Well, I hadn't planned to post anymore diaries until I got done with this side project that's had me bleary-eyed and grumpy for the past two weeks, but I can't pass up the opportunity to give out my first "A". Besides, I took the night off from work, so my wrists aren't aching from too much typing for once.

Click here for details on how the grading works

Nutshell recap: Technically, this was only three quarters of a good game, but I don't care. It seems like forever since we got to see genuine Suns basketball, even for part of a game. So, I'm going to forget about that ugly early deficit, and concentrate on the part that mattered most--DEFENSE!

Overall Grade: A-

Entertainment Value: A

Star Pupil: The Matrix!! Man, was it good to see Shawn Marion back! He was everywhere tonight. His box score line of 33 points, 9 rebounds, 3 steals and 2 blocks doesn't even begin to tell the story. He got in passing lanes, broke free for easy layups, and basically just filled the arena with energy (or so it seemed from my TV-based point of view). The Denver announcers wanted to credit Nash for the win--and no doubt his fire and passion was a major factor (see below)--but the game ball has to go to Shawn for this one. Has to.

Just missed the cut: Nene and Carmelo Anthony, who along with Steve Nash (2 blocks??) ROCKED on my fantasy team tonight. Way to play REALLY well without beating the Suns in the process. Thanks, guys!

MVP moment: Steve Nash got mad. After getting hammered a couple of times without a call, and then getting a call against him, Nash finally let one of the refs have it, and somehow still managed to escape without a technical. Normally, I don't like to see players do this because it usually does result in a technical, and a free point for the other team (see Nowitzki, Dirk on 03/14/07), but in this case, it seemed to fire up everyone, including the crowd. At that point of the game, they really had nothing to lose even if Nash had gotten T'ed up, so way to go, MVP!

Dunce cap goes to: The Denver announcers. Those of us who have to watch the games via League Pass were forced to endure two hours of non-stop complaining about calls and non-calls against the Nuggets. They basically complained every time the ball changed hands. I guess the Nuggets are so perfect they never commit fouls, while the Suns are such meanies they just ran right over the poor Nuggets with impunity. I wanted to puke.

Random Thoughts: When the Suns were down by 16 early in the game, I came really close to posting a prediction that the Suns were going to come back in the second half and blow the Nuggets out. I wish I had--I would look like a genius. For some reason, I just had a feeling that this was the night they would finally put their collective size 11 feet down, similar to that Sacramento game a year ago that snapped last season's team out of a late-March slump. Hopefully, this carries over to Sunday for the game against the Mavericks. I noticed both Josh Howard and Dirk played tonight, despite their sprained ankles. With the Mavericks' 7-game lead, I'm not sure if that shows heart or just stupidity at this point.