Open Game Day Thread: Suns v Grizz

by Seth Pollack on Apr 8, 2008 1:13 PM MDT in Phoenix Suns: Game Coverage

Phoenix Suns	vs.	Memphis Grizzlies
51-26		21-56
5:00 PM Pacific / 8:00 PM Eastern
TV: My45 HD, NBA LP
Probable starters:
Steve Nash	PG	Mike Conley
Raja Bell	SG	Mike Miller
Grant Hill	SF	Rudy Gay
Amare Stoudemire	C	Darko Milicic
Boris Diaw	PF	Hakim Warrick

First things first:

O'Neal injured the hip early in Sunday's home loss to Dallas when he fouled Mavericks guard Jason Terry and took a Terry knee into his hip.

"We're just holding him out as a precaution," Suns head athletic trainer Aaron Nelson said. "There are five games left and we don't want it to linger. Shaq said he would play but I want to hold him out."

Suns point guard Steve Nash sat out of this morning's shootaround with mild back spasms but is expected to play in the 5 p.m. game at FedEx Forum.

Hat Tip to Chboddis for first spotting this news:

The Suns obviously are either in we don't really care about the seedings because we have our playoff ticket secured mode. Or as I would prefer to think, they are "saving" the big fella for tomorrow's game in San Antonio. Inherent in that is the assumption they can beat the Grizz without Shaq and that Amare can handle Darko. Pretty good bet as long as the Suns show up and play and leave the hubris ~~at home~~ to us bloggers.

Update [2008-4-8 19:41:19 by Phoenix Stan]:

Sorry for the thin pre-game on this one. Busy day.

Key to not Fluking again:

Defensive intensity and a quick lead should send the message to the Grizz that their night is better spent thinking about their lottery position then trying to really get in the Suns way. If the Suns let this team hang around and get confident we could be in for a bear-fight and that's not something the Suns want the night before a game in San Antonio.

Btw - I don't know if anyone mentioned, but TexSun is traveling with very limited internets access. That's why the live blogging has been a bit less organized of late.

Check out this great pre-game analysis at the awesome NBA blog 3 Shades of Blue.

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Comments

I think they care

They have to care, saying that they can beat any team it's not enough. They have to shut up and do it. We can't afford 4th quarter meltdowns in the playoffs.

Resting Shaq is a good move, Hope Steve can bounce back from that awful sunday game.

This playoffs are not going to be easy, no matter who we play. But it should make it even more sweeter when we beat the competetion.

Hang on to something my friends!!!! It's going to be a hell of a ride!

by PanamaSun on Apr 8, 2008 4:05 PM MDT reply actions

i agree

i agree with you Pnamasun 1001% its going to be a hell of a ride.

by wapsobsidians on Apr 8, 2008 4:34 PM MDT reply actions

I didn't make up the name

Doris Meow.

But back in the day 2005-2006, I did coin the nick, "Bad ASS Boris".

I'm hoping that Bad Ass Boris makes a cameo since Meow is starting.

It's like Bench=Bruce Banner, Starter=Bad Ass Boris.

by ZonaFlash on Apr 8, 2008 4:41 PM MDT reply actions

Oh no!!

http://www.janeironation.5gigs.com/cc.html#top

Does not have the game listed!!! Damn it!

Can anyone provide another link?

Thanks guys!

by PanamaSun on Apr 8, 2008 5:43 PM MDT reply actions

This could be a link

I have to wait for the game to start before I can confirm

http://www.ivynettv.com/sport/index.php?id=304

by ZonaFlash on Apr 8, 2008 6:10 PM MDT up reply actions

Not working for me..

Thanks for trying though

by PanamaSun on Apr 8, 2008 6:16 PM MDT up reply actions

Time To Stomp Our Last Easy Game

Go Suns!!!!!!

by MichiganSunsFan on Apr 8, 2008 6:10 PM MDT reply actions

One more?

Shouldn't the final game against Portland be considered an "easy" game? I hope so as I will be in attendance and am not looking for any drama at that game.

by TwinnerA on Apr 8, 2008 9:38 PM MDT up reply actions

I am going to try and live blog

at least the first part of the game until dinner and some other family type things take priority

Phx - where flukes happen

by Seth Pollack on Apr 8, 2008 6:10 PM MDT reply actions

APS Power match up

Hill v Gay. Makes sense.

But I think Iveroni is going to try to go at Amare early and see if he can't establish Darko and get some early fouls on stat.

Phx - where flukes happen

by Seth Pollack on Apr 8, 2008 6:12 PM MDT reply actions

Game on

tip to Suns. First shot as always goes to Raja. Missed.

Eddie Johnson is give Shaq crap about his tie being too short.

Phx - where flukes happen

by Seth Pollack on Apr 8, 2008 6:13 PM MDT reply actions

Darko misses

baby hook on first Grizz shoot.

Amare answers w/ open J.

Phx - where flukes happen

by Seth Pollack on Apr 8, 2008 6:14 PM MDT reply actions

Grizz D

looks horrible. Suns got wide open look at at 3. Twice. Missed.

Phx - where flukes happen

by Seth Pollack on Apr 8, 2008 6:15 PM MDT reply actions

Q1 8:31 Suns 6-0

as Nash hits his first shot. Good to see.

Suns D looking active. Now 6 -0 on Hill dunk in transition

as Grizz launch and miss another lame attempt. Grizz 0-5

Phx - where flukes happen

by Seth Pollack on Apr 8, 2008 6:17 PM MDT reply actions

Q1 7:41 Suns 6 -3

Grant misses open J. His shot hasn't been on for some time now. He's going to need to find that range soon.

Phx - where flukes happen

by Seth Pollack on Apr 8, 2008 6:18 PM MDT reply actions

Grant Hill hear's me

hits open 3!

Phx - where flukes happen

by Seth Pollack on Apr 8, 2008 6:19 PM MDT reply actions

Great pass by Amare

Amare passed up a dunk for a sweet inside pass to Diaw for the layup.

Good to see that!

Phx - where flukes happen

by Seth Pollack on Apr 8, 2008 6:20 PM MDT reply actions

First Tech of the Game!

but to the Grizz.

Suns up 14-8 at the 6:13 mark

Phx - where flukes happen

by Seth Pollack on Apr 8, 2008 6:21 PM MDT reply actions

Joey Crawford

T'd up Darko for complaining...maybe he smiled as well

Phx - where flukes happen

by Seth Pollack on Apr 8, 2008 6:24 PM MDT up reply actions

Great D by Amare

Amare did a great job on that one. Darko had the ball on the left baseline and tried to back Amare down. Stat stayed with him, kept his hands up and Darko stepped out of bounds.

Phx - where flukes happen

by Seth Pollack on Apr 8, 2008 6:22 PM MDT reply actions

Q1 5:54 Suns lead 14-8

Off a technical free throw from Nash and two shots at the line from Grant Hill, who was named to the Pistons All-Time Starters list tonight. Grizzlies are playing pretty pathetically.

by MichiganSunsFan on Apr 8, 2008 6:24 PM MDT reply actions

Oh NO HE DIDn'T!

Skinner on the flying Dunk on in transition!

Phx - where flukes happen

by Seth Pollack on Apr 8, 2008 6:25 PM MDT reply actions

followed up w/ a block

on Darko but unfortunately got the foul when Darko was able to grab the blocked shot.

Phx - where flukes happen

by Seth Pollack on Apr 8, 2008 6:27 PM MDT up reply actions

Q1 3:26 22-17

Suns need to finish the Q strong. Grizz are hitting their three's to stay in it.

as Amare SLAMS are follow on the Oreb!

Phx - where flukes happen

by Seth Pollack on Apr 8, 2008 6:29 PM MDT reply actions

Skinner at the line

Let's see if he's learned anthing from Shaq....

hits the first.... and the second!

26 - 22 Suns

Phx - where flukes happen

by Seth Pollack on Apr 8, 2008 6:32 PM MDT reply actions

End of the first Qtr - Suns down 33 - 30

The Suns D started well but are letting the Grizz hang around by sinking in to stop penetration and the Grizz are doing a good job kicking it out for open three's.

Suns had a couple of late turnovers leading to easy layups and also gave up a few too many offensive rebounds.

Darko leads the Grizz w/ 8 and the Grizz are shooting 80% 4 - 5 from three while the Suns are 1 - 6 from behind the arc.

Need to pick it up a bit and get some stops and close this half strong!

Phx - where flukes happen

by Seth Pollack on Apr 8, 2008 6:38 PM MDT reply actions

Are you kidding me?

Grizz up by 3? Even worse than that... we let them score 33 points in the 1Q?
Come on guys!!!

by PanamaSun on Apr 8, 2008 6:39 PM MDT reply actions

Hey - its Socks!

Elliot Perry - former Suns "Socks" - is doing a guest stint w/ the the Suns broadcast.

as Skinner starts the Q with another great block and Giri on the other lays it in.

36 - 32 Grizz.

Phx - where flukes happen

by Seth Pollack on Apr 8, 2008 6:41 PM MDT reply actions

What;'s happening!

PanamaSun? How bad you want the game...

I got it good on TVANTs. You have to download the program and then put

tvants:/220.168.156.21/tvants?k=e051d49d99753ceee8d213ab680e51f6

into your browser address bar.

Suns losing?

by ZonaFlash on Apr 8, 2008 6:44 PM MDT reply actions

Thanks man!

Going for it, downloading software now!

by PanamaSun on Apr 8, 2008 6:46 PM MDT up reply actions

Diaw's shot is falling

He had a nice inside move and then hits an open 17fter.

Suns D needs to really step it up

Grizz lead 40-38 at the 8:41

Phx - where flukes happen

by Seth Pollack on Apr 8, 2008 6:44 PM MDT reply actions

Giricek

is a smart smooth player...

Pump fakes the three steps in an nails the open J.

Time for me to go...

I will watch the rest of the game on delay (tivo) and recap later....

Have fun

Phx - where flukes happen

by Seth Pollack on Apr 8, 2008 6:48 PM MDT reply actions

How many open 3's has Barbosa missed?

39% shooting is good, but airballs when you're open?

He got the flu Nash had last game.

by ZonaFlash on Apr 8, 2008 6:54 PM MDT reply actions

That software...

Where did you get that from? It´s weird LOL, everything is in chinese and when I input the link in the adress box, I just get a small screen saying it´s buffering, but nothing comes up. =(

by PanamaSun on Apr 8, 2008 7:14 PM MDT up reply actions

All the announcer must read the same

team report.

They all say:

Bell is streaky. Bell goes 0-10 but then makes 3-3 threes in the 4Q.

If that's true, why can't Raja warmup a little more earlier?

I wonder if Raja is better in the 4Q or not. I think that's just the stuff people remember but I don't think it's true.

by ZonaFlash on Apr 8, 2008 7:11 PM MDT reply actions

wow

amare with the big steal and awesome dunk!!

Nothing in this Verse can stop us!

by jasonsuns1 on Apr 8, 2008 7:30 PM MDT reply actions

All night long

Barbosa open for 3, gets 0.

by ZonaFlash on Apr 8, 2008 7:49 PM MDT reply actions

That´s not good..

We really need him to shoot well for the playoffs. Any updates on Shaq?

by PanamaSun on Apr 8, 2008 8:04 PM MDT up reply actions

Out of the Way

I think this game was a prime example of resting your starters while they still play heavy minutes. Plenty of positives to pull from the game however. Grant Hill, Gordan Giricek, and Raja Bell had great games. Stoudemire and Nash did too, but thats nearly taken for granted nowadays. I don't buy the Shaq injury for even one second. Just a rest for tomorrow and I for one applaud the decision.

Bottom line, the Suns are focused on tomorrow and so are we.

by MichiganSunsFan on Apr 8, 2008 8:30 PM MDT reply actions