SB Nation - Jason Richardson

Game 28 Recap: Oklahoma City 117, Phoenix 113

Zorgon — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 12:56:14 -0000

More photos » by Rick Scuteri - AP

Amare: Hey, ref! He touched my shades!

We're .500 at Christmas!

That's all I can say. This win makes me so unbelievably happy....I've followed the NBA nearly my entire life, and the last time I followed a team that was .500 at Christmas, it was 2005. And that team finished with 34 wins. So you can see why I'm feeling overjoyed right now.

That being said, this game was no picnic, and a lot of mistakes were made by both sides. But, facing facts, the Suns were playing catchup all game. It all started when the thunder scored 6 in a row to put the team up 18-11 with 6:41 to go in the first. From there, it was a relatively stable lead that reached its peak at 12 points with 5:20 and 4:13 to go in the 2nd quarter. Sadly, that lead was erased by a Sun run, consisting entirely of Steve Nash and Amare Stoudamire. They combined for 18 points in the last 4:13 of the second, eventually tying it at 64 with 13 seconds to go. Thankfully, an amazing hanging shot by KD put the Thunder ahead by two at the half, but I still smelled trouble.

As the Third quarter rolled on, the Thunder managed to nurse their small lead until they barely lost it towards the end of the quarter. When it was all said and done, the teams were in a dead heat going into the fourth. Again, the Thunder jumped out to the lead, and managed to keep it that way until Jason Richardson hit back to back jumpers with 4:11 to go in the fourth, giving the Suns a 106-104 lead. But the game was far from over. Ibaka managed to get an amazing tip in to tie it at 106. Ibaka continued to fight hard, but Amare drew two fouls on him in a minutes, forcing him out of the game. This left it at 110-108 in Phoenix's favour, but, after the annoying Remington Park graphic, Kevin Durant managed to overpower the flopping Jason Richardson for an amazing plus one. This left it at 111-110, and after Stoudemire missed a short layup, Jeff Green made an amazing play. I would explain it, but please, just watch it, it's pretty darn spectacular. Zoom ahead to 1:54 in this recap.

After that, you knew it was almost over. And after Steve Nash missed a freethrow, KD Rebounded his own miss, and then spotted up for another jumper and hit it, you knew this game was over. Wow.

(On a side note, I'm getting pretty close to being able to provide video of the game on my own for this site. Don't expect anything full blown, but I might do my own video recap or provide a clip here and there when necessary.)

Below: Analysis, Awards

What more can you say about this game. Things just clicked for the Thunder on so many levels. First of all, you had the total shut down of Jason Richardson courtesy of Thabo Sefolosha. JRich hit a clutch 3 towards the end, but for the most part he had a pretty empty game.

At this point, James Harden is afraid of even looking at Amare's shades.

And, as per my keys to the game, Jeff Green had an amazing game, and the bench was a huge factor. Jeff Green had a solid 17 Points and 9 rebounds, along with that incredibly clutch tip-in at the end. That tip-in alone pretty much secured him the Thunder Down Under spot. I know, some of you were pulling for him to get the Thunder Wonder, but Kevin Durant's influence can't be ignored. James Harden did his thing, racking up 14 Points and 4 Rebounds. He also actually hit a three, which is good news. Nick Collison also did a nice job, with 6 points, 5 Rebounds. He fouled out rather quickly, but that's to be expected of big men in a suns game.

You could really see that this game was suited to Serge Ibaka's tastes. Flying up and down the court, tipping the ball in, providing aggressive defense....watching Ibaka play is like a work of art, simply because you don't usually see Big Men that are that athletic. Dwight Howard is the same way, but sometimes Ibaka just looks like a god among men. Did you see that block on Stoudemire? He's like what Robert Swift and Brandan Wright were supposed to be for the Warriors. He's like the big man "project" that every team picks up, yet never works out. Except this time, he actually met and exceeded everyone's expectations! He's completely eliminated Etan Thomas from the rotation, and he's taking away lots of minutes from Krstic. I don't know, it's only been a few games, so you really can't get a conclusive conclusion. But as for right now, I'm riding the Ibaka train, and it's pretty awesome.

Eric Maynor had his first minutes of tonight, but it's hard to say how he'll be. He went 1 of 4 from the floor, and he had a really bad turnover in the second quarter. He just dribbled it inside the three point line and almost gave it away. Regardless, he had 5 assists, and I think he's working out okay so far, but as for right now, he has to receive the Thunder Blunder awards, simply because I have nobody else to give it to. Still, the verdict on him is largely TBD.

I've already revealed it earlier in this recap, but tonight's Thunder Wonder is Kevin Durant. 38 Points, 12 of 20 from the floor, 3 of 4 from 3 Point Land, 6 rebounds, 3 Assists, and the game clincher. What more can you ask from your star. He performed solidly throughout the entire night, and hardly wasted any possessions at all, through missed shots, turnovers, and otherwise. I know it may not seem like it, but this is probably KD's most offensively efficient game all year. Hats off to him.

Amare: I told you guys to stay away from my shades! That's almost as bad as pissing on the rim!

On the Suns side of things, statistically, things went as expected. Their bench was totally ineffective, Jason Richardson was shut down, and Grant hill wasn't feeling it, leaving the bulk of the scoring on the shoulders of Steve Nash, Amare Stoudamire, and Channing Frye. Aside from a coupel of clutch plays from Richardson, this might as well have been a 3 person team. Amare Stoudamire, with 35 Points, 14 Rebounds, and 2 Assists, was clearly the most effective of the 3, so he gets tonight's Thunder Plunderer award. Hats off to him, as well.

On a side note, I know today and tomorrow will be a special time for some people, so whatever you may celebrate, I'd like to wish all of the Readers and Staff of this blog a very Slammin' Thursday and Friday. And a Slammin' season. Enjoy yourselves, and I'll see everyone on Saturday!

Next Game: Versus the Bobcats, Saturday, December 26th, 7 PM Central Standard Time

It's time to meet Stephen Jackson!

'Twas the Night Before Clips-mas

Mike Lisboa — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 18:25:20 -0000

More photos » by Laura Rauch - AP

Why this picture? Cuz that's LA Clippers' Summer League participant Dionte Christmas watching Robin Lopez dunk, that's why. (AP Photo/Laura Rauch)

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With apologies to Henry Livingston, Jr or Clement Clarke Moore, here's our second annual Bright Side of the Sun "Night Before Christmas" as read through purple and orange glasses. You can read last year's poem here.

Happy Holidays, everyone!

'Twas the night before Clips-mas, in the Grand Canyon State

And the Suns had just finished a cruel winter slate.

December'd been tough, with losses a-plenty,

Delaying their dreams of win number twenty.

A loss to the Cavs Back to back losses had left them all crabby,

Though 18 and 10 11 wasn't too shabby.

And 'Mare in his goggles and Nash in his tuque,

Wondered if their hot start had been just a fluke.

Then there on the schedule, served on a platter

Were the poor hapless Clippers, their record a-tatter.

Away to the others flew ageless Steve Nash

To brighten their spirits with news of this clash!

Don Sterling's a racist and a slumlord to boot,

With an owner like that, hope never takes root.

But in the off season, hope did appear:

An Okie named Blake, presumed Rook of the Year!

But alas poor young Griffin, he broke his patella

Cuz the Clips are the Clips: Sorry, young fella.

But back to the Suns where Coach Gentry was thrilled

He whistled and shouted and thusly he trilled:

"Now, J-Rich! now, Channing! now Jared and Steve Nash!

And, Grant Hill! And Goran! And you, Max Contract!

These Clips, they can't stop us so when you get the ball...

Just bomb away! Bomb away! Bomb away all!"

At this time last year it was Coach Terry and Shaq

And under those two, the scoring punch did lack

But now it's a new game; by new I mean old

With running and gunning till the shooters get cold.

Steve Nash is a-passing at an MVP pace

And if no one's open, he'll nail a shot in your face.

Amare's bum eyeball ain't affecting his shot

He can sure put it in, but he jump-shoots a lot.

Grant Hill is still a baller, from his fade to his kicks;

These youngsters he's schooling with his veteran tricks.

J-Rich comes to play, but his shot's been lacking

But even when bricking, he just won't stop attacking.

And Frye! How he drain 3s! How he runs up the court!

If only in the paint, he could hold down the fort.

Off the old bench, it was Leandro and Lou

But now those DEEP Suns have a gosh-darn wrecking crew!

The strides by young Goran need their own song

His new nickname is "Frosty," "Tragic" is long gone.

Barbosa's been ailing, but the Blur's coming back

With blow-bys and goat sounds in his Santa's sack.

And Jared can play when he's not all a-Twitter

But Taylor and Robin? Still the runts of their litters.

So thank goodness for Lou, and his pogo legs

Cuz Jarron and Tucker's +/- is negs.

Steve Kerr's got a winner; Sarver's saving bucks,

But those off-season moves: shrewd skill or dumb luck?

The Planet Orange faithful give not a care,

Winning's what counts and these Suns do it with flair.

Phoenicians, rejoice! When the Clippers come to town,

It's all but assured that they're gonna go down.

Victory will be ours, so tune in this Friday night,

Merry Christmas to all! (It's not on TNT, right?)

Game 28 Preview: Oklahoma City at Phoenix

Zorgon — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 18:11:08 -0000

More photos » by Sue Ogrocki - AP

No way, Ibaka! This ball is mine!

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Time: 8:00 PM Central Standard Time

Place: The US Airways Center, Phoenix, Arizona

TV: KSBI-TV, KUTP-TV My 45

Radio: WWLS The Sports Animal (98.1)

Enemy Blog(s): Bright Side Of The Sun, Suns Stufft, Valley of the Suns

Backstory: Well, what is there to say about Phoenix? They were the NBA's November darlings, the team that everyone thought had finally gotten back on it's feet. Sadly, December has not been nearly as kind, as they have a record of 4-7 so far. The record is a bit strange, though. they have wins against solid teams like Orlando, San Antonio, and Sacramento, but at the same time, they have an embarassing loss to New York. I suppose it comes with being such an up and down team.

The Thunder will hope the Suns are on the down part of the rollercoaster tonight, as the Thunder are under .500 for the first time in a long time, are on the 2nd game of a back to back, and really need this win.

Matchups:

Center: Nenad Krstic vs. Channing Frye

This is actually a winnable matchup for Nenad Krstic. Channing Frye isn't that much of a down-low banging center, so I think Krstic can compete and mix it up a bit. Still, I think his stats will end up being a bit less impressive than Frye's.

Power Forward: Jeff Green vs. Amare Stoudamire

Jeff Green seemingly overcame his weakness against big men yesterday against the Lakers, but can he do it again tonight? I'd put the chances at doubtful. Expect a big game from Amare.

Small Forward: Kevin Durant vs. Grant Hill

Man oh man, would I love to see this matchup were Grant Hill in his prime. Sadly, now, he's just a shadow of his former self and Kevin Durant will outclass him everywhere but in the department of defense. Still, I doun't think Hill will be a huge problem for Durant.

Shooting Guard: Jason Richardson vs. Thabo Sefolosha

Most people see Jason Richardson as a dunker, but in reality, he relies on his jumpshot a great deal. I could see Sefolosha slowing him down significantly.

Point Guard: Russell Westbrook vs. Steve Nash

Steve Nash is obviously the better player here. Russell Westbrook better have a pen and paper handy, because he's about to witness greatness.

Battle of the Benches:

Leandro Barbosa is out, which is good news, leaving Goran Dragic, Louis Amundson, and Jared Dudley to man the bench for the Suns. They're probably better than we're all thinking right now, but I'd still have to give the bench advantage to the Thunder.

Coaching and Intangibles:

The Thunder had to play extremely late last night, and they lost an hour by moving into the Mountain Time Zone. It would really suck to be them right now. Still, the suns have been on a bad streak lately, so I'll give the advantage to the Thunder.

Bottom Line:

I think a lot depends on Jeff Green and taking advantage of when the Suns' bench is on the floor. It's really not that Hurculean of a task, and I think this is a very winnable game.

Prediction: Thunder 111, Suns 103

How do you think the game will go? Vote in the Poll!

And, again, feel free to drop any comments you might have during, before, or after the game below. I might be here during the game to drop my thoughts as well. Go Thunder!

Poll

Who's going to win tonight?

Q&A: Marcus Thompson - Contra Costa Times / InsideBayArea.com (Part 3 of 3)- Monta Ellis/ Stephen Curry backcourt, John Wall, All-2k Golden State Warriors Starting 5

Atma Brother ONE — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 17:30:14 -0000

Part 1: Warriors bright spots, the next to be traded, Robert Rowell and basketball decisions

Part 2: Don Nelson's media downfall, Chris Mullin as a front office hire, Chris Cohan's closeness to selling the Golden State Warriors

[Inside the Warriors]

Jump for MT's thoughts on the Monta Ellis/ Stephen Curry backcourt combo, what the Warriors would do if they landed John Wall in the 2010 NBA Draft, and his All-2k Golden State Warriors starting 5.

Golden State of Mind: Early on Monta Ellis didn't seem to be the biggest fan of the Stephen Curry draft pick or playing alongside him. Do you think that has changed? Do GM Larry Riley and head coach Don Nelson think the two can be the starting backcourt of a winning team? Who will be the first to go if they don't think they can work together?

Marcus Thompson: In my heart of hearts, I still don't think Ellis is a fan of them two as a backcourt tandem. I think he has gained some respect for Curry. At first, I'm sure he looked at him as some over-hyped rookie who was a ways away. But I've had some private conversations with players on the team and they seem to think that Curry has earned some respect from Ellis. Definitely, that Dallas game had a lot to do with that. But I still think Ellis knows those two, as a backcourt, present serious issues. I think Riley and Nellie think the two can work, but even they know it would require some serious make-up to cover up their deficiencies. The interesting part is that the reason people thought it couldn't work was that Ellis couldn't defend two guards. Up until this season, the theory was that he needed to play with a big point guard, like Baron Davis, who could defend shooting guards because Ellis was too small. But Ellis is showing he can at least be competitive on that end even when he is outsized. He certainly has his defensive flaws still - gambles a bit much sometimes, vulnerable to post-ups, still could get better at stopping penetration - but he's proving he's not the liability he once was. That has switched to Curry, who is having a really difficult time defending the point guard position. He's finding himself in foul trouble a lot and though he and the coaching staff thinks he's improving on defense, he's got a ways to go before that backcourt tandem can be competitive defensively. What Nellie and Riley see that give them confidence in the backcourt, besides Ellis becoming a beast, is that Curry is extremely coachable, he works hard and he's got some basketball IQ to lean on. If he develops like they think, the two would be a pretty formidable offensive backcourt, then they can get a SF (or use Azubuike) to be a defensive stopper as a SF, kind of like how they used Jackson. IF Curry gets better at defending point guards without fouling. IF he becomes reliably productive on offense. There was a time that Curry was untouchable and the Warriors were listening to offers from Ellis. I wouldn't be surprised if that's switched. I don't think it has. They still love Curry. But Ellis might be moving into untouchable status - not just because of his scoring, but because of the way he's bought in to leadership and defense, etc. Whether they keep both of them depends on who they can put with them. If they can get a beast PF, and get the centers healthy (they can cover up some of the defensive liabilities of a Curry/Ellis backcourt), they might be able to make it work. Don't forget about Raja Bell, though. He's the x-factor in this situation. I think if he comes back to the Warriors next season, he could end up starting next to Ellis or being the defensive stopper at SF - especially if they get a beast at PF.

Golden State of Mind: Let's fast forward and pretend the Golden State Warriors win the 2010 NBA Lottery and have a shot at Kentucky Wildcats point guard phenom John Wall and still have Monta Ellis and Stephen Curry. What do you think the Warriors would do?

Marcus Thompson: For the record, I have no idea. Just playing along here. I think option No. 1 would be to trade the pick. Wall will be a commodity and they would certainly get some good offers. Imagine if you put Wall and Wright together, or Wall and Randolph even, and make a team take Maggette, too. What could you land? They might be able to get a difference maker at PF or SF. It would have to be a no-brainer though. If they don't do that, I think they let Curry and Wall duke it out for the right to play next to Ellis. The loser is on the trading block. Considering C.J. Watson would probably be gone, they would need a third PG. So I could see them drafting Wall and seeing who is best next to Ellis. Again, just me hypothesizing.

Golden State of Mind: We're nearing the end of the decade. What's your All-2k Golden State Warriors starting 5?

Marcus Thompson: That is an excellent question! I might have to bite this. I gotta first give some qualifiers that I assume are implied. So, first off, I'm basing my picks on what players have done WITH THE WARRIORS. So you won't see Gilbert Arenas. I am also picking based on what they HAVE DONE not based on what I project they will do, so you won't see Anthony Randolph. Also, I am including the 1999-00 season since part of it was in this decade.

*PG Baron Davis: This is easy. He was probably the most talented of any player to come through the franchise in the last decade, and he certainly accomplished the most in leading the Warriors to the 2007 playoff upset of Dallas. No question he was the best PG.

*SG Jason Richardson: I am so tempted to put Monta Ellis here. I give Jason Richardson the nod because of what he meant to the franchise on and off the court, because he performed better in the postseason. Game 3 in the first round alone gets him the nod.

*SF Stephen Jackson: Could've went a few different ways here. Maybe you could go with a third guard - such as Arenas or Ellis. But I am thinking about putting the best team together, and that three small guards stuff doesn't win. Jackson was an integral figure in the two best seasons during the decade. His defense on Dirk Nowitzki, and his shot-making, was vital in the upset of Dallas. So even though he was with the Warriors for less than two full seasons, and even though his departure was bitter, if you're trying to put a winning team together for the Warriors off the last 10 years, he's on it. I think having help around him tames him enough to where he's not doing too much on the court.

*PF Antawn Jamison: As far as numbers go, few Warriors had better. In four years during the decade, he averaged 21.9 points and 7.6 rebounds. What would the Warriors give for that kind of production at PF right now? Certainly, he got those numbers on bad teams, and he was always overshadowed by his contract. But he gives the Warriors a fourth 20-point scorer, which would make them super potent on offense. And he rebounded well from his position. Plus he was a model player off the court.

*C Andris Biedrins: I was torn between Biedrins, Troy Murphy and Adonal Foyle. But based on who I have at the other four positions, I just think Andris is the better fit. You need someone who can defend, rebound, run the floor and finish. I like Murphy as a center in an uptempo offense because of his ability to stretch the floor and he rebounds. Plus, though he's not that fast, he makes a good option for the 3 on that secondary break. And he's the best post-player of the three, I think. But he's at his best when he's making shots, and with the other four guys, the Warriors need someone on the floor who can make an impact without making shots, some who doesn't need the rock and can just do the dirty work. Biedrins does that, and he is a better shot blocker than Murphy. So that leaves Biedrins and Foyle. Foyle fits the mold and is a better man-to-man defender, especially against bigger centers. But Biedrins gets the nod because he rebounds better and runs the floor better. This team will unquestionably be an offense-based squad. Since neither is a defensive player of the year candidate, I'd prefer the guy who has D and some O instead of someone with just D.

**********

All of us at GSoM wanted to thank Marcus for fielding our questions and his continue support. Make sure to make his blog Inside the Warriors a regular destination in your web browser.

Trust me you haven't heard the last of the All 2k Warriors awards around these parts...

Preview: Suns vs Gilbert Arenas

Phoenix Stan — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 20:51:58 -0000

More photos » by Steve Helber - AP

That's some family tree Gilbert has right there.

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Coming off what Coach Gentry called the most disappointing loss of the season, the Suns had the day off Friday and a shoot around this morning in preparation for their 10th home game of the season.

And in case you've not been paying attention the Suns are undefeated at home this season. And they are mad. And they are playing the Wizards who lost six straight (including defeats to the Clippers, Pacers and Kings) before beating up on the lowly Warriors last night. And did I mention the Wizards played last night in Oakland and Arenas and Butler played 40+ minutes and Jamison logged 36 despite suffering a shoulder stinger (no idea what that is but it sound stingy).

The good folks over at Bullets Forever seem excited that Gilbert is back stating their case quite simply:

It's the Warriors, but welcome back, Gilbert Arenas!!

Gilbert had 45 points and 13 assist and Butler chipped in 28 and 10 of his own. But of course, just like Jenning's double-nickle it comes against the Warriors who basically played a combination of 4 guards (Ellis, Curry, Marrow and Watson) a small forward (Maggette) an undersized and underage power forward (Randolph) and got 16 minutes from an expiring contract (Radmonovic). And the Wiz still struggled to win only pulling away for good in the final few minutes.

Forgive me if I don't run and hide based on the Wizards results against that group.

That's not to say the Wizards can't beat the Suns but they shouldn't and if they do it will come from the inside play of Haywood and Blatche.

Jason Richardson will reportedly start tonight after missing Thursday game with a sprained right hand.

Q&A: Marcus Thompson - Contra Costa Times / InsideBayArea.com (Part 2 of 3)- Don Nelson's media downfall, Chris Mullin as a front office hire, Chris Cohan's closeness to selling the Golden State Warriors

Atma Brother ONE — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 20:17:50 -0000

In Part 1 Marcus Thompson shared some bright spots on the Golden State Warriors dismal 2009-2010 campaign, players likely to be traded out of Oakland, and Robert Rowell's role in making basketball decisions.

[Inside the Warriors]

In this part MT dissects Nellie's media downfall, whether Mullin is a good front office hire, and how close Cohan is to selling the Warriors.

Golden State of Mind: After a string of 8 coaches during the Warriors 12 year playoff drought, Don Nelson was "the rebirth of cool" for this franchise back in 2006. He was an instant media darling. The Warriors improbable run to qualify for the 2007 NBA Playoffs and their exciting playoff run only cemented his darling status. But a little over two years later it seems like there's a daily piece from either the local Bay Area or national media questioning his every coaching decision and even his character. What specific events do you think caused Nellie's media downfall?

Marcus Thompson: Any instances causing Nellie's "media downfall" are inherently linked to his last stint with the Warriors. So I think all of it is tied to the bad break-up he had with Golden State the first time, especially handling of rookie stud Chris Webber.

With that said, his relationship with Chris Mullin, and the way he handled notoriously good guys in Al Harrington and Jamal Crawford, really made him look like the villain.

The perception was that Mullin and Nellie were linked, tight, best friends. That's how it was played when they brought Nelson back. I'm not going to presume to know what happened behind the scenes. I know what I've heard, and what I believe, but that's all speculation. Members of the organization will say and have said any talk of Nelson pushing Mullin out or getting him fired is nonsense. But what can't be overlooked was the lack of support Nelson showed Mullin publicly.

Considering how close those two were supposed to be, considering Mullin brought Nelson in, where was the outcry for Mullin to stick around from Nellie? Where was his lobbying for Mullin to keep his job and this winning pair to stick together? What's not said is sometimes as powerful as what is said. I think that led to the perception, whether true or false, that Nelson had thrown Mullin under the bus. And considering Mullin had made the moves that led to the turn around, that left Nelson as the easy target as the bad guy.

Then you throw in Nellie's conflicts with Harrington, one of the happy-go-luckiest guys you'll ever meet, and Crawford, another guy who is perhaps to professional and stand-up for his own good. I think those situations made Nelson look meddlesome.You starting putting all these things together, plus the past, plus serious questions about whether Nellie ball even works at a high level, plus public beef with Mark Cuban and agents talking bad about him, and it's easy to see why Nellie's reputation has taken a hit.

Golden State of Mind: Much was made about Chris Mullin's dismissal from the Warriors front office. Months have elapsed since the Warriors let him go and he still does not have another front office job. How much interest is there around the league in bringing him on as a front office executive? You covered his entire tenure as a VP of the Warriors from draft picks to trades to contract negotiations. Is he a good front office hire?

Marcus Thompson: I still think he will end up in New York with Donny Walsh. And I do think he is a good front office hire. He has relationships around the league. He has a pretty good eye for talent. And players love him because of his style of management. Say what you want about Mullin and his bad contracts, but he has his understanding of how to build a franchise. It has its holes, but it makes some sense. You make the franchise a place where players want to play, and they will come. You get players and you will win.

Of course, Mullin did that by overpaying guys to lend some kind of credibility to the franchise. Plus he gets enamored with players and he is loyal to them even when they are proving unworthy of the loyalty. But only one player ever left the Warriors unhappy because of Mullin, and that was Jason Richardson. And the reason he was unhappy was because he didn't want to leave.

Mullin, just like anyone else in the franchise, hasn't done anything yet. But I think over time he had a chance to be a pretty good GM. He has a much better chance under an owner who doesn't mind spending money, because his philosophy can be expensive. Plus some in the organization said he lets the players get away with murder, and there is probably some validity to that.

But since neither philosophy has won anything in Golden State, its hard to choose whose idea of how to run a franchise is better. You might have to lean towards Mullin's because they had their most success in recent years under him.

Golden State of Mind: How close is Chris Cohan to selling the Warriors? Are there any updates about that topic? Give us a prediction- when will he finally sell and to who?

Marcus Thompson: I don't think he's close. To be sure, the process to sell a team takes two or three years anyway. So even if he had an offer right now that he was willing to accept, the sale probably wouldn't go through for two years. I think he's got a number in mind that no one is going to reach. Not in this economy. Not on this team. Now, if the IRS knocks on his door demanding $200 million in taxes owed, that might change things. But Cohan's best business move might be to hold on until the team turns it around, thereby raising the offers if he believes things will turnaround.

**********

Keep it locked for the third episode!

Game 27 Preview: Suns vs. Blazers

Dave — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 08:17:20 -0000

More photos » by Sam Forencich - NBAE/Getty Images

We need this guy tonight. And I'm not talking about Spencer Hawes.

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Game Time: 7:30 P.M. TV: TNT

Hey hey! The new-old look Phoenix Suns are in town.

Unless you've been under a rock for the last couple of years you know the story. The Suns, tired of finishing just short of the Big One despite having one of the most accomplished offenses in the history of the league, decide to change their look by adding Shaquille O'Neal to Steve Nash, Amare Stoudemire, and the gunners. The offense slowed down, the pairing of Nash and Shaq was about as comfortable as watching Al Franken and Sarah Palin team up for a lambada contest, and Phoenix sank like a rock. Figuring that just missing the Big One is far superior to biting the Big One, the Suns have jettisoned the Big Distraction and returned to their old lineup, if not precisely their old ways. The result has been a 17-8 record, good for second place in the division and a solid 4^th in the conference, within spitting distance of 2^nd.

The Suns don't lead the league in pace. They're 4^th, in a large clump with New York, Minnesota, and the L*kers. They do, however, lead the league in offensive efficiency. They're 1^st in effective field goal percentage, first in three-point percentage, 3^rd in overall field goal percentage (.2 points out of 1^st), 10^th in fastbreak points, 12^th in points in the paint...the only aspects of their offense that lie outside the good-to-excellent range are drawing free throws, hitting free throws, and offensive rebounding. They're just average in those three categories. But if they were better than that it wouldn't be fair.

As you might suspect with the Suns the defense does not measure up as strongly. They're 25^th in the league in defensive efficiency...a far cry from their offensive dominance. But don't sleep on them entirely, even in this area. They're average in the percentage shooting defense stats. They allow over 105 points per game because of the style they play, not because they're inherently terrible defenders. They don't have to be great at that end of the court, just passable most nights. And that they are. Defensive rebounding is another story, though. As has been typical they're quite poor on the boards. It's just not their focus. They allow a ton of opponent offensive rebounds as a result.

The main rotation has plenty of guys you'll recognize. Amare Stoudemire, once again the only big man with any claim to the paint, leads them in scoring at 19.6 per game on 55.9% shooting. Steve Nash is right behind with 18 per game, 53% shooting, 45.6% three-point shooting, 94% foul shooting, ran-the-table-again pool shooting, -18 handicap golf shooting, "one trick shot to bag my entire limit" duck shooting, "that guy on the Dos Equis commercials is only the second most interesting man" breeze shooting, oh...and 11.2 assists per game besides. Grant Hill is still around and doing fine playing 31.5 minutes per game, thank you. Jason Richardson plays Gunner of the Week for them, a role which he was born to play. Ex-Blazer Channing Frye has joined him in shooter's heaven, quite happy on a team where they specifically tell him to stay out of the paint on offense. Leandro Barbosa is still around too, but he's injured. Goran Dragic backs up Nash and Louis Amundson is the third big man off the bench. Both of them can shoot too. You just don't get a minute off against this team.

The good news for the Blazers is that you always have a chance to beat a team that doesn't defend that well, doesn't rebound, and has no shot-blockers. There are points to be had here. The bad news for the Blazers is that outside of an "Oops!" or two against the Knicks and Hornets, the teams the Suns have lost to read like a list of the league's elite: Los Angeles, Dallas, Denver, Orlando, Cleveland. The Blazers aren't one of those teams. No hope for the automatic road win either, as the Suns are 8-8 away from the desert. (They're an impressive 9-0 at home, by the way.)

Any way you slice it this should be an entertaining game but a significant challenge for the Blazers. We're all yearning for these kind of matchups with Greg Oden and Rudy Fernandez healthy. As usual, the odds get much longer in their absence.

Keys to the Game

1. One of the first things you talk about when plotting against the Suns is tempo. You can't stop them but you can't let them dictate wholly. You have to involve them with the shot clock. Fast breaks, secondary fast breaks, and open shots after one pass are your enemy. You want them figuring out what to do with 4 seconds remaining on the clock. That means getting back in transition and moving your feet on defense for the entire possession. You also have to commit to sticking with your man. You cannot run out late to wave at their shooters and expect to find success.

2. The second thing you talk about is pick and roll. Steve Nash runs it as well as anybody and he can hit a shot or make a pass with daylight only a cat could see in. They will involve you in screens. Whatever strategy you employ to foil them--switching, jumping, fighting through--you better be committed and you better move fast. All of the defenders away from the screen also have to be aware what's going on. Nash will find teammates in a blink.

3. Amare Stoudemire scoring one-on-one is bad but not fatal. Amare Stoudemire also scoring off of feeds is much worse.

4. The Blazers need extra points tonight. The easiest way to get them is on the offensive glass. This is the night to dominate in this area. LaMarcus and Joel should both have several. (Which, by the way, implies that shooting guards and small forwards are GETTING BACK when the shot goes up!)

5. The other method of getting those extra points is penetrating and getting fouled. The Suns aren't horrible defensively as a group but several of them can be had individually. The next guy Jason Richardson defends will be his first. We've seen Channing Frye defend the post. Even Nash isn't great at staying in front of people. Portland managed to find the lane at critical moments against the Kings. Do it again. Do it more.

6. Even all of that may not be enough, but realize that when the Suns get ahead of you they will let you back in it. They tend to blow out awful teams. Mediocre or better and it's a close game. They'll go on streaks. Don't get discouraged. By the same token many a team has had a successful first quarter against Phoenix only to find them lapping the field by the fourth. If you get a lead, keep pushing. It's like the Terminator is after you. Stay on your toes or you're dead.

Final Thoughts

This isn't a game where I'd expect a win but it's one the Blazers have a chance to win. If nothing else I hope it's a good show.

Check out our colleagues at BrightSideoftheSun.

Enter tonight's Jersey Contest form here.

--Dave (blazersub@yahoo.com)

Richardson "Likely" to Play for Suns Tonight

Phoenix Stan — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 18:49:10 -0000

The Phoenix Suns hope that Jason Richardson's hand has recovered enough so he can play against the San Antonio Spurs. Richardson is officially a game-time decision. (Photo by Max Simbron)

View full size photo »

Jason Richardson banged up his shooting hand Saturday in Denver when he jammed into the torso of a Nuggets player which bent back several fingers. The team officially called it a mild sprain and it kept him out of yesterday's team practice with swelling, discomfort and limited mobility.

Today at shoot-around before the Suns play the Spurs Jason said this about his hand, "Hey, I'm going to play. I don't sit out unless I can't walk. So, most likely I'm going to be playing."

Jason will at least start the game with a little bit of foam cushion wrapped in tape but J-Rich said doesn't like playing with stuff on his hand so expect it to come off early in the game. He's been icing it which has helped reduce the swelling. Jason described himself as "tough".

Coach Gentry stuck with the "game time decision" report and said they would wait and see how Jason felt and looked during pre-game warm-ups. Gentry was asked if the injury impacted Richardson's shooting performance in today's practice, "Well, he shot a lot of left-handed shots today so it wasn't effecting his left-handed shot, no. Well just have to wait and see though."

If Jason can't play it is possible Tucker would get some time but certainly Dragic will slide over and defend Ginobilli as will Dudley who's been assigned to cover guards on several occasions this season.

Shoot around audio

Other notes:

Robin Lopez stayed late working on a variety of offensive moves. He looked more calm then in weeks past. On the other end of the court Channing Frye and Goran Dragic took extra three's.

The Spurs did not hold an official shoot around and therefor avoided the prying eyes of the massive Phoenix press corp.

Game Preview #22: San Antonio Spurs @ Phoenix Suns

Tim C. — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 04:42:32 -0000

The Suns have already set, despite their current record.

So, the Suns have a pretty good record so far this season. Nash looks as good as ever, despite losing some of his better teammates over the previous two seasons. What's up with that? Well, they started the season scorching, and still claim the league's top offense, but they've been losing game more frequently over the last 2 weeks, returning to their rightful place in the second tier of Western Conference teams. That doesn't mean the Spurs should expect to win this game, though. For that, we'll need luck, and some good PtR mojo.

So, how do we get PtR mojo to the game? I'm glad you asked.

PtR Mojo at the Game

Alamobro, xman130 and yours truly will all be at this game, representing PtR. Even though we didn't quite coordinate our seating(I'm in the nosebleeds, they're not), simply being there will hopefully give us a little extra mojo. I will gladly take all the razzing Suns fans can throw at me, as long as the final result is a Spurs victory.

On a mostly unrelated note, check out this epic thread at SpursTalk for hilarity. Be sure to go well beyond the first page. Here's a little preview:

It is so on.

San Antonio Spurs @ Phoenix Suns
Where: US Airways Center - Phoenix, AZ
When: December 15, 2009, 8:00 PM Spurs time
Watch: FSN SW(San Antonio); FSN AZ(Phoenix)

How They Stack Up


10-4	Home	8-0
2-5	Road	8-8
101.8	Offense	108.4
96.6	Defense	105.6
48.0	FG%	49.2
39.2	3-pt%	42.7
73.8	FT%	74.7
42.0	Rebounds	41.5
14.7	TOs	15.5
7-3	Last 10	5-5
Won 3	Streak	Lost 1
2nd, Southwest	Position	2nd, Pacific


Country/Time Zone	Game Time
Argentina	11:00 PM
West Coast	5:00 PM
Philippines	9:00 AM
Central Europe	2:00 AM
Palestine/Egypt	3:00 AM
East Coast	8:00 PM
The Land Time Forgot	7:00 PM
Perth, AUS	9:00 AM
Tokyo, JP	10:00 AM
Sydney, AUS	12:00 PM

Spurs (9-9)	Matchups	Suns (18-6)
Tony Parker Defying Expectations	Point Guard Tony's had double-digit assists in two of the last three games, which is encouraging. Unfortunately, he's also turning the ball over a lot. Mr. Nash is as good as he's ever been, so I'll give him a very slight edge here. Advantage: Suns	Steve Nash Pretty Damn Good

Manu Ginobili BETTER THAN FANGIO!!!	Shooting Guard Manu's got his mojo going in the last few games. Keith Bogans will be matched up with J-Rich at first, but Manu will get the bulk of the SG minutes and should be able to win this matchup. Advantage: Spurs	Jason Richardson Not Richard Jefferson

Richard Jefferson Finally Getting Better	Small Forward RJ's been doing noticeably better as of late, after the rough start to the season. I expect more of the same tonight, and he should be able to take care of Hill with ease if he's on his game. Advantage: Spurs	Grant Hill Not George Hill

Tim Duncan No Random Punctuation	Power Forward Amare is still as deadly a shooter as ever, but doesn't seem to have the explosiveness he used to. Timmy is putting up the most efficient numbers of his career, which is really saying something when you're already the best PF of all time. Advantage: Spurs	Amar'e Stoudemire Random Apostrophe

Antonio McDyess Jumpshooter	Center Dice should get plenty of open looks tonight, even if Amare guards him instead of Timmy. Channing Frye was Phoenix's big acquisition this offseason, which says more about the team than it does about the player. If we can keep him off the 3-point line, this matchup will be ours. Also, Blair is going to eat the Suns frontcourt alive. Advantage: Spurs	Channing Frye Jumpshooter

George Hill Los Cubits	Bench & Role Players The Suns are without Leandro Barbosa. The BAM should be able to get something going pretty easily, cosidering that Jared Dudley is Phoenix's best remaining bench player. Advantage: Spurs	Jared Dudley Aptly Named

Gregg Popovich Bring Back the Beard	Coach Pop should use this game to make a statement. Seriously, he should. Advantage: Spurs	Alvin Gentry 7 Seconds and Loss
	images via yahoo.com

	Other Factors
	Intangibles If the Spurs could ever stop turning the fucking ball over, they'd be a pretty damn good team. Advantage: Suns
	Mojo Take a look at the Suns' home record. Then take a look at our road record. Not a tough call. Those of us who are there in person will try to bring enough mojo for the Spurs to overcome, but it won't be easy. Advantage: Suns
	Winner I always have a good feeling when we play the Suns, but not this time. I have hope, but not a feeling of inevitability like in seasons past. I'm going to go with my optimism, especially in light of the matchups. Spurs in a squeaker.

Keys To The Game

Defense - The Suns bring the league's most efficient offense to the table - we have to slow them down. In years past, this wouldn't be a problem, but we've been pretty inconsistent on D this season. Come on, Spurs - convince me it's not an issue.
Weather the Storm - Phoenix always comes out fired up to play us, and they usually jump out to an early lead. We can't let it get out of control.
Bench - The Spurs' bench is vastly superior, and they need to play like it. The BAM scored 57 points in our last game, so expectations are definitely being raised.

Last Time They Met

Let's skip the last time these teams met(Don't worry, we won), and go with some classic Spurs-Suns moments. Something tells me Suns fans don't like reliving these as much as we do.

Strength of Schedule

The every other day schedule is over. This is the first game of a back-to-back set(FIGABABA?), with the seond game tomorrow night in Oakland.

The Suns are coming off two days' rest after a road loss to the Nuggets that was very close, and they were actually the victim of some bad calls.

Some Other Reading

Suns

Bright Side of the Sun - These guys are our SBN siblings for Phoenix, and they do a phenomenal job. I briefly met Mike at summer league, and P. Stan is a super blogging machine(he also runs the SBN WNBA blog). I have nothing but respect for the writers over there.

Valley of the Suns - Here's the TrueHoop blog dedicated to the Suns. These other teams' THN blogs seem to be getting better over time, which is a very encouraging sign. Worth the read.

Spurs

48 Minutes of Hell: Speaking of THN blogs, Tim and Graydon are still the best. They're not writing as much as they used to, but that's understandable in light of their busy schedules.
Project Spurs: Good Bloguin blog with lots of good content. Be sure to check out their podcasts and live chats.

The Magic That Happened

jrw put together some great highlights from the Clippers game thread(s):

Ridiculous lineup made us lose our lead. What the hell was Pop thinking? - LatinD

"I wanted to lose our lead." - theonlyromeo

"Did I leave that case of wine on the plane?" - Queness

"Why do we need to have these practices everyday?" - theonlyromeo

"Fuck free throws." - Queness

"What’s the big deal about Ophra? I don’t see why people like her." - Hipuks

"What do you mean wrong spelling? I know Ophra well enough, dammit! I like her more than Elen." - theonlyromeo

"Fuck, I totally messed that up." - Hipuks

"Damn, how drunk am I that I misspell things that I’m thinking?" - Queness

"These shoes are too tight." - Queness

"Make-up does wonders to people’s looks." - silverandblack_davis

"I’m supposed to be coaching but I really really have to take a shit, I think if I stand up and walk around it will make it better." - Hipuks

"Ooh, third quarter. Budendozer, what’s our worse +/- lineup?" - theonlyromeo

Pop ought to think about starting manu in the second half - bones

Unfortunately, Pop doesn’t make halftime adjustments. - the little o

Pop’s Idea of an adjustment is switching from the Shiraz to a Merlot - alamobro

in reference to LatinD’s shark BLAAIIIRRR pics:

my entire family got eaten by sharks. show some respect! - sleep research facility

How did YOU survive? I sense an evil plot here. - Rich Town

you’ll need to speak to my lawyer. next question! - sleep research facility

Whoa! Kaman started to pick his dribble up at the "Channel" mark, then took off way before the "admin" spot—all while his defender was standing around the "blocked." - theonlyromeo

My family was killed by a channel blocked by admin, that’s not funny. - Hipuks

My family was killed by a bad joke, that’s not funny. - LatinD

How did YOU survive? I sense an evil plot here. - theonlyromeo

I hid inside a whale corpse. - Hipuks

And, now I’m being killed by lack of oxygen intake. Fuck you guys and your hilarity. - Queness

Bonner elbowed Duncan, -78. - Hipuks

that’s why I smoke cigarettes, because I know that second-hand smoke kills. - the little o

RJ’s driving to the basket a lot more lately. Pop had a talk with him? - LatinD

"You get your ass in there or I will fucking trade you for Vince Carter." - silverandblack_davis

"How much are we paying your ass again?" - theonlyromeo

Why does Pop talk about RJ’s ass so much? - tomasito

Maybe every time RJ goes down the court, Pop thinks, "Yup. That’s 15 million for the right cheek and 15 million for the left cheek. Those are goddamn expensive cheeks." - Queness

After RJ misses a free throw and Blair snags the rebound and gets the put-back:

That’s probably easier than teaching our guys to shoot FTs - greyberger

"Oh, you missed both? I’ll take care of that LOLOOLOLOLOL." - Daniel_B

SA announcer when blair fell "I was worried for the floor" - greyberger

Where to Tune In

TV

This game is not on national TV, so for those of you staying at home, you might want to read on below...

Online

As always, NBA league pass is recommended for those who are willing to pony up the cash. Almost every Spurs game will be broadcast there, which is especially helpful for those of us who aren't in the San Antonio area. You know, when we're not at the games.

Please don't post links to illegal game feeds in the game thread. Links to illegal feeds are not permitted on SBNation, but you can probably find them out there on the internets if you're resourceful and desperate. In fact, nobody can stop you from googling "atdhe". You can also shoot an email to dmenendez@gmail.com for more assistance.

Spurs League Pass audio is still free this year, so check it out.

Radio

If you're in the San Antonio area and aren't near a TV, tune in to WOAI (1200 AM).

Practice Report: JRich Talks Hand. Taylor Griffin Talks Snow

Phoenix Stan — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 21:31:50 -0000

The Suns might be without the services of Jason Richardson who injured his right hand when he jammed it against another player in Saturday's loss to the Denver Nuggets. (Photo by Max Simbron)

View full size photo »

The Suns held a spirited practice today. Moods seemed high. Play of the practice (that I saw) was Alando Tucker leading a 2 on1 break and throwing a sweet lob to Jared Dudley who was able to rise up, catch the ball, and sort of guide it in. Tucker gave him the business for not dunking it...

There was quite a bit of emphasis on double teaming the post with Robin Lopez standing in for Tim Duncan. No comment.

Jason Richardson sat out of practice and is questionable for Tuesday's game and Robin's Door has been replaced.

Post practice audio and some miscellaneous links follow.

Audio

Jason Richardson talks about the hand

Nash talks about staying in the picture

Gentry does NOT talk about the officials

Taylor Griffin reflects on his first ever use of a scarf for non-decorative purposes

Links

KTAR.com - Suns' Richardson questionable against Spurs
Phoenix Suns shooting guard Jason Richardson injured his right hand on Saturday night against the Denver Nuggets and is questionable for Tuesday night's game against the San Antonio Spurs.
SUNS: Griffin Makes Impressive D-League Debut
Last Monday, the Suns sent Griffin down to the NBA Developmental League so he could participate in some more live game action. Since minutes for the rookie were sparse in the Suns' regular rotation, the front office brass wanted Griffin to compete in an organized game instead of just practicing.
Stoudemire's Downtown files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection
The basketball player does not own the business. Downtown Restaurant LLC, paid Stoudemire a licensing fee to use his name.
Are The Phoenix Suns a Mirage? - Basketball News & NBA Rumors -
The Phoenix Suns are 16-8 after Saturday's loss in Denver. That's a pretty healthy record for a team that has played the most road games of any team in the NBA. It's also a good mark considering many so-called experts didn't give the Suns a chance of sniffing the NBA Playoffs at the inception of the campaign.
Sample shows these Phoenix Suns are for real
Of course, it's not always accurate. Injuries, scheduling quirks, personnel moves and referees like Billy Kennedy are variables that can skew things a bit.
Worst Refereeing We've Seen all Season Keeps Suns from Winning Two Weekend Games in Row Against Elite Teams. Next Up: Hated Spurs - Phoenix News - Valley Fever
Phoenix News. Worst Refereeing We've Seen all Season Keeps Suns from Winning Two Weekend Games in Row Against Elite Teams. Next Up: Hated Spurs. Phoenix New Times news, blogs, music, movies, restaurants and the arts.
NBA 'Watchability' Scale: Ranking Every Team Based On Entertainment, Not Talent - SB Nation
Here's one NBA addict's attempt to rank each of the 30 NBA teams in terms of "watchability," so you can make your decision on what games to watch. What is "watchability?" Much like pornography, you can't define it, but you know it when you see it. Winning is not necessarily the main determining factor. There are bad teams that are eminently watchable, and there are good teams that are really tough on the eyes.
The Official Phoenix Suns Blog " Blog Archive " Steve Nash Saves Win With Amazing Play
Another great Nash story
Phoenix Suns' tempo on offense rises, falls
Notes: The Suns have felt the no-call sting in Denver before but have been more stung by offensive funks of late. Plus more tidbits on the team.
American Chronicle | Ranking the sets of twins in NBA history
It's about time someone finally did this.