Gameday Open Thread: Phoenix Suns at New York Knicks

by TexSUN on Dec 2, 2007 3:43 PM MST in Phoenix Suns: Game Coverage

Phoenix Suns	at	New York Knicks
12-4		5-10
5:00 PM Mountain / 7:00 PM Eastern
TV: My45 HD, NBA League Pass
Probable starters:
Steve Nash	PG	Stephon Marbury
Raja Bell	SG	Jamal Crawford
Grant Hill	SF	Quentin Richardson
Shawn Marion	PF	Zach Randolph
Amare Stoudemire	C	Eddy Curry

The Suns open a five-game road trip tonight at Madison Square Garden to take on the Knicks for the second time this season. The Knicks are a game removed from being on the receiving end of the Boston Celtics' sixth widest margin of victory ever. This isn't the game immediately after that, but they should still be plenty motivated with that embarrassment still fresh in their minds. They'll also have three weapons they didn't have when they faced the Suns last month in Phoenix: Stephon Marbury, Quentin Richardson, and Zach Randolph. The Suns, meanwhile, will have Raja Bell this time, who sat out the last one with a sore ankle. They'll have reason to be motivated as well, looking to get back their rhythm after a 1-3 week.

Here are some of Turumbar's thoughts from the pre pre-game thread he posted in the diaries at the same time I was writing this (sorry for being slow!):

"Well as long as the glorious Suns play their game and don't come out flat we should have a W. In fact as @^ed up as the Knicks are now we have the chance to blow them out in epic fashion, perhaps greater so than what the Celtics visited upon them a few days ago. Nash should be able to abuse their D every possession. Marion and STAT should also own the painted area tonight both on O and D. Not to mention it should be raining from beyond the arc all night long.

I shouldn't get ahead of myself though. Underestimating your opponent can spell disaster, even when they fail at life like the Knicks."

Visit Poasting and Toasting for the view from the other side. In the meantime, here's a look back at what happened the last time the Suns played at the Garden:

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And we're off...

Suns win the tip, quick three (or long two?) for Raja. MSG announcers on League pass tonight. They mentioned that all the Suns players got loud cheers during the introductions, and that the crowd is cheerier than usual because the Suns are in town. Interesting times in New York.

As I write this, both teams have gotten out to good starts. 9-6 Suns at the 9:57 mark

by TexSUN on Dec 2, 2007 5:15 PM MST reply actions

Q1 9:14 - Nice rebound by Steve Nash

Steve gets the hustle rebound, but good defense by Q avoids the easy layup by Hill. Suns get the score anyway on Marion's three. Suns up 12-7.

by TexSUN on Dec 2, 2007 5:18 PM MST reply actions

Q1 6:50 - Wish I was there

In the early going, this looks like the kind of game I really wish I was at in person. Some nice crisp passing from the Suns on the previous possession, and again on this one, especially Marion, who just made a Nash-like pass out to Hill for the three. The Suns look like they're having fun right now. Nice to see. The lead is up to 10 at 19-9.

by TexSUN on Dec 2, 2007 5:21 PM MST reply actions

Q1 6:12 - One and done

The Suns seem to be making an extra effort on the boards tonight. One and done for the Knicks on that last possession.

...and now a steal leads to an eventual Hill tip-in. MSG crowd boos loudly enough to hear on the broadcast.

by TexSUN on Dec 2, 2007 5:24 PM MST reply actions

Q1 3:03 - Bench is in

LB and Diaw came in at the last break. Rebounding has taken a hit apparently. Too many second chances on that last possession for the Knicks. Suns get it back plus one on LB's three. Suns up 32-19.

by TexSUN on Dec 2, 2007 5:28 PM MST reply actions

After one...

Knicks closed within eight on the free throws at the end of the first. Suns scored 37, shooting nearly 67% and 55% from three. In fact, everyone who's played so far has a three except Nash (looks like that elbow may still be bothering him) and Diaw who hasn't tried one. For the Knicks, looks like it's Zach Randolph's night, as he has 11 already. The Suns already have 12 assists, btw, with Nash having five of them.

by TexSUN on Dec 2, 2007 5:38 PM MST reply actions

Q2 10:55 - Pike sighting

I guess there's something in the matchup with the Knicks that D'Antoni likes Piatkowski for. Pike is in at the second quarter, and already has a three.

by TexSUN on Dec 2, 2007 5:39 PM MST reply actions

Q2 10:11 - Kincks fans hate Marbury

Getting the boos when he re-enters the game. Sad.

by TexSUN on Dec 2, 2007 5:41 PM MST reply actions

Q2 8:01 ...even from the free throw line

Marbury hearing it even from the line.

The lead is down to six after the last sequence. I'm having technical difficulties on my end again, so comments are coming slow.

by TexSUN on Dec 2, 2007 5:49 PM MST reply actions

Q2 5:56 - It's a game

Three by Q following inexcusable offensive rebound allowed after a missed free throw results in a five-point possession for the Knicks as they pull within three. We have a fight on our hands now.

by TexSUN on Dec 2, 2007 5:52 PM MST reply actions

Q2 4:45 - Nothing good comes of that

Too much hesitation on that possession. Ends in the inevitable missed shot. Knicks close to one on the other end. 48-47.

by TexSUN on Dec 2, 2007 5:55 PM MST reply actions

Q2 3:34 - "Ugh" play of the night

Marion just missed the gimme on a sweet pass by Nash. Marbury ties it up with a three on the other end.

by TexSUN on Dec 2, 2007 5:58 PM MST reply actions

Live blogging called off for now

Ok, connectivity is acting up again. Live blogging has become "three minutes behind the play" blogging. I'm going to shut this down for now and try again after halftime.

by TexSUN on Dec 2, 2007 6:00 PM MST reply actions

Gotta get movin

We gotta get some seperation here. This shouldnt be this close. Well a few adjustments here and there and we should lock em down.

"Ultimate excellence lies not in winning every battle, but in defeating your enemy without ever fighting." Sun Tzu

by Turambar on Dec 2, 2007 6:01 PM MST reply actions

Lovin Hill

Wow Hill is kickin some ass tonight. Hope we can get some seperation going this next quarter.

"Ultimate excellence lies not in winning every battle, but in defeating your enemy without ever fighting." Sun Tzu

by Turambar on Dec 2, 2007 6:06 PM MST reply actions

Still no go.

My connection is still really slow. I have a call in to the support people to get this thing fixed. In the meantime, I'm going to just sit back and watch the game. Sorry.

by TexSUN on Dec 2, 2007 6:23 PM MST reply actions

Well...

forget Amare and Marion owning the paint on D. From how it sounds on the radio our interior D is terrible.

So fo those who are watchin on TV are the Suns failing that bad on D or are the knicks just playing that well?

Well whatever. We should get some seperation this quarter (knock on wood). Overall it sounds like we should be doing a better job.

"Ultimate excellence lies not in winning every battle, but in defeating your enemy without ever fighting." Sun Tzu

by Turambar on Dec 2, 2007 6:51 PM MST reply actions

Weird game

There really hasn't been a wealth of defensive intensity by either team. For every easy shot the Knicks have gotten, the Suns have gotten at least an equal number (the Knicks seem to have no answer for Amare, or whoever running down the middle for the layup or dunk). And Grant Hill is absolutely on fire. He's got nine points in the last two minutes they say, and the Suns are up by 10...make that 12...with 9:20 to go. Knicks fans are booing again.

Internet futility continues on my end....sigh....

Eight plays later maybe this comment will finally get through.

by TexSUN on Dec 2, 2007 6:59 PM MST up reply actions

Knicks just can't guard that

Amare running to the hoop, Nash passes for the And-1. Knicks haven't been able to stop that all night.

D'Antoni going with Skinner+Amare down the stretch.

by TexSUN on Dec 2, 2007 7:05 PM MST reply actions

Knicks can't stop Nash to Skinner either

Same play with Skinner on the receiving end this time.

by TexSUN on Dec 2, 2007 7:07 PM MST reply actions

Q4 4:20 - Nash's shot makes an appearance

He was 2-9 before that shot. Probably that elbow was a factor, but he just nailed that one.

by TexSUN on Dec 2, 2007 7:08 PM MST reply actions

Q4 3:55 - Fire Isiah

...so says the crowd. What a mess.

by TexSUN on Dec 2, 2007 7:09 PM MST reply actions

Skinner

He sure is earning his pay. His D is a big help

"Ultimate excellence lies not in winning every battle, but in defeating your enemy without ever fighting." Sun Tzu

by Turambar on Dec 2, 2007 7:16 PM MST reply actions

Nice W!!!!

Would have liked it more if it wast so close all game, but we asserted ourselves in the 4th and kicked some ass.

"Ultimate excellence lies not in winning every battle, but in defeating your enemy without ever fighting." Sun Tzu

by Turambar on Dec 2, 2007 7:19 PM MST reply actions

And that's the game...

We ended up with the blowout score Turumbar predicted, but it took a while to get there. Suns win 114-104, in a typical Suns-style "wear the other team out" game. Sorry for the sporadic live blogging tonight. My connection has been up and down and often taking several minutes to send a comment. Recap coming up shortly (I hope!).

by TexSUN on Dec 2, 2007 7:20 PM MST reply actions