Preview and Game Thread: Suns vs Timberwolves
by Seth Pollack on Nov 1, 2009 9:13 AM MST
in Phoenix Suns: Game Coverage
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PrintMinnesota Timberwolves at Phoenix Suns, Nov 1, 2009 6:00 PM MST
[Note by Phoenix Stan, 11/01/09 5:13 PM MST ]
Coach's Pregame Office Notes:
- Frye will start on Al Jefferson with Amare starting on Pecherov who is supposedly starting for Minnie
- Suns will start off playing Jefferson straight up but might go to traps and doubles as needed
- Gentry said Jefferson is not fully recovered yet
- On Jonny Flynn: Suns liked him a lot. Gentry said he has a bright future and is a very good player. Physical guard who can take a hit and run the screen and roll which is hard for rookies. His area to improve is outside shooting
- Gentry called him a natural leader
For the Timberwolves without Kevin Love (broken hand) the story starts and stops with Al Jefferson and Jonny Flynn.
Jefferson as we all know has feasted on the Suns over the past years and was one of the guys often mentioned when the team justified bringing in Shaq for his interior defense and rebounding.
Al Jeff's dominance over the Phoenix front line of Amare and Marion was as much responsible for both the Shaq trade and the Robin Lopez draft pick as any other single player. Who can forget the 32 and 20 his three win team dropped on Phoenix in December 2007?
Jefferson missed 32 games last season with a torn ACL and like Amare he's still working his way back into game shape. He's put up 10.5 points and 6 rebounds over his first two games of the season. Amare meanwhile is averaging 18 and 5.
Here's what Canis Hoopus says about Al Jeff:
Al Jefferson is not anywhere near 100%. Yes, it looks like he has no business being in the new offense and he is the last person on earth you want directing traffic out of the high post, but a serious injury is still a serious injury and the Jefferson Discount should be taken into account when discussing his overall worth to the squad.
In the back court we get our first official look at Jonny Flynn. I saw Flynn in Vegas where he was a clear standout for his ability to get to the rim and mostly for his Chris Paul-like floor leadership. The guy naturally draws all eyes towards him. I am looking forward to seeing him tonight. He's going to get big minutes starting for this team and will likely be a top 5 rookie this season.
On top of that you have an entire new retro 80's coaching staff in Minnesota with Kurt Rambis, Bill Laimbeer and Reggie Theus. Word is they are trying to install some form of the triangle offense ...see what veteran T-wolves beat writer Britt Robson had to say in his first post as a regular at Canis Hoopus:
Then there is the issue of what to do with the triangle offense. It is a complex scheme that takes months to develop for even savvy veterans. The question remains whether the Wolves have the right personnel to implement it this year—outside shooters and deft-passing bigs are two key components to the system. Yeah, Kevin Love in the low block is a good fit in terms of ball movement, but I would imagine that Rambis is more interested in Jefferson as high post facilitator and Love as one of the orbiters cutting and spotting out at the corner baseline. Not only is Jefferson’s skill set much better suited to the two-man game and the clear-out isolations, but the clearcut strength of both Sessions and Flynn is in getting to the basket via penetration. So, it will be interesting to see going forward how much and how thoroughly the principles of the triangle are tried.
The Suns have a solid chance (and really the expectation) that they can go 3-0 to start the season before hitting the road for an early and brutal east coast swing.
Jason Richardson will return to the lineup and we can get our first look at his (reportedly) improved defense and see the regular Suns 4 guard rotation in action.
Game Links:
- Timberwolves vs Suns coverage
- Canis Hoopus
- Timberwolves vs Suns preview
- Warriors vs Suns boxscore
- azcentral.com - members
Starting Tuesday, the Suns will play five road games in seven days, including stops in Boston and Orlando. While the early road schedule has been bemoaned, the Suns ought to feel fortunate that the NBA handed them the 3-0 opportunity of opening with the Clippers, Warriors and Timberwolves.
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The TWolves look
Like they’re in a position this year that won’t win them very many games. Trying to learn a new system with a new coach while players are injured, & also they are a team that expects a lot out of its rookie point guard. It actually reminds me a lot of the Suns last year, except the TWolves would still be a terrible team if they made no changes.
I really hope the Suns can make short work of this team & put it away early.
by SunsFTW on Nov 1, 2009 11:08 AM MST via mobile reply actions
What's up with that?
I saw some of that Laker game here in Dallas, amd I remember thinking, “Why don’t they play that bad against us?”. The Lakers pretty much sleepwalked through it. Now these stupid Dallas fans think they’re gonna win the whole thing!
April 29, 2008 Total Eclipse of the Sun. Is the sky falling?
Now these stupid Dallas fans think they’re gonna win the whole thing!
The same Dallas fans who watched their team drop their season opener to the Wizards?? :) { I know that doesn’t carry as much weight as in seasons past… but still I couldn’t resist! }
They say "don't swim with the sharks", but I'm faster than sharks so it's not a big deal...
Al Jeff was and is like many other players...
when they play us. We run and we score. Other teams? They either try to run with us or control the tempo themselves. Our will usually overpowers and teams try to run. But when that happens, we have to learn to accept that star players on other teams will put up huge numbers compared to other games they play. Its simple.
Not only do I remember Al rockin’ us last season, I remember that the next 4 games after, there was at least one player on the opposing team that put up career highs. Thats not only not cool, but its also damn near unavoidable.
We cant bicker about it though. Yeah, the other star will have a super high game, but nobody else on their team will. We, on the other hand, will get all of our starters in double figures. Thats how we win.
im with gadogry
2 on the lakers would be awesome and im pretty sure its going to happen tonight
hopefully it will be a sign on things to come lets leave phx undefeated :D
???fml???
goddamn timezones
it’s alread 0:41 here and there’s still more than an hour until the game. with university tomorrow. damn what should I do? by my count I’ll be able to watch about 3 games this season… although one of them will be against San Antonio!
As for tonight’s game: Minny is missing Love. Jefferson is not yet 100 %. I know anything can happen in any game but we really should win this game. A nice start inspires confidence, fires up the squad. go suns!
Libertarianism is just Anarchy for rich people
by the way
am I only one for whom SBN sites haven’t been working properly recently? they will only load one or two posts… strange.
Libertarianism is just Anarchy for rich people
they've been
working on some stuff under the hood. There’s a new release coming out on Tuesday
Blogging Suns Basketball . twitter: @phoenixstan
minor visual changes
rounding some edges…changing a few fonts. No big deal
Blogging Suns Basketball . twitter: @phoenixstan
T-minus 12 minutes...
They say "don't swim with the sharks", but I'm faster than sharks so it's not a big deal...
it's always
a long emotional season :O
They say "don't swim with the sharks", but I'm faster than sharks so it's not a big deal...
Stan... you at the game tonight?
They say "don't swim with the sharks", but I'm faster than sharks so it's not a big deal...
Yup
I am at the media tables at the top of section 102
Blogging Suns Basketball . twitter: @phoenixstan
You here?
On the court look for the photographer w/ the red ball cap. That’s Max
Blogging Suns Basketball . twitter: @phoenixstan
In the pre-game intros
they have each play on the big screen saying his name, height, position and school
“Steve Nash, 6’3” guard. Santa Clara"
So Channing Frye in his lists himself as “6 feet, 11 and a half inches”….hilarious.
Blogging Suns Basketball . twitter: @phoenixstan
So is the team
intro video as sweet as last year’s??
They say "don't swim with the sharks", but I'm faster than sharks so it's not a big deal...
Anybody else excited to see Flynn in action!?!?
When I was filling out my final four bracket last year – I picked Syracuse because I liked to watch Flynn so much!
They say "don't swim with the sharks", but I'm faster than sharks so it's not a big deal...
Really need the win today because we’ve got a tough 5 game road trip coming up which I’m thinking we’ll win only 2 or 3 of them.
Why does not knowing who plays for Minnesota make me feel like i don't know shit about the league?
Fanaticism is not logical
my girl asked me earlier ‘why don’t you just come to bed instead of watching the game? you can watch it tomorrow’
Ah, girlfriends who have no interest in sport are the best…!
you guys ever speak to the technical support team associated with league pass? how do you find them?
I'm afraid you'll have to dump her.
But then things could be worse, she could know A LOT about basketball but be a Laker’s fan. Keep her, train her in our ways.
Fanaticism is not logical
Hey guys
Sorry I could’t get my chart up today. I Had a a test to take. Looking forward to my my time able to blog. May not be very long but i’ll get a few in
by Suns Fan For Life on Nov 1, 2009 6:15 PM MST reply actions
I miss Mercury crowds
small but loud
Blogging Suns Basketball . twitter: @phoenixstan
by Seth Pollack on Nov 1, 2009 6:16 PM MST reply actions 1 recs
The clicking is gone on league pass now
by Suns Fan For Life on Nov 1, 2009 6:17 PM MST reply actions
NASH FOR 33333333333333333
They say "don't swim with the sharks", but I'm faster than sharks so it's not a big deal...
You know what would be awesome?
At least paying lip service to the idea of preventing Al Jefferson from scoring. I’d prefer he not go for 40+ tonight.
Here's a surprise
Al Jeff is feasting on Suns interior D
9 points in 6 minutes
Blogging Suns Basketball . twitter: @phoenixstan
just as predicted...
They say "don't swim with the sharks", but I'm faster than sharks so it's not a big deal...
Amare's already grabbed 4 rebounds
They say "don't swim with the sharks", but I'm faster than sharks so it's not a big deal...
Clark in already
before Lou
They say "don't swim with the sharks", but I'm faster than sharks so it's not a big deal...
Stan - is Lou's foot still an issue?
They say "don't swim with the sharks", but I'm faster than sharks so it's not a big deal...
He's been practicing
so technically no.
He was limping around the locker room pretty bad after the game Friday. Today he looked fine in warm ups
Blogging Suns Basketball . twitter: @phoenixstan
It's funny NBA keeps giving me really good reasons not to buy their league pass video.
Fanaticism is not logical
Jefferson is 5-7..... oh well...
Would someone please make that guy work for his points ??
"True glory consists of doing what deserves to be written, and writing what deserves to be read".
I’d be inclined to say let Jefferson get his points because the rest of this Wolves team won’t carry the rest of the load well.
Actually, we're getting whooped in every statistical category except free throws.
Fanaticism is not logical
it was a good flop! :)
They say "don't swim with the sharks", but I'm faster than sharks so it's not a big deal...
LB going full speed
at Brian Cardinal back pedaling is never going to end well for the chubby bald guy
Blogging Suns Basketball . twitter: @phoenixstan
in the words of grumpy smurf
I HATE BANDWAGONS!!!
At one point near the beginning of last season we were looking for a co-nickname for Bell and Barnes..
I think we need one for Dudley and Amundson..
smash brothers
They say "don't swim with the sharks", but I'm faster than sharks so it's not a big deal...
Not if we can't play D
Sure, maybe we can score on Kobe and co. but Kobe and co. can also score points on us, cancelling out any advantage we could have had.
Fanaticism is not logical
I haven't seen a pass like that since Matt Barnes left
They say "don't swim with the sharks", but I'm faster than sharks so it's not a big deal...
WOWWWW
AMARE STARTED THAT EFFORT DRIVE!
They say "don't swim with the sharks", but I'm faster than sharks so it's not a big deal...
gRANT HILL IS TAKING OVER!
They say "don't swim with the sharks", but I'm faster than sharks so it's not a big deal...
i'M glad i got him on my fantasy team this year
They say "don't swim with the sharks", but I'm faster than sharks so it's not a big deal...
frye too
They say "don't swim with the sharks", but I'm faster than sharks so it's not a big deal...
i have barbosa, frye, and richardson.
the rest of the guys i wanted from the suns were gone.
by Trevor Paxton on Nov 1, 2009 7:05 PM MST up reply actions
this is what it needs to be -
They say "don't swim with the sharks", but I'm faster than sharks so it's not a big deal...
i'm not liking this game so far.
i really dig the effort given on the suns end over the past couple minutes, but still…
welcome once again to the emotional roller-coaster
They say "don't swim with the sharks", but I'm faster than sharks so it's not a big deal...
We need this win
I understand it’s the third game of an 82 game season, but these are the games that will make all the difference when the season grows long. Get them while we can.
Fanaticism is not logical
are we doctors?
They say "don't swim with the sharks", but I'm faster than sharks so it's not a big deal...
and not so much the super slow system in portland.
as he’s not a great rebounder, and they don’t really play a huge stretch 5 game.
by Trevor Paxton on Nov 1, 2009 7:09 PM MST up reply actions
With 94 young stars, someone's gonna get cut out. It's innevitable.
I’m glad they didn’t realize what they had. Now we have gold out of a copper mine.
Fanaticism is not logical
Good first half -
A lot of sloppy but when it came to crunch time we crunched
They say "don't swim with the sharks", but I'm faster than sharks so it's not a big deal...
Superfrye is my favorite player. I don't care.
Sorry Dragic. Your time will come, but Channing Frye is the MAN right NOW.
Fanaticism is not logical
recently, at least.
amundson, dudley, frye.
in the past, maybe (maybe) amar’e and barbosa?
by Trevor Paxton on Nov 1, 2009 7:13 PM MST up reply actions
i think dragic or griffin could really be considered "diamonds in the rough".
as the other two were lottery selections, thus upping the expectations.
by Trevor Paxton on Nov 1, 2009 7:16 PM MST up reply actions
well hoestly...I think Lopez and Griffin will stink forever, but
Clark can be a star and I’m not sold on Dragic being a starter in this league…good back-up
Amare kind of was a diamond...he was picked 9th and might end up being the
best player in that class
Turnovers
Suns with 7 to the Wolves’ 3. This will be death of the Suns in several games if they don’t figure it out.
the second unit.
they were trying to come up with a name for the second unit.
so, TC said he’d think about it, and tom leander called them the “caffeine kids”.
then went on to shamelessly promote verve, calling them, in an off hand remark, the “verve crew”.
by Trevor Paxton on Nov 1, 2009 7:21 PM MST up reply actions
In the media room
chowing on free ice cream and cookies….this job is fattening
Eddie Johnson btw was upset that there were no oatmeal raisin…
Blogging Suns Basketball . twitter: @phoenixstan
by Seth Pollack on Nov 1, 2009 7:23 PM MST reply actions 1 recs
2nd half here we go
They say "don't swim with the sharks", but I'm faster than sharks so it's not a big deal...
Good D for the SCV
They say "don't swim with the sharks", but I'm faster than sharks so it's not a big deal...
JRICH WITH 3
They say "don't swim with the sharks", but I'm faster than sharks so it's not a big deal...
MONSTER JAM FROM FRYE!!!!!! HE IS ON FIRE
They say "don't swim with the sharks", but I'm faster than sharks so it's not a big deal...
BLOCK BY AMARE!!! GOOD D FROM HIM
They say "don't swim with the sharks", but I'm faster than sharks so it's not a big deal...
I FEEL A PULL-AWAY COMING ON!
They say "don't swim with the sharks", but I'm faster than sharks so it's not a big deal...
I LOVE IT - "IT'S RAINING 3'S!!!"
They say "don't swim with the sharks", but I'm faster than sharks so it's not a big deal...
Fun Facts
Frye’s career season high in three’s was 11…He had 20 total in 278 games
Nash needed 6 three’s to pass Thunder Dan for the Suns franchise lead of 800
Nash has 9 assists already in this game…coming of 20 assist games his previous high was 13
Only 5 Suns teams ever started the season 3-0
Blogging Suns Basketball . twitter: @phoenixstan
I put 20 bucks down on the suns to win the championship this year..
I got 60-1 odds. Thats 1200 bucks!
Amare...
Great help side D on a couple of plays, GREAT ball screen for Grant on a score and great effort more than just scoring…loving it!
god i hope everyone can stay healthy
this team is so fun to watch
That was a bail out foul on Cardinal
in that he was iso’d on Nash and fouled in order to bail himself out
Blogging Suns Basketball . twitter: @phoenixstan
haha - I wonder why he looked surprised then..
They say "don't swim with the sharks", but I'm faster than sharks so it's not a big deal...
must be his auto-reaction
They say "don't swim with the sharks", but I'm faster than sharks so it's not a big deal...
Shooting...
has never been Frye’s issue – he just needed a system that didn’t put so much emphasis on D and rebounding
Since the 1st qtr
the Suns D is really doing a solid job…
Blogging Suns Basketball . twitter: @phoenixstan
Fun game to watch
They say "don't swim with the sharks", but I'm faster than sharks so it's not a big deal...
EJ says "man, minnisota going to their Karate moves"
They say "don't swim with the sharks", but I'm faster than sharks so it's not a big deal...
Al Jeff w/ zero points in the 3rd qtr
Minnie shooting 44% from the field after shooting 57% in the 1st qtr…
I don’t do math but that means the Suns are doing pretty good in qtr’s 2 and 3 to get that average down
Blogging Suns Basketball . twitter: @phoenixstan
I love it
I’m a fan of defense and yeah, we’re scoring, but those stats mean something.
Fanaticism is not logical
Lou just kicked
an in bounds pass into the 3rd row…nice
Blogging Suns Basketball . twitter: @phoenixstan
it hit some lady in the head!! lol
They say "don't swim with the sharks", but I'm faster than sharks so it's not a big deal...
Depending on how well this team does, I don't see why he won't grab his 3rd mvp
If he’s averaging over 15 assists a game and we’re winning. Why not?
Fanaticism is not logical
Neither Wilt nor Moses Malone won a 'ship
until they had gotten their 3rd MVPs (both won the year of their 3rd). Just sayin’….
"True glory consists of doing what deserves to be written, and writing what deserves to be read".
by Pliny the Elder on Nov 1, 2009 8:02 PM MST up reply actions
Amare misses a 17 footer
who does he think he is…Channing Frye?
and Brewer w/ the airball FT!!
Blogging Suns Basketball . twitter: @phoenixstan
Lou with 8 boards in 13 min!
Granted half of them are offensive rebounds from his own misses.. but still!
I love watching Al Jefferson
in the post…he’s got fantastic foot work
Blogging Suns Basketball . twitter: @phoenixstan
I loved Shaq
But I’m not gonna defend his ass. This is too much damn fun!!
Fanaticism is not logical
Cory Brewer
falls into some old guy sitting court side. Wipes his sweat all over the man and then just pushes off and walks away w/o out even an apology
Blogging Suns Basketball . twitter: @phoenixstan
Thanks, Souther. I hope your'e right about Lopez. I can't wait until he's back.
Fanaticism is not logical
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