Game Thread: Phoenix Suns vs Minnesota Timberwolves

by Dan @ Bright Side Of The Sun on Mar 20, 2007 1:01 PM MDT in Phoenix Suns News

If you're a regular on this blog, you probably have noticed that I haven't posted anything for a couple of days. I'm sorry about that. I needed a break. Just like the Suns seem to have been burning out over the past few games, I've gotten the same way. An 82 game season is long. And it certainly wasn't fun watching or writing about the past two games. I can't imagine it was much fun playing in them either.

But tonight is the time to get the excitement back. There are only 16 games left in the season. And then the playoffs start. The Suns can wrap up the Pacific Division with a win tonight.

It sounds like Mike D'Antoni is ready for some changes as well. He's going to start Leandro Barbosa tonight (thanks Vash01 for the Diary on this). He is going to play Jalen Rose tonight (thanks TexSUN for the Diary on that). And the Suns should hopefully run the Timberwolves out of the building.

Do I think they will? It's hard to say. Who knows which Suns team will show up tonight? The good thing is the Suns play the Timberwolves tonight. Then they play the Kings on Thursday and Sunday. I get to go to the game on Thursday and I'll be yelling for them to run, run, run, run.

The Suns have played the Timberwolves enough now to know what they need to do. Double Kevin Garnett. Even if it's a run-at just to get him to pick up the ball. That's better than letting him take someone one-on-one and kill the team that way.

I'll be excited to watch this game and see how the Suns handle themselves. It should be a good game. If anything, it's a good barometer to see where the Suns minds' are at a few weeks before the playoffs start.

What are your thoughts on tonight's game and the possibilities for the rest of the season?

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Comments

Well...

I'm a lot less enthusiastic about the idea of LB+Raja than you are (see my comments in Vash's diary), because I think it removes an extremely valuable spark from the bench while doing nothing to address what's really been the problem the past three games--getting positively KILLED on the boards. But I've been wrong before, so hopefully this is another one of those times. :)

by TexSUN on Mar 20, 2007 1:52 PM MDT reply actions

Tonight

I am going to the game. I am wondering if KT is not 100 percent because he has not played much since the Houston game, in which he was GREAT.

It sounds like D is planning to play run run run. I hope they won't forget to grab the rebounds. I think this team has too much pride (esp.Nash, Marion, STAT) to not fight back tonight.

Jalen is a real leader. I hope D will use that aspect of his presence on the court, and not just stop with 2-3 min. in the game. For the Suns' sake I hope he will be the sparkplug.

I expect a better performance (they could not play much worse) tonight; I don't know if it will be enough to win. The fact that LAL beat Minn recently gives me some hope. I think by Thurs. they will get back on track.

P.S. I was talking to a woman at work- she was a Suns season ticket holder for many years. She said they do it every year- at this time of the year- because they want people to think (their opposition) they are not so good. Then they come back in the playoffs. She may be right, but I want to see that resiliency from them right now.

by Vash01 @ Bright Side Of The Sun on Mar 20, 2007 2:32 PM MDT reply actions

It's a matter of perspective

Last year's team spoiled us. If you look at record and potential, this year's team is light-years ahead, but they haven't really given off the "aura" of over-achieving, probably because so much more was expected this year. Last year's team was able to over-achieve in the eyes of most people just by making the playoffs. The fact they ended up with the #2 seed and made it to the WCF was extra icing on the cake. This year's team is right on par record-wise with the 2004-05 team, and has a lot fewer double-digit losses. This is still the best Suns team in the Nash era, even though they don't always play like it. I have no idea if they're sitting on another level that they'll break out once the playoffs start, but we all know they're capable of playing better than they are now because they've already done it.

by TexSUN on Mar 20, 2007 3:02 PM MDT up reply actions

American Legends

Do you guys think the Suns can withstand a playoff series against a team like the Mavs or the Spurs?

http://www.americanlegends.info

www.americanlegends.blogspot.com

by JMEnglish on Mar 20, 2007 5:54 PM MDT reply actions

Suns chances against Spurs/Mavs?

Well, judging from the recent games, other then the two big losses, the Suns have been in a lot of nail-biter situations and that does not show that they can sustain a lead when they have one. Last nights game with the T-Wolves proved that even though I did not watch the first half. The Suns, from what I heard, had at one point a 16 point lead but that was cut down to 3 or 4 points by half time, they were lucky that Boris Diaw and Raja Bell got hot during the third quarter to keep Phoenix ahead. But one good game does not prove anything, especially with the Suns, but I think right now they smell blood and the attitude they have should be enough to carry them on, its just that the Mavs and Spurs are a more well-rounded team then the Suns. This is one subject that will always come up, and it should, being that they need to really work on it, DEFENSE! Kurt Smith, Boris Diaw, and Amare Stoudemire should all be under, or near rhe basket at all times being that they are the better players defensively, but they need to go after the ball because I do not see them doing that too often and that is where teams they play seem to have the most advantage on the Suns. I don't know, do the Suns have a chance against the Mavericks or the Spurs? Only time will tell.
Thank You...

by lalbert on Mar 21, 2007 9:44 AM MDT up reply actions

Well...

While I suspect the main purpose of your question was to advertise your site, I'll answer anyway. Yes, I think the Suns have a chance against anyone they meet in the playoffs, including the Spurs and Mavs. However, I do think they have made a tough path for themselves in having to take the second seed. It isn't going to be easy going through both the Spurs and the Mavericks, plus I think the first round is going to be challenging as well no matter who they play. But the Suns have showed us they are capable of just about anything when they put their minds to it. I never in a million years would have expected them to recover from a 15-point 4th-quarter deficit on the road to the best team in the league (record-wise and home court-wise). But they also caught some huge breaks at the end, and they can't count on that happening again. Still, I think if the Suns can avoid injury, anything is possible.

by TexSUN on Mar 21, 2007 10:09 AM MDT up reply actions

Yes

In short, yes, the Suns can beat any team in the league as long as they put their minds to it. Don't forget the other top teams have had their share of poor performances too. Their 14 point lead in the first half dropped to 7 and only a last second 3 point shot at the buzzer reduced it to 4. Many teams lose big leads and the Suns are not the only ones to do that. They must have talked about it at half time because they did not let it happen in the second half. IMO this was an important win for the Suns, though on paper it does not sound like it. I could see and feel their intensity last night.

The Suns know they are not there yet, and they are working toward it. They did not even celebrate their Pacific Division title after the game last night. They want the NBA championship and they are determined to work hard for it.

In last night's game I could see them hustle for every ball right from the start. They struggled initially (shooting wise) and were able to beat a team that is struggling, but that does not diminish their accomplishment. It is very difficult for any team to come back from the kind of drubbings they took in the 2 games last week. This game was a HUGE improvement and that's what they needed- get going in the right direction. They were outrebounded, but not by much. They had twice as many points in the paint as the Twolves.

The Suns wins against the Spurs and the Mavs in particular were BIG accomplishments and I would not belittle them. I am more concerned about their first round at this point because it is easy to overlook their opponent in the first round compared to what's coming up in the 2nd and 3rd.

There is never a guarantee that a top team- including Mavs and Spurs- will move into the 2nd round, so it remains only a possibility and I believe the Suns are preparing for it. Can they win a 7-game series against these two teams? On paper they have the talent to do it. It's a matter of doing it. If they have the will of last year's team, they will do it. I hope they can develop that part of their psyche.

by Vash01 @ Bright Side Of The Sun on Mar 21, 2007 10:37 AM MDT reply actions