Game Preview: Suns Vs. Clippers

by Wil Cantrell on Feb 26, 2010 2:34 PM MST in Phoenix Suns: Game Coverage

Another Big Challenge for Robin Lopez (Photo by Max Smbron)

Tonight your Phoenix Suns host the recently slightly revamped and perhaps improving Los Angeles Clippers. The Clips were part of a three team deal, acquiring Drew Gooden, Steve Blake, and Travis Outlaw while jettisoning Al Thornton to Washington, Marcus Camby to Portland, and Sebastian Telfair to Cleveland. Oh, they also waived Ricky Davis and moved Mike Dunleavey off the bench, replacing him with Kim Hughes.

After consecutive losses to Portland and Atlanta, the Clippers reeled off three straight over the likes of Sacramento, Charlotte, and Detroit. The revamped Clipper lineup includes All-Star Chris Kaman, Steve Nash step brother Baron Davis, Team U.S.A. Olympic member Eric Gordon, newly acquired Drew Gooden, and "Rowdy" Rasual Butler.

PROGRAMMING ALERT!!

Don't forget this game starts at 7pm Phx Time and NOT AT 8:30pm as originally scheduled.

Thank ESPN for the change.

Game Plan

The Clips will try to go to Kaman early on and hope he can dominate Robin Lopez or get him into foul trouble. Last time out against the Suns, Kaman went for 19 and 10 but wasn't much of a deciding factor. In that game Lopez played 10 minutes and wasn't the productive Lopez we now know and love. This should be an excellent matchup to watch. Baron Davis also had a bad back recently JUST LIKE HIS STEP BROTHER STEVE DID, OMG! Davis is healthy enough now and will be his typical 15 and 7 self. Nash usually doesn't have too much trouble with Baron, and although Davis has a career mark of 18 and 7 versus the Suns, last time out he picked up 11 and 8 in 27 minutes.

I see no reason why Amare shouldn't continue his dominant performance of late, even if he's matched up against Drew Gooden, who can play a little D. Amare did have only 4 rebounds versus Philadelphia, which is his lowest total since his infamous 1 rebound game against Dallas. Jason Richardson has been feeling it of late which as he says, makes the Suns "deadly" when Nash and STAT are doing their thing. Nash looked OK in morning shoot around, which isn't saying much because it was more of a stand around for him. He didn't look gimpy and if he was really hurting, he probably would have sat it out (I would think). He's definitely starting tonight.

The Clips aren't nearly as bad as they were the last time out. I foresee a grind it out type of game as we've witnessed of late from the Suns. The Clips don't score nor do they run. Of late the Suns haven't been scoring and running that much either. Both squads have the personnel to go straight at one another and see what happens. I still like the Suns' chances.

Numbers:

PPG: Clippers 95.4 (28th), Suns 109 (1st)

RPG: Clippers 41 (19th), Suns 42 (10th)

RD (Rebounding Differential): Clippers +1.03 (11th) Suns -.50 (21st)

		FG	3PT	FT	Rebounds	Misc
Chris Kaman	51	36.1	8.1	16.5	49.3	0.0	0.1	0.0	3.4	4.6	74.2	2.5	6.7	9.2	1.8	3.2	0.5	1.3	2.8	19.7
Eric Gordon	45	35.6	5.8	12.6	46.1	1.8	5.1	36.2	3.6	4.9	73.9	0.4	2.4	2.7	2.9	2.3	1.1	0.2	1.7	17.1
Baron Davis	55	33.7	5.4	13.6	39.6	1.1	4.0	27.7	3.6	4.3	83.8	0.7	2.8	3.4	7.8	2.9	1.8	0.6	2.9	15.4
Rasual Butler	57	31.4	4.1	9.9	41.6	1.7	4.8	34.8	1.6	1.9	86.8	0.5	2.3	2.8	1.3	0.8	0.4	0.7	1.5	11.6
Travis Outlaw	13	20.5	3.3	8.5	38.7	1.1	2.8	37.8	1.8	2.0	88.5	1.1	2.2	3.3	0.7	0.9	0.5	0.6	1.3	9.5
Drew Gooden	48	22.8	3.5	7.5	46.5	0.0	0.1	16.7	2.1	2.6	82.4	2.8	4.3	7.0	0.6	1.3	0.6	1.0	2.9	9.1
Craig Smith	55	16.2	3.0	5.1	58.9	0.0	0.1	33.3	1.8	2.8	63.6	1.3	2.4	3.7	1.1	1.3	0.4	0.3	2.5	7.8
Steve Blake	55	27.4	2.7	6.7	40.4	1.5	3.9	37.5	0.5	0.7	76.3	0.3	2.0	2.3	4.3	1.3	0.7	0.0	1.7	7.5
Bobby Brown	33	12.9	2.3	5.8	38.9	0.7	2.4	27.8	0.2	0.2	100.0	0.2	0.7	0.9	2.2	1.1	0.4	0.0	1.1	5.5
Ricky Davis	36	13.8	1.7	4.0	43.4	0.4	1.2	38.1	0.5	0.9	58.1	0.3	1.3	1.6	1.1	0.8	0.3	0.1	1.1	4.4
DeAndre Jordan	45	13.5	1.7	2.7	63.4	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.6	1.8	34.1	1.4	2.5	3.9	0.2	1.0	0.2	0.7	2.0	4.1
Mardy Collins	34	9.6	0.9	2.6	36.0	0.1	0.5	23.5	0.3	0.4	76.9	0.3	0.8	1.1	0.9	0.8	0.6	0.0	1.1	2.3
Brian Skinner	13	8.8	0.8	1.8	41.7	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.5	0.6	75.0	0.7	1.4	2.1	0.0	0.5	0.1	0.3	1.5	2.0
Steve Novak	38	5.9	0.6	1.6	36.7	0.2	1.0	24.3	0.2	0.2	75.0	0.0	0.5	0.5	0.1	0.1	0.1	0.0	0.3	1.6

< /tr>

FG 3PT FT Rebounds Misc

G M M A Pct M A Pct M A Pct Off Def Tot Ast TO Stl Blk PF PPG

Chris Kaman 51 36.1 8.1 16.5 49.3 0.0 0.1 0.0 3.4 4.6 74.2 2.5 6.7 9.2 1.8 3.2 0.5 1.3 2.8 19.7

Eric Gordon 45 35.6 5.8 12.6 46.1 1.8 5.1 36.2 3.6 4.9 73.9 0.4 2.4 2.7 2.9 2.3 1.1 0.2 1.7 17.1

Baron Davis 55 33.7 5.4 13.6 39.6 1.1 4.0 27.7 3.6 4.3 83.8 0.7 2.8 3.4 7.8 2.9 1.8 0.6 2.9 15.4

Rasual Butler 57 31.4 4.1 9.9 41.6 1.7 4.8 34.8 1.6 1.9 86.8 0.5 2.3 2.8 1.3 0.8 0.4 0.7 1.5 11.6

Travis Outlaw 13 20.5 3.3 8.5 38.7 1.1 2.8 37.8 1.8 2.0 88.5 1.1 2.2 3.3 0.7 0.9 0.5 0.6 1.3 9.5

Drew Gooden 48 22.8 3.5 7.5 46.5 0.0 0.1 16.7 2.1 2.6 82.4 2.8 4.3 7.0 0.6 1.3 0.6 1.0 2.9 9.1

Craig Smith 55 16.2 3.0 5.1 58.9 0.0 0.1 33.3 1.8 2.8 63.6 1.3 2.4 3.7 1.1 1.3 0.4 0.3 2.5 7.8

Steve Blake 55 27.4 2.7 6.7 40.4 1.5 3.9 37.5 0.5 0.7 76.3 0.3 2.0 2.3 4.3 1.3 0.7 0.0 1.7 7.5

Bobby Brown 33 12.9 2.3 5.8 38.9 0.7 2.4 27.8 0.2 0.2 100.0 0.2 0.7 0.9 2.2 1.1 0.4 0.0 1.1 5.5

Ricky Davis 36 13.8 1.7 4.0 43.4 0.4 1.2 38.1 0.5 0.9 58.1 0.3 1.3 1.6 1.1 0.8 0.3 0.1 1.1 4.4

DeAndre Jordan 45 13.5 1.7 2.7 63.4 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.6 1.8 34.1 1.4 2.5 3.9 0.2 1.0 0.2 0.7 2.0 4.1

Mardy Collins 34 9.6 0.9 2.6 36.0 0.1 0.5 23.5 0.3 0.4 76.9 0.3 0.8 1.1 0.9 0.8 0.6 0.0 1.1 2.3

Brian Skinner 13 8.8 0.8 1.8 41.7 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.5 0.6 75.0 0.7 1.4 2.1 0.0 0.5 0.1 0.3 1.5 2.0

Steve Novak 38 5.9 0.6 1.6 36.7 0.2 1.0 24.3 0.2 0.2 75.0 0.0 0.5 0.5 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.0 0.3 1.6

Worth Bulleting:

The Suns are 13 games above .500 for the first time since the end of the 2007-08 season.
Amare Stoudemire is averaging 25.4 points and 10.6 rebounds in the last 11 games.
Jason Richardson has scored 20 or more points in 4 straight games
The Suns have won 9 straight when Jason Richardson scores at least 20 points
The Clippers have 0 (zero) fast break points in their past two games
The Suns have won 6 straight games over the Clippers

Links

Clippers vs Suns coverage

Clippers vs Suns preview

Clips Nation (check 'em out...they are Clips Fans!)

Coro: Richardson Shoots to Win More Than Score

More Links:

Bill Simmons on how to fix the NBA - ESPN
There's reportedly some good ideas in here...I just don't have time to sort through 3800 words to find them. Let me know what I am missing
azcentral.com blogs - Coro's Suns dish - PaulCoro - Is the Suns 'D' better?
Phoenix has gone from yielding 112.4 points per game in January to 97.4 game in February.
Senator Dikembe Mutombo Blocks Record Amount Of Legislation | The Onion - America's Finest News Source
WASHINGTON—Sen. Dikembe Mutombo (R-CO) showed that he is still one of the most dominant big men in Congress Thursday, blocking a record 16 bills in one legislative session. The 7-foot-2 senator, who broke the record previously held by Sen. Shawn Bradley (D-NJ), Rep. Arvydas Sabonis (D-OR), and current Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY), batted away legislation left and right, sometimes swatting bills so hard that they were sent flying all the way back to committee.
Helping David Robinson Help Some Kids - Pounding The Rock
Time For Action: I think this is a great opportunity for the Spurs community to step up to support a great person that we admire. We have the opportunity to help within our means, but in a meaningful way if we do it together. So go to the Pink Dingo and contribute your $3.
Hardwood Paroxysm " Blog Archive " NBA HD: Are Rookies Better Finishers in Sophomore Year?
Two Suns are listed in these lists of the best and worst change rookie to sophomore FG%...guess who they are before clicking

Recent Suns radio appearances

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Comments

Since there is no reason to think the Suns will lose unless they fool around, who do you think will win the Mavericks-Hawks game? That interests me because the Mavericks are only a game ahead of the SUns in the standings.

by 8472species on Feb 26, 2010 2:42 PM MST reply actions

You do

Realize we are the Phoenix Suns? Right? We never, ever have a game “in the bag”. Also, watch out for Baron but also for his back up, Steve Blake who is DA MAN when he plays the Suns.

All in all, It should be an entertaining game and should be fairly smooth…I always enjoy watching Eric Gordon, he’s silky smooth.

One thing that does scare is that the Clipper…Despite the fact they are the Clippers have a pretty good core heading into next year (Baron,Gordon,Griffin,Kaman)…They have a lot of cap space and I think it would be enticing for a superstar to come to LA and have the Clips compete with Kobe and the Lakers for LA…I know it’s doubtful of happening but Imagine Lebron James playing there, they have a glaring hole at SF and the core I mentioned previously is better than any line up the Cavs can spit out….

If Not Lebron…Maybe Joe Johnson might end up there…

"I don't care what people think, people are stupid."-Charles Barkley

by TheRza82 on Feb 26, 2010 3:24 PM MST up reply actions

Except that

no big name free agent with choices would pick the Clippers organization over other options…that owner is horrible.

They will end up having overpay for the next Ricky Davis…whoever that is

Blogging Suns Basketball . twitter: @sethpo

by Seth Pollack on Feb 26, 2010 3:33 PM MST up reply actions

You Never know..

I know the past is sometimes a good telling of the future but they made all of those moves for a reason and have done a sneaky decent job of putting together a pretty good young core…I know as long as Sterling owns them they will never live up to there full potential but if the Atlanta Hawks could become an elite team, the clips just as well could. Maybe not Lebron…but I would say Joe Johnson would be there ceiling but maybe a Carlos Boozer or Richard Jefferson..They have a hole at SF which Jefferson could fill in nicely or get Boozer to groom Griffin and along with Boozer they could get Outlaw to re-sign for cheap…

Baron did choose to sign there…I know he thought Brand would too but I’m just saying it’s not ENTIRELY outside the realm of possibility.

Ahh, who am I kidding? It’s the friggin’ Clippers.

"I don't care what people think, people are stupid."-Charles Barkley

by TheRza82 on Feb 26, 2010 4:41 PM MST up reply actions

But you have to consider...

What those players (aside from Brand, who thrived in Clipper-land) have done since being acquired. Baron has taken a significant decline in his play. I would blame it on age and everything, but honestly, I think it’s just the fact that no one (and I mean no one) respects the Clippers franchise. That’s got to transfer to the players. When B-Diddy is fired up, he’s one of the best point guards in the league. When he’s not mentally checked in, he’s about as middling of a point guard as Mike Conley. More frustrating than Conley, for sure.

I have to give it to the franchise, though. I really like Eric Gordon. A lot. Kaman has done very well this year as well, and when Blake Griffin heals up, he’ll be a beast. But…there’s just something wrong with that team. I won’t blame the “curse” that our long winded friend Bill Simmons has suggested (though it is a bit eerie that that much has happened to that franchise), but I will blame a lack of respect. Who wants to play for the redheaded stepchild of the NBA? I mean, seriously, I think the Timberwolves have more respect than the Clippers do (in general).

And when the second worst team in the league has more respect than you, something’s got to change.

Bright Side of the Sun, for all things Phoenix Suns. Twitter: @iamtrevorpaxton

by Trevor Paxton on Feb 27, 2010 1:12 AM MST up reply actions

I don’t know. The way the Suns play now (not a month ago), there are some teams that they should have in the bag. Minnesota, for instance. But I’m willing to back off the Clinkers.

by 8472species on Feb 26, 2010 3:42 PM MST up reply actions

How many user names are you going to come up with?

Bright Side of the Sun, for all things Phoenix Suns. Twitter: @iamtrevorpaxton

by Trevor Paxton on Feb 26, 2010 4:07 PM MST up reply actions

Sorry, I lost my password and couldn’t remember it.

by 8472species on Feb 26, 2010 4:09 PM MST up reply actions

Mavs

seem to be putting it together since the trade. they’ll be tough down the stretch. Predict they take out the Hawks fairly easily.

Blogging Suns Basketball. Twitter: @willcantrellphx

by Wil Cantrell on Feb 26, 2010 2:56 PM MST reply actions

I forgot that the Hawks have slipped.

by 8472species on Feb 26, 2010 3:21 PM MST up reply actions

Addendum to Preview

OKC, trailing suns at 6 th seed 1.5 games back have lost 2 in a row.

Suns trail Dallas, the 4 seed by 1.5 games. Mavs have won 5 in a row.

A win tonight would give the Suns their first 9 win February since 2005-6

The Suns have won 6 straight versus the Clips. The Clips haven’t won in PHX since 1/15/08

Blogging Suns Basketball. Twitter: @willcantrellphx

by Wil Cantrell on Feb 26, 2010 5:46 PM MST reply actions

I'm looking forward to the RoLo vs Kaman matchup.

I have faith in Robin.☺

We all want to fall in love. Why? Because that experience makes us feel completely alive,where every sense is heightened, and every emotion is magnified. Our everyday reality is shattered and we are flying into the heavens. It may only last a moment, an hour, or an afternoon, but that doesn't diminish its value, because we are left with memoriesthat we treasure for the rest of our lives.

by Spit_Fire on Feb 26, 2010 6:10 PM MST reply actions