Suns win with a gem of a game

by Dan @ Bright Side Of The Sun on Apr 29, 2007 4:19 PM MDT in Phoenix Suns News

Wow. Now that is Phoenix Suns basketball.

Shawn Marion - 22 points, 11 rebounds
Steve Nash - 17 points, 23 assists
Amare Stoudemire - 27 points, 21 rebounds

And with those stats, the Suns won the game 113-100.

When the Suns are playing this way, is there any team that can beat them? Kobe Bryant had an awesome game with 31 points and 9 assists. 9 assists from Kobe? He only averaged 5 for the season and 4 for the playoffs. He doubled the average and scored over 30 points and the Lakers still didn't have a chance.

Does it ever seem like there are games where the Suns just KNOW they are going to win? There is no doubt in their minds that they'll win the game and it starts to rub off on the other team. Pretty soon it seems like the opposing team knows the Suns are going to win as well and they stop trying. It reminds me of the best Michael Jordan teams. When those Bulls teams would come onto the court, everyone in the building knew they were going to win.

Was there anything wrong with this game? The Suns had more rebounds, more assists, more steals, less turnovers, less fouls, more offensive rebounds, and were 3 percentage points behind the Lakers in 3 point field goals. I just don't see what else they could have done. They figured out a way to beat the Lakers by using their trap on the pick and roll against them and it led the Suns to their 13 point win. If they play like this the rest of the postseason, they should win every series.

What do you think?

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Victory

Well the Suns came out agressive and got the W they needed. I swear when we play agressive ball we really get things goin. Only thing we coulda done better was improve from 3pt land. Even Jr. Jones looked good tonight. Ah yes it's games like these that put a smile on my face.

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

by Turambar on Apr 29, 2007 4:27 PM MDT reply actions

anything bad to say?

Not really. Only thing that worried me was the starters' minutes. But that's kind of a lame devils advocate thing and pretty cliche amongst suns fans to bring up.

Yet I did anyway.

downintx.com

by kidjay on Apr 29, 2007 4:50 PM MDT reply actions

Not worried about the starter's minutes

Game 5 isn't until Wednesday. Should be plenty of time to rest up. I'm even a little disappointed that D'Antoni didn't leave Nash in the final minute to pick up that one more assist. (Although he DID do the right thing by taking him out--no need risking injury when the game is already won just to break a record).

by TexSUN on Apr 29, 2007 8:06 PM MDT up reply actions

Two days of rest

I was not too concerned about the starters playing the whole game because they get Mon & Tues off and they play the next game at home. They should be OK.

FANYASTIC game by Nash. I hope those who voted against him in the MVP ballots are regretting it now.

by Vash01 @ Bright Side Of The Sun on Apr 29, 2007 4:54 PM MDT reply actions

Amazing Amare'

Amare lived up to his word, as he almost always does. He played great- 21 rebounds, 27 points. The only thing that was missing was the 30-20 but I don't think any of the Suns players was worried about the individual record.

by Vash01 @ Bright Side Of The Sun on Apr 29, 2007 4:55 PM MDT up reply actions

Just being nit picky

The one thing they could have done better was the 3-point shooting. The Lakers had a higher percentage.

Nash was absolutely the maestro. The announcers could not stop raving about him.

I think the Lakers played these last two games as well as they are capable of playing. If the Suns play with the same kind of intensity, they should be able to wrap up the series.

As good as the Suns were, I hesitate to say it will be enough against teams like the Spurs, Mavs (if they play the way they are capable of), or even Denver or the eastern conference champs. The Suns will need to continue to improve if they want the trophy.

Nice job today though.

by Vash01 @ Bright Side Of The Sun on Apr 29, 2007 5:09 PM MDT reply actions

Optimism!!!

Nothing personal but I'm not sure why you would hesitate to say the Suns could beat the Spurs, Mavs, the Eastern Conference Champs, or even Denver. That's a fairly long list and our Suns are definitely playing some very good basketball.

If they play this strong and energized they will beat any of those teams. I'm not so sure the Mavs have much of a chance this year at even getting out of the first round, Denver is withering away slowly, and I think the Spurs have something to worry about next round.

The Suns played great basketball tonight!

by Trvs on Apr 29, 2007 6:57 PM MDT up reply actions

Hesitant

I am hesitant to talk about championship (and beating Spurs, Mavs, Denver, eastern conf champs) because:

1.I don't want to jinx the Suns
2.I am a pessimist.
3.Whenever I think the Suns will win, they lose.
4.Suns have had some consistency problems- game to game
5.Suns have always feared the Spurs, for a good reason
6.Denver is a much stronger team now, firing on all cylinders, and they have the DPY.

If the Suns want to beat all those teams, they will need to consistently play well. So far they have played 2 great games in the playoffs, one awful game (#3) and one bad game that did not cost them a win (#1). I don't mean they must win 4-0 each round, but there should not be such discrepancy in the game to game performance.

That said, I just don't want to jinx our team by talking about championship, not even when they are just one win away from it.

by Vash01 @ Bright Side Of The Sun on Apr 29, 2007 7:41 PM MDT up reply actions

Well said...

the Suns inconsistencies definitely bring out some understood pessimism in everyone.

Let's hope Denver can give the Spurs a bit more trouble and find a way to win another one or two games.... the Suns are essentially a revved up, more fluid and efficient run and gun team than Denver so if Denver can make a nice dent over their in San Antonio, even fairly close losses are fine by me... I'll be very excited for our team.

by Trvs on Apr 29, 2007 8:02 PM MDT up reply actions

wrong score!

Suns won 113 - 100

by Mister T in AZ @ Bright Side Of The Sun on Apr 29, 2007 6:12 PM MDT reply actions

You're right

I don't know what I did except fat finger it. It's fixed now. How embarrassing that I would do that to the awesome game! Thanks for pointing it out.

by Dan @ Bright Side Of The Sun on Apr 29, 2007 8:27 PM MDT up reply actions

Wow, that's a really fat finger!

You really "fat fingered" a 1 instead of a 0 ?! Just how fat are your fingers, anyway? :)

by TexSUN on Apr 29, 2007 8:42 PM MDT up reply actions

It was just a typo

because you mentioned the 13 point leader later in the article. No biggy -- happens to everyone.

by Mister T in AZ @ Bright Side Of The Sun on Apr 30, 2007 8:18 AM MDT up reply actions

STAT and NASH

wow, can't say enough about stat's play. Some of those drives to the basket and dunks had my entire family up and cheering. Setting picks was enough to help Nash with the trap, it didn't seem like L.A. played as hard on defense as the last game, hustle wise.

Magic Johnson was in the stands and said what a lot of us Suns fans are thinking, with Barbosa, Nash, and Marion doing their thing, if STAT continues to play like this in the playoffs, the Suns should win the championship.

I was chasing 2 little kids while Johnson spoke, so I don't have the quote, and above is just in general what he was saying. But, the point that really stood out, if STAT keeps doing on defense and offense what he's done in 2 of the games this series, it really takes the Suns to another level which they haven't been at. I know everyone is cautious about the Spurs, but this Amare is really rising his game to an incredible level, his teammates are lucky to have him, as STAT is lucky to have them. I really think if the Suns stay healthy, this is the year...been a long wait...26 years for me.

by jasonsuns1 on Apr 29, 2007 7:55 PM MDT reply actions

Boris was fab!

Well, at least in the 4th quarter he was. I had been yelling at the TV every time he passed the ball when he was within a matter of a few feet from the rim and then suddenly he came alive in the 4th quarter. Not sure if it was because L.A. appeared to be throwing in the towel or what, but it was nice to see for once.

I kept expecting Kobe to go crazy in the 4th quarter, but it didn't happen and eventually you could tell that he wasn't about to kill himself trying to score when we had a 15-20 point lead.

Raja may not have scored much, but when he is guarding Kobe, his hands are full and he did a great job on Kobe today.

by TwinnerA on Apr 29, 2007 8:43 PM MDT reply actions

He got elbowed

Boris got elbowed, and I think called for a foul for his trouble, if I remember correctly. That seemed to light a fire under him. I think the Suns need to hire someone to smack Boris before every game to get him fired up. He doesn't seem to be aggressive until after he's the on the receiving end of someone else's aggressiveness.

by TexSUN on Apr 29, 2007 8:50 PM MDT up reply actions

No problem...

...against the Spurs. They will smack Boris and everyone else on the team. We will need solid contributions from every Suns player if we are to win round 2 (that is, if we get through round 1 first).

by Vash01 @ Bright Side Of The Sun on Apr 29, 2007 9:02 PM MDT reply actions