Game Preview: Suns vs Grizzlies
There's a Suns game tonight! Yay!
The Phoenix Suns get a visit from the Memphis Grizzlies tonight, and look to remain perfect at home against a resurgent Grizzlies team that has won 4 of their last 5 games.
The Suns (11-3) looked dominant against Detroit, where they shot a season best 58% from the field. They burned the Pistons from behind the arc shooting 11-18 threes. This game against Detroit was not an anomaly. Our beloved team is tough to beat at home, there shouldn't be any doubts about that. They have won 14 consecutive games in this building (counting last season) and remain being one of the few teams who haven't lost in their home court this season.
The fact that Memphis (5-9) has been playing very well as of late makes this game really interesting. Their offense has been clutch and, during their last 5 game stretch, they have been holding opponents to 96.6 points per game.
The Grizz
On their last game against The Kings, Rudy Gay took over and destroyed Sacramento literally on his own. He leads the Grizz averaging 21.9 points per game.
Marc Gasol is having a good year on the defensive end, leading the team in blocks. He blocked 4 shots in that win against the Kings. The Suns will have their hands full keeping him off the boards.
This is a team that's running on momentum but they will start their road trip playing against one of the toughest teams in the West (God, It feels really good to type that). The keys for them to win the game is to continue to shoot very well from the field and defend the three point line, cross their fingers the Suns are not shooting lights out and capitalize on The Suns mistakes. Easier said than done.
The Suns
On the other hand, Phoenix is rested and playing at home. Their mentality should be to put this one away early in the game so the starters can rest. I expect Gentry to use the bench for a lot of minutes and use active defenders (Dudley) on guys like Mayo and Rudy Gay.
Amar'e is on a roll and will look to score more than 20 points in his fifth consecutive game. He has been looking stronger and faster and I expect him to attack the basket throughout the whole game.
I have nothing but good things to say about Amar'e. I never expected him to recover this fast from a serious injury. There's no way you can play like this after an injury unless you work you ass off in the pre-season and in practice. Just like it happens with Nash, people might be taking for granted Amar'es' contributions to the team. He's deadly accurate from the field and I feel that he's doing his best on the defensive end. I'm really happy with the way that he's playing.
This is also the perfect opportunity for Gentry to give more minutes to Barbosa. He needs more playing time to shake off the rust. Some of you might have noticed that he's rushing shots and sometimes making dumb decisions on the court. This is easy to explain:
As a player, you feel and notice when your role has been reduced. You are happy for your team mates but you don't want to be left behind either. You want to contribute. So whenever you come in the game, most of the times you only have one thing in mind. Score.
You have witnessed the wonders of playing a lot of minutes, Channing Frye is a great example. He feels he belongs here and that's showing on the court. I would not give up on LB or look for a trade yet. He can get hot in a minute and prove his worth.
Wow! Sorry about that! I'm rambling already.
Get ready for the game tonight. It's going to be fun. The underdogs continue to impress. Here we come.
Go Suns!
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Comments
Be Careful !!
Let’s not assume this is a cakewalk that equates to alot of extra minutes for the bench.
This is a classic TRAP GAME.
I don’t want to see another game ala Hornets in NO where we come out flat and lifeless.This is always a danger coming off a blowout win, especially when you’re playing a perceived weaker opponent. As Panama mentioned Memphis has been playing well, so please, let’s not overlook them. It’s bad karma and bad for our mojo!
by Jack Frost on Nov 25, 2009 12:09 PM MST reply actions 0 recs
I did a little Q&A with Allen over at Straight Outta Vancouver that went something like this:
Me: Mike Conley seems to be sucking. Is it his overall game or one aspect? Do you expect him to come back and be a good player thi season?
Allen: Conley has been really bad, and the numbers don’t tell half the story, he’s also a terrible defender. I think the hope is that Jamaal Tinsley and he can platoon. It’s Conley’s third year in the league, and it’s becoming more and more clear that he has lots of skills but doesn’t have any leadership skills or killer instinct and is too small to defend (because unlike guys like CP3 or Nate Rob, Conley isn’t strong either.)
Me: Is Lionel Hollins on a short leash? Do you all feel like the Grizz should be playing better and his decision making is holding the squad back?
Allen:: Hollins probably isn’t on a short leash because they don’t want to pay for two coaches, especially after this win streak (4 out of 5). I don’t think he’s really holding us back as much as he’s just not helping. I’m thinking of Vinny Del Negro in Chicago last year as a pretty fair comparison point.
Me: : Any thoughts on OJ Mayo? Is he the lone bright spot on your squad?
Allen:: O.J. Mayo has actually been pretty disappointing. He looks more and more like a gadget/pure scorer, like a Ben Gordon, then a real franchise player. Lots of fans hoped he could become a point guard, but he doesn’t seem to have the feel for it. Also his defense rivals Conley and Marcus Williams for worst on the team. Even Zach Randolph defends better than these guys.
Me:: What seems to be the biggest problem on this team? It seems you all are lacking on defense from what I’ve read.
Allen:: Defense is THE problem. Also when we’re down or the other team is on a run we tend to stop moving the ball on offense and go into isolation, street-ball type play. This is probably partly on Hollins, but the personnel is at fault too. Three point shooting as been pretty poor also.
Me:: Has the Iverson debacle left any reprocussions on the team? Does everyone seem to be happy he’s gone?
Allen:: I think everyone’s happy for Iverson to be gone (besides the people who are hardcore Iverson fans, as opposed to Grizzlies fans). Hollins is bad, but Iverson was blatantly disrespecting him on the bus and in the locker room. The team obviously gets along better now than before.
by Wil Cantrell on Nov 25, 2009 12:47 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs
Could not agree more Jack...
These Grizzlies are young, athletic, and hungry…if we come out lathargic, they will capitalize before we even know what hit us. This is sooo the kind of game where I could see Mayo or Gay puting up 30.
On a more positive note: commentators and columnists are cooling off on the Suns. The general consensus seems to be that the Suns cannot play better than they already are, and we cannot continue to shoot 50%.
I like this! Once again it is keeping expectations low. We play better through the eyes of an underdog.
by DaMax85 on Nov 25, 2009 12:57 PM MST reply actions 0 recs
Underdoggin' through wins
As a Suns fan, as much as I would love to read the national media commending the Suns for their teamwork, their cohesiveness, for their efficiency, for their improved defense (40 or so % shooting for their opponents in the 4th quarter IS improved defense…And they’re not running teams out of the arena so it’s not opposing team’s fatigue, it is defensive effort) rather than excusing their record away to (insert whatever reason they want to use, but really it’s because they can’t let go of their low expectations from the summer and pre-season) I absolutely love the underdog mentality they have adopted!
Actually, ANY attitude this team takes to get wins is one I support and love, but this seems to be working for this 2009/2010 team so be it!
From Nash seemingly wanting to prove those who think he is too old wrong; Amar’e wanting to prove he can be a mature, team oriented and total player; Hill wanting to (as he stated once) make up for his early career injury-plagued years on the back end; Channing wanting to prove he can be a starter; Richardson proving he can fit into this team offensively and can improve his defense; Amundson improving his shooting percentage; Dragic and Lopez fighting the disappointment suffered from their expectations last year (having been the picks they were and money spent on them); Clarke being an under-billed/high potential rookie; Barbosa wanting to win but (presumably) wanting to get his minutes and level of contribution back to previous years levels; all the way to Dudley who is just the epitome of a hard working, improving every year, scrappy, heart on his sleeve player…THIS mentality from every player seemingly having a chip on their collective shoulder is one I respect!
Sure, i’m only assuming these thoughts as motivators for these guys (i’m no mind reader), but they are nice assumptions (as motivators) and regardless, they are all showing their competitive spirit on the floor (save their last game against New Orleans) and are winning, so I hope they keep it up!
by 77blue77 on Nov 25, 2009 2:46 PM MST reply actions 0 recs
Great post, Panama!
If we win this game, it’ll be more proof that we’re going in the right direction. Memphis is not a bad team. Any team that has won 4 out of their last 5 is dangerous, no matter what the circumstances, and it’s up to us to shut them down.
I think we can, but it’ll be a dog fight. I don’t dare predict an easy victory tonight. Should be a fun game though.
Fanaticism is not logical
by SunDolphin on Nov 25, 2009 4:22 PM MST reply actions 0 recs
Hope we don't lay an egg tonight. LET'S DO THIS!
Steve Nash, the league's MVP, is a longhaired Canadian who spoke out against the war in Iraq and reads The Communist Manifesto. Quentin Richardson declared after a game-winning shot that it "was like Hamlet. It was a suspense thriller, and I killed them at the end." Amare Stoudemire, when asked to comment on a 22-point third quarter against the Kings, said, "I've got a tendency to jump over some guys' heads and throw it down."
by rsavaj on Nov 25, 2009 5:57 PM MST reply actions 0 recs

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