Game Day Open Thread: Phoenix Suns at Utah Jazz

by TexSUN on Jan 10, 2008 1:19 PM MST in Phoenix Suns: Game Coverage

Phoenix Suns	at	Utah Jazz
25-10		19-17
8:30 PM Mountain / 10:30 PM Eastern
TV: My45 HD, TNT

No Steve Nash, no Grant Hill, no problem. But that was last night against the now 16-21 Indiana Pacers. And "no problem" isn't exactly accurate, as it took a late surge in overtime to dispatch a Pacers team that was missing Jermaine O'Neal. This will be the Utah Jazz, who are 19-17 and have a better home record (13-3) than the Suns (12-4). They've had their ups and downs this season, though, and are 5-5 in their last 10 games. Ironically, they are coming off of their own win over Indiana, 111-89. See if this sounds familiar:

"Our energy was definitely higher than it has been in a long time. We had 29 deflections by halftime, so guys were hustling."

That Deron Williams quote was from the NBA.com preview for the game. Sounds a lot like what the Suns were saying after that big win over Denver a few nights ago.

Well, no Steve Nash has usually meant no win for the Suns in the past three seasons. That was supposed to be different this year, in large part because of the arrival of Grant Hill. Unfortunately, the Suns won't get to put that theory to the test as Grant Hill is at home recovering from an appendectomy. However, like srp said in the comments of JSun's diary, this team sorely needs to practice playing without Nash. And hey, with these guys you never know. It might end up in the "W" column after all.

The Suns didn't have Nash (or Hill, obviously) for this November 2006 game in Utah either, and here's how close they came to winning it anyway:

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Utah Jazz

I think the loss of Nash really hurts the Suns. I think you'll see Utah win. Want my prediction?

Visit the best Utah Jazz blog on the internet:

http://myutahjazz.blogspot.com

by myutahjazz on Jan 10, 2008 1:22 PM MST reply actions

You know what?

If I were a Jazz fan, I'd probably make that prediction too. In fact, even as a Suns fan that sounds about right (especially if Shawn Marion has to miss too). But hey, anything and everything happens in this league, and sometimes missing a couple of key players is exactly what a team needs to bring out the best in the other guys.

by TexSUN on Jan 10, 2008 1:28 PM MST up reply actions

have to agree with myutahjazz on this

Hey....myutahjazz....want to trade boozer for amare?
I've always been impressed with boozer, and Deron Williams is awesome, Brewer was a good draft, also I wish we got Fez, must be a good time to be a utah fan, last yr, this yr, etc. Your definitely in the thick of things (top west teams).

Good luck tonight..

by jasonsuns1 on Jan 10, 2008 2:12 PM MST up reply actions

More Flu

Radio report says both Marion and LB have the bug.

Mmmmm ... Guinness

by JSun on Jan 10, 2008 1:41 PM MST reply actions

So why couldn't we be playing...

...the Spurs, Lakers, or Mavs tonight? Not that I wish the flu bug on anyone, but if our guys are going to be breathing their germs on somebody regardless....

by TexSUN on Jan 10, 2008 1:48 PM MST up reply actions

lol

OMG that was funny!@!!

by jasonsuns1 on Jan 10, 2008 2:13 PM MST up reply actions

No lose situation

If the Suns drop this one the Phx fan/media world won't be freaking about what it means to our playoff hopes and it won't give the Jazz any kind of edge in potential pysch value...

I kind of hope they sit Marion and let him rest too. His arm was bothering him the rest of that game even though he man'd up and covered Tinsley for the rest of the night and he's got the bug also...Heck, they could sit LB too and give AT and DJ some minutes. I have no problem with that. It would be fun to see even if it almost certainly would be a loss.

OTH, if they come out with a defensive mind set and shut down Utah and win a muck it up low scoring defensive game then that would be something.

I would expect to see Skinner starting on Boozer and Banks to get solid minutes on Deron w/ Amare roaming a bit to get some weakside blocks.

I would also love to see Marks get some good minutes too. Against the Jazz he can easily stay w. Okur and at least give Boris someone to pass to for a mid range J since Skinner is coming back to earth and playing more Skinner-like on offense.

by Seth Pollack on Jan 10, 2008 2:45 PM MST reply actions

AK 47 might not play

just to make it more interesting...
http://deseretnews.com/article/1,5143,695242843,00.html

by Seth Pollack on Jan 10, 2008 2:52 PM MST reply actions

I'm falling asleep already

Just watching this Pistons-Spurs molasses fest. At least the Spurs are losing. I don't see how I'll ever make it all the way to the end of the second game.

by SueB on Jan 10, 2008 8:15 PM MST reply actions

Yikes!

Just heard that Kirilenko and Matt Harpring definitely won't play for Utah. Should be interesting to see what happens. Go Suns!!!

by TwinnerA on Jan 10, 2008 8:16 PM MST reply actions

Marion is out too

Or so it said scrolling across the screen at the bottom of the TNT broadcast.

Good news is that SA is looking good to go down at home to Detroit, trailing by 10 with under two minutes to go.

With this being a nationally televised game, I'm not going to live blog tonight. Got an early day tomorrow, and with the late start time, I'm taking the night "off" from blogging. This is basically a "practice game" anyway at this point. (Not that there isn't some value in that for the more analytical ones amongst us. :) ).

by TexSUN on Jan 10, 2008 8:39 PM MST up reply actions

At least there won't be OT in the first game :)

by SueB on Jan 10, 2008 8:42 PM MST reply actions

LOL

At least I can finally fill in the starting lineups now:

http://www.azcentral.com/members/Blog/PaulCoro/14412

by TexSUN on Jan 10, 2008 8:44 PM MST reply actions

Different but strangely familliar

Fast pace. Good shooting. Getting burned on the boards. So what's different?

by SueB on Jan 10, 2008 8:58 PM MST reply actions

Utah has 20 pts in the paint

Amare playing matador defense, apparently so as not to get into foul trouble. So when does he start?

by SueB on Jan 10, 2008 9:06 PM MST reply actions

yep

my thoughts exactly

by jasonsuns1 on Jan 10, 2008 9:10 PM MST up reply actions

ok

it's official, this is an ugly game for us being so short handed, this isn't even good background tv,

by jasonsuns1 on Jan 10, 2008 9:09 PM MST reply actions

I'll be lucky

If I make it to halftime.

by SueB on Jan 10, 2008 9:15 PM MST up reply actions

Halftime

I think there will be a lot of us leaving at halftime. The late start time doesn't help. I was already planning this to be a DVR the second half night anyway thanks to an early workday tomorrow.

by TexSUN on Jan 10, 2008 9:32 PM MST up reply actions

So far...

...the Suns are missing Marion's defense and rebounding a lot more than they're missing Nash's playmaking. Diaw is doing really well at keeping the ball moving when he's on the floor. (We fell way behind when he was on the bench). 28 points in the first quarter is respectable without three starters, but allowing 35 is another matter.

by TexSUN on Jan 10, 2008 9:14 PM MST reply actions

I don't know

I think they miss Stevie a lot. LB is going off, but nobody is really able to set anybody else up. Boris, a bit.

by SueB on Jan 10, 2008 9:16 PM MST up reply actions

All together now...

Play D.J.! I don't think he could do any worse than Pike is right now.

by TexSUN on Jan 10, 2008 9:19 PM MST reply actions

Exactly

And at least he'd bring some energy to the proceedings. Instead of lead feet and a bad 3-point shot.

by SueB on Jan 10, 2008 9:25 PM MST up reply actions

Not sure about the bad 3-point shot....

...but energy and quickness at least.

by TexSUN on Jan 10, 2008 9:30 PM MST up reply actions

I meant Pike's 3-point shot is bad

by SueB on Jan 10, 2008 9:31 PM MST up reply actions

So is DJ's

...most of the time anyway. Although he did do pretty well in the D-League.

by TexSUN on Jan 10, 2008 9:33 PM MST up reply actions

'Night all

Well, it hasn't been awful, but it hasn't been good enough to make it worth being a zombie at work tomorrow either. I'm going to let Mr. DVR take over from here. Good night everyone.

by TexSUN on Jan 10, 2008 9:47 PM MST reply actions

Welll....

Gotta say that this game sure is proceeding as expected. Losing half our starters kinda hurts. Alot.
Well at least those scum sucker Spurs lost their game. Kinda makes this game seem better.

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

by Turambar on Jan 10, 2008 10:17 PM MST reply actions

A Jazz fans take

Here is a Jazz fans take of the game:

http://myutahjazz.blogspot.com

by myutahjazz on Jan 11, 2008 12:16 AM MST reply actions

Marion

Marion got hurt in a hard fall onto his shoulder/arm/elbow on Wed. night, so he wasn't bailing on the game. I wouldn't be surprised if he missed Sat. night's game either.

by TwinnerA on Jan 11, 2008 10:02 AM MST up reply actions

I only made it

to about half way thru the 3rd Qtr....I was disappointed that Marks and DJ didn't get in sooner but the first half wasn't bad.

Someone above mentioned that missing Marion on D was the worst part and I totally agree w/ that. Also, Amare really didn't play well on either end...at least in the part of the game I watched. I will watch the rest later tonight.

by Seth Pollack on Jan 11, 2008 10:05 AM MST reply actions

Amare

I can see Amare figuring that since they probably weren't going to win anyway, was there any reason to put forth the effort in a hopeless cause? Not the right attitude to have in my opinion when what they needed was a great game from Amare if they wanted to have any chance of winning. The thing that disappoints me about Amare is his inconsistency from game to game. If he wants to be a leader or the leader of the team, he needs to bring it every night.

by TwinnerA on Jan 11, 2008 1:42 PM MST up reply actions

yep

your comment exactly states why I feel we've made a mistake in placing amare into the upcoming role of franchise player, it's a mistake! Joe Johnson could've been our franchise player in another yr or 2 with nash getting along. And we could've gotten so much, amare's trade value has to be very low vs what it was (but still high mind you),

I feel like what others are starting to say, the suns aren't as much fun as the last 2 yrs...so far...(hoping)..

by jasonsuns1 on Jan 11, 2008 6:27 PM MST up reply actions