Phoenix Suns News, Suns Scores, Game Recaps & Commentary

The NBA Draft is over and teams are free to talk to the league's free agents (as of July 1st), but who's signing where and who's getting traded - those are the questions NBA fans want to know.  Below is a regularly updated list of recent free agent signings, trades and general player movement.  If you're interested in the mid-level guys and those players that most people could care less about... guess what, they aren't going to be listed here either.  News will be listed newest-to-oldest.

July 22, 2008

The San Antonio Spurs retained an important piece of their puzzle on Tuesday, agreeing to terms on a 2-yr deal for Kurt Thomas.  It's good to see Thomas get more than a 1-yr deal, but I wish he would've come back to the Suns.  He's going to be a huge asset to the Spurs, especially when the get to the playoffs and face the big Lakers, who should have Bynum to compliment Bryant and Gasol this upcoming season.

The NBA Champion, Boston Celtics, have retained two key players in Eddie House and Tony Allen.  With the departure of James Posey to the Hornets, Allen is expected to step up on the defensive end. 

Minnesota Timberwolves have re-signed Sebastian Telfair, who'll play his 2nd season in Minnesota after being traded at the beginning of last year. 

July 20, 2008

Finally!!!  My beloved Phoenix Suns have made a splash in the free agent waters.  For an absurdly low deal financially, free agent Matt Barnes has signed with the Suns.  Formerly with the Golden State Warriors, who btw have had a huge offseason, Barnes was a particularly strong role player who was never really given significant minutes.  This deal solidifies the SG/SF rotations and could even include Barnes starting - w/ Grant Hill or Raja Bell coming off the bench (I doubt it though).  Perhaps Barnes sees the age of the current Suns players and has identified the opportunities that will be available when those players are gone; otherwise, I don't really see why he would sign here.

Matt Barnes also brings an air of toughness, much like Bell does, so I believe he is a GREAT addition to the team.  With Robin Lopez showing good signs so far in summer league, as well as Alando Tucker and D.J. Strawberry, Phoenix may be in better shape this year than last.  It will be interesting to see how Terry Porter works all of these players into the game plans.

Phoenix is still in need of a solid backup PG, but I think they're going to have to settle in this case - they just don't have enough $$ to pay a decent player to come to Arizona. 

This is also a great move by Phoenix, in the fact that it gives them flexibility with Leandro Barbosa - he could be traded and the Suns will still be in good shape w/ Barnes in the mix.  And for the veteran's minimum $$, Matt is a lot better option for a Suns team trying to lower payroll.

July 17, 2008

Another day, another story involving the Golden State Warriors and the L.A. Clippers.  This time, it's a report that Kelenna Azubuike has received an offer sheet from the Clippers for $9 million over 3-years.  The Warriors have 7 days to match the offer for Azubuike before he'll officially be a Clipper.  If they don't sign him, Kelenna will join former Warrior Baron Davis on the revamped Clippers team, which now includes Marcus Camby as well.

It's not the "same 'ol" Clippers so far this summer - trades, big free agent signings and spending a lot of money.  This is a new strategy for the storied "loser" franchise, but only time will tell if the end of the story is different - can they win? 

July 16, 2008

Two-time NBA Champion and (now) former Celtic, James Posey, has reached a 4-year agreement with the New Orleans Hornets.  This deal is in the $25 million range for 4 yrs, which is likely a lot longer than the Celtics were offering.  Posey is primarily a defender, as demonstrated on both the Heat's championship run, as well as this year's Boston Celtics.  He is also a good 3-point shooter, which he'll no doubt get to showcase in New Orleans.  With Chris Paul manning the point and David West in the post, there will surely be a lot of 3's to go around - if Peja passes the ball of course.

This move by New Orleans is a statement to the rest of the Western Conference.  It says, we came close last year and we're going to be even better this year - take notice.  With the trade of Camby to L.A., Denver drops out of the playoffs and the only real contender for the Hornets is the Lakers - Posey helped shutdown Kobe Bryant in the NBA Finals, so why not try to take him out before he even gets there.  Great move by the Hornets!!

The L.A. Clippers decided not to stand by and take the departure of Elton Brand lightly.  In fact, their recent acquisition may give them the most intimidating front-line in all of basketball.  With the recently acquired Marcus Camby from the Denver Nuggets, the Clippers will roll out Camby and Chris Kaman at the 4 & 5 spots.  Not a bad move for the Clippers, who were looking like fools after allowing Brand and Corey Maggette to leave without matching either offer.

Camby, a former Defensive Player of the Year, and great overall paint presence (defensively), is a great addition for L.A.  I am still trying to figure out how the trade works financially, since the other components of the trade appear to be the ability to switch 2nd round draft picks in the 2010 draft and a $10 million trade exception (to be used within 1 year). Camby will make $11.25 million this year and another $10.9 the following season, so how exactly does a 2nd round draft pick & $10 mil equate?  Don't the trades have to be of equal dollar amounts (at least within a certain figure).

It's safe to say that the Nuggets are going in a downward direction, considering they really didn't get anything in return for trading arguably their only solid defender.  It's unclear what their real motive is in the deal, but hopefully they'll use the $10 million to sign somebody that can help them. 

July 10, 2008

Baron Davis has officially signed w/ the LA Clippers, although him and Chris Kaman are about the only players left after Elton Brand and Corey Maggette both bolted for ($) greener pastures.

Free agent Roger Mason signs w/ the San Antonio Spurs for 2 years, for a total of $7 million.

The Milwaukee Bucks have opened the vault, and have offered center Andrew Bogut a 5 year, $72 million contract extension.  This only a few weeks after trading for Richard Jefferson.  With a new coach, Scott Skiles, and a serious commitment to their core players, as well as bringing in Jefferson, the Bucks are making a run to go deep in the playoffs next season.  All the sudden, the East is looking a little deeper than in previous years.  The West is still significantly deeper, but the East has at least 5-6 quality teams that will fight it out all season.

The Orlando Magic strengthened their team by signing former Warriors guard Michael Pietrus.  Details of the free agent signing were not available as of this update.

July 9, 2008

Wednesday marks the first day that reported trades and deals can officially go through.  For instance, the pre-draft deal between the Pacers and Raptors involving Jermaine O'Neal goes through today, etc.

In other news...

James Jones signs w/ the Miami Heat.  The deal is for 5 years (wow, really?) and will start at $4 million this year.

DeSagana Diop re-signs w/ the Dallas Mavericks for 5 years ($31 million total).  Wait, you'll love this... Diop's new contract comes only 6 months after he was traded from Dallas to New Jersey in the Kidd trade.  Shouldn't deals like this be illegal?

July 8, 2008

Today's big news & somewhat of a shocker, is that the Clippers Elton Brand will reportedly be signing w/ the Philadelphia 76ers.  The deal is reported to be valued at $82 million over 5 years.  The deal instantly makes the 76ers a valid Eastern Conference contender - I believe they will challenge for the #3 seed in the East.  Btw... Nice to see the East get at least 1 quality player back from the loaded Western Conference. Philly gets bigger, tougher and a solid rebounder to control the paint.  Brand is also a reliable defender and consistent low-post scorer, which the 76ers desperately needed.  Philadelphia has a young, but up-and-coming roster, to which Elton Brand should make an immediate impact as a role model and 1st or 2nd scoring option behind Andre Igoudala.  Elton's recent injury is still a concern, long-term, but for the 76ers it was a good move to make.  The move by Brand has to come as a huge shock to the Clippers' new PG, Baron Davis, who has signed a long-term deal w/ the now weak L.A. team.

To top of the news of Brand leaving the Clippers, reports are that SG/SF Corey Maggette is signing a 5 year, $50 million contract w/ the Golden State Warriors.  Maggette likely got more money than he's worth from the Warriors, but a bid from the Celtics may have helped improve the bottom line.  Not really sure where Corey will fit in w/ the guard/forward loaded Warriors, but he's a guy who can score and get to the foul line; he's an aggressive player who's not afraid to put his body on the line.

July 5, 2008

July 4, 2008

The New York Knicks have agreed to terms w/ free agent PG Chris Duhon.  The new deal is supposed to be for 2 years at the full mid-level exception.  Duhon isn't the typical up & down PG that coach Mike D'Antoni is use to (w/ Steve Nash), but he's a good ball-handler and distributes the ball fairly well.  Unless NY is still seeking out trades, I can see Duhon winning the starting point guard spot and forcing Marbury to come off the bench - that is, IF he doesn't get bought out or traded for salary cap reasons.

July 3, 2008

Gilbert Arenas accepted a lower offer than the Wizards presented to him - $16 million less to be exact.  While the $111 million contract he signed is still likely to tax the team's ability to become a championship contender, he was steady on his word of taking less money to stay - give him credit for that.

"I'm basically giving back $16 million," Arenas told the Washington Times. "This is in line with what I've been saying the whole time. You see players take max deals and they financially bind their teams. I don't wanna be one of those players and three years down the road your team is strapped and can't do anything about it." More

The Hornets' Chris Paul agreed to a 3 year extension worth $68 million.  The deal will pay Paul the maximum amount allowed under the Collective Bargaining Agreement.

Mavericks pickup a new shooting guard in Gerald Green, the former Celtic & Timberwolf, who is also a one-time Slam Dunk champion as well.  Dallas signed Green for a 1 year contract (minimum value).  This move certainly adds youth and athleticism to the Mavs, but he's struggled on the other teams, so Dallas really isn't risking anything w/ the minimum salary offered.

July 2, 2008

In a strange twist, after reports surfaced that Baron Davis would be teaming up w/ Elton Brand in Clipperland, Brand has been offered a maximum deal from the suddenly Baron-less Warriors.  So Davis moves to L.A. and Brand moves (possibly) to Golden State... perfect timing for Davis to go to a poorer situation than he left.

Baron Davis, after being spurned by the Warriors, will be going to the L.A. Clippers - $65 million over 5 years.  This is definitely a paycut for Davis, but after being benched late last season, I think he saw the writing on the wall. 

The New Orleans Hornets are negotiating an extension w/ All-Star and runner-up MVP Chris Paul.  CP3 wants the max and he deserves it, so I'm not sure what the hold-up is on the new deal.  Personally, I think he should play out his current contract before worrying about an extension, but if I had millions of guaranteed money on the table, I'd probably ask for a new deal ASAP too. 

Chris Duhon receives offer from the New York Knicks, but does he really want to be part of that train wreck?  Sources suggest the Phoenix Suns are also interested in Duhon, but can't pay what the Knicks are offering.

Washington has resigned Antawn Jamison to a 4 year deal worth $50 million.  While Jamison probably got a raw deal here, his "I will play for less if Jamison is signed" buddy, Gilbert Arenas was offered over $100 million by several teams (cough... cough... what?).  Sources suggest Arenas is preparing to re-up w/ the Wizards, but it doesn't appear he's saving them any money.  Hope he likes being on a shitty team for another 5-6 years. 

Jose Calderon is reportedly signing a long-term deal w/ the Toronto Raptors.  Details of the new contract are unavailable as of this post, but it's believed to be around $35 million for 4-5 years.

Related Resources

ESPN's 2008 NBA Free Agent List
Chad Ford's 2008 NBA Free Agent Rankings
Free Agent Roundup from FoxSports 

The Phoenix Suns and head coach Terry Porter have completed updating the rest of the coaching staff.

Three of four are familiar faces to most NBA and Suns fans, while the fourth is not as familiar, but does have some quality basketball background. 

Alvin Gentry - A former head coach and lead assistant to former Suns coach Mike D'Antoni.  For Gentry, this will be his 5th year on the Phoenix Suns coaching staff.  His familiarity with all of the current players should help smooth the transition for Terry Porter as he implements a new system.

"Thunder" Dan Majerle -  Thunder Dan is a former Suns player and Ring of Honor inductee.  He has been a TV analyst for the past few years and has experience with the new head coach (teammates in Miami).  While Majerle does bring some defensive skills to the table, he has no prior coaching experience, so I don't look for him to provide anything out of the shoot.

Bill Cartwright -  An NBA champion, former head coach and generally speaking, a great tutor for young big men, Cartwright will likely be tasked with improving the team's interior defense.  Bill also has experience w/ Kerr (on the Bulls) and played one season for the Suns (wow, really?).

Igor Kokoskov -  This one is a stretch, but Porter has experience w/ Igor in both Detroit and w/ Gentry (Clippers), so they must have confidence in him.  Of special note, is the fact that the Suns have made Kokoskov the first non-American assistant coach in NBA history - very hard to believe he's the first, but it's true.

Based on this assembly, it's clear that GM Steve Kerr and Porter will be focusing on improving the Suns defensive abilities and strategies.  No one knows if the strategy will work at this point, but coming back w/ the same offense (2nd half offense) and an improved defense can't hurt.

Unless the coaches start working w/ Amare Stoudemire during the summer, I see him struggling the most w/ the new concepts and roles that will be dictated.  Steve Nash will also figure to have a modified role, but only in the fact that the Suns probably won't be running the 7 second offense any longer.

While this figures to be a bumpy ride, you have to give some praise to Kerr for going out and getting a few experienced guys to help shape the team.  While Majerle is new, he's familiar w/ the team and the players, so he may be able to help in ways we're not aware of at this time.

The Boston Celtics left no doubt who this year's NBA Champion is, after an overwhelmingly dominate performance against the L.A. Lakers on Tuesday night.  Final score 131-92.

Up by as many as 43 points in the game, the Celtics were really never in any danger of having to play a Game 7.  This game was in the bag at halftime for the famed green & white.

Ray Allen, Kevin Garnett and Co. were spectacular and stepped up when it counted.  I doubt you will hear much more talk about KG playing well in big games or about Allen being soft.  While Paul Pierce is virtually assured of going into the Celtics ring of honor, another year or two from Garnett and Allen may have them in the discussions as well.

The loss has to be devasting for Kobe Bryant and the Lakers, but they got beat by the better team.  Boston's defense was incredible on a night that it had to be.  The Celtics had more steals in the first half than the Lakers had field goals; the Lakers had more turnovers in the first half than field goals.  Overall, a horrible game by LA and a superb game by Boston.

The fans voted Kevin Garnett the MVP of Game 6 after a totally dominate game.  I know I keep saying "dominate", but there's really no other way to explain the game.

Garnett was particularly interesting during the post-game interview, but he's now "certified"... he's basically cemented his place in NBA history w/ the championship.  After 11 All-Star appearances, an MVP award and this year's Defensive Player of the Year award, Garnett has officially joined the NBA's all-time elite.

Allen and Garnett paced the Celtics w/ 26 points apiece, but it was Rajon Rondo who really stole the show on this night...literally.  Rajon finished w/ 6 steals and it seemed like he came up w/ one each time that LA had thoughts of making a comeback.  On this night, Boston could not be denied.

The Celtics win their 17th NBA Championship overall.

Paul Pierce is named the Finals MVP after a good performance in Game 6.  I would make the argument that Ray Allen deserves the award, but Pierce or Garnett are just as deserving.

Steve Kerr has made his decision... Terry Porter will be the new head coach of the Phoenix Suns.

The announcement ends about a month of unknowns for a club that got bounced in the 1st round of the 2008 NBA Playoffs.  Kerr chose Porter primarily based on the fact that he had prior coaching experience, albeit only 2 yrs w/ Milwaukee.

"He's got a great combination of leadership skills," Kerr said in a telephone interview. "He's a great communicator. And his coaching experience, two years as a head coach, is important to me. The fact that he's sat in that chair, that was a key factor. He's very tough-minded."

Terry Porter's contract with the Suns is reportedly for 3 yrs and a total of $7 million.  Quite a bargain compared to the $6 million annual salary that former coach Mike D'Antoni is getting in New York.

Porter will have his hands full next year with a roster which could be past it's prime and might begin a rebuilding process soon.  He will certainly have the respect of the veterans, having played against most of them during his career, but it's unknown how he'll mesh with the Suns future superstar, Amare Stoudemire.  Amare is certainly a superstar, but Porter is likely to push STAT for more than he's provided in the past.  Avoiding a conflict with Amare will be key, but if he's not able to coincide with the coach, it would not be out of the question for Kerr to move Stoudemire for equal value.

I'm glad that the coaching search is over and I think they chose the best candidate from their list.  They still have their hands full choosing an assistant coaching staff, since their needs for a defensive guru and someone to work with Amare have yet to be addressed.  Congratulations to Terry Porter on becoming the new Phoenix Suns coach.

Steve Kerr, GM of the Phoenix Suns, confirmed recently that the full interviewing process has pretty much been completed by the ownership & management group.  Kerr pointed out that conversations are still ongoing for the Suns coaching job, but that the formal "in-person" interviews are complete.

"We're getting a lot closer," Kerr told reporters Wednesday. "Our interview process is probably completed. There may be a few more phone conversations. But we're really pleased with the candidates that we've put together."

The list of possible candidates for the Phoenix Suns next coach are (in no particular order);

1. Terry Porter - Pistons assistant
   
2. Tyrone Corbin - Jazz assistant
   
3. Elston Turner - Rockets assistant
   
4. Mike Budenholzer - Spurs assistant  (god, I'd hate to have to type this all the time)

The Detroit Pistons fired their head coach, Flip Saunders, who might normally be considered a candidate for the position, but Kerr echoed the fact that the interview process is already too far in, and that Saunders would not be interviewed.

"We're pretty far in our process," Kerr said. "I have a lot of respect for him, but I also think the process we've undertaken is a good one. We feel really good about it. I don't feel like changing course altogether and doing something that's just totally out of the blue."

I think Kerr is right about skipping on Saunders... aside from the 7-second shot rule that D'Antoni instilled on the Suns, Flip is basically Mike.  They are both non-confrontational w/ their players and are almost lax (to a fault) when it comes to making players accountable.  Saunders proved that, even with a top-notch roster of talent in Detroit, he couldn't motivate them to win the big games (Cavs in 2007, Celtics in 2008).  Sounds a lot like Mike's resume against the Spurs.

It is estimated that Kerr and the Suns will name a new head coach as early as this weekend, but most likely within the next week and a half.  With a 2nd interview this week, it would appear that Terry Porter is the favorite, although Steve could play favorites and go w/ one of his former assistant coaches in Budenholzer.  If Kerr does go w/ Mike B., I guess using the theory that it's best to keep friends close, and enemies even closer (a former Spurs' coach). 

Suns guard Raja Bell was announced as a selection for the NBA's All-Defensive 2nd team.  Bell was on the All-Defensive 1st team last year, but making the list is still an honor for Raja, especially considering how bad a rap the Suns get for their porous defense.

Raja is joined on the 2nd team by: Shane Battier (Rockets), Chris Paul (Hornets), Dwight Howard (Magic) and Tayshaun Prince (Pistons).

The All-Defensive 1st team was made up of MVP Kobe Bryant (Lakers), Defensive Player of the Year Kevin Garnett (Celtics), Marcus Camby (Nuggets) and the Spurs Tim Duncan and Bruce Bowen. 

Can't say it wasn't coming... (Former) Suns coach Mike D'Antoni has reportedly accepted an offer to coach the New York Knicks.  New York GM Donnie Walsh had narrowed his choices to Mark Jackson and D'Antoni, w/ the former being the favorite until the Suns were excused from the NBA playoffs.

The former coach of the run-and-gun Suns has accepted a four-year deal at around $6 million per year to coach the Knicks.

Knicks president Donnie Walsh chose D'Antoni over Mark Jackson.

The D'Antoni saga began Monday, when Suns general manager Steve Kerr confirmed that the coach had permission to speak to other teams about their head coaching vacancies.

Kerr acknowledged some differences with D'Antoni but repeatedly said he wanted the coach to stay. (More)

Now the pressure falls on Suns' GM Steve Kerr and owner Robert Sarver to find a replacement for Mike in Phoenix.  There have been some coaches suggested (Van Gundy, Rambis, Harris, A. Johnson, Fratello, etc.), but it's hard to argue that any of those are a better choice that D'Antoni would've been.  Sure, the Suns couldn't play defense consistently, but w/out offensive guidance as well, they'll be a .500 team - and in the Western Conference, that just won't cut it.

My personal choice would probably be Jeff Van Gundy, but I don't see the Suns locker room getting along w/ him too well - especially Amare & Shaq.  With VG, the defense would improve immediately, but as fans, we'd be forced to watch Knicks/Rockets style of basketball, instead of what we've been accustomed to the past few years.  Last time I checked also, the Knicks and Rockets (under VG), haven't won any titles.

We can only hope that Kerr and Sarver find a suitable replacement for D'Antoni - and soon.  Several other teams are also in the hunt for a head coach, including the Chicago Bulls.  If we don't find someone quick, they're going to be signed by another team (like Rick Carlisle signing w/ the Mavs).

The L.A. Lakers' Kobe Bryant has been announced as the league's MVP for the 2007-2008 season.

I know is particularly of interest to loyal Suns fans (NOT!), so I've got a great video for you here to help get through the offseason.  Check it out.

Former Suns coach... Errr...so it's not 100% official yet, but the writing is on the wall. 

GM Steve Kerr and owner Robert Sarver have given Suns' coach Mike D'Antoni permission to seek interviews w/ other teams.  The three met on Friday to determine if Mike would be able to continue coaching the team and apparently he cannot.  Whether that's because Mike is stubborn and wants to focus only on offense or if he's lost the locker room (see Amare's post-playoff comments), it really doesn't matter.  D'Antoni is basically gone - black & white.

D'Antoni will be interviewing for both the Chicago Bulls and New York Knicks positions.  Mike would be an idiot to take over in New York, considering the media scrutiny and roster of slower, half-court offense minded players.  The best situation would be for him to end up in Chicago, where his uptempo style would immediately be utilized with a young, talented roster. 

Think about it... Hinrich is Nash, Gordon is Barbosa, Nocioni is Marion (ok, maybe not)... plus, he'll have a hustle player in Noah, a post player in Thomas and several other role players that can make the fast-paced style work.  Probably not as well as it did in PHX, but it would still be an improvement for the Bulls.

So where does that leave the Suns, who really don't have any strong candidates to replace D'Antoni. 

Avery Johnson is available, and he has experience leading a mostly offensive team to the promised land (the Finals).  The knocks against him - he couldn't win the championship and his team has been bounced in the 1st round of the playoffs each of the past 2 years.  If he could even improve the Suns defense (good luck), then he might be a 1 year solution as a last ditch attempt at a title.

Also available are: Jeff Van Gundy, Mark Jackson (rumored to by high on Knicks list), Doug Collins and a slew of other "ok" coaches.

My personal choice would be Van Gundy, but I couldn't stand the slow, half-court offense that has been a staple of his previous teams (Knicks, Rockets).  His personality seems a little abrasive as well, so the Suns' players would be in for a major shock & adjustment (compared to D'Antoni's laid back style).

Whatever happens, Suns' fans are certainly in for an exciting summer of action.  A new coach and perhaps some trades - plus the NBA Draft, assuming we don't sell off all of our picks again. 

Let us know who you'd like to see take over or why D'Antoni should stay.

In last night's 92-87 loss to the Spurs which eliminates the Suns from the playoffs, Phoenix showed they're still not ready to compete at a championship level.  There's plenty of blame to go around:

• Costly turnovers with the game on the line - The Suns had 4 turnovers in their last 7 possessions while within 1-3 points of the Spurs.
• 17 missed free throws... 17!!!!!!!!!!!  Shaq missed 11 of them.
• Pick & Roll was missing completely - Amare finished w/ 22 pts (combined) in the last 2 games, after averaging close to 30/game prior.
• Coaching - The Spurs outplayed & outcoached D'Antoni and the Suns, pure & simple.  The stubbornness of keeping Shaq in, despite the hack-a-Shaq being employed by San Antonio, may have helped cost D'Antoni his job.
• Steve Nash - He rarely gets called out for playing poorly, but he did not lead the Suns in the closing minutes and committed 2 costly turnovers with the game on the line.  He also couldn't hit the broad side of a barn last night, shooting 25% (4-16 FG) and only going to the charity stripe 2 times.  He had no assists in the first half and only finished w/ 3.
• Leandro Barbosa - One part of the killer B's (Bell, Boris & Barbosa) that couldn't find his stroke in Game 5.  Leandro finished 1-7 from the field and only 5 points.  The other B's played well, combining for 36 points and 16 rebounds.

I do want to acknowledge the Suns defense effort in Game 5, however, as they did play better defense for close to 46 minutes.  Unfortunately for Suns fans, the Spurs played D' for 48 minutes.

No one knows what the offseason will bring, but there is obviously conflict and doubt in the locker room and in Suns management.  I don't expect to see the same team and/or coaching staff take the court next year.  It will be a shame, but as a basketball fan, the writing's on the wall - this team can't win the way it's setup now.

Standing on the edge of a 4-0 sweep at the hands of the hated Spurs, the Phoenix Suns gathered all of their pride & heart in order to withstand an embarrassing end to the 2007-2008 season.  With a strong showing & utter destruction of San Antonio in Game 4, are you back on the wagon.... or do you still think the door has shut on Suns run to the championship?

Phoenix was ailing after 3 straight defeats to the San Antonio.  Did a visit to the basketball gods save the day?  No, it was a healthy prescription of Diaw-gra - the manliest beast this side of the Mississippi. 

Seriously though, I've heard radio announcers calling Suns forward Boris Diaw, "Doris" and commenting on the fastest gender re-assignment surgery in recent history.  Come on guys... all you need to do is show some confidence in a guy and let him do what he does best.  Did Diaw struggle while playing for France in Olympic qualifying or the World Championships, while teaming w/ his BFF Tony Parker?  No...  So why does D'Antoni continue to bitch-slap him by starting an injured Grant Hill over him?

In Game 4, D'Antoni wised up and put Boris in the starting lineup.  That, along w/ a stronger determination to play defense and the torrid shooting of Raja Bell (Raja who?), allowed the Suns to man-handle the Spurs enroute to a 105-86 victory.  Give these guys some credit for showing up (ok, so it's only Game 4 & 46 minutes of Game 1).

Steve Nash played well enough to win & Amare Stoudemire struggled after the coach removed the "dump it in to Amare" routine that had produced exactly "0" wins in the series.  I love STAT and his game, but face it... that strategy was working about as well as trying to cut your wrists with a spoon.

The Suns head back to Texas in a 3-1 hole, but w/ at least a bit of renewed confidence & pride in themselves.  For us to take this and make history, Phoenix will need to fire on all cylinders for the remaining 3 games.  No team has ever come back from a 3-0 deficit to win, but I watched the Red Sox destroy the Yankees a couple years ago - anything's possible - never say never - it's ain't over till the fat lady... nm, till Miley Cyrus sings.  Nice PR stunt w/ the pics btw... You look like crap, get the money before you look like the bottom of my shoe.

Give props to coach D'Antoni for getting thrown out of a blowout & putting on a nice show.  I don't know what the hell he was doing, but it was hilarious watching him freak out w/ the team easily in control.

    VS.    

Game 1: Suns 115, Spurs 117  (2OT)

The Suns made some huge mental mistakes down the stretch in both regulation and OT, including a 24-second violation and a charging call (both while leading).  They failed to seal the win and as a result, head back to Phoenix (for rest) until Tuesday's Game 2 in San Antonio, down 1-0 in the best of 7 playoffs.

Give credit to the Spurs for playing tough & not giving up on the game.  They also did a good job of forcing Amare Stoudemire into a few mistakes, including his 6th foul - a charging call vs. former Suns player Kurt Thomas.

Tim Duncan was incredible - 40 pts, 15 rbs, 3 blks & 5 asts.  He hit a super clutch 3-pointer right before the end of the 1st overtime - his first 3 of the year.  The Suns couldn't stop him down the stretch due to Amare & Shaquille O'neal's foul troubles.  With the foul trouble, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili also abused the Suns at will w/ quick drives to the basket.

Phoenix played a great game, but just didn't have it when it counted.  Even when it looked like they had it going (ie: Nash's late 3-pointer to tie the game), they broke down and let Ginobili score an easy basket w/ 1.8 seconds left.  Then, instead of throwing the ball down the court for a last second shot, they passed it in to Nash who was double-covered and was barely able to get a shot off (not close).

I pointed out the keys to the game last night, so let's see how that played out:

• Rebounding - I said the Suns need to be within 5 rebounds of San Antonio to compete.  SA - 43, PHX - 42.  The game was competitive, so I was pretty close on this one.
• Easy Baskets - The Suns committed 17 turnovers and missed 8 free throws.  On the other end, Shaq & Amare's foul troubles allowed Parker & Ginobili to score at will in the paint.
• Contain the Big 3 - They got burned here w/ a combined 90 pts... Duncan w/ 40 pts, Parker w/ 26 pts & Ginobili w/ 24.  The Suns will need to do a better job defensively if they want to win the series.
• Defense - Again, the foul trouble limited what Phoenix was able to do.  The Spurs scored 117 points, so do the math - defense was questionable at best.  There were signs of brilliance, but not when it counted.
• Mind Games - There were no shenanigans in this game, but the Spurs' win could be big enough to affect the rest of the series.  The Spurs knew they could win the game; the Suns didn't seem to have that same attitude and it showed as they blew the lead each time when it counted.

I also suggested that Leandro Barbosa and Boris Diaw would need to play well for the Suns to win.  Both finished w/ 12 pts, while Barbosa pulled down 8 boards (leading the team - what?).  While these stats don't look that impressive, both played very well.

I forgot to even mention Grant Hill's name - I guess that's because I assumed he was a pro & would step up on his own.  Apparently, he still needs a wake up call.  Hill was a virtual no-show enroute to 5 pts and 7 rbs; I expect better performances from Grant as the series progresses.

The loss is devastating, especially considering how many opportunities the Suns had, but they did some great things in the loss.  They proved they can still compete without Amare (fouled out) and Shaq (foul trouble & hack-a-Shaq).

Suns are down in the series 0-1, but have plenty of time to catch-up.  The road team isn't expected to win Game 1 anyway, so a loss is not the end of the world.  Game 2 is Tuesday - why so far away? (damn NBA schedulers)

Go Suns!

Admit it... you would probably prefer that the Suns played another team in the 1st round and saved the Spurs for later in the playoffs.  Unfortunately, the basketball gods have chosen to give us the most intriguing matchup of the playoffs - right off the bat.  Seeing the Lakers & Celtics battle in the Finals would probably top this matchup, but I'm penciling in the Suns - not the Lakers.

    VS.    

Suns vs. Spurs, homecourt in San Antonio... if the Suns are going to show they belong, what better way to do it than by defeating the defending NBA Champions in their own house.  What sweet revenge that would be!

The Spurs will attempt to use their quickness in the backcourt, while also trying to have Tim Duncan control the middle.  He'll have a tough time, however, with both Shaquille O'Neal and Amare Stoudemire defending him.  Duncan's hands will also be full defending Amare in the low post or off the pick & roll w/ Steve Nash.  Either way, STAT has proved that he's more than capable of playing well against the Spurs; contingent on not being suspended of course :P

Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili will have to play their best basketball of the season in order to defeat the Suns, but their up for the challenge, no doubt.  It's up to Raja Bell and Grant Hill to play some decent defense and at least slow the two down.  Keeping Ginobili "cold" is the key, as evidenced by the Suns' convincing defeat a few weeks ago in San Antonio.

The Suns will still need all cylinders firing if they want to win this.  That means Leandro Barbosa, Boris Diaw and the bench will have to put up solid numbers & play well in virtually every game of the series.  Phoenix will also need Steve Nash to do what he does best - make the other players better.  He needs to keep in the flow of the game by being aggressive and taking his shot, however, since the team tends to struggle when Nash tries to hard to get everyone involved.

Coach D'Antoni will need to utilize his bench throughout the series and the playoffs overall.  If he fails to keep the starters minutes down, he's going to have a tired bunch in the later rounds and that's never good.  The recent play by Brian Skinner is encouraging and he has 6 fouls to give up each game.  The Suns should use those each game to punish Duncan in the post and keep him from controlling the game.  Mr. Smooth is a poor free throw shooter, so Phoenix should benefit by fouling Duncan and sending him to the line.

Keys to the game (& series):

• Rebounding - The Suns don't necessarily need to win the battle of the boards, but they need to keep the totals within about 5 rebounds or they'll be in trouble.
• Easy Baskets - Phoenix needs to take care of the ball and avoid turnovers.  If the Spurs get easy baskets on the turnovers, it will be a long night (& series).  The Suns also need to run the break & get fast break points as often as possible.  San Antonio is the oldest team in the league - the Suns should reinforce that by wearing them down.
• Contain the Big-3 - While it might make sense to let Parker, Ginobili & Duncan get their stats and shutdown the other Spurs players, I think that doing so would put control of the series SA's hands.  Make the other guys beat you, because they're a lot weaker than the big 3.
• Defense - Ya, they will have to play defense, whether they like it or not, and lately they do.  Look for Amare & Shaq to be aggressive by altering shots and controlling the boards.
• Mind Games - This is the biggest threat to the Suns in my opinion.  Coach Popovich is good at playing mind games w/ the opponent and leading them into beating themselves.  The Spurs get under your skin and force you to react.  Last year's cheap shots & subsequent suspensions say all that needs to be said.

I see this series as a great opportunity for the Suns, not only for redemption against the Spurs, but it will also help them ascend to the next level.  The Western Conference playoffs will be tough up until the Finals, and Detroit (or) Boston are no cake-walk either.

What do you think the Suns will need to do to win?

Go Suns!

Wow!  What a game against the Denver Nuggets in Phoenix last night.  The Suns pulled off their 3rd best "come from behind" in team history last night against Denver.  Trailing by 22 pts in the 3rd quarter, the Phoenix Suns mounted a furious comeback to take the lead and defeat the Nuggets.  The win also put Phoenix over 50 wins for the 4th consecutive year; the team is now tied with the LA Lakers for the top spot in the Pacific Division.

There was a lot of praise to go around after the game.  Coach D'Antoni said everyone that played contributed in a huge way and the win is a result of their combined efforts.  The defense improved (not that much) and the team played very well offensively late in the game.  Amare Stoudemire seemed to have his will against Kenyon Martin and Najera, repeatedly beating them for layups and dunks.  STAT finished with 41 pts and 14 rebounds - a great effort!

Shaq, Boris, Raja and Barbosa all played solid, but the resurgence can be largely attributed to Steve Nash.  After receiving a blow to the head by the Nuggets' Anthony Carter, Nash seemed to respond and take over the game.  He made some great passes and hit a few threes that helped Phoenix take the lead and eventually get the win.

It was also nice to see Diaw more aggressive on offense.  He has the skills to be a bigger scorer for the team, but he always seems to defer.  Last night, he hit several shots and drove to the rim for sweet tear drop floater in the 4th quarter.  If he can keep this up, the Suns will excel in the playoffs, as they did the year Amare was out w/ his knee injury.

The loss pushed Denver out of the playoffs by 1/2 game, but they'll get a chance to regain that game tonight against the Suns - this time in Denver.  I wouldn't be surprised to see the Nuggets make some adjustments and dominate this game.  I don't see the Suns shooting as well in the back-2-back game, nor do I think Denver will allow Amare to control the paint.  Hopefully, D'Antoni and his staff can make adjustments of their own and help the team get the win.

Potential superstar center Greg Oden has reportedly been practicing in local gyms, much to the chagrin of his coaches and teammates.   Someone from the gym posted details on the Internet - oops!  Greg has insisted that he only did light running and some jump shooting, but come on... you have an entire city resting on your shoulders dude; don't F it up.

Portland coach Nate McMillan simply stated, "you can't do that stuff".  There's not much more to add to it, but when you have that much money on the table and a kid with that much potential, you don't want him jeopardizing his health for a stupid pickup game.

Oden has been practicing with the Trailblazers on a pretty limited basis and is expected to be a starter next year.  With Brandon Roy's recent injury, worrying about Greg Oden's health status is probably the last thing Portland management needs.