Bright Side Of The Sun - Full Coverage: Suns vs CelticsDedicated to Phoenix Suns Basketball since 2006https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/47819/bs-fv.png2013-01-10T12:28:56-07:00http://www.brightsideofthesun.com/rss/stream/36195332013-01-10T12:28:56-07:002013-01-10T12:28:56-07:00Have the Suns given up?
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<figcaption>USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>The Phoenix Suns are losing a lot of games. When teams lose a lot of game things can spiral out of control and from the sounds of things there's a real danger this team may have crossed that threshold. </p> <p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/">Suns</a> are 12-25 and have lost 10 of their last 11 games with no relief in sight. They have effectively ended any pipe dream of sneaking into the playoffs and at this point will be fortunate to finish the season with 30 wins.</p>
<p>When things go south it's completely expected that players will get frustrated and the team will begin to splinter. <span>Alvin Gentry</span>, who has plenty of experience coaching bad teams, knows this which is why his media comments lately have been filled with talk of "staying together".</p>
<p>Well, it looks like the inevitable might have happened. This team is either over the mental cliff or right on the brink. You decide.</p>
<p>Paul Coro's <a href="https://go.redirectingat.com?id=66960X1516590&xs=1&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.azcentral.com%2Fsports%2Fsuns%2Farticles%2F20130109phoenix-suns-cant-hold-off-boston-celtics.html%2520%2520&referrer=sbnation.com&sref=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.brightsideofthesun.com%2F2013%2F1%2F10%2F3861668%2Fphoenix-suns-coming-apart-at-the-seams-postgame-quotes" target="_blank" rel="sponsored nofollow noopener">postgame report from Boston </a>gives us these quotes:</p>
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<p>Dragic said some of his teammates "don't care," but he obviously did by the look on his face after going through 41 minutes against Boston's full-court pressure from an older team.</p>
<p>"We got three guys battling on the floor, and the rest of the guys aren't on the same page," Dragic said. "It's tough. Right now, we're not together as a team."</p>
<p>[...]"We play well at times," Scola said. "We're just not able to play 48 minutes well. We go up and down. We're just not good enough to play that way."</p>
<p>"We're obviously in a negative dynamic. We believe that sooner or later something bad's going to happen. But it wasn't like that the whole year. So that could be something that is increasing the problem. Everything snowballs. We don't have confidence."</p>
<p>[...]Said Suns power forward <span>Markieff Morris</span>, the only second-half sub besides slumping <span>Shannon Brown</span>, "We've got to find a way to finish and score and get stops. "As a team, we've got to man up and play like men when it's time. That's including myself. We've got to have balls and the heart to make shots and get stops when we need it."</p>
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<p>Three guys who are "battling". Hmmm. Just three? Dragic, Tucker and Scola?</p>
<p>Before you go all crazy calling guys out for not playing hard, calling for the Coach to be fired, and generally going into pitchfork and feathers mode, let's remember that this was always a flawed team. There was some hope at the beginning of the season that Beasley and Johnson would perform up to their lottery potential but it was always an "if" and not a certainty.</p>
<p>As much as we'd like to think professional athletes will fight tooth and nail regardless of the score and standings, they are human beings too and...ah screw it. I'm not going to defend them. I'm just not going to burn them at the stake either. It's hard being on a bad team.</p>
<p>#LotteryBallers</p>
<p>But hey, at least the Suns have won a game in 2013 - <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/2013/1/10/3858618/los-angeles-lakers-losing-streak" target="_blank">something the Lakers can't claim.</a></p>
https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/2013/1/10/3861668/phoenix-suns-coming-apart-at-the-seams-postgame-quotesSeth Pollack2013-01-09T19:53:18-07:002013-01-09T19:53:18-07:00Road killed again
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<figcaption>Mark L. Baer-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>The road trip continues and the Suns are still months removed from winning a game away from Phoenix. The Boston Celtics were far from impressive in their 87-79 win, but they didn't need to be all that good to beat the Suns.</p> <p>It's like watching the same movie over and over and over. The plot has changed a bit since early in the season when the <a href="https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Suns</a> struggled to start the game and out of the half. Now they are starting the first and third quarters well but getting torched when the bench unit comes in and simply can't close out in the end.</p>
<p>Rinse. Lather. Repeat.</p>
<p>Are there any answers? Are there any more possible ways <span>Alvin Gentry</span> can tweak his rotations? Probably not. We might as well start giving some of those minutes to <span>Kendall Marshall</span> and <span>Luke Zeller</span> if for no other reason than to give us poor fools who watch this team something different to look at.</p>
<p>There are times, especially when the other team is lulled into laziness, when the Suns starters do a decent job running the offense. The ball can zip around a bit with Dudley and Scola providing nice interior passing that leads to some open shots.</p>
<p>Tucker, of course, works his tail off on both ends. But that's about all I got.</p>
<p>The second unit is a complete disaster.</p>
<p>Gentry gave Beasley some burn just because I guess he felt like he had to or why not. Beasley rewarded Gentry with statuesque defense and black hole offense that even all the neighborhood black holes were ashamed of. Did I forget to mention <span>Shannon Brown</span>? No.</p>
<p>The Suns did manage a 17-0 run to start the third but it felt like the <a href="https://www.celticsblog.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Celtics</a> were coasting more than the Suns were cruising. At some point around half way through the period they remembered they had to actually try a little bit and Boston quickly stemmed the tide and retook the lead before the Suns could separate.</p>
<p>The fourth quarter? Well, you've seen that before. Fill in the blanks. The only difference was Gentry's benching of his bench but the starters getting more minutes didn't change the outcome.</p>
<p>Next up, <a href="https://www.netsdaily.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Brooklyn Nets</a> on Friday. In Brookyln. What could go wrong?</p>
<p>Visit <a href="http://www.celticsblog.com/">CelticsBlog</a> to hear how horrible their team is playing and remind them what horrible really looks like.</p>
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<th class="td-left"> <span>Final - 1.9.2013 </span> </th> <th>1</th> <th>2</th> <th>3</th> <th>4</th> <th>Total</th>
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<tbody>
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<td class="td-name"><span class="loss"> <a href="https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/">Phoenix Suns</a> </span></td>
<td>24</td>
<td>17</td>
<td>23</td>
<td>15</td>
<td class="highlight">79</td>
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<td class="td-name"><span class="win"> <a href="https://www.celticsblog.com/">Boston Celtics</a> </span></td>
<td>23</td>
<td>30</td>
<td>14</td>
<td>20</td>
<td class="highlight">87</td>
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<p class="foot clearfix"><span class="link-more"><span>Complete Coverage ></span></span></p>
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<p><span>Suns vs Bucks boxscore</span></p>
https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/2013/1/9/3858204/phoenix-suns-vs-boston-celtics-recapSeth Pollack2013-01-09T16:51:16-07:002013-01-09T16:51:16-07:00Game Thread: Suns @ Celtics
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<figcaption>USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>The place is called a "Garden". Their color is green. It sounds like a nice place to visit and play some hoops.</p> <p></p>
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<div class="pane sports_data_widget events clearfix"><div class="next_game"> <h3>Next Game</h3> <div class="pane-body"> <p class="game-title"><a href="https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/">Phoenix Suns</a> <br> <span class="blog_link">@ <a href="https://www.celticsblog.com/">Boston Celtics</a> </span></p> <p class="game-info"><span>Wednesday, Jan 9, 2013, 5:30 PM MST</span><br> TD Garden</p> <div class="coverage"><div class="entry"> <h5><a href="http://www.brightsideofthesun.com/2013/1/9/3855380/phoenix-suns-vs-boston-celtics-preview">Phoenix Suns vs Boston Celtics Preview: Into the teeth of the Green Monster</a></h5> <p class="byline"><span class="author">posted by <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/Seth%20Pollack">Seth Pollack</a></span> <span class="time">about 6 hours ago</span></p> <p class="byline">18 comments | 1 rec</p> </div></div> <p class="foot clearfix"><span class="link-more"><span>Complete Coverage ></span></span></p> </div> </div></div>
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<div class="pane sports_data_widget basketball_team_stats clearfix"><div class="pane-body"><table class="zebra"> <thead class="super-head"> <tr> <th class="td-first"></th> <th colspan="2"></th> <th colspan="3">FG</th> <th colspan="3">3PT</th> <th colspan="3">FT</th> <th colspan="3">Rebounds</th> <th colspan="6">Misc</th> </tr> </thead> <thead> <tr> <th class="td-first"></th> <th>G</th> <th>M</th> <th>M</th> <th>A</th> <th>Pct</th> <th>M</th> <th>A</th> <th>Pct</th> <th>M</th> <th>A</th> <th>Pct</th> <th>Off</th> <th>Def</th> <th>Tot</th> <th>Ast</th> <th>TO</th> <th>Stl</th> <th>Blk</th> <th>PF</th> <th>PPG</th> </tr> </thead> <tbody> <tr> <td class="td-name td-first"><span>Paul Pierce</span></td> <td>34</td> <td>33.5</td> <td>6.6</td> <td>15.3</td> <td>43.5</td> <td>2.0</td> <td>5.2</td> <td>38.6</td> <td>4.6</td> <td>5.7</td> <td>80.9</td> <td>0.4</td> <td>5.1</td> <td>5.5</td> <td>3.9</td> <td>2.3</td> <td>1.5</td> <td>0.3</td> <td>2.6</td> <td class="td-last">19.9</td> </tr> <tr> <td class="td-name td-first"><span>Kevin Garnett</span></td> <td>34</td> <td>29.4</td> <td>6.2</td> <td>12.1</td> <td>51.5</td> <td>0.0</td> <td>0.1</td> <td>0.0</td> <td>2.4</td> <td>3.1</td> <td>79.8</td> <td>0.9</td> <td>6.2</td> <td>7.1</td> <td>2.3</td> <td>1.7</td> <td>1.0</td> <td>0.7</td> <td>2.1</td> <td class="td-last">14.9</td> </tr> <tr> <td class="td-name td-first"><a href="#">Rajon Rondo</a></td> <td>29</td> <td>37.5</td> <td>5.7</td> <td>11.4</td> <td>49.5</td> <td>0.4</td> <td>1.6</td> <td>26.1</td> <td>1.5</td> <td>2.4</td> <td>62.9</td> <td>1.0</td> <td>4.2</td> <td>5.2</td> <td>11.3</td> <td>3.7</td> <td>1.9</td> <td>0.3</td> <td>2.6</td> <td class="td-last">13.2</td> </tr> <tr> <td class="td-name td-first"><span>Jason Terry</span></td> <td>34</td> <td>30.0</td> <td>3.8</td> <td>9.1</td> <td>42.1</td> <td>1.6</td> <td>4.6</td> <td>36.1</td> <td>1.4</td> <td>1.6</td> <td>87.3</td> <td>0.2</td> <td>1.8</td> <td>2.0</td> <td>2.2</td> <td>1.2</td> <td>0.9</td> <td>0.1</td> <td>1.3</td> <td class="td-last">10.7</td> </tr> <tr> <td class="td-name td-first"><span>Jeff Green</span></td> <td>34</td> <td>23.1</td> <td>3.5</td> <td>8.4</td> <td>41.6</td> <td>0.6</td> <td>1.8</td> <td>33.9</td> <td>1.9</td> <td>2.4</td> <td>79.5</td> <td>0.7</td> <td>2.4</td> <td>3.1</td> <td>0.9</td> <td>1.4</td> <td>0.7</td> <td>0.6</td> <td>1.7</td> <td class="td-last">9.6</td> </tr> <tr> <td class="td-name td-first"><span>Brandon Bass</span></td> <td>34</td> <td>26.6</td> <td>3.3</td> <td>7.3</td> <td>45.2</td> <td>0.0</td> <td>0.1</td> <td>0.0</td> <td>1.4</td> <td>1.6</td> <td>85.7</td> <td>1.7</td> <td>3.5</td> <td>5.2</td> <td>0.8</td> <td>0.9</td> <td>0.6</td> <td>0.7</td> <td>2.5</td> <td class="td-last">8.0</td> </tr> <tr> <td class="td-name td-first"><span>Avery Bradley</span></td> <td>4</td> <td>23.5</td> <td>3.5</td> <td>9.3</td> <td>37.8</td> <td>0.3</td> <td>2.3</td> <td>11.1</td> <td>0.0</td> <td>0.0</td> <td>0.0</td> <td>0.8</td> <td>1.3</td> <td>2.0</td> <td>1.8</td> <td>0.5</td> <td>1.0</td> <td>0.5</td> <td>2.3</td> <td class="td-last">7.3</td> </tr> <tr> <td class="td-name td-first"><span>Courtney Lee</span></td> <td>34</td> <td>23.5</td> <td>2.8</td> <td>5.9</td> <td>47.5</td> <td>0.5</td> <td>1.5</td> <td>32.7</td> <td>0.6</td> <td>0.7</td> <td>87.0</td> <td>0.4</td> <td>1.9</td> <td>2.3</td> <td>1.2</td> <td>1.1</td> <td>1.0</td> <td>0.2</td> <td>1.5</td> <td class="td-last">6.7</td> </tr> <tr> <td class="td-name td-first"><span>Jared Sullinger</span></td> <td>34</td> <td>18.7</td> <td>2.2</td> <td>4.7</td> <td>47.5</td> <td>0.0</td> <td>0.1</td> <td>33.3</td> <td>1.1</td> <td>1.5</td> <td>78.0</td> <td>1.9</td> <td>3.5</td> <td>5.4</td> <td>0.8</td> <td>0.6</td> <td>0.4</td> <td>0.5</td> <td>3.1</td> <td class="td-last">5.6</td> </tr> <tr> <td class="td-name td-first"><span>Leandro Barbosa</span></td> <td>26</td> <td>11.5</td> <td>1.9</td> <td>4.4</td> <td>43.0</td> <td>0.4</td> <td>1.0</td> <td>37.0</td> <td>0.9</td> <td>1.2</td> <td>76.7</td> <td>0.1</td> <td>0.7</td> <td>0.8</td> <td>1.3</td> <td>0.5</td> <td>0.4</td> <td>0.2</td> <td>1.0</td> <td class="td-last">5.0</td> </tr> <tr> <td class="td-name td-first"><span>Chris Wilcox</span></td> <td>23</td> <td>13.3</td> <td>2.0</td> <td>2.7</td> <td>71.4</td> <td>0.0</td> <td>0.0</td> <td>0.0</td> <td>0.8</td> <td>1.1</td> <td>76.0</td> <td>0.9</td> <td>1.4</td> <td>2.3</td> <td>0.2</td> <td>0.7</td> <td>0.3</td> <td>0.4</td> <td>2.2</td> <td class="td-last">4.7</td> </tr> <tr> <td class="td-name td-first"><span>Jason Collins</span></td> <td>14</td> <td>13.5</td> <td>0.4</td> <td>0.9</td> <td>38.5</td> <td>0.0</td> <td>0.0</td> <td>0.0</td> <td>0.4</td> <td>0.7</td> <td>60.0</td> <td>0.8</td> <td>1.2</td> <td>2.0</td> <td>0.1</td> <td>0.7</td> <td>0.4</td> <td>0.4</td> <td>3.1</td> <td class="td-last">1.1</td> </tr> </tbody> </table></div></div>
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https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/2013/1/9/3857760/game-thread-suns-celticsSeth Pollack2013-01-09T10:28:02-07:002013-01-09T10:28:02-07:00Little Green Monsters
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<figcaption>Jared Wickerham</figcaption>
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<p>The Phoenix Suns get right back on the horse after a pretty typical road performance Tuesday night against the Bucks. The Celtics are far from impressive this season (17-17) but they are playing better of late thanks to improved defense.</p> <p>Sorry folks, it's me again. I promise you only have to put up with my miserable game coverage a couple of times per month when the <a href="https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Suns</a> happen to be on the East Coast where games start at a reasonable hour for an old man.</p>
<p>Speaking of old men, <span>Kevin Garnett</span> is still alive and very much kicking..and yapping. The <a href="https://www.celticsblog.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Celtics</a> will also have the services of <a href="#" class="sbn-auto-link">Rajon Rondo</a> after he missed yet another game due to suspension. That kid loves to bump refs or something. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.celticsblog.com/2013/1/8/3851500/rajon-rondo-on-ref-bump-i-made-a-joke-and-he-laughed">Maybe he's just joking</a>. Who knows.</p>
<p>Hey, remember that time the Suns could have drafted Rondo back in 2006 but instead traded him for <span>Brian Grant</span>, cash and the Cavs 2007 pick which turned out to be <span>Rudy Fernandez</span> who the Suns traded to Portland, along with <span>James Jones</span>, for more cash?</p>
<p>Rondo = cash money!</p>
<p>Never forget how awful Mike D'Antoni was as a GM (and pretty overrated as a coach too).</p>
<p>The game tips at 7:30pm ET / 5:30pm AZT on Fox Sports AZ and NBA League Pass which hopefully won't mean an entire game of the miserable Tommy Heinsohn. I wonder if he can pronounce "Dragic" correctly? Doubt it.</p>
<p>On the basketball front, <span>Avery Bradley</span> is also back for the Celtics and their front line will give us a peak at <span>Jared Sullinger</span> who's playing 18 minutes per game. That's 18 more minutes per game than <span>Kendall Marshall</span> who was drafted eight slots higher. But look, he's great on Twitter!</p>
<p>On an even more real basketball note, Randy Hill at Fox Sports AZ points out how the addition of <span>P.J. Tucker</span> has eliminated shot opportunities for <span>Jared Dudley</span>.</p>
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<p><a href="http://www.foxsportsarizona.com/pages/listgallery?gid=26181&gf=aggregate">Fox Sports Arizona</a><span style="line-height: 9px;"> </span>The variables to explain the numbers may be legion, but Dudley has averaged just seven field-goal attempts and a tick under 10 points in the four games with Tucker in the starting lineup.</p>
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<p>It's kind of a Catch-22 with guys like Tucker. They bring the energy and defense but leave opposing teams able to ignore one third of the wing players. Pick your poison: offensive struggles with Tucker starting or defensive struggles with Brown starting.</p>
<p>Maybe we will get lucky and get another trade rumor to distract us for a few more hours. Here's hoping.</p>
<p><b>Fun with numbers:</b></p>
<p>The Suns are still one win away from 2,000 for the franchise.</p>
<p>The Suns last won a road game on November 27th (Cleveland).</p>
<p>You do the math.</p>
https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/2013/1/9/3855380/phoenix-suns-vs-boston-celtics-previewSeth Pollack