There isn't much to say about this one other than the Suns didn't answer the bell. The fell behind early 0-10 and never recovered. No comeback, no energy, no defense, no excuses. With a few exceptions, this team looked like they'd rather be anywhere else on the planet than in Charlotte, NC, playing a basketball game.
I choose to skip the usual witty commentary and get to the hard facts.
Here you go:
- The Bobcats scored 42 first quarter points, a record for them.
- The Bobcats led by as many as 39 points.
- The Bobcats' Gerald Wallace scored 24 first half points.
- The Bobcats shot 50% from the field, 66% from three point land.
- The Bobcat starters all scored in double figures except Boris Diaw, and registered a +/- of at least +21
- The Bobcats out-rebounded the Suns 47-38
- The Bobcats registered 12 steals
- The Bobcats scored 52 points in the paint, 26 fast break points, and 24 points off of 15 Sun turnovers
- The Bobcats Stephen Jackson scored 29 points and reached the 10,000 point plateau.
Good enough? Or should I continue on with more Charlotte Bobcats love?
Didn't think so. On to our beloved Phoenix Suns:
- The Suns shot 41% from the field. Unlike the past couple games though, they were consistently out hustled, outplayed, and out-hearted.
- Channing Frye and Jason Richardson were a combined 4-13 from the field for a grand total of 13 points.
- Every Suns starter registered a Hollinger negative. No Sun starter finished above a -18.
- The Suns were 8-23 (34.8%) from beyond the arc.
- The Suns committed 15 turnovers.
- The Suns scored 5 (five) fast break points.
- The Suns finished the game with 1 (one) steal.
- The Suns have lost 3 straight, their first 3 game losing streak of the season.
You get it, right?
OK, now on to the few positives we can take away from this miserable excuse of a professional basketball game:
- There were some strong bench performances. But keep in mind the Bobcats pulled their starters early in the third when it was clear the Suns were finished. Nevertheless, the numbers count, so let's give credit where credit may be due:
- Leandro Barbosa scored 17, on 6-14 shooting
- Robin Lopez continues to impress with 14 points and 3 blocks
- Earl Clark played 21 minutes and scored 12 points on 5-9 shooting.
- Lou Amundson had 5 points and 7 rebounds.
- Before exiting in the 4th with a knee injury, Goran Dragic played well, adding 9 points, 3 assists, and 3 rebounds.
- Amare Stoudemire went for 19 and 7, with 3 blocks and became the youngest player in Suns history to reach 10,000 points.
- Goran Dragic exited the game in the 4th quarter after injuring his knee. It is apparently not serious, and he should play on Monday.
- The Suns were a collective 21-25 from the charity stripe (84%). I'm thinking of making a comment about how free throws are important and that we could have used that 84% last night, but I will refrain.
- The Suns had 14 blocks. Blocks are good, yes?
End
Alvin Gentry:
"We didn't slow them down at all. I mean they're not a team to score a lot of points. They're averaging 93 points a game. They had that in the middle of the third quarter. I wouldn't be surprised if they made the playoffs. And I wouldn't be surprised if they made it tough on somebody."
Grant Hill
:
"We've played some poor ball. We've got to figure out who we are, who we want to be."
Anonymous (AP):
The Suns locker room before the game had a big screen TV showing the Bobcats game from Friday. Another TV above it, with sound, showed Cardinals-Saints. Almost all eyes were on the NFL playoff game.
Next up @Memphis on Monday 5:30 P.M. (TNT-UGH)
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