First Take

In basketball math, it should look something like this:

LeBron + Wade + Bosh > Nash + Richardson + Turkoglu

The Heat and Suns’ identical 6-4 records indicate otherwise. Both teams claim to be in the process of meshing as a team, which makes you wonder either

a) how good Phoenix can be or

b) how much did we overestimate Miami?

Food for thought

• What if Miami goes big with LeBron or Wade at the point? Where does Steve Nash hide? On James Jones? This is more than concerning.
• Will Hakim Warrick outperform Chris Bosh? Is it crazy that this is even a question?
• As Keaton pointed out in the Soundoff, LeBron seems to pull out the heavy artillery on Planet Orange. James averages 29.8ppg against the Suns over his career, making Phoenix his third-most offensively ravaged opponent behind Boston and Oklahoma City.

The Pick

Orlando is the only playoff team from 2009-10 Miami has beaten so far this season. That will change unless Grant Hill and Jared Dudley play out of their minds defensively and the Suns hit 22 threes again. Heat 112, Suns 100.

See more like this on WeAreSuns.com

Through a series of luck rivaled only by the Suns' playoff run, I managed to snag a phone interview with producer DJ Steve Porter, the guy responsible for "All-I-gotta-do-is-FOCUS," and the other rythmic commercials during the 2010 postseason.

Obviously, the show had to go longer than seven minutes.

Steve talks about the production itself, his lucky break, and how aspiring artists in any field can best sew seeds for their own fortunes. Also, find out where Steve's NBA allegiances lie. To read more about Steve's ascent to NBA entertainment, click here.

If you love these commercials as much as I do, e-mail your comments to sevenminutesorless@fanster.com. They'll be sent off to Steve Monday.

Seven Minutes or Less is a Phoenix Suns podcast for the fans, by the fans, in seven minutes or less. Saturday features a full 24-minute shot-clock for the show, with a more in-depth look at the Suns, including responses to e-mail questions/comments from fans and listeners. If your comment/question is good, you could be asked to make an appearance on the show.

The title is not a typo.

Everyone lauds the Suns' offense while deriding their defense. Given their performances over the last half-decade, that's understandable.

But take a look during that same span at the Suns' offense when the game comes down to the wire. You'll find, to your surprise, the Suns struggling as much, sometimes more, to score a basket as stopping one.

A closer look at the Suns' personnel (and coaching calls) reveals why this seemingly bizarre Jekyll/Hyde twist happens.

1) Steve Nash, for all his shooting and passing prowess, is one of the worst candidates for guaranteeing at least free throws when the game is on the line. He needs an open jumper or teammate to make something happen in that scenario. He's not strong enough to force the issue inside or even to clear up his own shot.

For a guy who handles the ball that much, that really limits your crunch time cajones.

2) For whatever reason, the Suns' coaching staff (whether it be D'Antoni, Porter, or Gentry) forgets what got them their points over the first 45 minutes of the game. Think about it -- how often do you see the pick-and-roll run when the game is tight in the final minutes?

Game 4 was a perfect example of this offensive stupidity -- instead of feeding Stoudemire, who had finally figured out the Blazers' defense, Nash dribbled out the clock...and that was when he didn't turn it over beforehand.

3) I've mentioned killer instinct (or lack thereof) with this team before. Watch the Suns during crunch time -- not a single one has the guts to take over at the end of the game (Channing Frye's amazingly imbecilic three-pointers notwithstanding).

Look, the Suns are great when they blow teams out. But put them in a tight game, and any and every Suns fan will have a sick feeling in the pit of their gut. He/she knows Phoenix will probably succumb to the pressure.

People have been wondering why Amare Stoudemire has never stepped up as the prototype "franchise player." Well, maybe because he's never been treated like the franchise player. That happens in crunch time. Do you see the ball go to him when it matters? You're lying if you say yes.

Instead, Nash will dribble it out and/or jack up a three, Grant Hill will make a half-hearted drive and pull up from 16 feet, or someone else will end up with a bad shot with the clock running out.

That's not crunch time basketball. What's more disturbing is that it's bad offense -- from the Phoenix Suns.

I can't believe I'm saying this, but the Suns had better find their offense...for the last three minutes, anyway.

With Portland swarming Amare down low and out-muscling Steve Nash on the perimeter, Phoenix needed Jason Richardson in the worst way this series.

Man, has he delivered.

J-Rich cashed in for 29 points in Game 2, then upped the ante with a 42-point onslaught in Game 3. Suddenly the guy Phoenix treated like over-expensive tradebait is the indispensable teammate the Suns need to succeed.

That's not to disparage guys like Grant Hill, Goran Dragic and Jared Dudley, who have all stepped up in the postseason spotlight. But Richardson is the one guy who has the unquestioned talent to take over when Stoudemire and/or Nash falter, or are at least contained.

Game 3 was a J-Rich highlight reel that would have made any Warriors' fan wish for the good old days. On the break, on the post, or behind the arc, Richardson did it all. He showed that if Portland focuses its perimeter defense on Nash, Richardson will make them pay dearly for it.

That's the evolution the Suns hope will continue throughout their still-young playoff run. If Richardson is on his game, how realistic is it to stop the Suns' offense? Does any team in the West have enough defensive studs to contain both halves of Phoenix's backcourt?

• The Lakers have Bryant to stop/contain one, but Derek Fisher at the other spot. Put in Farmar or Shannon Brown, and they lose Fisher's crunch time composure/offense. 
• Dallas has a slowing-but-effective Jason Kidd, but too-slow Caron Butler or too-small Jason Terry at the other guard spot.
• San Antonio has Tony Parker, who was let off the hook with Nash in the past thanks to Bruce Bowen, who is no longer present.
• Oklahoma City has the pieces (Russell Westbrook, Thabo Sefolosha, James Harden), but won't get a chance to prove it thanks to their first-round match with L.A.
• Denver could do the job with Billups and Aaron Afflalo, but hasn't shown the necessary discipline this season against Phoenix, who dominated the season series.
• Utah's Deron Williams gives Nash fits, but leaves a committee of Wes Matthews, Kyle Korver and Ronnie Price to cover Richardson. They present the biggest challenge to Phoenix's backcourt defensively, but would also need to beat the Lakers in order to do so.

The way Richardson has been playing, it's like he's realized that conundrum -- with him on, no one can turn the Suns off.

On TNT, Barkley said the Suns will be a dangerous team to whichever team gets them (assuming the Suns win) in the second round.

If Richardson keeps playing like this (and Lopez returns from injury), that prediction might not be farsighted enough.

Suns vs Trail Blazers coverage

Apparently, the Suns thought Portland would just roll over and die without Brandon Roy.

Their mistake.

If Phoenix didn't know before, they know it now. Portland's not going away. Anyone who thought Roy was irreplaceable hasn't been watching Portland over the last three years.

They've stockpiled talent through the draft and trades. Guys who might be starting on other teams (see: Jerryd Bayless, Rudy Fernandez) see more bench than PT on Portland. That's how deep they are.

Phoenix just saw that first-hand.

Now the Suns have to see how deep they are - meaning can they dig deeper for a better effort than they showed in Game One?

The revolutionized Amare Stoudemire never showed. Instead, the quasi-All-Star version returned in his ref-complaining, turnover-committing and crunchtime-absent glory.

The Suns can only hope it was a one-game hiccup, and not a series-long slump, because without Stoudemrie producing, Phoenix is a die-by-the-three team. It's that simple.

Unlike Bayless or Miller, Nash isn't strong enough to penetrate and force at least a foul on the opposing team. He has to shy away from contact, hoping for an open lane, jumper or teammate. Sure, he excels at those things, but those don't ensure points when you need them, as Game One's last four minutes showed.

Amare and the rest of the Suns showed surprising tenacity on the boards...make that, offensive boards. The defensive rebounding was (somewhat predictably) weak, especially during critical junctures of the game.

TNT's Craig Sager reported the Suns held a no-foul scrimmage practice the day before Game One. You have to wonder if the unaccustomed style of play got the Suns away from the free-flowing fashion that had them streaking into the postseason.

Above anything else, Phoenix needs to have the pride factor. Despite their aforementioned depth, Portland is wounded. Even Blazers' fans would admit they should be an inferior team. The Suns should have come out with much more energy and purpose than they did.

Instead, they let two former Clippers (Miller and Camby) run circles around them.

Now they're down 0-1, and Portland is one of the least appealing places to regain home court advantage. Phoenix can do it. They should do it.

As Game One proved, though, should doesn't mean will.

Trail Blazers vs Suns coverage

Hurts, don't it?

That's what Steve Nash and others associated with the Suns over the last five years are saying to themselves after Portland's Brandon Roy became another victim to the injury bug.

Roy has decided to undergo surgery to repair a partially torn meniscus, and Blazers' fans, management and observers are already putting asteriks and "It's too bad..." next to their takes on the Suns/Blazers first-round matchup.

Just don't expect the same pity from Phoenix.

Look, Phoenix has suffered their own playoff misfortune over the last few years. Ridiculous suspensions aside, their recent postseason history has been equally marred.

First and most obvious, the Suns are without their one legit center in Robin Lopez. Jarron Collins is a banging bit player-turned-starter, and Channing Frye is a shooting softy who won't rebound or use his length consistently on defense.

Delving into postseasons past, you'll find Phoenix headlining the league's IL.

2005: Joe Johnson fractures an eye socket after Dallas' Jerry Stackhouse performs the always ill-advised chase-down block attempt, which sent Johnson to the floor and the emergency room.

Behind Johnson on the depth chart? An overachieving Jimmy Jackson and undeveloped Leandro Barbosa (7.1 minutes-per-game).

Johnson, the do-everything facet of the Suns' high octane offense, was unavailable until the middle of the following round. By that time, the Spurs had already seized momentum of the series.

2006, Part One: After their '05 exit to the Spurs, the Suns were picked by many to hold their first Larry O'Brien trophy after getting their necessary and cliche "playoff experience."

Instead, word trickled out of training camp that Amare Stoudemire's knee was troubling him, and that he would undergo a precautionary MRI. That in turn revealed the need for the dreaded microfracture surgery, 86-ing Amare's season.

It's funny how nobody pitied the Suns like they're pitying the Blazers despite both teams having injury-riddled, 50-win seasons.

2006, Part Two: Despite Amare's absence, the Suns overachieved by coming back from a 3-1 series deficit against the Lakers, ousting the Clippers in seven games, and facing a Mavericks team that had just overcome the Spurs in seven games of their own.

Up to that point, the Suns' most consistent playoff performer had been Raja Bell, who took it upon himself to add a shooter's killer instinct to his defensive tenacity.

Of course, that must have just drawn the basketball gods' attention. Bell suffered a partially torn calf muscle early in the series, and attempted in vain to play through it the rest of the way.

2007: If you're looking for suspension talk, sorry to disappoint. I've already hashed that out before, and besides, we're talking about injuries here.

Instead of Game Four of the Suns/Spurs semifinal series, I'm shifting focus to the closing minutes of Game One. In a collision intentional only on the part of the basketball gods (whose sole purpose is to ensure Phoenix never wins a championship), Steve Nash had his nose ripped open.

After pudding wads of bandages that came to resemble semi-solid bubble gum, Nash gamely kept playing, making clutch shot after clutch shot.

But the blood kept coming, and as a result, Nash had to sit the final few possessions. This was when the Nash-or-nothing effect was still present, so without Nash, the Spurs took Game One.

With Nash on the floor playing the way he'd been playing up to that point? Intriguing, isn't it?

The point is, the Suns have gone through (and are still going through) what Portland is currently undertaking: playing with key players injured. Phoenix understands this better than anyone except the '89 Lakers.

Just don't expect Phoenix or their fans to pity them for it.

That didn’t take long.

Experts and pundits are already pointing out the Suns’ flaws, saying they’ve got zero chance against the Lake Show and might even get upset by the Portland Walking Dead.

Matt is incensed. Apparently the fact that Portland’s wins were before the All-Star break were overlooked. Apparently the Suns haven’t fixed their defense (have) or their bench (have). Apparently, experts and pundits are idiots.

How upset are you over the lack of respect towards the Purple and Orange? Let your reactions be heard and addressed in tomorrow’s mailbag show by commenting below or e-mailing sevenminutesorless@fanster.com

Seven Minutes or Less is a Phoenix Suns podcast for the fans, by the fans, in seven minutes or less. Saturday features a full 24-minute shot-clock for the show, with a more in-depth look at the Suns, including responses to e-mail questions/comments from fans and listeners. If your comment/question is good, you could be asked to make an appearance on the show.

Portland was already without Greg Oden and Joel Pryzbilla, and now Brandon Roy (torn meniscus) might not be available for the playoffs. That has Matt wanting a 3-6 matchup between Phoenix and Portland in the worst way.

The Suns need to look to their own games, though, and that means beating a Denver team on the second night of a back-to-back. While 'Melo is back this time, Matt will be watching the battle of backups (Goran Dragic vs. Ty Lawson).

Who has the better backup point guard? Can the Suns win out tonight and tomorrow in Salt Lake City? And should Robin Lopez come back in the middle of a series if he's not in top shape? E-mail your input to sevenminutesorless@fanster.com, or comment below, and hear it addressed this week.

Seven Minutes or Less is a Phoenix Suns podcast for the fans, by the fans, in seven minutes or less. Saturday features a full 24-minute shot-clock for the show, with a more in-depth look at the Suns, including responses to e-mail questions/comments from fans and listeners. If your comment/question is good, you could be asked to make an appearance on the show.

There was a time when Nash on the bench meant purple-and-orange futility on the court.

No longer.

The Phoenix Suns have a bench now, featuring a girtty defender, a dirt-worker, a scorer and finally, a backup point guard.

You can't overstate the importance of this development. The lack of a developed/trusted reserve unit was the biggest reason Phoenix never got over the hump in postseasons past (other than injuries and rotten luck, of course).

Really, Gentry can pat himself on the back for that. He did what nationally lauded D'Antoni and locally hated Terry Porter couldn't do - he played his bench through good and bad nights. Why D'Antoni couldn't remember the Spurs' Greg Popovich doing the same with Tony Parker (and seeing the results) is still a mystery, but thank the basketball gods this happened before Nash retired and Stoudemire left.

Now, Gentry doesn't have sweat through his constantly-advertised Clotherie suit whenever Nash or the other starters take a seat. Instead, he can sit pretty knowing Dragic is slashing and dishing better than anyone hoped before the season started.

Amundson supplies starter-caliber rebounding and growing pick-and-roll offense (although when he's fouled you might as well hand the other team the ball). Dudley fills in for Hill as the best perimeter defender and ups the ante with his out-of-nowhere three-point shooting. Frye provides more shooting when he's on (and when he's not, he still shoots), and the newly healed Barbosa gives the Suns another scoring (and over-dribbling) option.

Quite the upgrade from Jimmy Jackson, James Jones, Sean Marks and Marcus Banks.

What Phoenix doesn't know yet is if that same production can be expected in the playoffs. Only Barbosa has any playoff teeth, and Dragic has shown a tendency to get rattled under pressure.

While Gentry has been fine letting the bench play through mistakes and dry spells through the regular season, don't expect the same in the playoffs, when a bad possession or two can swing a series. If Gentry does indeed yank the leash earlier than normal, will that affect Dragic's confidence in further appearances? How long can Gentry afford to keep Amundson (and his complete lack of a shot) on the floor?

Only the bench can answer those questions with their play, but that's a consolation in itself. Before this season, they wouldn't get the chance. Now, they might even win a playoff game or two.

Not only that, but the idea of the Suns After Nash doesn't produce as much hopelessness as it once did. If Dragic can do what he's done in less than 20 minutes-per-game, the Canada-to-Slovenia point guard transition might not be so bad. Lopez has proven to be a starting quality center, and maybe the same development will work its magic with the talented-but-erratic Earl Clark.

At the very least, when Nash and/or Stoudemire leave, all reason for optimism won't leave with them.

Sure, Channing Frye hit a couple big buckets in crunch time over the Rockets...but that was only after helping Houston almost win it with his awful play up to that point. Compare Frye (who wants more money this summer) to Lou Amundson's uplifting play (and unspoken fiscal desires), and Matt thinks Sarver should fork the dough over to Lou before Frye.

Meanwhile 48 hours remain until the end of the regular season, and the Suns could still end up anywhere from second to fifth. Keaton has a hunch as to where they'll land and who they'll face, as well as a growing feeling that Stoudemire should be re-signed, max offer or not.

Is Lou more deserving of dough than Frye? Who do you want the Suns to face? E-mail sevenminutesorless@fanster.com, and hear them addressed tomorrow as the playoffs approach.

S.M.O.L. is a Phoenix Suns podcast for the fans, by the fans, in seven minutes or less. Saturday features a full 24-minute shot-clock for the show, with a more in-depth look at the Suns, including responses to e-mail questions/comments from fans and listeners. If your comment/question is good, you could be asked to make an appearance on the show.

Feel free to comment below during the course of the game, and I'll do my best to respond to your comments, observations or questions (however sarcastic they may be).

Pregame

If the Suns want at least the number three seed (they should, to avoid the Lakers in the second round), they have to win out. That's because they play two of the teams they're currently chasing, Denver and Utah, to end the season. Losses to them are double whammies in the standings as opposed to teams not involved in the current Western Conference fracas.

Before jumping ahead, though, Phoenix faces the gritty Houston Rockets. Aaron Brooks could go off for 30-40 points. Pick a no-namer to go off for at least 20 (Chase Budinger or Hilton Armstrong are my picks). Pick Luis Scola to infuriate you at least five times with his Argentina-flopping/who-me? tactics. But pick the Suns to win at home over a team that's actually smaller than them, even without Robin Lopez.

J-Rich should abuse Kevin Martin down low, and hopefully Amare will take exception Scola's tactics, as long as he does so by playing harder instead of whining louder, as he did the other night.

This isn't the time to whine. It's the time to win, or not have home-court for the first round

12:00 - After making the bone-headed decision to dribble into a 20-footer in crunch-time against OKC (and ignoring Nash/Stoudemire/Hill in the process), Frye had better bang and rebound against the Rockets' smaller lineup. That or stop announcing he's opting out this summer for more money.

Shane Battier is out. That's good. I can only stand so many blue-collar, all-around Dukees on the floor at the same time. Plus he's such a Mr. Rogers in front of the camera, it makes me nauseous.

11:32- J-Rich in the post right away. Love it. No shot this time, but look for that mouse-in-the-house matchup all night long.

10:49- Refs are apparently little guy fans, calling the o-foul on J-Rich. Make-up call on the other end with an o-foul on Scola. Turnover by Nash. Ugly ball early.

10:00- Brooks sinks the three to spot Houston 5-0. Amare finally takes it with authority (and the ball high) for the Suns' first points.

9:25- Nash's jumper just settles the Suns down and shows them how easy it is. Meanwhile, an Amare sighting on defense (great block).. 4-5, Rockets.

8:33- Nashty pull-up three. Looks like he wants to run the table on the season. Brooks responds with a three to tie it up at 8-apiece. Game on?

7:33- 'Notha great block by Amare, but it goes right to Brooks for the three. Amare looks remarkably attentive on the weak side. Without Lopez, that's huge. Brooks has 11 of Houston's 13 points.

5:43- Internet connection goes out...hate my apartment. Amare has a poster dunk during my unintentional commercial break (figures), and the Rockets are the Brooks/Ariza show thus far on offense.

The sideline reporter runs a horribly cheesy promo on Star Wars night (random). That's Exhibit A as to why Phoenix will always be considered a big town, not a big city.

4:47- Ariza hits a three; just their sixth of the game already.

4:22- J-Rich misses the most wide-open dunks/layups in the league. Period. Pathetic for a two-time Slam Dunk champ. Frye misses a three (took him all of three seconds to shoot it), and the Suns are down 26-22.

3:26- Hill nails the three. Scola responds. I just dislike Scola. He just rubs me the wrong way, along with compatriots Ginobili, Oberto and Nocioni, which is weird, 'cause I lived in Argentina for a little while.

2:42- Timeout, Suns down 28-25. Must-win games are defined my defense, and so far that just hasn't happened. Aaron Brooks looks like Vinnie Johnson, and Channing Frye needs a guilt trip in the worst way.

2:21- Over-the-back on Phoenix leads to another Houston three. That means, Phoenix didn't box out. Didn't box out Houston? Inexcusable. Turnover Houston, but they're up 31-26. You'd think the teams' respective positions were reversed.

1:36- Channing travels. Makes up for it with a block. I still wouldnt' give him more money.

0:54-  The Slovenian is in, and Frye promptly blows his assist by bricking the three. Amare 'boards and puts it back (should get at least five more of those tonight). Scola responds.

0:05- See what happens when Frye passes? J-Rich gets the and-1 jumper, and the Suns are within one.

0:00- Kyle Lowry just made the Suns look lazy ('cause they were), making the runner at the buzzer. Rockets up 36-33.

Zero intensity on defense, except from Amare. I didn't think this would turn into a Frye Hate Fest, but the guy is doing nothing for me. Even his token good plays don't soothe my irritation at a 6-11 guy who could be so much more than what he is - a hot-cold three-point shooter who can't rebound or intimidate on D.

2nd Quarter

11:22- Budinger is showing up his fellow Wildcat alum Frye. That just shouldn't be.

10:35- Dragic nails the three, but it's nixed by the subsequent no-show in D. Guess who let the Rockets get in the lane? Yeah. Frye. Come back, Robin, for my sanity. Rockets up 42-36.

10:02- Dragic just pulled the Dream Shake! Almost got the three-point play. I'm giddy over that move. Not so much over his 1-for-2 showing at the line.

9:37- Dragic and the Suns just got ripped off. Dragic got the steal and had the ball when the shot clock went off. Refs say Dragic didn't have possession and call off his dunk. I say the refs don't have a clue and call off their salary. Suns miss and it's Rockets ball. Bad break or bad omen?

8:43- Jeffries definitely played for D'Antoni recently - his flop attempt was ghastly. STAT makes the free throws, Suns down 44-42.

8:09- Great ball movement gives Barbosa the open three. Much better than Leandro dribbling the ball to death. Btw, that was all created by defense.

7:44- D is officially back. Lou forces another turnvoer. As if to prove my point, Barbosa dribbles too much, and gets called for the charge.

7:05- Amundson gets under people's skin. I love it. People judge by appearance, and Lou doesn't look like he should be affecting you the way he does. Timeout, Suns up 45-44.

6:52- Amundson cleans up an ugly Barbosa drive. Houston's finally cooled off. Averages don't lie.

5:45- Welcome home, Jordan Hill. I wonder if he ever dreamed of being part of an Amare poster? Next possession, Amare goes right back at him. That dunk was a signal to Amare that he can take Hill easy and often. Suns up 51-46.

4:54- Nash and Barbosa actually miscommunicated on their patented backdoor cut. I'm trying to remember the last time that happened.

4:41- Little men have big attitudes, as evidence by Brooks' technical foul. Nash makes the freebie. . I guess that was a  lob from Barbosa, but if it was, it was a horrible attempt. Houston converts, and its' a two-point lead.

3:49- Barbosa is finally pulled for J-Rich, but Amare is having issues converting inside. Doesn't matter, though, when Nash does the extra-long Euro-step in the key for the layup.

3:09- Not that I mind, but Brooks can't get a call. The dude has had four specific calls against him, and he and Adelman feel like the refs have a vendetta against him.

Even with Brooks on the bench, the Rockets have another high-scoring waterbug guard in Martin, who gets to the line. Timeout, Suns up 54-50.

2:20- Lou should be crowing about a raise more than Frye. He's finding a niche in the pick-and-roll, this time getting a dime from J-Rich. Scola gets fouled but misses a freebie. Suns up 56-53.

1:59- Sure, Lou. Miss the jumper right after I give you some pub. As I type it, he slams home an 'oop from Nash. I'll shut up now.

1:21- The Slovenian and Frye come in. My feelings are understandably mixed.

1:02- Lou gets another dunk courtesy of Nash. If only he had a jumper to keep him on the floor. You know, between Amundson and Budinger, you might have the best white hops in the league in one building tonight.

0:06- Lowry threads the pass out of the triple-team to Hayes for the layup. Kevin Johnson is rollin' over in his grave. Suns' call a 20-second TO for a last-second shot. Dragic for three. Not Frye. Please.

0:00- Nash loses track of the clock, no shot. Halftime, Suns up 62-57.

Good thing the Suns' D picked up, otherwise the Rockets could have 70 right now. They ripped the Suns apart at first, but then Phoenix's bench got told by Gentry and picked it up.

Big Lou's got eight points and three boards. I should put him in the MVP voting poll. Amare's on his way to another big night - 17 pts and 7 boards.

Third quarter, Suns need to go Temple of Doom on Houston and rip their hearts out. More Amare down low, less Frye out high, and more defense all around. If the Suns can't corral the Rockets, how're they gonna stop the Thunder/Jazz/Nuggets/Mavericks/Blazers?

NBA Broadband is promoting their top four for next year's Slam Dunk Contest. Rose is a candidate, apparently because of his dunk on Dragic earlier this season. One good dunk does not make him a Slam Dunk candidate (he's not), but it's sad how purple and orange always seem to be on the receiving end of those season highlights.

3rd Quarter

11:25- Amare down low. Again and again. No one can stop him. The only worst mismatch was Jordan against the Jazz backcourt in '97 and '98.

10:07- Jarron Collins was a nice surprise for a couple games, but reality has set in. He's a bit player, and he's the Suns' starting center.

9:11- Jarron just showed me up. Kind of. Collins had the longest breakaway layup I've ever seen. Barbosa/Dragic would've been faster in slow-mo, and he may still need a blow after that play. After a backcourt turnover to Houston and a Stoudemire jumper, Suns up 70-61.

8:08- Nash weaving, Nash dishing, Amare finishing. Vintage Suns ball for the last half-decade. Suns up double-digits now, and Phoenix has that we're-better-than-you swagger.

7:34- Amare's like a shark smelling blood, now. STAT just barrelled into Hayes, count the basket, but miss the FT.

7:02- Ariza airball gets the crowd involved, and J-Rich follows that with a gimme in the lane. Stoudemire's passing is almost underrated now.

6:02- Scola's keeping the Rockets from getting blown out. Jumper keeps them within ten. Hill answers with a straightaway jumper, and Adelman calls time to stop the bleeding. Suns up 79-67.

Amare already has 26 and 9. Show him the money, Kerr, 'cause you ain't getting better with the $6 mil you'll have under the cap if/when he leaves.

4:55- Collins gets a bucket after some great ball movement. In that area, along with rebounding and defense and toguhness, Collins is inmeasurably better than Frye.

4:12- Lead pass for Budinger is too long. Nash makes it look so easy, but it's one of the hardest passes to make.

3:16-  Frye comes in for Collins, and my teeth are already clenched. Dudley's in for Hill, but lets Budinger nail the three. Suns up 81-74.

2:53- Stop shooting, Frye!!! What a brick-factory! Scola makes Frye pay for his stupidity/selfishness with a layup off a Brooks dish, and the Rockets are within five.

2:26- After the timeout, Stoudemire saw Jordan Hill was back in, and promptly took him to the rim for the foul. Misses another gimme, though.

1:54- Two o-boards by the Rockets lead third-chance shot, and Houston is within four. This is the single biggest reason the Suns aren't a championship-caliber team - NO KILLER INSTINCT.

1:17- Scola inside, but Frye responds with decent shot selection. Nash follows that up with a back-off three, Suns up seven.

1:28- Can I get a 20 on the Suns' pride factor? Scola looks like an All-Star, and Budinger looks like ROY, hitting a three. Suns up two.

4th Quarter

10:42- Connection goes out, but comes back in time for me to see the game tied.

10:20- The Slovenian drives and scores. He's the man. I have a man-crush on Goran Dragic. Lowry responds with a drive of his own and ties the game again.

9:40- Dragic misses a three, but I don't mind that from him as much as I do from Frye. Favoritism? Maybe. i don't care.

9:10- Amare and the bench holding serve, but Brooks hits the three to give Houston a one-point lead. I can't believe this. Phoenix needs this game in the worst way, but I'm not getting that desperation vibe. Teams that can't muster a desperation vibe in the regular season certainly can't do it in the playoffs.

7:36- Dragic is staying in with Nash, and shows why with a steal and ft's off the fast break. Suns up 93-92.

7:08- Jeffries gets the o-board, but STAT makes up for it with another great denial. This Stoudemire better show up in the playoffs.

6:09- Budinger, my pre-game no-namer that would hurt the Suns, hits the three. Amundson routinely misses his ft's off the offensive board. Rockets up two.

5:42- Rockets turnovers are helping Suns' cause, and timeout is called to stop the chaos. Suns need to put their foot down now, or they'll be saying "if only" come playoff time.

5:27- I'm in danger of sounding sacrilegious, but Dragic is better than Nash at making skip passes. He doesn't need to weave in a full circle to see the open man. He sees Hill and whips it to to him. Hill only makes 1-of-2, but it's out-of-bounds off Houston. Amare gets the man-shot inside, adn the Suns are up one.

5:00- Brooks hits another three (six on the night). He's the man. Crowd him.

4:24- Scola just faked both Stoudemire and Frye out of their shows one after the other. Embarrassing. Misses both freebies, though. Don't cry for me, Argentina.

4:10- I can't see Stoudemire, but he's in there making shots. That's how much Houston's crowding him.

3:53- Stoudemire's big foot in the circle costs him the charge from Scola, who gets two freebies to put them up two again.

3:31- Amare Moment. Saves the ball from out of bounds with effort not normally associated with Mr. Stoudemire, then throws down a dunk in traffic. Pay him, Kerr/Sarver. Pay him or ready yourself for riots.

3:12- Houston (Scola, actually) is living at the line, and they're up two.

3:07- Nash hits his patented crunchtime three, and Frye (FRYE!) comes up with a clutch rebound...AND HITS THE THREE! SUNS UP 4! 2:39 LEFT! I forgive Frye everything. He's my favorite player.

Now that the timeout has calmed me down, let me retract my previous statement. Frye is not my favorite player. He just made my second-favorite sequence of the evening (after Amare's save/dunk play). I feel better now.

2:27- Turnover Rockets, J-Rich three (three in a row, 9-0 run), and things are once again as they should be.

1:39- Frye just hit another three, and a possible heart-wrenching loss has turned into a rout. This is incredible. I've never seen such a huge swing in momentum (except when Phoenix's lead-losing streak earlier this season).

1:09- Hill unofficially seals the game with an inbounds pass steal. Such a Dukee play.

0:32- Budinger's gets his 20 points thanks to garbage-time buckets. Then the Rockets stubbornly foul Nash to postpone the loss. Nash at the line..."MVP! MVP! MVP!"

0:23- Nash is limping, and the city of Phoenix just got sick. Mr. Canada looks ok, but no one will sleep well until the official diagnosis comes out.

0:20- Houston scored during the Nash injury, and they're scrapping to stall. Finally the Suns clear the board and hold out for the win. How's Nash? Get him to the hospital? X-Rays, MRI's, get it done, ASAP.

Big win. Huge win. A win they almost lost. Suns are tied with Denver and Utah, and play both of them this week. I love this game.

Following an inexcusable sabbatical, Seven Minutes or Less is back. Matt and Devin break down the Suns’ possible playoff opponents, as well as how Phoenix would fare against each one. Also, Earl Clark got significant PT against OKC, which Devin hopes is a sign of things to come. Matt isn’t so anxious for the Earl Clark era quite yet.

Who do you want to see in the first round, or not see? Should Earl Clark get more PT? And what’s your starting five for a trouble-making team? E-mail sevenminutesorless@fanster.com and hear your input addressed on the show.

S.M.O.L. is a Phoenix Suns podcast for the fans, by the fans, in seven minutes or less. Saturday features a full 24-minute shot-clock for the show, with a more in-depth look at the Suns, including responses to e-mail questions/comments from fans and listeners. If your comment/question is good, you could be asked to make an appearance on the show.

Part One - Isaiah Rider makes news in AZ, and Channing Frye doesn't help his cause

Part Two - Breaking down the rest of the playoff matchups, and avoiding the Earl Clark Era

Mediocre-or-worse teams. Nash's sore back. Lopez's bulging discs. The basketball gods seemed to be planning a heart-wrenching stretch for the Purple and Orange.

Hasn't happened so far.

Ugly wins, but wins nonetheless, have the Suns three-fifths of the way to a perfect road trip that started in Minnesota and takes them through four Leastern, um, Eastern Conference cities. 

The Milwaukee Bucks are the biggest threat of the trip (who'd have thought that would be the case?), and unfortunately for Phoenix, that games falls on the tail end of trip, not to mention the second night of a road back-to-back.

Still, Phoenix has proven they're up to the task, conditions be what they may. If Stoudemire isn't destroying the inside, Nash and Richardson are lighting it up from the outside. If the starters aren't getting it done, the bench is humbly yet readily willing to do it for them.

The Suns need to sweep this road trip. Need to, because awaiting them in the friendly confines of home are not-so-friendly conference opponents San Antonio (boo-fest; just a prediction), Houston and Denver, with roadies at OKC and Utah to boot.

The standings tell the story. The difference between the No. 2 team and the No. 8 team out West (4.5 games as of Wednesday night) isn't as big as the numbers suggest. Seriously, would you be shocked if Portland beat Dallas, or if Oklahoma City beat Utah?

Mildly surprised at most. Not shocked. That's how packed it is.

And that's why the Suns need a 5-0 mark on this road trip. Those last five games will decide their (and the rest of the West's) playoff position. They could jump to No. 2 or as low as No. 7, maybe even No. 8.

Season series, conference tie-breakers, overall standings, those last five games are ginormously, astronomically and overall immeasurably huge. If Phoenix drops a couple, which they very well could, a half-game cushion from a perfect road trip over Leastern pretenders could make all the difference.

The Suns are over halfway there. They've got Detroit (overpaid, underachieved) on Friday and Milwaukee (opposite of Detroit) on Saturday. Believe it or not, those games are just as important as those against their Western foes.

No pressure.

Running on meds and fumes, Steve Nash dug in deep and came up with an MVP-like performance in crunch time last night, helping the Suns to their eighth, and ugliest, win in a row.

Now the Suns face the even uglier Nets tonight, but close shaves against the 'Wolves and Bulls has Matt hoping a letdown isn't on the horizon.

Will Nash ever slow down? How much longer can he keep this up? Tell us what you think at sevenminutesorless@fanster.com and hear them addressed this Saturday.

S.M.O.L. is a Phoenix Suns podcast for the fans, by the fans, in seven minutes or less. Saturday features a full 24-minute shot-clock for the show, with a more in-depth look at the Suns, including responses to e-mail questions/comments from fans and listeners. If your comment/question is good, you could be asked to make an appearance on the show.

Suns vs Nets coverage

Robin Lopez is out, and it sounds like management thinks he could be gone for the postseason. No one would've said this before the season, but this could really doom the Suns come playoff time.

On a plus side, Phoenix is slowly overtaking the rest of the West, now in fourth place and only a game and a half behind second-place Dallas.

Is Lopez's injury a harbinger of doom? Where will the Suns end up? E-mail sevenmintesorless@fanster.com and here your voices answered this Saturday.

S.M.O.L. is a Phoenix Suns podcast for the fans, by the fans, in seven minutes or less. Saturday features a full 24-minute shot-clock for the show, with a more in-depth look at the Suns, including responses to e-mail questions/comments from fans and listeners. If your comment/question is good, you could be asked to make an appearance on the show.

I’ve been a harsher critic of Stoudemire than most. Heck, I was on his case in my live game blog for letting Anthony Tolliver (it’s ok if you don’t know who he is) go off on him last night .

But I have to admit I was overwhelmingly impressed with Stoudemire in crunch-time last night. The dunk (see below) started it, but it wasn’t just that. It was his demands for the ball, and the fact that he didn’t need Nash to spoon-feed him in the pick-and-roll.

Nick was equally impressed, and wonders if Amare has officially become the franchise player we’ve wanted him to be for so long. Me? I don’t know about that, but I can say that for one night, at least, Amare fulfilled every expectation I’ve had of him for the last half-decade. Has Stoudemire turned the corner? Has he made the leap to franchise player status? Or is this just another extended tease? E-mail your thoughts to sevenminutesorless@fanster.com, and hear them addressed this Saturday.

S.M.O.L. is a Phoenix Suns podcast for the fans, by the fans, in seven minutes or less. Saturday features a full 24-minute shot-clock for the show, with a more in-depth look at the Suns, including responses to e-mail questions/comments from fans and listeners. If your comment/question is good, you could be asked to make an appearance on the show.

Suns vs Warriors recap

Phoenix Suns

An as-it-happens take on the Suns/Warriors game tonight from a fan's point of view. Just refresh your screen to see the latest entries, both honest and humorous. Put in your own comments, and I'll definitely take the time to refer to them during the game.

Preview: Suns coming off an ugly defensive win. Tonight should be very different against the Warriors, who like to run even more than the Suns, albeit less efficiently. Warriors have the third-worst record in the league. Suns should win, especially against the Warriors' shorthanded frontline. Look for Stoudemire to have a big night. Also look for Monta Ellis and/or Stephen Curry to explode as well.

1st Quarter

11:40 - I like the Suns posting up Ellis with J-Rich. Ellis is a  midget of two-guard. Maggette responds. Fellow Dukee Hill guarding him. 2-2.

10:26 - Lopez is big as it is, but against this diminished Warriors team he looks ginormous. Suns off to a quick 6-2 start. They look relieved being able to run after last night.

9:30 - Some guy named Chris Hunter looks like Amare Stoudemire early on. Please, no no-namers having career nights, Suns.

8:30 - No way I can type fast enough. Shooting shooting shooting. J-Rich breaks up a mini-run by GS with a three, and Amare at the line...trying to tie the game. Nash being way too generous with turnovers early.

Amare quote by Suns R Us. "What I've achieved now is something that I always figured I would as a kid. I've had that type of determination since I was a youngster playing around the playgrounds, getting dirty after school." What, you dreamt you'd underachieve until your 9th year in the league? Really?

7:45 - Amare making GS commit a slew of fouls. All night. Except Chris Hunter is at least matching Amare right now. Who knew who Chris Hunter was before tonight? Your'e lying if you say yes. He'd be on TNT's "Who he play for?" Another Suns turnover. Ugh.

Beavis 25 picking J-Rich for game MVP 'cause of the "former team factor." Very possible. It should be Amare given the mismatches inside, but J-Rich probably feels like a millionaire in Vegas right now.

6:45 - Hunter with the AND-1 flush on Lopez. Warriors up 16-14. Hunter played in Belgium...TV guys don't even have film on him. Why does this only happen against Phoenix? Meanwhile Lopez hits a jumper to tie it up. Tonight is an unexpected night on both ends.

5:46 - J-Rich cherry-picks against his former club, and gets the predictable Nash pass for the dunk and the 2-point lead. Nellie calls timeout to remind his team this is nothing new. Meanwhile, out-of-nowhere man Hunter appears injured. The Suns can only hope...not something they were counting on hoping before tip-off.

5:36 - Monta Ellis just posted up J-Rich and drew the foul. That is wrong on so many levels. Monta is not a post-up player. J-Rich is so much bigger. How can J-Rich let this happen? Doesn't he have pride? Isn't he saying to himself, "Buddy, I do that to you."?

5:23 - Amare picks up his second foul. Unbelievable. How can he get in foul trouble on the offensive end? Oh wait, it's Amare Stoudemire. This is the guy who fouls out on the offensive end in playoff games. Forget I asked.

4:42 - Grant Hill takes real charges. Not Ginobili-charges. Real charges. Wouldn't have had to do it if Frye didn't bite on the fake. That didn't stop him from shooting right away next trip down the floor though. J-Rich hits a three, Suns up 21-19. J-Rich with 10 pts already. Good pick, Beavis.

3:04 - That drifting elbow jumper by Nash is gorgeous. Every time, you know it's coming, but the opposing team can't do anything about it, and you're shocked if it doesn't go in. 27-23, Suns.

1:28 - Ellis and Curry are a combined 1-of-9 from the field, but the Warriors are up one. How, you ask? Two no-namers Chris Hunter and Anthony Tolliver combining for 16 points in the quarter, that's how. I swear, only against the Suns. Unbelievable. If Taylor Griffin were on the Warriors, he'd get 20 against us.

End 1st - Some guy from the Northwest Academy of I Don't Know What just got a three-point play. I'm already fed up with the Golden State No-Namers. J-rich is the only guy playing like he wants this game, while Nash seems determined to give the Warriors as many extra possessions as possible. Where's the Slovenian? Oh, and the Suns are up, 33-31.

2nd Quarter

11:44 - The guy from Northwest Academy blah blah blah is called Reggie Williams. He just hit a jumper in one stroke, while the Suns need four chances to...miss. Tie game.

9:45 - Looking back I realize I'm being really negative. Maybe it's because after beating the Blazers and Jazz, we should be destroying the third-worst team in the league. As I say that, Tolliver scores again, while Frye scores again.  Then Curry responds. Suns up 38-37.

9:09 - Dragic with the teasing cross-over and step-back three. Golden State responds of course. I picked the wrong game to do a fast-typing in-game blog. Warriors up 42-41. Great tutorial on how not to play defense.

*You know what I love about watching games on NBA LeaguePass Broadband or ESPN 360? Every now and then they go back to the commentators, who don't realize they're already back on the air. Off-the-air conversations are very entertaining.

7:41 - Reggie Williams hits again, Warriors up 46-41. Where is the Suns pride? Don't they care they're getting embarrassed by a team of D-Leaguers that won't sniff the playoffs? Don't they know every game from now on is critical for home-court, especially now that OKC lost again? This lack of killer instinct is killing me.

6:48 - Barbosa banks a three. That's how rusty he is. Suns down three.

6:09 - Monta at the stripe, but 0-for-6 from the field... but the Warriors lead by 5. Barbosa has already over-dribbled twice. I've never liked that part of his game, nor his occasionally horrid shot selection.

5:54 - Timeout. GS still up 50-45. Know what I love about replays of Lebron's greatest moments' commercials? Half of them consist of uncalled traveling violations. Is the NBA trying to showcase how incompetent their refs are? Is it reverse and perverse promoting for new refs? If so, I qualify, 'cause I could (and would) make that call every time.

5:44 - Stoudemire finally makes a clean, powerful move for the easy deuce..then he follows that up by letting Tolliver get an o-board over him. Inexcusable. Luckily GS misses and Dragic dices and dishes to Dudley. Suns only down 1. Nevermind, Williams just dunked, and then Stoudemire turns it over, and Ellis gets an AND-1. Just like that, the Warriors are up by 6. I'm beside myself.

3:40 - Nash is back in and looks much more composed, hitting his patented pull-up three. Ellis responds with a layup, and Amare responds to that with another bunny.

2:33 - No-namer #4 CJ Watson hits a jumper. I'm scared for when Curry gets hot, 'cause he will get hot. Amare gets the AND-1. According to Tom Leander, he's second in the league in AND-1's to Lebron. That's mark of toughness. That makes me feel better about Amare. Timeout, and both teams will eclipse 60 pts before halftime.

1:57 - J-Rich tries to convert the alley-oop instead of coming down, fails, but is bailed out by a call the Warriors' fans are righteously outraged over. I love this game.

0:32 - At least Anthony Tolliver can't perform a good lob-pass, otherwise I'd really be worried.

0:16 - Monta fouls J-Rich on the three...the Suns are the ones playing ugly ball tonight. If they win, great. But if they lose this game, I'll lose the good vibe I got after the wins versus Utah and Portland.

End 1st Half - Despite all my griping, the Suns are up 65-62...but that is their biggest lead of the game. I know the Suns are playing the second game of a back-to-back. I know it was a home-away back-to-back. But it's the Golden State Warriors. They're the third-worst team in the NBA. Point made.

Amare seemed to finally realize at the end of the 2nd quarter that he was physically superior on the offensive end. Too bad he didn't do that on the defensive end, where he continually let Anthony Tolliver outwork him on the glass. I know countless Suns fans have said this, but if you could combine Amare's talent on offense with Lou Amundson's hustle on defense, you'd have one of the best power forwards of all time...maybe the best. Seriously.

Stephen Curry hasn't gone off yet, but Ellis started to towards the end of the half. Is this the Warriors' best punch, or is that yet to come. Do I want to know the answer?

BrightSideoftheSuns member Beavis is spot on with his MVP J-Rich. 20 pts at halftime? Of course, even if he scores 50, if the Warriors win because Monta Ellis is posting him up, I'll give him LVP, as in Least Valuable Player.

3rd Quarter

10:37 - Amare is now 5-for-5 from the field. You expect that. Chris Hunter is 4-for-4. A year ago, you don't even expect to see him in the NBA. Maggette follows a Stoudemire bunny with a couple fts. Suns up 69-66.

9:51 - Is there a stat for most missed dunks this season? Where does Robin Lopez rank? Top 5? Top 3? And Hill picks up his second charge. I know charges are legal, but I hate how little teams use them to make up for being less tough. I know that's hypocrisy from a Suns' fan, but there it is.

8:24 - There you go, Robin. Just lay it in, don't dunk it. Tolliver hits a three, and Lopez misses another dunk. Suns up 77-75.

6:55 - It's official. Instead of the Suns pounding the Warriors, the Warriors are irritiating the Suns with pesky little man defense. Hill just got stripped on the block, and J-Rich picks up the foul in transition. Same score. I'm waiting for Stoudemire to enforce his will, or Nash, or someone besides Richardson, 'cause he'll just encourage the Warriors, instead of depressing them. Timeout Phoenix.

6:44 - Stoudemire got switched into guarding Ellis. You guess what happened. Tie game.

5:30 - J-Rich stifles the awe-effect from a Curry beauty by nailing a three. Lopez with a hard foul. I like that. Shows some "i'm sick of this" attitude, you know?

5:00 - You know, Stoudemire is getting to be a good passer out of the double-team. Twice he's found someone wide open under the hoop. Of course, reps take a while to change - Hill wasn't expecting the pass, and luckily got another chance and some free throws. Suns up 84-81.

4:17 - Tolliver got a legit veteran call from an official, who said Frye fouled him on the fadeaway. Frye's fourth foul in ten minutes of PT. Meanwhile J-Rich's miss robs Amare of a good assist. Oh, and Tolliver goes over Frye for the follow dunk. He's got 20, and I've got spasms.

3:03 - Swell of the crowd, crispness of the curl...you just knew Curry would hit that three. He lives for those in-game moments (I know, as opposed to those "out-of-game" moments). Stoudemire responds with a powerful drive and deuce. 91-90 with just under three minutes left. Timeout.

* Scott Williams is a bad color commentator. Period. (Example: "Ty Evans is like a bull in a china shop." He's not clumsy, Scott. He's not accident-prone.)

2:00 - Frye hits the three, Suns up 94-90. Slovenian gets the nice assist. I like the Slovenian. More so every game.

0:57 - Another veteran call for Tolliver; he drives, Dragic brushes his shoelace, and gets called for the foul. Tolliver's undeserved fts tie up the game at 94 apiece.

0:33 - Amare with the drive and dish for the three? Wow. Speaking of wow, Tolliver gets another bogus call. You know, one of those horribly missed shots, followed by an outraged yell/squeal of outrage which gets the late whistle. Suns up 97-95.

End 3rd - Ok, J-Rich. You cannot, I repeat, cannot just lay off of Ellis with the clock winding down, giving him the wide open three. Especially after you just nailed a shot in his mug on the other end. J-Rich is one of those enormously talented players who needs to get owned on the playground a few times to awaken his competitive edge. At least, that's how I hope he'd respond.

Suns playing better, but it doesn't matter, cause they've already let the Warriors get in a groove. Now it's a nail-biter, with the Suns holding a 99-98 "lead" entering the fourth. This is not how a playoff team should be performing against a cellar-dwellar.

4th Quarter

11:39 - Reggie Williams just went coast-to-coast, and Tolliver just stuffed Grant Hill. It's the No-Name All-Star Game.

10:59 - Dragic hits the three. I love the Slovenian. The Suns' future is in safe in his hands. I know people are higher on Lopez, but don't you feel better saying the Suns' future is safe in Dragic's hands instead of Lopez's hands? I mean, Dragic obviously has better hands.

10:21 - Dudley and Dragic's defense is ruined by Scott Williams' announcing. ("DUD-ley and DRA-gic playing DE-fense)

9:28 - Dudley hits the three off the pass from...guess who...THE SLOVENIAN. Warriors' fans are complaining about our no-namers now. While I gush about the Slovenian, GS scores four in a row and takes a 106-105 lead.

8:29 - Same score, Frye picks up his fifth foul. That's a shame, 'cause he's shooting well. WIERD STAT: As of right now, every starter has exactly six rebounds. A yahtzee of six rebounds. It's a timeout, ok? I'm allowed to notice stuff like this.

*Some fans you just shouldn't show on the Jumbotron. If you watched the game, you know what I'm talking about.

8:05 - Hill is just off his offensive game tonight. He's missing bunnies, free throws...depressing when that happens to such a steady contributor. Still, on an off night, he still gives you 11, seven and three. I love it.

7:30 - Stoudemire with the aggressive putback, tied at 108 apiece. Time for Stoudemire to make another case for his max contract.

6:23 -  Dragic misses the three, Reggie Williams hits the jumper, and Nash is going to check in now. Stoudemire responds, making it a 112-110 GS lead. I'm getting nervous...Dragic turns it over and Ellis slams it. 114-110. Ugh.

5:16 - Same score. Timeout Suns. Look, the deficit isn't big, but to make up a deficit, you have to make stops. The Warriors have already scored 114 points. I'm reasonably nervous. Hopefully Tolliver (25 points) will come to earth, or Ellis will get content shooting from outside. Where's the defense that got the win against Portland? My thoughts are frantic and everywhere, if you couldn't tell.

5:09 - That's right, Amare. Go to the line. Stop the Warriors' momentum. Let your defense get set. I can't believe I'm encouraging the Suns to slow the game down, but that's the kind of night it's been. 114-112 GS

4:32 - Thank you Nash, for instilling some normalcy with your patented fade-away 45-degree-to-the-floor jumper. Williams scores, and Stoudemire responds, tying it up at 116-116 with under 4 minutes left. Then Reggie Williams hits a three?! Where is the pride?

3:28 - J-Rich hits the long three. Think he doesn't want this game? Then Williams hits another three. I can handle this from guys like Kobe, Lebron or Wade, but not from No-Namer Williams. Meanwhile Amare levels someone going to the hoop. Good.

2:33 - OH-MY-GOODNESS!!! Anthony Tolliver (I think... Amare was so on top of him it was hard to tell) just became Amare's best poster material. Maybe better than Olowokandi. I'm not sure. I'm just overwhelmed. I'm overjoyed. I'm just still not over it. Timeout Golden State to calm everyone's blood, and Amare due to go to the line to tie the game.

...

Ok, it was over Tolliver. That's even better. That had to feel good for Amare to do that. It felt good just watching that. Amare ties the game, then rips down a rebound dramatically next trip down the floor.

1:56 - Amare scores like a man underneath. 124-122 Phoenix, and the Warriors miss. Game-changing dunk. Franchise-player worthy.

1:30 - Amare hits the jumper from behind the backboard. 126-122. I've never, repeat, never seen Amare like this in crunch-time. This is the real deal. This is "I'm done with you hanging around." This is "I'm stopping you right now, and then stomping on your throat and spleen for good measure." This is what I've wanted to see since 2005. Thank you...for one night, at least. 34 points. Timeout, Golden State.

1:19 - GS turnover. Thank you, Warriors, for finally showing up.

1:00 - Nash turnover. Amare is being praised, Nash criticized in crunch-time. I'm in shock. And that was before Nash just missed a free throw. Makes the second. 127-122.

0:37 - Reggie Williams gets an easy layup to pull GS within three. Unbelievable. It's not over, y'all. Scott Williams is talking it is.Somebody take his mic away, like, two hours ago.

0:33 - See Scott? See?! Hill just missed both free throws. Thank the basketball gods that Stoudemire got the offensive board. Hill and Nash are failing in crunchtime, while Amare is thriving. Would you have bet on that? No you wouldn't have.Don't even act  like you've considered it. Amare hits the free throws. 129-124, Suns.

0:26 - You know, Jason Richardson has an issue with guarding three-point shooters in crunch-time. Either he misses the rotation and leaves a sniper wide open, or he (in this case) fouls Monta Ellis, who fortunately misses the first of three. 129-126, Suns. Sorry, Beavis, but J-Rich just los whatever chance he had left of getting game MVP honors from me (ok, he had already lost out to Amare. Sorry, buddy.)

0:11 - My heart almost shriveled up, died, and leapt out of my throat at the same time. Hill missed both free throws AGAIN. Luckily, Ellis missed the wide-open three (Where was J-Rich?! That's his man!). Dudley gets the board, makes the fts, and gives the Suns (and me) a chance to breathe. GS timeout.

* The most impressive part of Amare's crunch time heroics? Nash wasn't involved. He wasn't dependent on Nash at all. It was all Amare on the block. That is really proof Amare can be a franchise player.

0:08 - Ellis hits a three, refusing to allow peace amongst Suns fans. Nash is fouled, possibly before the inbounds, but they let it go.

NASH MISSES THE SECOND FT!

0:04 - Dudley commits the foul on Curry before he shoots the three. J-Rich would never have done that. Will this game never end?

I want to laugh, but I'm afraid I'll throw up. After making the first ft, Ellis tried to miss the second, but instead banked it in. Don Nelson's expression was classic. Suns timeout. GS has no more timeouts. At the rate the Suns are shooting free throws (Nash 2-for-4, Hill 0-for-4 in crunch time), I'm nowhere near feeling comforted.

0:03.5 - Hill's only inbound target was Stoudemire. I'm comforted now. As long as it's not Nash or Hill. How screwed up is this?

STOUDEMIRE MISSED THE FIRST! I CAN'T BELIEVE THIS!

End Game - Suns 133, Warriors 131

Free throw practice. Lots of it. In fact, the Suns have three days off, so just take one whole day to do it. Nash, Hill and Stoudemire went a combined 3-for-10 from the stripe in the final minute. That game should've been iced, not scalding hot with seconds left.

But, the Suns win. Margins of victory don't matter in the standings. They just show that the Suns won, and the Thunder and Mavericks lost, although the Jazz and Spurs won. If the Hornets can be in the West, why can't the Suns be in the East?

Amare just earned major points with me tonight, which I'm sure is a comfort and compliment to him. He was the man, tonight, and he didn't need Nash to walk him into the role. I hope we see that more often, especially int eh playoffs. He is unstoppable now, and he both knows it and wants it.

K, I'm emotionally done for the night. This is Matt Petersen, from Planet Orange, signing off.

It's the 24-minute shot clock edition of Seven Minutes or Less, and Matt and Steve cover a little bit of everything.

The Suns won a grind-it-out, ugly, defensive affair...tell me I'm not the only one excited about this. Personifying this sudden change was Channing Frye, and his Amundson-like hunger on the glass.

Of course, the Suns have to turn around and play Golden State tonight, which seems the perfect recipe for a complete 180 in style. That's not bad, as long as the Suns' astronomical point total is more than the Warriors' when the buzzer sounds.

What stood out? Frye's board-work? Dudley's crunch-time teeth? Lopez's no-show? Let us know by e-mailing sevenminutesorless@fanster.com, and we'll tackle your comments in this Saturday's edition of the show.

S.M.O.L. is a Phoenix Suns podcast for the fans, by the fans, in seven minutes or less. Saturday features a full 24-minute shot-clock for the show, with a more in-depth look at the Suns, including responses to e-mail questions/comments from fans and listeners. If your comment/question is good, you could be asked to make an appearance on the show.

It’s the 24-minute shot clock edition of Seven Minutes or Less, and Matt and Steve cover a little bit of everything.

The Suns don’t blow their big lead versus Utah this time around, although the Jazz’s injuries certainly lent a helping hand. Steve responds to a fan’s comment that Barbosa brings out the best in Nash and should start/finish games. And Matt brings up a sacrilegious debate: would Kevin Johnson or Jason Kidd have brought more success to the Suns during the team’s contending years of 2004-2007?

Tell us what you think of that question, or whether it’s even out of the question to consider it, by e-mailing sevenminutesorless@fanster.com. We’ll respond to it in next Saturday’s shot clock edition with gusto.

S.M.O.L. is a Phoenix Suns podcast for the fans, by the fans, in seven minutes or less. Saturday features a full 24-minute shot-clock for the show, with a more in-depth look at the Suns, including responses to e-mail questions/comments from fans and listeners. If your comment/question is good, you could be asked to make an appearance on the show.

PART ONE - Suns stomp on wounded Jazz, and honesty concerning Barbosa

PART TWO- Would tragic endings be different with KJ/Kidd at the helm?

Tonight's game against the Jazz is supposed to be 1) big in itself and 2) a barometer for the playoffs. Deron Williams and Andre Kirilenko being out (possibly) is great for number one, bad for number two. Again, this is all assuming hte Suns want the number four seed. New guest Sam Fisher just wants to see the Suns improve their killer instinct, as well as Barbosa earn his pt back.

Do you want the Jazz in the first round? Where do the Suns rank in terms of killer instinct? And will LB regain his lost form? E-mail your comments to sevenminutesorless@fanster.com, and hear them addressed in tomorrow's show.

S.M.O.L. is a Phoenix Suns podcast for the fans, by the fans, in seven minutes or less. Saturday features a full 24-minute shot-clock for the show, with a more in-depth look at the Suns, including responses to e-mail questions/comments from fans and listeners. If your comment/question is good, you could be asked to make an appearance on the show.

*Content originally produced and published by Matt Petersen on Fanster.com.

Phoenix Suns

Jazz vs Suns coverage

Jazz vs Suns preview

Arizonans, sadly, do not have a team to favorably move up in their brackets this month. But there is a consolation prize...sort of. This month in the NBA is the stretch run for teams trying to secure the best playoff seed they can get, and the Suns are in the thick of the "Avoid the Lakers" race. Games against the Jazz and Blazers are huge if Phoenix really wants that number four seed. But should they want it that bad if it means playing the Jazz and then the Lakers in the first two rounds?

E-mail your thoughts on the Suns' playoff run or comment below, and we'll address your say this Saturday on Seven Minutes or Less.

S.M.O.L. is a Phoenix Suns podcast for the fans, by the fans, in seven minutes or less. Saturday features a full 24-minute shot-clock for the show, with a more in-depth look at the Suns, including responses to e-mail questions/comments from fans and listeners. If your comment/question is good, you could be asked to make an appearance on the show.

The Timberwolves had to have something positive to talk about after last night's mauling at the hands of the Suns. Too bad Robin Lopez was the victim. And we mean victim (see below). Still, aside from being a foolish poster boy, Lopez had a good night (along with everyone else wearing a Suns uniform). Devin likes the bench with Barbosa's scoring at its disposal, but agrees with Gentry that he'll have to earn his way back into the rotation.

Were we too harsh on Lopez? Not harsh enough? And what's your take on LB's return? Let us know by e-mailing sevenminutesorless@fanster.com, and we'll respond this Saturday.

S.M.O.L. is a Phoenix Suns podcast for the fans, by the fans, in seven minutes or less. Saturday features a full 24-minute shot-clock for the show, with a more in-depth look at the Suns, including responses to e-mail questions/comments from fans and listeners. If your comment/question is good, you could be asked to make an appearance on the show.

*Content originally produced and published by Matt Petersen on Fanster.com