallas but listen to McKoy

by jasonsuns1 on Feb 14, 2008 11:19 PM MST up reply actions

Does the KTAR website work for you?

I've tried tuning in and listening through my PC, but I can never get the website to work. Maybe I need to look at my drivers or something.

by Genesius on Feb 14, 2008 11:27 PM MST up reply actions

hey man

I had problems for months with ktar not working, but not anymore. I noticed one browser would work, and anohter wouldn't. Next time your online and we're blogging a game, I'll try ktar again, and if it works, have you try it. On why ktar works now for me, but not in past, I have too many computers to know what changed, my guess is ktar improved it's web audio player. This is interesting, I'm on ktar web audio player right now, and it's working, using firefox for browser, I saw flash streaming on the top of the player, it could be a flash plugin, there are 2-3 types of flash plugins, not just one I think. I have an advantage though, I have flash 8.0 software that I use to develop web flash pages (only in last 6 months) installed on this laptop. Maybe the install helped the player work. Unsure of this...but maybe... go to the below link and see if both parts are working..you should see shockwave player and flash player. Link to flash 2 types test Later

by jasonsuns1 on Feb 14, 2008 11:47 PM MST up reply actions

Thanks

Thanks a lot mate, I appreciate the advice. I'll try it out before the Lakers game for sure. Can't wait to hear Al talk about Shaq's "Wham-Bam-Slam!"

by Genesius on Feb 15, 2008 8:59 AM MST up reply actions

yep

McKoy's shazaam! has always been a favorite of mine, anxious to hear the birth of a new phrase of 2 for shaq

talk to you then

by jasonsuns1 on Feb 15, 2008 10:16 AM MST up reply actions

Bar-Bizzle

Single handedly putting this game away...

by SmittyLite on Feb 14, 2008 11:13 PM MST reply actions

Hell yes

How great has he been tonight?

26 points, 6 boards, 1 stl. Great line.

by Genesius on Feb 14, 2008 11:18 PM MST up reply actions

TNT

The Suns are up by 11 points, shorthanded, on the second night of a back-to-back.

Could the TNT commentators possibly give them a little credit for this win without talking about how worried the Suns should be about working in Shaq, and their record against the Western Conference?

by Genesius on Feb 14, 2008 11:15 PM MST reply actions

on announcers

yep, that bothered me also, it was lose-lose for us, if we lose, then we can't beat the top west teams, if we won, well...we only won because dallas was short handed. I hate when the announcers bring that shit up, it makes the game approach meaningless quickly,

by jasonsuns1 on Feb 14, 2008 11:21 PM MST up reply actions