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Open Game Day Thread: Suns v Grizz

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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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