Open Gameday Thread - Suns vs Pistons
by Seth Pollack on Feb 8, 2009 3:09 PM MST
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PrintPhoenix Suns at Detroit Pistons, Feb 8, 2009 6:00 PM MST
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2008/2009 NBA Regular Season |
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|---|---|---|
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 27-21 |
| February 8th, 2009, 6:00 PM MST / 8:00 PM EST |
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| ESPN, MY 45, 620 KTAR |
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| Probable starters: | ||
| Steve Nash | PG | A. Iverson |
| Jason Richardson | SG | R. Stuckey |
| Grant Hill | SF | T. Prince |
| Player to named later | PF | A. Johnson |
| Shaquille O'Neal | C | R. Wallace |
| Official Suns Game Notes | ||
When the Suns beat the Pistons in early November we were still talking about Amare MVP. We were also facing a Pistons team before after the Billups - Iverson and before JRich - Bell/Diaw trades.
To give you even more of an idea of how things have changed since then, I found this in the post game comments:
Terry Porter during the post game comments was super cool...I really like this coach!!
I loved what D’Antoni brought to the Suns, the style, the fun watching it, but on the sideline, he often looked stupid…Porter, he’s got charisma and charm, I think he’s going to help players on this team that D’Antoni couldn’t.
It was one of the top three Suns wins this season and came on the second night of a back to back where the Pistons fought hard to beat the Lakers. Fortunately, the Pistons had to battle through over time to beat the Bucks last night. I have a feeling though that the up and down Pistons are going to be more focused on the beating they received in Phoenix and will bring their Muscle Car Game.
This is THE game to enter to win the 2 all access passes to Amare's All Star Party Series. Regardless of what you think of Amare, just consider the party opportunities and the chance to see something worthy of The Dirty.com
Keys to the Car (that's a reference to Detroit being known as Motor City for all those international readers)
- Rasheed is often a very tough match up for Amare. He D's him up as well as anyone and can pull Amare away from the paint or abuse him in the post with that turn around fade away (when it's falling)
- Fortunately, this version of the Pistons are forced to play Wallace at the Center and will have to put a much smaller Amir Johnson or Tayshaun Prince on Amare. Tay is a great defender of course and his activity bothers Amare but that leaves Wallace on Shaq where the Suns can go early to try and take Sheed out of the game with foul trouble.
- This is a perfect example of the difference between saying "don't go to Shaq too often b/c it takes the other guys out of their rythym" and the reality that you have The Big Deisel with a favorable matchup and it makes sense to use him
- Because of the Suns size up front we will likely see a lot of McDyess and Wallace together and hopefully my favorite player of all time - Kwaaaaameeee!!
- Amare is promising (again) to bring his Second Half Gorilla Tzu Sun game:
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"Every season since my rookie, after All-Star break, my game goes up a notch because we're closer to the playoffs and buckling down and focusing in."That's how it was last year before we acquired big fella (Shaquille O'Neal). Then we got big fella and I stayed consistent with that. It's not going to change this year."
- In the back court the Suns will have their hands full with AI and Stuckey. These two guys can flat out score and Nash and JRich will have their hands full for sure. Off the bench you get Barbosa and Rip Hamilton.
- All 6 guards that are going to play in this game are very very good. In theory this should be an exiting matchup.
- Coro sums up the similarities of both teams very well:
- The Suns face a team Sunday that is going through a similar struggle after years of success. The Pistons are adjusting to a trade that sent away a core piece (Chauncey Billups) and brought in an overwhelming star (Allen Iverson). They hired a new coach, Michael Curry, a Pistons assistant last year who was tabbed over then-lead assistant and current Suns coach Terry Porter. Detroit has underachieved with the same 27-21 record as Phoenix.
- On paper these two team match up very well and it will come down as it often does with these squads to effort and desire.
- The team that wants it more will win...I have no idea who that will be.
- Pistons Nation Blog
- Detroit Bad Boys
- Need 4 Sheed
- M Live
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It cracks me
up when I see stuff like this…
I remember having this conversation early in the season last year where people argued for a trade b/c the Suns couldn’t win a ring. I argued for “enjoying the journey” and appreciating what we had but so many fans were greedy for the ring and didn’t care what it took to try and get it.
Now when those trades didn’t pan out we miss winning regular season games which just a year ago was looked down upon. Sure, they are a great “regular season” team but they can’t win it all….
ugh
Blogging Suns Basketball
by Seth Pollack on Feb 8, 2009 12:03 PM MST up reply actions
Not being a smart alec (ok, I am)...
…but I would still go through this than have an “exciting” team that got their woeful defense and lack of heart exposed every year in the playoffs. And maybe that’s an exaggeration, but you get my drift…
It is easy
to say it was the wrong thing(s) to do when it didn’t work which is different then saying it shouldn’t have been tried
Blogging Suns Basketball
agreed
but my bigger concern is that steve kerr is running around like a chicken with his head cut off. he’s trying so hard to make the right moves, that every move ends up being the wrong move.
he’s way too overmatched in the gm department. much like a young bryan colangelo. the problem is that bryan at least had his father.
by ArizonaCactus on Feb 8, 2009 6:06 PM MST up reply actions
I don't agree
Analytically lets say Team A gave up Marion + Banks for Shaq from Team B….
which team got the better end of the trade? (I’d say Team A)…..
again… Team X gave up Bell + Diaw + Singletary for JRich + Dudley + 2nd Round Pick from Team Y….
which team got the better end of the trade? (I’d say Team X)……
In both cases the team that got the better deal was Phoenix…..
BUT the problem is that, in the bigger picture, these BETTER pieces, aren’t gelling together or finding their identity together, or translation aren’t being utilized to maximize their potential………
and that is on the coach – Terry Porter!!!…..don’t tell me that any other experienced coach cannot find a way to utilize this much talent in a much better way…..
So Kerr’s only MORONish mistake was to hire Porter……!!!
Whats up doc?
Pistons had Iverson
Going to the game about 10 rows behind the Suns bench. Can’t wait!!!!!
by MichiganSunsFan on Feb 8, 2009 12:47 PM MST reply actions
We so need this win.............
The Pistons had a long game yesterday………………Lets hope they are tired.
Grant
Is playing like hes 5 years younger. wow.
hey pstan
On the link to my earlier comment…..I’m optimistic, I still think it’s clear to everyone that Porter has better control of himself on the sideline….but….it’s a two way street..you have to have players that aren’t prima dona’s…amare…and I’ve been saying we should trade amare for years….link to that….
Goran Dragic
Anybody else think that the only reason he’s playing is to audition so that he can be included in a trade package?
Just about to post that.
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."
i mean it coud be that Nash has 2 fouls
but i doubt that
by ArizonaCactus on Feb 8, 2009 6:50 PM MST up reply actions
I doubt it too. Dude doesn't get any minutes, then all of a sudden he's in against the Detroit Pistons during a close game?
Something’s definitely up….I hope this means Marion/Beasley, b/c Amare/Tucker/Dragic was the only way to get the salaries to work.
If we see Tucker come in too, then my eyebrows will shoot off the top of my head.
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."
i haven't seen much of beasley?
worth the hype?
by ArizonaCactus on Feb 8, 2009 6:55 PM MST up reply actions
So far, yeah. Not much of a defender though...
Offensively gifted out of his skull, and the dude’s only 20.
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."
I dunno
He’s alright but I’m not sure he has the explosion to be a big time player. More of a pick and pop guy. Picked him for my fantasy team but I’m sort of regretting it.
by IrrationalAgent on Feb 8, 2009 6:57 PM MST up reply actions
no one even has him in my league
he is a rook though. If we’re rebuilding, not a bad way to go.
But please don’t trade Amare. I guarantee we regret it
by Funky Flapsack on Feb 8, 2009 7:28 PM MST up reply actions
Great half
Great 2nd quarter by the Suns! It has been a while but it seems they are into this game. I liked a few things, first of all Nash had a stretch with 4-5 assists back to back, the first one was off an offensive rebound and a sweet behind the back pass to Shaq. Nice to see that.
Then Barbosa missed a shot but hustled for the offensive rebound and came away with the ball. Good stuff.
And finally to top it all off, a nice defensive play led to a steal and a buzzer beating lay up from Amare to LB.
Lets hope all this good stuff carries on to the next half!
+1
Exactly. I also liked that they realize that Nash can’t stay w/ Stuckey or AI so they are using LB and Dragic more to hold leads.
Great balance and Amare’s playing like he’s got something to prove.
No let downs.
Blogging Suns Basketball
Looking good. Steve’s making nice passes, playing like himself. Maybe Porter should be sick more often.
Amare’s playing all right. Maybe would should stay put.
Sigh
I change my mind about every other day about wanting to send Amare packing. Tonight he can stay. Tomorrow might be a different story.
flip-flopping
i’ve been doing it too. We have to keep in mind how many of the moves this team has made, and how much we have criticized them for it. If they move Amare, we’ll be doing it again
by Funky Flapsack on Feb 8, 2009 7:33 PM MST up reply actions
Was feeeling good about this
until I heard that detroit is ~6-14 against the +500 crowd.
I agree
Sweet Lou just drew a charge on a 4 v 1. Great stuff.
by azmanian_devil on Feb 8, 2009 8:08 PM MST up reply actions
flip-flopping...
on Amare about to make me go crazy too… i hope he finally gets it if he does stay
Nash career high is 24 assists right?
The woman just said nash’s career high was 22. I think i remember him dropping 24 dimes, I just can’t remember which team he did it against
nvm, quick check at nba.com says: 22 @ New York 01/02/06
by azmanian_devil on Feb 8, 2009 8:19 PM MST up reply actions
That's true,
They don’t consider playoffs a part of the “career stats” ?? But yea you’re right I do remember that game. Here’s hoping he gets a few more here. Nash’s career high would look good wiht 25 assists.
by azmanian_devil on Feb 8, 2009 8:26 PM MST up reply actions
Interesting that....
…both Nash’s assist and scoring (48 against Dallas) career highs are in playoff games isn’t it?
Game is too close...
…for him to get to 25 I think. But he’ll probably get to shoot some more free throws.
BTW, as good as Nash has been on offense tonight, it seemed to me like he made an extra special effort on defense tonight.
Is Amare..
actually playing well. hustling on court? i cant watch but see that he’s a respectable 18 and 7 boards. i hope this are the “difficult” boards and not gimmes that just bounced to his hands
At least one I can remember
Was a defensive board in which he hustled back down the court on a Pistons’ break to clean up after the miss. good hustle
Mmmmm ... Guinness
but only like
1 or 2 in the 2nd half. He basically played great the first qtr and then disappeared.
Blogging Suns Basketball
I have finally come to the conclusion
after all this BS and bickering about what is wrong who is to blame.
You know I truly believe it is Porter, the guy is a nothing coach.
"Have You heard of the Boom on Mizar 5?"
If we lose with steve getting 21 dimes
then its time clear house top to bottom
are you watching on tivo or something?
we won
by Funky Flapsack on Feb 8, 2009 8:49 PM MST up reply actions
I know we won
I was just making the point that its hard to lose with your PG playing like that, and if we DID then it would have been a clear sign that we are f-ed in the a
by IrrationalAgent on Feb 8, 2009 9:38 PM MST up reply actions
whatever move we make will be the wrong one. it’s a complete no win situation.
by ArizonaCactus on Feb 8, 2009 8:57 PM MST up reply actions
The best thing that could have happened
was the media and fans saying that Nash has lost a step. The guy is on a mission. What a game, he did whatever he wanted with the Pistons defense. Great game. Please Kerr, give the boys some more time together. They’ll figure it out.
"Basketball doesn't build character. It reveals it"
I agreed w/ more time
before that road trip and then coming back to lose to the Spurs, Bulls and Warriors….
I think this team has had plenty of time and didn’t get it done. Now its time to get max value for Amare and see what happens next.
I don’t want to resign Amare to a max deal and have him here for 6 more years so I think he’s got to go now if there’s a solid deal out there.
Several discussed provide depth at the 4 and this team still has enough guns to compete at the level they are now (7 or 8 seed). Amare had his chance. He had months and months of chances.
Blogging Suns Basketball
If you're gonna rebuild...
Then do it with Amare. And LB. I mean, we have the pieces. We have the talent that most teams covet. If you have to trade off the rest of the team, then so be it. If we keep those 2 and add another piece later, then we’re way ahead of starting from scratch.
Otherwise, we’re in the lottery, hoping for the next great player. And you can expect that to take much longer.
by Funky Flapsack on Feb 8, 2009 10:58 PM MST up reply actions
Yes but
that means trading Shaq and as I said here, I just don’t see Kerr doing that.
So, there’s what you want to happen there’s what you want to happen within the realm of what Kerr might actually do
Blogging Suns Basketball
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