While we're all hung over from the win over the Lakers, we have to hope the Suns aren't just as hung over.
Tonight is a prime opportunity to steal the second of these 4 really tough games (@Lakers, Nuggets, @Miami, @Orlando) before the schedule begins to ease up a bit. After game 16, the Suns get the slightest bit of breathing room on the slate.
I for one am very happy that the schedule has been a b!tch, now that the Suns have weathered much of the storm with an improbable above-.500 record. Now the Suns have something to fall back on when the lull hits (and it will hit, for sure). They know they can beat any team despite atrocious rebounding.
Remember when I wrote that rebounding doesn't matter?
Of course, that's ludicrous unless you remember the context in which I meant that statement. But if you don't, look no further than the first 9 games of the season for proof. 8 of 9 have been against teams that won 40+ games last year and are strong again this season. All 9 have outrebounded the Suns. Yet, despite having no idea how to best play together, despite having a terrible start from 3 of their 4 "big men", despite having their new Swiss-Army-knife swingman unable to grip a basketball, despite repeatedly losing the rebounding battle in embarassing fashion, they are able to beat anyone.
And now the rest of the league knows this too.
Teams have to fear the Suns again.
Rebounding half their own misses won't be enough. They have to rebound/putback most of their misses AND make lots of shots AND guard the perimeter AND guard the fast break AND stop Warrick from being Amare-lite AND cover the backdoor cuts AND stop the 2-headed bizzaro-world monster known as the PG combo of Nash and Dragic. And if they do all that, Hedo might still hit the backbreaking 3 in crunch time. Or Grant Hill might still defy aging and put up PF numbers. Or JRich might just drop 40 on them anyway.
Speaking of Hedo, how about that performance last night? I loved it.
Meanwhile, Amare's Knicks are mired in a 5-game losing streak, and he doesn't know why his teammates are okay with it.
Next up: Denver Nuggets
The Suns have owned this team recently, but if anyone can get hot and outshoot the Suns it's the Nuggets. They are just as potent and bigger (despite missing Andersen and Martin from the front line).
Carmelo Anthony, JR Smith, Ty Lawson, Chauncey Billups, Aaron Afflalo, Al Harrington... the list goes on.
When these guys are hot, watch out.
But the thing with the Nuggets is that they can beat themselves, and often do just that.
Which Nuggets team will we see tonight?
Which Suns team will we see tonight?
Phoenix Suns Schedule Denver Nuggets Who Haven't Won In Phoenix Since 2004 - SB Nation Arizona
The Denver Nuggets have not beaten the Phoenix Suns in Phoenix since before Steve Nash re-joined the Suns in 2004. That's a total of 11 consecutive home wins for Phoenix over Denver. Tonight will certainly be a challenge for the Suns to keep that streak alive as they come in after last night's road win over the Lakers while the Nuggets are fresh and rested. That said, there's a reason the Suns have won 16 of the last 22 meetings between these two teams -- the Nuggets are a good match up for the Suns.
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