2008/2009 NBA Regular Season | ||
|---|---|---|
 |
vs. |  26-16 |
| January 25th, 2009, 4:00 PM MST / 6:00 PM EST | ||
| My45, 620 KTAR | ||
| Probable starters: | ||
| Steve Nash | PG | M.Bibby |
| Jason Richardson | SG | J.Johnson |
| Grant Hill | SF | M.Williams |
| Amare Stoudemire | PF | J.Smith |
| Shaquille O'Neal | C | Z.Pachulia |
| Official Suns Game Notes | ||
In normal times you would fully expect the Suns to come in fired up and pissed off for a game like this after getting blown out in Charolette and losing 5 of the past 6 games.
These aren't normal times.
Frustration is evident from Matt Barnes complaining about his minutes to Shaq refusing to talk to the media. Steve Nash in a valiant (but ill advised) move played Friday when he clearly should have held himself out of the game.
Everyone is trying to be the hero and yet the team chemistry that is needed and was so evident just a few weeks ago has disappeared.
Most blame Amare for his lackluster play. Many blamer Porter and/or Kerr. Sarver is always a target when times get tough and the "what if" game gets played.
I'm not in that locker room. I don't know if there's yet another cancer on this team that was just starting to look cancer free for the first time in a long long time. I don't know if Porter's style or system has phailed or if the old guys are just worn down. Here's what I know....
This is not a must win game. The Hawks are a solid team and it took a tremendous and energetic effort by Grant Hill on Joe Johnson just two weeks ago to beat them in Phoenix. A loss at this point to this team isn't going to make a heck of a lot of difference. So rest Nash if his back needs the time. I would even sit Shaq today or tomorrow which is not what the team is signaling will happen.Take a deep breadth and stop playing so tight. Just let it fly and damn the outcome.
But know this. The Suns can not afford to get blown out again and they can not afford to continue to show a lack of effort.
That all makes this a must compete game.
This is pretty much what fans of the Thunder and Clippers hope for on any given night and shows more then anything just how far this team has fallen.
One step at a time. The Suns just need to show up and play hard and then we can worry about winning again.
Peach Tree Hoops will be live blogging the game from the whatever it's called place in Atlanta.
The now world famous Destination Phoenix crew will also be in attendance. I believe in the second row behind one of the benches. I am guessing they will make themselves heard.