Suns Blow Out Nuggets

by Dan on Mar 31, 2007 11:12 AM MDT in Suns News

Anyone still think the Suns should get rid of Shawn Marion in the off-season? It's kind of interesting to look at the stats over the past few games. Marion hurt his right hand on February 27. After missing a few games for that injury, he came back and only averaged about 12 points per game since then. And during that time the Suns only won 8 of the 12 games. Not bad but as some people have pointed out, some of those games were squeakers against very poor teams.

Last night Shawn Marion shot 13-17, had 33 points and 9 rebounds. And the Suns blew out the Nuggets.

It also helps that Amare Stoudemire shot 6-11, Raja Bell shot 7-11 and Steve Nash shot 7-12. Kurt Thomas didn't shoot well but he had 10 rebounds. And Steve Nash had 11 assists.

At the beginning of the game, it looked like the Suns wanted a repeat of the Golden State Warriors game the night before. They came out with no energy, they were getting beat to the ball in every occasion and they suddenly were down by 18. Then Raja Bell got called for a flagrant foul that wasn't a flagrant. Carmelo Anthony tried to act tough and stare down Raja despite the fact we all know he is a wuss (see video at about 28 seconds in). And after that point, the Suns outscored the Nuggets by something like 35 points for the rest of the game. The foul obviously wasn't flagrant. He fouled the guy and the guy tripped. But it seems the "flagrant foul" actually helped get the crowd into the game and that crowd anxiety helped the Suns get fired up.

Speaking of the crowd, I usually get upset when the crowd boos the home team when they're losing. But in the case of the game last night, I think the smattering of boos that you heard throughout the arena actually got the Suns in gear. They realized that they really weren't playing hard or very well.

Last night was a good turnaround game for the Suns. Obviously, they won't be able to get down by 18 to the Mavericks and still come back. Hopefully the Suns will play a little harder at the beginning of the game tomorrow and will be able to get their mojo back to beat Dallas for the 2nd time in a row. More on the Dallas game later.

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Don't be so sure

The Suns almost were down by 18 to the Mavericks, at the start of the 4th quarter no less, and on the road not even three weeks ago. I know the games since then make that seem like the very distant past, so it's easy to forget. But that game convinced me: Our guys are never out of it as long as they continue to fight for it (which is why it's so disheartening and frustrating when they don't).

by TexSUN on Mar 31, 2007 11:36 AM MDT 0 recs

Oh, and about Marion

How bad had things gotten in Suns fandom before this game? Bad enough that even some of the folks at phxsuns.net had resorted to Marion trade pleas, thereby making me look bad for mentioning a few days ago that stuff like that never happened there. I've been a member of their site for about a month, and was reading it for a couple of months prior, and had never seen any "trade Marion" posts there until this week. A few wanted D'Antoni's head for not expanding his rotation and being stubborn, but nobody was calling for Marion's. Hopefully, this game will help shut down some of that complaining.

However, Marion could really help himself by (a) following this game up with a similar effort tomorrow, and (b) stop whining about not getting enough touches. I almost retracted my "Star Pupil" designation for him in my Grading the Game diary after reading his post-game quotes that this was the first game he's "been able to get involved" in a while. BS! Nobody prevented him from hustling, getting into passing lanes, grabbing rebounds, making steals, etc. If it's because of his injury, fine. But that quote made it sound like he was blaming his teammates, and that's not good.

Ok, I'm starting to rant again, so I'll be quiet now. :) This was still one of the nicest comebacks the Suns have had all year, and Marion played great. He just needs to keep doing it is all (preferably without throwing his teammates under the bus).

by TexSUN on Mar 31, 2007 11:50 AM MDT 0 recs

Marion

I was happy that Matrix played great and he was the MVP for the team last night. I would never agree to trading him. He is a key defensive player for the Suns. However, I did not appreciate his comments about not getting the ball. He was blaming his team mates and/or coaches for not calling plays for him. That's totally against team philosophy. The Suns have had so much success because the players are selfless. Marion's comment did not seem to fit in that category, and I say this with some regret because I really do love his game.

From what I read in the AZ Rep, a Suns VP talked to Marion about creating scoring opportunities for himself by creating more energy- going for rebounds, steals, etc. When Matrix did that, the result was great.

Raja Bell was not only diplomatic but very team oriented in his comments. He said that Shawn not getting the ball was the result of the team not playing well. It is true that the Suns as a team had appeared disintegrated in the previous games.

Dantoni even accepted the blame for the Suns poor play in recent games. I wish Marion had shown some humility too. The only way the Suns can win is by being a TEAM and not fighting for individual laurels. Those will come if they win.

One last thing- Nash impacts the team in different ways. When the Suns were struggling yesterday, he said in the huddle (this was on the Official Suns' site, I think)- "Let us just play and have fun". So they got back to being Suns and having fun. It is amazing that Steve knows instinctively what the team needs at any given moment- it can be on the court or off the court. That is why he is the two time MVP.

by Vash01 on Mar 31, 2007 12:11 PM MDT 0 recs

The crowd

The crowd was getting restless when the Nuggets seemed to score at will and the Suns shots were off. I even heard a few boos, I think- just a faint sound, but it was there. One thing I have decided is that I will never boo the Suns, no matter how they play. As the home crowd our job is to encourage the team.

However, I wonder if that little negativity from local fans may have actually helped the Suns? The flagrant foul on Raja and the non-call on LB made them mad too. Something just seemed to wake them up and I am not sure what it was.

by Vash01 on Mar 31, 2007 12:14 PM MDT 0 recs

I never boo, period

I don't boo, period. Not the home team, or the visiting team, or even the refs. I think it's bad sportsmanship. While I wasn't at the recent Dallas-Suns game myself, I'm embarrassed for the whole city of Dallas at how the crowd booed after the game was over. It was disgraceful and childish, and pretty much epitomized the type of fans that attend games there these days (and a big factor in why I wasn't at that game).

by TexSUN on Mar 31, 2007 12:25 PM MDT up 0 recs

I admit

I have occasionally boo'ed the refs for missing a call, or the opposite (against the home team). I don't boo the opposing team either. I think it was the SA game when STAT was hit in the crotch and the refs called a foul against STAT! That was too much. However, I believe the refs are doing the best job possible. They are human and prone mistakes, and even some preferences toward certain players or certain teams.

by Vash01 on Mar 31, 2007 12:34 PM MDT 0 recs

I'll admit...

I boo when I'm at home or at the game. I think it is part of the game and isn't necessarily bad sportsmanship. If the team was sitting on the bench booing the refs, that obviously would be. But I think the players expect it and I think some players like Kobe, Jordan and Bird actually thrived off of boos.

When Joe Johnson came back to Phoenix, I booed him. When Kobe comes to town, I boo him. When Jason Kidd came back for the first few years, I booed him. I most usually don't boo the refs. They're doing the best they can. But if the refs start taking over the game or show too much attitude and call a technical foul on someone (like the T against Nash the other night), then I boo the refs too.

I don't yell and swear at anyone and just feel that booing is my way of supporting my team. So I don't feel bad about it at all. But my wife refuses to boo and won't let our kids boo either so I understand that line of thinking as well.

by Dan on Mar 31, 2007 2:24 PM MDT 0 recs

Maybe it's a gal thing?

I agree with your wife. I guess we gals just don't like to boo. :)

However, if I were going to boo someone, Kobe would be at the top of my list. And that technical against Nash in the GSW game was ridiculous (but then he got away with blatant T-deserving behavior last night so that kind of evens things out).

by TexSUN on Mar 31, 2007 2:35 PM MDT up 0 recs

I forgot

If Kobe is playing, I am likely to boo him, and any elbow throwing actions by him. I did not go to the first Lakers game here; I am likely to go to the one in April.

I do remember booing Dirk during the intro when Dallas was here for the first game. I respect his talents, but if he plays against the Suns, I will show him no mercy (unless he is injured).

by Vash01 on Mar 31, 2007 3:45 PM MDT 0 recs