SB Nation User Blog: Phoenix Stan

Game Thread: Suns vs Wizards

Phoenix Stan — Sun, 20 Dec 2009 00:55:28 -0000

Next Game

Washington Wizards
@ Phoenix Suns

Saturday, Dec 19, 2009, 7:00 PM MST
US Airways Center

Preview: Suns vs Gilbert Arenas

posted by Phoenix Stan about 4 hours ago

Complete Coverage >

Coach's Notes:

The Washington beat writers first questions for Flip Saunders were about the snow storm back home and if the Wizards were going to try and fly out tonight or hang out in Phoenix. Let's see, it's 70 and sunny here. I would find any excuse to stay
Saunders said the Wiz have been playing well but just not winning games. Ok...
Gentry talked about Gilbert going off for 50 at any point when he's healthy and like Amare he's taking some time to come back from injury but based on last night's game. He's back
When Gil was here in Phoenix last he dropped a USAC record 54 points on the Suns on Dec 22, 2006. If you recall he was on a payback tour giving some love to the coaches who left him off the US National team. Gentry doesn't think Gilbert is holding any grudges against him
Asked about getting complacent with the up-coming home stand after so many road games Gentry turned to his white board and said "let's see..." and proceeded to write the names of the next home opponents (Cavs, Thunder, Clips, Lakers and Boston) making the point that noone's getting content.
Paul Coro responded "five and 0"
Asked for additional thoughts on the fourth quarter of the Portland game, Gentry said they just go out of rhythm and only put up 27 shots in the 2nd half instead of 40+ he's looking for. He said fatigue wasn't a factor
JRich's hand is still sore but he can't hurt it by playing so he's going to go. "We'll stick hi out there and see what happens"
LB is getting closer. Still looking at the Dec 25th game for his return

Preview: Suns vs Gilbert Arenas

Phoenix Stan — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 20:19:06 -0000

More photos » by Steve Helber - AP

That's some family tree Gilbert has right there.

Browse more photos »

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.

Game in Exclusive Pictures: Suns vs Spurs (Nash Has THE Plan)

Phoenix Stan — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 23:10:50 -0000

In case you missed any second of the Suns thrilling win over the hated Spurs, we bring you this exclusive pictorial recap.

And by we, I mean our outstanding photographer, Max Simbron (not to be confused with Max Contract).

Before the game began, Manu Ginobili has an important conversation with the official regarding critical basketball matters.

Things started well enough for the Suns with Grant Hill hitting an open shot but Amare Stoudemire felt he was fouled on the play.

As the Spurs cut the Suns big lead down to a couple of points, Coach Gentry turned to his star player and two-time MVP.

Nash had it under control

Nash ran on to the court to implement The Plan.

As Nash explained The Plan to young Dragic, there was some doubt in his mind.

But Goran stepped up big time!

Celebration ensured

Of course, for every winner there's a loser. Or a bench full of losers.

Game over.

Bonus Feature - The Faces of the Game

They say football is a game of inches. Well, basketball is a game of faces. Here's a few:

Grant Hill's Poker Face

Tim Duncan's Normal Face

Alvin Gentry holds his face

Gregg Popovich slaps a face

and some people can't even shave their damn face before coming to work

Rest of the Game Photo Gallery

NBA: San Antonio Spurs at Phoenix Suns 121509 - Images by Max Simbron

Ann Meyers Drysdale in an exclusive Swish Appeal interview said the Phoenix Mercury are 90% sure...

Phoenix Stan — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 21:12:22 -0000

Ann Meyers Drysdale in an exclusive Swish Appeal interview said the Phoenix Mercury are 90% sure they won't be able to return the same roster that won the 2009 WNBA championship due to a significant drop in the WNBA salary cap for the 2010 season.

Free agents include Cappie Pondexter, Penny Taylor, Temeka Johnson and Le'Coe Willingham.

Full story to follow...

Can't we all just get along? We are holding a Caption Contest to write the best caption for this...

Phoenix Stan — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 18:56:47 -0000

Can't we all just get along?

We are holding a Caption Contest to write the best caption for this photo of our two point guards demonstrating international peace on earth during these holiday seasons.

Won't you come join us?

Caption Contest: Parker and Nash Share a Moment

Phoenix Stan — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 18:53:16 -0000

Tony Parker and Steve Nash shared this special moment during Tuesday's game. Write the caption that goes with this photo and the best one will have their caption inserted with the photo!

Photo by Max Simbon. More game photos coming soon.

Suns Reportedly Interested in Caron Butler

Phoenix Stan — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 17:01:32 -0000

More photos » by Haraz N. Ghanbari - AP

Browse more photos »

The Washington Post's Michael Lee dropped this little gem into his Friday article about the Wizards struggles.

The Golden State Warriors and Phoenix Suns, the Wizards' opponents on Friday and Saturday, respectively, were both interested in acquiring Butler, who has been in a season-long slump under new Coach Flip Saunders, averaging just 16.7 points per game and shooting 41.4 percent.

Since this is the Washington Post and it is the first real trade rumor involving the Suns this season it is probably worth examining at least a little bit. Not too much though because in all likelihood this is an old rumor from the off-season and was tangled up in the various reports involving Amare going to Washington.

And of course we all know that Amare was and probably will be involved in trade rumor with half the teams in the league.

So, I wouldn't and don't take this one too seriously but it is out there and our job (if you will) is to overreact and get all hyperbolic about these things. Otherwise what's the internet/blogs for - right, Tiger?

Butler is a small forward with emphasis on small. He's a guy barely bigger than Jason Richardson and probably no stronger. Caron has had a classic up and down career marred by repeated injuries. What I love about him is his tenacity and rebounding for his size (6 rpg) but how exactly would he fit on to this Suns team?

He wouldn't. He's a wing player that doesn't shoot the three (~30%) and is a guy who would need to play if he came here so who's minutes does he get? Do you bench Grant Hill to play Caron Butler? In the long term, maybe but for these season, no. He's a nice player but he's not a guy you would risk much to get as part of a long term plan and certainly not at the price.

Butler is under contract until the end of 2010/11 season making about $10.5m next year. That's about $4m less than Jason Richardson will make in the final year of his contract so on the surface a swap of those two doesn't work from a numbers perspective even if the Wizards threw in the intriguing young Nick Young's rookie contract which they wouldn't likely do.

Salaries aside, the last thing the Suns need to do at this point is make a major trade like this. Richardson is playing well for the Suns and the team chemistry is fantastic. Butler might be a great guy, but I think recent history has shown that making mid-season trade of major players only makes sense in fantasy leagues, video games, and for desperate teams.

The Phoenix Suns are none of those which is why I don't think there's anything nor should there be anything to this rumor (which is likely out of date anyway). Move along. Nothing to see here.

Blazers Down Suns. TNT Curse Continues

Phoenix Stan — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 06:44:03 -0000

More photos » by Don Ryan - AP

The Suns were unable to keep Brandon Roy and Jerryd Bayless out of the paint in the final quarter of the game.

Browse more photos »

Circle January 28th on your calendar. On that day the Suns play the Dallas Mavericks. The game is in Phoenix. It's a Thursday. On TNT.

Correction: I was only looking at Thursdays on my schedule. It seems the Suns next shot at The Curse is Monday, January 18 in Memphis.

At this point breaking that curse has surpassed all possible objectives for the Suns season. Forget about the playoffs. Forget about being the Most Watchable Team. The Phoenix Suns simply must BREAK THE CURSE!!!

For those of you who don't believe in these kinds of things (as if 17 straight losses on TNT is some kind of coincidence) might point out the 13 point lead the Suns had going into the 4th quarter and call out the Suns inability to close out the game. The first of 13 games by the way, the Suns have lost this season after taking a lead into the final period.

That 13 point lead was cut to 5 within the first two and half minutes as the Suns missed two shots and turned the ball over while the Blazers hit two three's and a deuce. Just like that the curse reaches up and grabs your ankles and drags you down in the mud where it spikes your eyes and rips your heart from your chest.

Good thing I don't believe in these things.

The Suns played a fantastic game for the 1st three quarters. The offense moved well and the team was making quick decisions reacting to the Blazers switching defense. On the other end the Suns were winning the battle of the boards and were active and aggressive on D holding the Blazers below 41% shooting before two things happened...

The tank ran dry and the starters couldn't sustain the effort and Jerryd Bayless went nuts. Perhaps more importantly, the Blazers coaching staff benched Andre Miller in favor of Bayless and they finally turned the kid loose.

Throw in Brandon Roy's normal fourth quarter big time play and there was simply no way the Suns were able to stop those two guards from getting deep penetration. When they stayed home on the shooters Roy and Bayless scored at the rim or got to the line. When the Suns collapsed in the paint the Blazers hit their shots. Frustrating, but also a case of great players making great plays at home.

I can live with this result. Yes, the Blazers are suffering more injuries than the Suns and they certainly were feeling that early in the game as Phoenix was beating them on the glass without Oden and on the wings without out Rudy and Batum. But we've known for some time that the Blazers were a deep team loaded with studly young talent. Forced to use it their second year former Wildcat stepped up.

Amare "Max Contract" Stoudemire had a beast of a game. 27 points and 11 rebounds and some of the most aggressive play we've seen from him in a long long time. He was a one-man wrecking crew until he faded under the weight of too much expended energy. With 45 minutes under his belt in this game he simply wasn't able to sustain that monster effort in the final minutes.

Just like in the Dallas game, Nash made a couple late three's to make it interesting but I am going to get on him a bit here for waiting too long to find his shot. All game he was letting his teammates score and it was working great. But in those final minutes he needed to start looking for his shot just a bit sooner. Maybe that's play calling as the Suns tried to ride Amare's back but regardless, the five or six empty offensive possessions where the Suns were stuck at 92 from the 5:27 mark until Hill hit a jumper with 2:47 to go were the difference in the game.

Overall, I was pleased with the way the Suns played. Missing Richardson and Barbosa is a lot for this team to take and it showed. The Suns bench is solid but Dragic isn't a 20 point guy and there's no one else on that bench that can be asked to deliver points when LB is missing.

But that's how it is in the NBA. No excuses.

The Suns played hard. They are competitive on the road against good teams and undefeated at home. I can live with that.

Oh, and the Suns have 10 of their next 12 games at home with the only road trips to Golden State and Sacramento.

[Note by Phoenix Stan, 12/18/09 7:17 AM MST ]

Interesting that after only scoring 21 points in the fourth quarter including a ~3 minute dry spell that Gentry and Nash talked more about the defense and rebounding. This game aside, that's an interesting turn of events isn't it?

Anyway, I still think fatigue played a big role in this loss. A mental let down early in the final period followed by a physical let down late.

Game links:

SUNS: Postgame Quotes: Suns @ Blazers - 12/17/2009
"We can't play good for 36 minutes. We have to play well for 48 minutes, that's the only way you can win on the road. You can't do it. You can't spot play on the road, you got to be tough, hard-nosed, and you got to be able to finish games. You get nothing for playing well for three quarters. It's very very disappointing, it's the most disappointing loss we've had the whole year." - Alvin Gentry
Suns can't hold lead against Trail Blazers
Portland scored 10 points on second chances in the fourth, including 3-pointers on two of the first four possessions that quickly made it a five-point game
Blazersedge - A Site by Blazer fans, for Blazer fans
Apparently that kindled something in Hill because he went on a tear and almost singlehandedly wrested control of the game away from Portland. It was like that time your grandpa caught you smoking and took you out behind the woodshed. You knew he was capable, you knew you probably deserved it, but it's still pretty bad getting beaten by an 80-year-old man.

Game Thread: Suns @ Blazers

Phoenix Stan — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 23:00:43 -0000

Final - 12.17.2009	1	2	3	4	Total
Phoenix Suns	28	27	26	21	102
Portland Trail Blazers	25	23	22	35	105

Complete Coverage >

Suns vs Trail Blazers coverage
Suns vs Trail Blazers preview
Blazersedge
azcentral.com blogs - Coro's Suns dish - PaulCoro - Richardson out tonight
Suns guard Jason Richardson is not on the active roster for tonight's game in Portland in hopes that his sprained right hand can fully heel with two more days off before Saturday's game. Goran Dragic will start at off-guard in place of Richardson, putting the Brandon Roy defensive duties on Grant Hill. Jared Dudley probably will be the first off the bench and Dragic will have to leave the game and return to man the backup point guard minutes.

Over 1,000,000 served

Phoenix Stan — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 18:04:44 -0000

Over 1,000,000 served

At some point last month Bright Side of the Sun passed the 1 million Visitor mark!

Thank you for your patronage.

In honor of this event we are offering FREE access to all of our content! Offer valid this decade only