Suns Thrash Clippers 127-101
by Wil Cantrell on Mar 3, 2010 11:52 PM MST
in Phoenix Suns: Game Coverage
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That is what I call a good ol' fashioned ass whoopin'. In the end, Chris Kaman didn't matter, Eric Gordon didn't matter. Barron Davis certainly didn't matter. All that mattered was STAT bringing the Gorilla Game while the rest of the Suns followed suit as Phoenix trounced the Clippers, 127-101, ending LA's modest 4 game winning streak.
The Suns and Clippers played a close, back and forth game through two quarters tonight. But a 39-18 3rd quarter led by Amare Stoudemire's 15 points set the Suns off and running to a 26 point laugher in LA tonight.
The Suns opened the quarter with a 15-2 run and ended it with a 20-4 run, as they scored at will from both inside and outside.
Stoudemire led the charge with 30 points, 14 rebounds, and 3 blocks, and a balanced attack dismantled a Clippers squad set to play spoiler in the West as the battle for playoff positioning continues:
- Grant Hill 16 points, 8 assists, 5 rebounds
- Jason Richardson 22 points, 5 rebounds
- Channing Frye 23 points, 3 steals, 7-10 from 3 pt range.
- Jared Dudley-17 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 steals
The Suns dominated virtually every facet of the game tonight. Check these numbers out:
Rebounds: Suns 50, Clippers 30 (offensive 13-8)
Assists: Suns 36, Clippers 26
FG%: Suns 55.6, clippers 45.9
3-Pointers: Suns 12-23, (52%), Clippers 10-28, (35.7%)
New Clippers coach Kim Hughes said: "I am not sure if some of our players felt sorry for themselves or were just frustrated. They stopped competing." I tend to agree with him. Both Kaman and Gordon were off to huge games but disappeared in the second half. Perhaps Hughes' frustration convinced him to leave out Gordon and Kaman against the Suns scrubs in garbage time.
With this victory, the Suns now find themselves a game and a half ahead of OKC (who just got pummeled by 29 points at the hands of the Nuggets), and a half game behind the Jazz for the 4th seed. It's convenient Jerry Sloan and Co are in town tonight. Goran Dragic is listed as "doubtful" for the game after suffering a sprained ankle. In the waning moments of the game.
Bullet Worthy:
- Did you see T-Griff throw down the reverse dunk?
- How about Earl Clark dropping a J and hitting a couple free throws
- Amare: Come on guys, we should give this guy the max. Right?
- The Suns swept the season series against the Clippers, and in doing so, ended LA's 4 game home winning streak.
- Tonight the Suns tied their season high for scoring and tied for their second largest blowout of the season.
- Eric Gordon appeared to be headed toward a monster game with 3 3-pointers in the opening quarter. Gordon added one more 3 and 3 more misses from beyond the arc to finish 8-13 from the field and 21 points in 35 minutes.
- Of the Phoenix starters, only Grant Hill played more than 29 minutes (34) as the Suns were able to rest Nash (27 minutes), Amare Stoudemire and Jason Richardson (29 minutes).
- Every Suns player registered a positive in the +/- category except for Earl Clark (-3). But who really cares about any of that?
- Louis Amundson came off the bench to grab 4 points and 11 rebounds.
- The Suns bench outscored the Clips 52-20. The Suns bench out rebounded the Clips 20-9
Quotable:
Amare Stoudemire
"The whole purpose of coming out strong in the third quarter was to really jump on them and try to create the lead and for starters to rest up."
-
Alvin Gentry
"When we shoot the ball well, we're pretty good,"
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Oh and check out this funny vid somebody posted on twitter
http://www.theonion.com/content/video/fatal_staples_center_collapse?utm_source=videoembed
Steve Nash plays D!!
Twitter: @PhxSuns86
by phxsuns on Mar 3, 2010 11:58 PM MST reply actions 1 recs
I love the vid!
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.
Not just someone....me!
Ha. That video is so freaking funny. Gets me every time.
http://seasonsofdiscontent.com/
Thats right...
Blake Griffin hung himself before the game.
"I don't care what people think, people are stupid."-Charles Barkley
I personally
didn’t find any humor in the video. Call me old school, but I think we have seen enough destruction in earthquakes lately. We all know the Clippers have struggle for the life of the franchise, this goes over the top.
This is not funny.
Eh, to each his own I guess
The Onion knows how to push buttons
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."
In fairness
That video was made long before any of the recent earthquakes. Timing is everything.
True story: a struggling actor friend of mine was cast in a pilot for the G4 network. The show was going to use lots of green screen to have him running around “inside” new video games and interviewing characters and whatnot. By all accounts, it was a great concept and the network really liked it. The only problem? His character was an adventuresome Australian type who said “Crikey!” a lot. Needless to say, Steve Irwin (the Crocodile Hunter character who was being spoofed) died a week later and the show was buried.
Also true: That was a serious beatdown the Suns put on the Clips in the 2nd half last night. It was so good that when my friend came over later we watched it again. Timing.
Twitter: @MikeLisboa
I know it is insensitive, but this is one of the funniest things I have ever seen...
I feel guilty now…Think I will “text” a few more dollars to Hait Relief to assuage my conscience…
"I especially liked the part where I dunked on the McDonalds All-American dude..."
Anonymous high-school player after a Virginia basketball state championship game...
You could do that, or you could send the money to St. Mary’s Food Bank. People a few miles or so away need our help as much as the Haitians do.
I volunteer at a food bank 2 Saturdays a month...
I have invested many hours and dollars into this endeavor…
"I especially liked the part where I dunked on the McDonalds All-American dude..."
Anonymous high-school player after a Virginia basketball state championship game...
"Yeah, that girder was the true hero tonight - "
This was a serious lol video! Good stuff!
They say "don't swim with the sharks", but I'm faster than sharks so it's not a big deal...
Goran
Did well leading the second unit…but I was shocked to see him with ZERO points! Oh well…at least he had 8 assists before going to the bench after getting hurt. I hope it isn’t too serious. If he doesn’t play tomorrow, I think we will miss him more than many of us realize.
+1
its funny that last season we said he wasn’t scoring and this season, BAM he scores well, 2 weeks ago we said he wasn’t assisting and BAM, he has put up an average of 6.2 assist and 7PPG in just under 20 MPG. What do we have to ask of him to put up 12/7 for the rest of the season.
You just have love him.
Hope he plays tonight and put up points like he did earlier in the season against (wait for it) Utah “Jazz”
i was thinking the same thing
Seems like he can do what he wants. We’ver never seen consistent assists before, so we’re all surprised. The kid could go for 12 and 7-8 a night if he gets more minutes, but it’s all up to him. In the meantime (ie. while Gentry refuses to reduce Nash’s minutes), I’ll take what I can get.
Are we gonna pay amare?
Amare has been a monster ever since just before the passing of the trade deadline and is now actually adding alot more consistency to his rebounding efforts.
So do you reckon kerr and sarver have re thought this hole resigning him business or are we gonna watch amare walk?
could it all be by design?
push him until he performs at a max level?
Blogging Suns Basketball. Twitter: @willcantrellphx
I was kinda thinking along the same lines
Maybe Kerr is taking a page from the Zen Master’s handbook and using various psychological techinques to obtain the end goal…
Then again, maybe Amare realized he wasn’t as valuable as he thought he was and decided to try to play up to his potential….
"I especially liked the part where I dunked on the McDonalds All-American dude..."
Anonymous high-school player after a Virginia basketball state championship game...
It's a pretty good excuse man.
From a lot of your posts you sound like a happily secure eternal pessimist, but man the eye injury he had was about as serious as it can get for an athlete man – vision isn’t something to mess around with and the rehab is brutal for someone accustomed to constant conditioning.
I wouldn’t be so quick to dismiss it.
They say "don't swim with the sharks", but I'm faster than sharks so it's not a big deal...
+1: The Amare critics here keeps thinking that Amare will bounce back immediately from injuries
And Amare almost manages to do that, compared to players like Wade, Al Jefferson etc.
Or maybe
He is playing as a power forward against power forwards.
and
He is playing along side a BIG center who commands enough respect that opposing teams can only play him one on one.
by Grey_Hound on Mar 4, 2010 7:13 AM MST up reply actions 1 recs
A lot of maybes..
No one truly knows all the right answers…We just have a lot of suppositions…
"I especially liked the part where I dunked on the McDonalds All-American dude..."
Anonymous high-school player after a Virginia basketball state championship game...
The bottom line is he is playing right now like the PF we want and need....
"I especially liked the part where I dunked on the McDonalds All-American dude..."
Anonymous high-school player after a Virginia basketball state championship game...
by Daryl Ray on Mar 4, 2010 7:19 AM MST up reply actions 1 recs
i think a big part of it
Is the wake-up call he got at the deadline. Not only did Kerr refuse to offer max, but no one else wanted to give up any talent to get him. Has to hurt, you know?
But I wouldn’t expect this to last past the season. He is who he is. 21 and 8, with a big chance of missing chunks of time. Is that worth max years and money?
No it's not
I wish he could keep up this level of play but it’s the ‘contract year’ affect.
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."
- 1 dking97: No one is willing to give top talent for Amare as they think he will walk anyway
Everyone is expecting Amare to opt out.
And suns shopping him around for the last 3 years only makes it more difficult for our management to get anything good in return.
Amare
Always gets better towards the end of the season. I think he has done it every year he hasnt been injured. Smart maybe. It’s a long season why not pace yourself? Maybe Amare isnt as selfish as we all think?
TO THE NBA - " Yeah, you have created a rift within me ; Now there have been ; several complications ; that have left me feeling nothing ; I might say, you were ; wrong to take it from me ; Left me feeling nothing " - Disturbed, "Numb"
I don't think he's selfish
He’s just unaware, or unable to look at himself objectively. While others are their own biggest critic, Amare is his own biggest believer. And that both good and bad (mostly good).
Amare has always
turned it on the 2nd half of the season/post all star break. I don’t know if there are statistical splits available, but this has been going on since his 2nd year in the league. As a matter of fact, last year is the ONLY season it hasn’t happened, and it sure seemed like he was on his way until he got poked in the eye. That being said, I’ve never seen his all round game at this level…
yes
Amare played great with Shaq in 07-08. Too bad we couldn’t see it again last spring after Gentry took over. But that’s done and gone now.
On to 09-10. And I think Robin is ultimately the best center Amare has ever had, in terms of skillset. We just need more consitency from Robin. If Amare would accept 3 year extension (meaning 4 total years) at 16 each, I think both sides would be happy. Any more years, and we’re risking too much against a McGrady or Michael Redd situation.
I was at the game last night..... Amare's 3rd Qtr. Dunk got me out of my seat !
Amare rocked the house with that dunk. I’m telling you — this is the STAT that will change the course of a playoff game and a playoff series. In the playoffs it is crucial to have a guy who is fearless going to the basket, is fast and can finish HARD ! You’ll be going up against big, strong enforcers and good defenses, so Amare will be indispensable come playoff time (if he isn’t already now). Wade, LeBron, Carmello — all those guys can drive to the hoop at will and finish strong at the basket. Although he doesn’t have the total offensive game of those guys he CAN finish strong in the same way — making contested shots in traffic and dunking over people if necessary.
Amare MUST start -- and finish -- with his gorilla game?
Sorry. Had to be said.
Twitter: @MikeLisboa
Check out these #'s at Basketball Reference.com
These are splits-pre all star break & post all star break: 03-04 pre all star:16.8ppg-8.1rpg & post all star: 24.5ppg-10.0rpg…04-05 pre: 25.6ppg-8.7rpg & post: 26.2ppg-9.3rpg…05-06 (injured)…06-07 pre 19.9ppg-9.5rpg & post 21.2ppg-9.8rpg…07-08 pre: 23.2ppg-9.3rpg & post: 28.5ppg-8.8rpg…08-09 (eye injury)…09-10 pre: 21.2ppg-8.6rpg & post: 25.4ppg & 9.8 rpg. Those numbers don’t lie.
Yep.
It’s like his tradmark or something.
TO THE NBA - " Yeah, you have created a rift within me ; Now there have been ; several complications ; that have left me feeling nothing ; I might say, you were ; wrong to take it from me ; Left me feeling nothing " - Disturbed, "Numb"
07/08 with Seven Seconds or Shaq
29/9 per game!
Jesus.
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."
Utah game is rather important
Hello. I don’t recall whether it was in reference to this specific game, but I once observed that beating Utah is very important, because it’s a likely first-round opponent. Someone said that since Utah was a division leader, it would have home-court advantage against the Suns regardless of record. Well, this could change again, but due to Dallas’s surge, Utah is no longer a division leader at the moment. I hope the Suns help keep it that way.
Sorry, my mistake. Same difference for this game, though. As long as the Jazz are not the leader, having a better record than them is very important.
by 8472species on Mar 4, 2010 11:38 AM MST up reply actions 1 recs
Amare may not be able to defend hard and strong if he needs to be a gorilla on offense and rebounding
Unless you want him to foul out as easily as Dwight…
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