NBA GAME PREVIEW: Phoenix Suns at Los Angeles Clippers
by Wil Cantrell on Dec 26, 2010 9:52 AM MST
in Phoenix Suns: Game Coverage
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Raise your hand if you had circled this game on your planet ORNG calendar about week ago. After running the gauntlet against the Mavericks, Spurs, Thunder and Heat, playing the Clippers seemed like a welcome respite.
But no more. When Jared Dudley becomes your leading scorer your squad probably has some problems. And it's no knock against Dudz, it's great to see him on a scoring tear. Seriously though, someone else on the Suns is going to have to step up and score some points. Seriously.
Today Vince Carter is both doubtful and probable (depending on your source) to make his Suns debut. I'm uncertain as to whether he will start or not, but I will be closely eyeing the tweet machine in order to provide BSOTS with up to date TOTAL COVERAGE. (I tweeted Dudz to give me the 411-I'm sure he'll respond soon).
The prospect of starting Carter though seems to provide some, well, uncertainty...Do you mess with Dudley's rhythm and send him back to the pine? If Carter is playing, wouldn't it be best to match him with Nash as opposed to Dragon? That is, won't Nash make it a smidge easier to get Carter some open looks? In addition, the Suns first team needs another scoring threat, especially if teams continue to double Nash. I won't tax my brain too much thinking about this one, that's why they pay Alvin Gentry the big bucks-to figure these things out.
[Note by Wil Cantrell, 12/26/10 12:04 PM MST ]
Per Paul Coro, Vince Carter will not play today.
Today the Clips will be without Chris Kaman, Craig Smith, and Brian Cook. The good news is Ike Diogu has a job again!
I'll be wearing these, which my 9 year old got me for Christmas:
Some Pre-Game Bullets:
- The Suns have won 9 straight games versus the Clippers, the last seven by an average of over 20 points
- The Suns are 17-7 when Steve Nash records 18 or more assists
- Josh Childress has tossed the finger splint in the trash. He can now palm a basketball!
- The Clips have held opponents to under 93 ppg in their last 9 matchups
- Bake Griffin has averaged 24 and 15 in his last 17 games.
- Eric Gordon has made 9 of his last 15 3-pointers, but has been held under 20 points in his last 5 contests.
Inspirational Pre-Game Quote:
"I think we should be optimistic...We've got to continue to get tougher...We are going to need a little more time, but I think we are capable of winning games in the meantime."
-Steve Nash
Pre Game Links:
Suns Work on D, Struggle on O (Paul Coro):
"You can't look at your defensive stats and see that you're 30th, 30th, 29th, 27th. That's not good enough, not to be a playoff team and be a factor in anything."
Suns Meet Beatable Foe (SB Nation-Seth P.)
Vince Carter (knee) hasn't yet practiced with his new team and on Friday was listed as questionable for this game. If he does play he will immediately move into the starting lineup to try and replace the scoring that the team was missing without Jason Richardson. If he can't go, Jared Dudley will again get the start. Dudley set consecutive career-highs in his last two starts but said that was mostly due to the way opponents were helping off him to defend Steve Nash and the pick and roll.
Don't forget game time is 1 PM MTN
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Hey guys today is my first NBA game! Yeah i am a suns in LA
Does anybody know how I can get Jared dudleys autograph at the game?
by Migonads on Dec 26, 2010 10:02 AM MST via mobile reply actions
ask him. sure he'll oblige
hang out by the court pre game and catch him as he’s sprinting off the court. or sneak into the locker room.
Blogging Suns Basketball. Twitter: @willcantrellphx
by Wil Cantrell on Dec 26, 2010 10:05 AM MST up reply actions
Thanks. Lol sneak into locker room. Do you know how early I'd have to get there?
by Migonads on Dec 26, 2010 10:13 AM MST via mobile up reply actions
id estimate an hour.
just depends how early Dudz is out working on his shot.
Blogging Suns Basketball. Twitter: @willcantrellphx
by Wil Cantrell on Dec 26, 2010 10:17 AM MST up reply actions
nah
as a member of the media its kind inappropriate to do so.
Blogging Suns Basketball. Twitter: @willcantrellphx
But that doesn't stop some people.
"Yes the game threads have more mood swings than a coked up pregnant woman but you have to admit, it’s always a fun ride." - NashMV3
I've been tempted, but
I’m usually thinking someone’s ready to kick me out of the joint as it is just for looking silly. I try to keep things on the down low.
Of course I haven’t been able to get to a game this season. Seth is hogging the lone media pass (sarc).
Blogging Suns Basketball. Twitter: @willcantrellphx
by Wil Cantrell on Dec 26, 2010 11:24 AM MST up reply actions
Seth is such an asshole...
I really miss Phoenix Stan….what a class act.
Seth couldn’t hold PHX Stan’s jock strap….
STAT may be gone but the Suns will rise....! BTW, I'm thankful!
Seth
Has much more vital responsibility than PHX Stan ever did. We cannot fathom the vitality of Seth’s mission.
Careful where you tread Sun God.
Blogging Suns Basketball. Twitter: @willcantrellphx
by Wil Cantrell on Dec 26, 2010 11:36 AM MST up reply actions
Seth is Seth.
That is all.
"Yes the game threads have more mood swings than a coked up pregnant woman but you have to admit, it’s always a fun ride." - NashMV3
It's hard to careful where you walk when you are drunk....
PHX Stan would have never hogged the sole media pass…He might have let Scott Howard use it, but never hogged it (unless Will asked to use it…)
STAT may be gone but the Suns will rise....! BTW, I'm thankful!
I wouldn't want to know
if Scott Howard received any advantage over me. I’d like to think Scott isn’t allowed in the arena, there’s a picture of him in the security office and the whole place knows to not let this guy in for obvious reasons.
Blogging Suns Basketball. Twitter: @willcantrellphx
by Wil Cantrell on Dec 26, 2010 11:48 AM MST up reply actions
Every jackass has their day, Will...
You’d think the Silver Screen & Roll stench that permeates the pores on his body would be a dead giveaway, but things happen
STAT may be gone but the Suns will rise....! BTW, I'm thankful!
Now Sun God.
We can joke about an awful lot of things around here…..call me all the names you want….but never call me a Lakers fan. Thems fightin’ words.
RIP Seasons of Discontent
by Scott Howard on Dec 26, 2010 11:56 AM MST up reply actions 2 recs
i can't believe I'm going to post this but..
scott’s right……
fuck now I’ve got to brush my teeth and do another shot of ever clear
happy holidays everyone.
Why don't you brush your teeth with Everclear and down whatever's left?
"Yes the game threads have more mood swings than a coked up pregnant woman but you have to admit, it’s always a fun ride." - NashMV3
Sorry Scott, I'll go spank myself now...
Don’t worry, I kinda enjoy that….
STAT may be gone but the Suns will rise....! BTW, I'm thankful!
and another shot…shudder
happy holidays everyone.
by 2NASHTY on Dec 26, 2010 12:00 PM MST up reply actions 1 recs
It's my penance for being mean to Scott...
I’ll have to rec every post he makes from now till tommorrow…May God help me through this…
STAT may be gone but the Suns will rise....! BTW, I'm thankful!
I don't think you'll survive.
These heinous acts will destroy you from the inside-out. Sun God will not save you!!!
"Yes the game threads have more mood swings than a coked up pregnant woman but you have to admit, it’s always a fun ride." - NashMV3
You know what can be fun?
Eating puppies. Amiright?
RIP Seasons of Discontent
by Scott Howard on Dec 26, 2010 12:14 PM MST up reply actions 2 recs
I had to rec this drivel...
It is consuming me, already and it’s only 1:19
STAT may be gone but the Suns will rise....! BTW, I'm thankful!
ya know what i hate about early games
I always want beer while watching the game but I know, when the games over I’ll think….ya know what be great right now…beer! long story short by 6 I’m stumbling around in my underwear going “YA! wellll u no wat yooourrrr prombem izz!”
happy holidays everyone.
by 2NASHTY on Dec 26, 2010 10:54 AM MST reply actions 2 recs
hey nashty. dont be so hard on yourself
you know it’s 5 o’clock somewhere on this planet. indulge.
Blogging Suns Basketball. Twitter: @willcantrellphx
by Wil Cantrell on Dec 26, 2010 11:00 AM MST up reply actions
I love early games when I know what time they are at. I don't want to be watching basketball at 7:30 on sundays.
Vince Carter>Jason Richardson
I wholeheartedly agree...
What’s life for if you can’t be continually plastered…Who the heck wants to remember
Thank God for cheap liquor!!!!
STAT may be gone but the Suns will rise....! BTW, I'm thankful!
That's why I love you 2NASHTY...
Only one that I know that can overwhelm “SPELLCHECK”….
Poor program never had a chance….
STAT may be gone but the Suns will rise....! BTW, I'm thankful!
some times it actually have to try 2 or 3 times just to get close enough for spell check to guess what I’m trying to write
happy holidays everyone.
Microsoft probably voids their warranty the moment you touch the keyboard...
STAT may be gone but the Suns will rise....! BTW, I'm thankful!
by Daryl Ray on Dec 26, 2010 11:32 AM MST up reply actions 4 recs
what is a microsoft or a keyboard for that matter
happy holidays everyone.
by 2NASHTY on Dec 26, 2010 11:34 AM MST up reply actions 3 recs
I'm guessing if you were to type on the iPhone, auto-correct would go haywire.
"Yes the game threads have more mood swings than a coked up pregnant woman but you have to admit, it’s always a fun ride." - NashMV3
Major error mentioned. Vince should be a bench player while Dudley starts. Dudley works very well with Nash. Vince has been every where and can create scores with or without help. You put him in the bench and you will get points regardless of Dragic. Its past belief that Dudley gets a role reduction. His mere presence on the court is going to force opposition teams to use their best just to guard him.
Still nothing to worry about. several people have listed Gentry as a top coach. What could go wrong.
Allow Me to Retort
Vince should be a bench player while Dudley starts. Dudley works very well with Nash.
Virtually everyone works well with Nash. It’s not a question of working well with him except staying out of way and spacing the floor. The only way you can’t work well with Nash is to not get in a place where you can get a shot off. Nash will find you if you are open.
Vince has been every where and can create scores with or without help. You put him in the bench and you will get points regardless of Dragic.
This makes me nervous. Vince likes the ball in his hands, and the possibility with Vince is that ball movement becomes stagnant and guys stand around and watch him. He hasn’t been active in a practice, so on court chemistry will be difficult. Having him play alongside Nash adds stability to the starters and another viable scoring option. Adding a new cog in the second unit would again force an already inconsistent unit to adapt once again.
His mere presence on the court is going to force opposition teams to use their best just to guard him.
Dudley? You put your best on Dudley? I’d think you put your best guard or athletic SF on Nash to keep him from getting others involved.
We’ll see how it plays out on the court.
Blogging Suns Basketball. Twitter: @willcantrellphx
by Wil Cantrell on Dec 26, 2010 11:20 AM MST up reply actions
Hmm, could that be an advantage of starting Dudley? That the opponent wouldn’t guard him well because it doesn’t take him seriously?
by 8472species on Dec 26, 2010 11:26 AM MST up reply actions
CONSIDER THE PNR
as nash proceeds after his man has been presumably picked by Lopez, etc all, he has three choices:
1. if no one has provided help he can go to the hoop.
2. if his roll partner is open, he hits him for the layup
3. if dudley or carter’s man leaves him from the wing, nash hits a wide open man
It’s not matter of taking the wing seriously or not, it’s a matter of how they are planning to play PNR.
Blogging Suns Basketball. Twitter: @willcantrellphx
by Wil Cantrell on Dec 26, 2010 11:33 AM MST up reply actions
lately it's been healthy doses of option 3
a little 2 healthy for me…I’d like to see more inside scoring
happy holidays everyone.
I’m ready to call this the Second Lost Season. Not much is going right. And the rest of the NBA: The Lakers, the Heat, David Stern, LeBron James…more and more reasons to despise the NBA keep appearing.
by 8472species on Dec 26, 2010 11:18 AM MST reply actions
that's certainly one perspective.
Blogging Suns Basketball. Twitter: @willcantrellphx
by Wil Cantrell on Dec 26, 2010 11:22 AM MST up reply actions
keep in mind this is rebuilding
suns style. they still have a competitive product to put out on the floor, meanwhile they are adding key pieces without sending Nash and Hill away. With Nash all things are possible.
Blogging Suns Basketball. Twitter: @willcantrellphx
by Wil Cantrell on Dec 26, 2010 11:23 AM MST up reply actions
Great post as usual..?
BTW, can anyone tell me how the heck DeAndre Jordan is third in the league in dunks, when he only averages 6 ppg????
Somehow my math keeps telling me that over 2/3 of his oints come off dunks…Is that a record or what…?
STAT may be gone but the Suns will rise....! BTW, I'm thankful!
Where'd you get that stat, lol?
But yeah, all of his points basically come off of dunks. He cant make a free throw so he dunks whenever he gets the chance
Vince Carter>Jason Richardson
Dunk o Meter....
http://www.cbssports.com/nba/dunk-o-meter/yearly
STAT may be gone but the Suns will rise....! BTW, I'm thankful!
Species, I don't know how you can call this a lost season
when we finally reach a game on the schedule where we’re facing an opponent we can actually beat. Our team had the 5th toughest schedule coming into today. So now that rough stretch has passed us, and we should be heading for greener pastures. Cheer up, geez. Now that our schedule has lightened up a bit, we can win some winnable games and incorporate our new guys in the meantime. It’s a win-win situation, so I don’t see how you can give up after just 28 games. It’s only been a third of the season.
"Yes the game threads have more mood swings than a coked up pregnant woman but you have to admit, it’s always a fun ride." - NashMV3
Because if the Suns make the playoffs, these beatable opponents like the Clippers become irrelevant. You don’t achieve anything by beating a bad team except one regular-season win and a tiny shred of self-esteem, both of which are promptly neutralized if you get smashed by the Lakers, Heat or Spurs a few days later.
by 8472species on Dec 26, 2010 11:42 AM MST up reply actions
The entire atmosphere changes when the playoffs start.
Remember in 08? I think we swept the Spurs in the regular season, but we got our asses kicked by them in the first round of the playoffs. It’s been said too often: what happens in the regular season doesn’t reflect what will happen in the playoffs. So if I understand you correctly, the Lakers are also going to have a lost season because they’re currently 2-4 against teams with winning records?
"Yes the game threads have more mood swings than a coked up pregnant woman but you have to admit, it’s always a fun ride." - NashMV3
preach on....
After facing four of the league’s top seven teams consecutively, the Suns play a losing team for the first time since Dec. 15.
Blogging Suns Basketball. Twitter: @willcantrellphx
by Wil Cantrell on Dec 26, 2010 11:44 AM MST up reply actions
Will, stop making excuses...
Everyone knows with the talent on this team, there is no way we should have a record worse than 27-0…
Seioulsy, we have to take the season and go with it…Let’s take samll victories and ride those to larger and grander conquests…
STAT may be gone but the Suns will rise....! BTW, I'm thankful!
Disagree 8472
At this stage in the game, any victory is a good victory. W’s build momentum, and without squashing the bad teams, the confidence is so low that beating a top tier squad is impossible. It all starts with winning the games you should win….baby steps.
Blogging Suns Basketball. Twitter: @willcantrellphx
then as Bill Murray would say...
“Baby steps, get one win…baby steps, get one win…”
by 8472species on Dec 26, 2010 11:59 AM MST up reply actions
not to mention
it allows them to practice plays against teams they can execute against
happy holidays everyone.
Please, Suns:
Is too much to ask for a win against the Clippers as a Christmas gift today?
The Suns are tough!
Thanks, Will. Merry Christmas to you too!
And here in Brazil we say “Feliz Natal”. Navidad is spanish, I think.. :)
The Suns are tough!
yea i realized you were brazilian and deleted my well wishes.
y’all don’t speak much spanish in Brasil do you?
Blogging Suns Basketball. Twitter: @willcantrellphx
by Wil Cantrell on Dec 26, 2010 12:16 PM MST up reply actions
Which game is this?
Are we talking about Scott Howard? How and why are we making fun of him?
Grant Hill is my hero.
There is no game...!
Please don’t get Scott started…every time he posts, I have to rec him as my penance…
STAT may be gone but the Suns will rise....! BTW, I'm thankful!
That sentence made little to no sense so I am just going to ignore it from now on.
Grant Hill is my hero.
Two words.
Blake Griffin.
Bright Side of the Sun, for all things Phoenix Suns. Twitter: @iamtrevorpaxton
by Trevor Paxton on Dec 26, 2010 1:01 PM MST up reply actions
Relax, what's worth is your gesture, not the language you say it.
In Brazil we don’t speak spanish very much, but I know a few things because I take classes of spanish since last year.
And by the way, since we are in this holiday spirit, do you know anyone who could accomodate me in Phoenix for a couple of weeks? I can pay a few bucks, but I don’t have that much money to check in at a hotel. I’m saving money to make my dream of seeing Suns live and also meeting you guys come true. I wanna go in February.
The Suns are tough!
Will, I'm sorry I didn't reply to you this one. My bad.
The Suns are tough!
by Diego Queiroz on Dec 26, 2010 12:25 PM MST up reply actions
Diego
Hey man-i can’t commit to that long, not too much space at my place, but certainly a night or two. I hear Scott Howard has a pretty huge spread tho (He’s what we call in a America a mafioso). Maybe he’ll be a gracious host.
Blogging Suns Basketball. Twitter: @willcantrellphx
by Wil Cantrell on Dec 26, 2010 12:32 PM MST up reply actions
Thanks, man!
Scott… hm… I will try and talk to him. But I’m a little bit afraid of doind that. He isn’t a very positive guy and I fear that after a Suns or Cardinals loss he’ll want to shoot someone. And there will be me. Is that dangerous? haha
The Suns are tough!
by Diego Queiroz on Dec 26, 2010 12:38 PM MST up reply actions
Alright everyone..Let's think positive...
Final score: Suns 109 – Clippesrs 95
STAT may be gone but the Suns will rise....! BTW, I'm thankful!
by Daryl Ray on Dec 26, 2010 12:43 PM MST reply actions 1 recs
I think it's more like
Suns 119 – Clippers 105
The Suns are tough!
by Diego Queiroz on Dec 26, 2010 12:50 PM MST up reply actions
Opposing teams are doubling and pressuring both Nash and Goran lately.
It works, especially with Goran, who seems not react well. He gets stuck and passes late in the shot clock. If they shut down pnr too our shooters have to come across or we’re booooooned. I think that’s why Duds has been so open. They don’t take him seriously as a shooter. Now they’ll have to adjust and guard him which will open up other options. We really need consistent scoring in the paint as a regular part of the offense. Frolo has been shooting well and Gortat is said to be able to finish. Looking forward to seeing Blake. The guy is freakishly strong and fast. Go Suns!!
No.
He’s opting for rest in lieu of surgery. He met Aaron Nelson and he immediately started feeling better. Is it 100% fixed? Probably not. But he’s anxious to come in and help, and the surgery wasn’t necessary. Might as well forego it.
Bright Side of the Sun, for all things Phoenix Suns. Twitter: @iamtrevorpaxton
by Trevor Paxton on Dec 26, 2010 1:05 PM MST up reply actions
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