Game Thread: Phoenix Suns vs Sacramento Kings

by Dan on Mar 25, 2007 10:10 AM MDT in Suns News Comment 18 comments

It's one of these home-away games that seemed to occur a lot more frequently last season. I kind of like doing it towards the end of the season because it allows the coaches to prepare for the playoffs. Play a game. Wait for a couple of days while analyzing what went right and what went wrong in that game. Play the same team again. I think it will be a telling sign to see not only where the players are at this point in the season but also the coaches. They're the ones who have to come up with a game plan based on what went on during the last game.

Of course, this time will be a bit different because Ron Artest won't be trying to find a flight to Phoenix after his court date. But even with Ron Artest, the Sacramento Kings aren't a great team. The Suns should be able to come up with a good plan to beat the Kings.

There probably won't be as many rebounds but if the Kings are trying to get more rebounds that means they aren't playing transition defense. And that means the Suns can run more than they did in the previous game when they do get the rebounds.

What are your thoughts on the game?

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I hate these afternoon games

They disrupt my whole schedule on the weekends. Sunday evening games are my favorite, because after all weekend chores are done, I can veg out in front of the TV for a game before going to bed. But Sunday afternoon games are a different matter altogether. For those, I have to take time out in the middle of the day that I would normally be doing chores, which means I then have to do the chores in the evening when I would normally be vegging. Completely screws up everything. So the Suns better make it a good game! :)

by TexSUN on Mar 25, 2007 10:52 AM MDT reply actions 0 recs

Welll i love the afternoon games

Being in Germany means that afternoon games become my night games, instead of 3 or 4am games. So this is fine by me, as i'll be chillin outside with a keg of Kolsch (a regional beer, look it up) and a big cigar listening on the radio as our glorius Suns stomp on the hapless Kings. Well atleast i hope they do the stomping, and they should seeing as how i cant imagin the Suns going two games in a row with bad 3pt shooting. This should be a fun one, a game that hopefully helps the Suns outa the wierd funk they've been goin in and out of.

by Turambar on Mar 25, 2007 11:33 AM MDT reply actions 0 recs

I see your point

I forgot about you being in Germany. I can see why an afternoon game would be a big hit with you. LOL.

by TexSUN on Mar 25, 2007 12:27 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

I don't like them either

It locks up my Sunday afternoon, or at least a part of it. I think the players also prefer evening games. Apparently they like to sleep at the time these afternoon games are played. When the LAL were visiting, the Suns looked like they were still asleep. I hope that won't happen this time.

I expect a much tougher game for the Suns. After the blowout couple days back, there might be a tendency to relax/be overconfident. That will be dangerous against a team that will be motivated to prove itself, and Artest will definitely change the game. The Suns better be ready.

I expect to see an improvement in the 3 point shooting for the Suns- that's the area they were weak in on Thurs. They still need to run the ball and the Kings are not a 'big' team so the Suns should be able to play their own game against them.

The Suns must win the games they are supposed to win and this is one of them. The Memphis game tomorrow will be the other one. This is the chance to work out the kinks in their offense and improve the defense, so that they are ready for GSW, Denver and Dallas (I like that gradual progression in difficulty).

The Kings were one of the teams I was hoping would make the playoffs this year (along with GSW)- I like the northern Cal teams because I visit the bay area frequently. I would rather see these two teams than the S.Cal teams and that team in Colorado in the playoffs. However, not at the cost of a Suns win.

by Vash01 on Mar 25, 2007 11:42 AM MDT reply actions 0 recs

I can't stand the Kings

Besides the Lakers and Dallas, I hate the Kings the most. It stems back to when the Suns had to play them in the playoffs a few years ago and there were so many stupid Kings fans in the stands it made the game unwatchable. Kings fans + cowbells = a bad time at the Phoenix Suns arena

by Dan on Mar 25, 2007 3:16 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

I can think of a long list of teams..

...that I hate more than the Kings. The Lakers lead the list (can't stand that whole franchise), Detroit (they're even more arrogant than the Mavericks), Miami (I hate their "we'll just turn it on in the playoffs" attitude), Utah (can't stand their style of play), Houston (ditto). The Kings aren't my favorite team, but mostly it's Ron Artest and Mike Bibby that incur my wrath. The team is a whole is too pathetic to hate these days.

by TexSUN on Mar 25, 2007 6:06 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

Bad time for the Suns today!

It is very upsetting that the Suns are losing (there are 24 seconds left in the game) to a bad team like the Kings. It's the same old story- the other team is inspired; the Suns are not. Silly mistakes, no defense at all, letting Bibby and Artest score at will. I don't understand why Dantoni could not put Jalen Rose in the game with the Suns struggling with the 3 point shot.

I have serious doubts about the Suns making it past the first round at this point. This is not just one game; they have been playing poorly for quite sometime. After the all star game they have not won many games. This team is a team of underachivers; quite a contrast to last year's team that could pull off wins.

I am glad that I am not going to the Memphis game tomorrow. I am so fed up! Unfortunately I am going to have to watch them lose to Denver and Dallas next week because I am going to both games.

The Suns have just ruined my Sunday afternoon!

by Vash01 on Mar 25, 2007 3:54 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs

WTF?

I'm really beginning to worry now. The Suns have been in a wierd funk for far too long now. I mean really folks, it's almost like there's a totally different team out on the court now than we saw in the first half of the season. ARGGGGG@!!!!!@@#@. Someone needs to light a fire under their asses and soon. Well all will be forgiven if they can beat Denver and Dallas next week.

by Turambar on Mar 25, 2007 4:04 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs

It's not going to happen

The way this team is playing, it's not even a playoff caliber team. They cannot beat a team that has lost 8 out of 10 games, most of them being blow outs. The Suns have SERIOUS problems and they better do something about it or it's going to be a short post season.

Why is James Jones on the floor if he cannot score a point? Why is the bench not contributing except Barbosa? Why is Marion not being utilized? Steve Nash cannot do it all. This team needs to wake up, or may be their coach needs to wake up to the reality.

by Vash01 on Mar 25, 2007 4:33 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs

Let's settle down just a bit

Think about it. The Kings are playing for their playoff lives. What are the Suns playing for? Another win?

I don't think it's a huge deal to lose to the Kings. They had a heck of a lot more to play for than the Suns did.

by Dan on Mar 25, 2007 5:28 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs

Only one thing I ask

At least chase Mike Bibby off the 3-point line before he can get to 9-12!!!! If for no other reason than it's good practice for when you have to play Jason Terry in the WCF. PLEASE!!!!

Ok, rant over....

by TexSUN on Mar 25, 2007 5:46 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

Terry

I agree with you TexSun. They could have practised defending against a great 3-point shooter.

The Mavs are going to see the tapes of this game and get the ball to Jason Terry OFTEN! In the mean time the Suns 3-point shooting has regressed considerably.

by Vash01 on Mar 25, 2007 6:10 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs

Nash is old

Nash is looking even slower than he normally does these days. He's going to have to get most of the calls if we want to beat Denver or Lakers in the first round. I hope we can get lucky again like last year.

Go Suns!

by mitchell on Mar 25, 2007 11:22 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs

Excuse me!

Nash does not look slow to me. He still makes amazing shots, steals, and makes defensive plays. Just because the Suns played poorly does not mean Nash is old. He may be old in terms of number of years but he is in the best shape of his life. His numbers tell the story- he has improved in points per game, assists and shooting percentage (almost).

by Vash01 on Mar 26, 2007 12:23 AM MDT reply actions 0 recs

LOL

I guess Mitchell wasn't watching when Nash laid waste to the Dallas Mavericks in 2OT a couple of weeks ago. Yesterday was probably the worst game Nash has had defensively all year, and one of his worst all round really, but he was hardly the only one at fault.

by TexSUN on Mar 26, 2007 9:47 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

yeah he did, but...

nash with the rest of team was WASTED the next two games... how can the suns expect to play like that one night, and take off the next two? Hopefully nash's age is not catching up with him late in the season agian, because he's played so well up until this point. And I believe because his numbers are up, he might be doing MORE (physically) this year to get everyone involved, and it could come back to haunt the suns in the playoffs.

by Toddy on Mar 26, 2007 2:17 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

Well that situation won't happen in the playoffs

I can guarantee there will never be a back-to-back following a 2OT game in the playoffs. And unless it's at the end of a series/start of the next one, any game following a multi-OT game in the playoffs would happen with both teams in the same boat.

by TexSUN on Mar 26, 2007 3:27 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

It wasn't just Nash

The whole team was exhausted after the Dallas game, and it wasn't just the Suns team. The Mavs had problems too but they lucked into playing against Boston instead of Detroit after that 2OT game.

Nash is in the best shape of his career. I don't think the age is catching up with him yet, and he is so tough mentally that I expect to see him play even better in the playoffs. There are not many athletes who are more motivated and more focused than Nash.

It was just a perfect storm type situation when they played Det and particularly Denver (back to back). It's not going to happen in the playoffs, unless it's the 7th game of one round that goes into 2OT and their opponent has just completed a 4 game sweep before facing them. It can happen but the western conference is too competitive for any team to have that luxury.

by Vash01 on Mar 27, 2007 8:47 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs