(Alternate Title: Dang, It’s Hard to Take Notes and Watch at the Same Time).
Suns were in game five of a five game homestand. The ####’s birthday was also celebrated tonight. Which doesn’t mean much if you’re not a Suns fan.
Both teams started 1 of 5 from the field.
Yao tired 3 minutes in, but to his credit, he kept working. Apparently he gets what it takes to get to the next level. Plus, he’s probably fresher than most of the players, since he’s only played about 30 games this year due to injury.
And Yao can shoot free throws. Geez, I love fundamentals.
I didn’t think much of the Rockets coming into this game, but Yao and T-Mac (can somebody come up with some nicknames, for crying out loud??) pack a pretty good 1-2 punch.
Impressive first quarter on both sides so far-lots of guys contributing.
I spoke too soon. Just before a timeout is called seven minutes in, Yao is bent over with hands on knees, huffing and puffing. He was effective, but now needs a breather. He got one. Mutombo was in after the break. Who, by the way, was a great pickup as a backup center for the Rockets.
Late in first, Suns 22, Rockets 16. T-Mac (how ‘bout the McGrady Bunch?) is heating up. But it’s apparent he is like any other great scorer-he needs help to win any big game or series. (McGrady’s Navy?)
I really thought Mutombo would fare well against Amare Stoudemire. Wrong. Yao’s height gave him much more problems. Mutombo looked just plain old against Amare.
Leandro Barbosa ends the first quarter with a Nash-like playground shot. Suns lead 30-20.
Early in second quarter, game becoming more like I thought it would be. The current Rockets have not matched up well with the Suns. I see John Lucas checks in with about nine minutes left. Wow. Most will remember his dad as an NBA coach in the ‘90s. I remember his dad as an All-American basketball player and tennis star at the University of Maryland in the mid-70s. He later had some drug problems. The current John Lucas for the Rockets has a bright future. I don’t think he has as much talent as his dad did, but may have a better career. He’s got game. And he’s going to get better.
Yao back in. Didn’t take long. He’s bent over huffing again.
Five and a half to go in the second. T-Mac (McGrady Hawkins? No, never mind), is hitting some shots again. And the Suns should play some more bench players. I know, I should alert the media.
The Matrix hits a nice little runner with three minutes left in the half. And the local announcer, Gary Bender says it “Barometer Week” for the Suns. Great way to put it, with a game at Dallas coming up on Wednesday, Detroit at home on Friday, and at Denver on Saturday. The Suns haven’t played the Nuggets with Carmelo and A.I. yet. And that could be a first round matchup. But I’m getting ahead of myself.
Suns lead 52-42 at halftime. Juwan Howard (remember him?) hit all six of his shots in the first half. Yes, the Rockets could cause a lot of problems in the playoffs-as long as they don’t play the Suns. It’s just a bad matchup for Houston.
Second half::
Both teams start cold, like in the first half, but the Rockets are inching back into it. It’s 55-51 three and a half minutes in. And Yao looks done. Very heavy legs.
Whoa! There’s a lob pass to Yao-Marion rises up to steal it. Wow. Sometimes as a Suns fan you forget how good The Matrix is when you see him every game, because you get used to it.
Five and a half left in the third. D’Antoni gets tossed. Rumor has it that someone told him he had ten seconds to come up with a nickname. Apparently he didn’t, and got quite upset by it.
Marion’s having a patented Marion game-not exceptional in any one area, but he’s doing what most teams call on two or three players to do. As I jot this down, Marion blocks Yao's shot and gets a dunk at the other end. Are you kidding me?
Whoop! Don’t look now, but Marion just missed a finger roll. It rolled off the other side. Guess who got the rebound? Marion. Jump hook. Two points. (Damn, I freakin’ love that guy).
Did you see that? Kurt Thomas just blocked Yao’s shot. Yao got the ball back. Holy ####! Thomas blocked it again. Suns on the fast break. Thomas is open for a jumper from the wing- -swish. That’s justice. Time out Rockets!! And the crowd goes wild.
Suns win. 103-82.
Say this name slowly, and don’t forget it - - Leandro (lee-ON-dro) Barbosa. If you’re a Suns fan, thank your lucky stars that owner Robert Sarver signed (lee-ON-dro) to an extension this past off-season. He had 32 points tonight, tying his career high from a few games ago. He was 5 of 6 from behind the arc, and also had eight rebounds.
As Gary Bender said, it’s a ‘Barometer Week’ for the Suns. Let’s go. I’m ready.
Fact:
As S. Marion Goes....So Go The Phx Suns.
Most underrated Suns player many seasons.
New Fact:
As L. Barbosa Goes...So Go the Phx Suns.......
Marion, Barbosa & Nash gotta play some of the most unselfish ball in the NBA. As many have asked, how would the League react if "nice guys" won a Championship?
Nice job Ricko...It was like watching a replay. Remember when Amare, Marion and Nash were sent to enter the game and that one ref was like...OH no ..not 3 starters at a time!..Nash you have to wait, this game is already out of hand.
I like McGrady Bunch.
You forgot to hype the Suns defense...oops ...Suns don't play defense.
Great post Ricko. I can hardly wait for the Suns and Mavs to square off in the playoffs. Thomas and Barbosa bring so much to this team and no one in the NBA has a better "Big Three" than Marion, Nash and Stoudemire. If Nash wan't hurt before the all-star break and Stoudemire started the year at 100%, I think the Suns would have a better record than the Mavs right now.
Good to hear from you ricko on your Suns, nice game for TNT, as I call him, & the Suns' *defenders*. Guess some of them weren't too intimidated by Yao.
If I'm a Suns fan though I'm concerned about 2 things at this point. I still believe D'Antoni is an excellent coach, but I believe the pressure of the game has gotten to him & affected his composure (certainly understandable, if I'm correct). And thus detracted some, I believe, from his style that helped get the Suns to this level in the first place. We've talked about his propensity to over-team other centers on defense, & lack of use of the bench.
Which leads to concern #2, the fact that the Suns have proven over a number of years that they simply can't beat anyone without Nash. Apparently M. Banks hasn't evolved much as a prospect, but maybe if he ever played it would help him out in intangible ways if nothing else.
On this point I mention a post I did 2/22 - which I revised yesterday - a projected lottery draft, wherein as you probably know the Suns have Atlanta's #1 pick. I've now got them using it to grab PG Acie Law from Texas A & M, whom you'll see in the tourney. But there's another Texas PG that might be an even better fit in Phoenix, & even though I seem to rate him higher than others it wouldn't surprise me if the Suns are keeping very close tabs on young D.J. Augustin. Both of these guys look like the Real Deal. The Suns should have a shot at one of them, & have their own first rounder to grab a big man.
For now, healthy as they are, it should be an exciting, competitive post-season!
well done man, I could really see the game. I am also looking forward to the stretch run here, and weds game is pretty big for both teams, but especially for the Suns if they want any legit shot at the 1 seed. Gotta take advantage of the slip up against the warriors last night. Go Mavs :P (dont understand this rockets/suns debated suddenly, its not like they will meet in the playoffs, it would have to happen in the WCF if the seeds stay the way they are, and thats highly unlikely)
gojimmy-I think you're right on in your assessment.
Thanks AK.
pump-that was funny when they wouldn't let Nash in the game at the same time. And yes, the Suns did play some pretty tough 'D' last night (sshhhh, don't tell anybody . . .) The Rockets were in the second night of a back to back, I get that. And Yao's not quite in shape yet. Not that it would matter much against the Suns, as I stated.
Thanks Frank. WC Final preview tomorrow night, I would imagine, though you never know.
Rev-Yeah, like I said, the Rockets certainly have enough to give some teams all they can handle. They just don't match up well against the Suns, it appears. I think the Suns have won the last six meetings.
jesus-good points. I think Banks should be playing more, as should a few other guys on their bench, like Burke, Piatkowski, Jalen Rose. As for a backup point guard, I really wanted them to get Deron Williams. He was there when the Suns drafted, but he wound up going later to Utah. I think he would have been the perfect backup to spell Nash the next few years and gradually take over. He's proving in Utah that he's very capable.
Thanks Wulf. Lots of ball to be played yet, but I'd be surprised if anyone other than the Mavs & Suns were 1-2. And that's what we've all been waiting for, isn't it?
Josh-Although the Rockets aren't quite up to speed yet, so to speak, they could be by season's end, and will certainly be a handful come playoff time.
Nooch-thanks for stopping by. Always appreciated. The thing about Barbosa is that, with three all-stars on the team, he provides an x-factor that other teams will have a hard time preparing for. He certiainly could be the difference in the playoffs a time or two.
Taking notes while watching a game? Have you gone crazy.
Wait, let me write something down real quick.
(scribbles Lee-On-Dro Bar-Bow-Suh)
OK, now...what was I saying? Hey, how about those Suns? Not too shabby. It's always amazing to me when teams can thrive on chemistry when their star is on the sidelines. But it happens. The Jazz went several weeks without Boozer, and managed to play very good basketball.
Good team players...and also a reflection of good coaching too.
Suns barely escape with 99-94 win against severely undermanned Lakers at home.
Mavs blow out the same severely undermanned Lakers unit in L.A. by 36.
I'm sure you watched both games and saw the difference between Dallas and Phoenix both defensively and offensively.
Dallas takes care of each possession, a quality that makes huge dividends in the postseason. This is because of Avery Johnson, who learned under Popovich, who learned under Don Nelson.
Phoenix wastes possessions in hopes they can simply outscore opponents - a bad omen in the playoffs. I will repeat again... Mike D'Antoni will not know how to make adjustments.
The SUNS are not as "great" as everyone makes them out to be.
You guys get way too excited against a team like the ROCKETS who at this point are in the same tier as L.A., Cleveland, Washington, and Chicago.
evilquacks-It was a very nice night. But whether the Suns finish with the #1 or #2 seed doesn't concern me a whole lot. Every one knows those are the two best teams. Just look at the winning streaks each has had. And yes, it will be fun. I would say it's the biggest game of the year to date.
Shooter-Who you callin' crazy? The notes part wasn't easy. When I took the notes, I had the intention of elaborating if and when I wrote the post. But it didn't come as easy as I thought it would, so I just made sure my i's were crossed and my t's dotted and went with it. Or something like that.
J-Dizz--The Suns play to the level of their competition. Guess they just weren't up for your Lakers.
Soooo, Avery Johnson learned under Greg Popovich, who learned under Don Nelson. Wasn't Nelson famous for great offensive teams who didn't play a lot of defense?
Sorry, I don't get the point you are trying to make.
Yes you are right about Nelson. But Greg Popovich was smart enough to take what he learned from Nelson and incorporate it into his own philosophies.
If you are saying that the Suns play down to their competition, then how do you explain their lack of a winning record against the Jazz, Spurs, Mavs, etc?
My point is this: Dallas and San Antonio are way ahead of the SUNS as far as being a legitimate title contender.
Not to say the Suns suck, because they don't. In fact I love watching their style. But they have just as much to prove to the NBA as Kobe and the Lakers do. In fact, they have more pressure on them to win it all because they have Nash, the reigning 2-time MVP.
If you still disagree with these statements, then I don't know what else to say but zzzzzzzzz
Damn Ricko, I almost missed this post while it was fresh, or somewhat so. You knew J-Dizz wouldn't have any happy commentary...ha ha. Love your annalysis of the game. The Yao huffs were priceless. The Suns are hot and I look foward to another(I hope) great post like this post-game tomorrow to follow. Standing "O" Mr. Ricko.
Last edited by 1steelerfan1 on March 13th at 11:00 PM.
Morning Ricko...big one tonight huh...see where D'Antoni is playing it down? Trivia question:
Who has the highest vertical leap on the current Suns roster?
Dizz...blah blah blah..Suns can't blah blah...Suns don't...blah blah blah...Suns won't...blah blah
Suns are 10-1 since the All-star break, 16.5 ahead of your Lakers and the second team in the NBA to clinch a playoff spot. ahhh hell nevermind
good stuff ricko. a little advice for you. only write down odd stuff like Yao getting winded or t-mac-10 having a look on his face other than his usual "i'm sleepwalking, leave me alone" gaze into space. steal the rest of the stuff from the espn, fox, AP or other hilite/post-game recaps.
mcgrady's ladies? nevermind
by the way, Yao always starts looking winded about 6 minutes in. any team that plays houston in the playoffs should take note of that, and run every chance they get early on. when #### comes in, it might hurt their penetration/inside game, but they wont have to play as much interior D against Mt. Motumbo.
as for the comparison of the mavs/lakers to suns/lakers.....it's pointless. teams get hot, teams get cold. dallas was hot against LA, then turned around and laid an egg against golden state....does that make golden state better than dallas? no. timing means alot. and if i'm not mistaken, kobe didnt play much late against dallas....if that had been toronto, he would have been jacking up shots trying to surpass his 81 from last year.
steelerfan-Thanks for the kind words. I usually try to present a little different angle than the norm, which can be found anywhere. Believe it or not, I was a Suns fan even before I moved here from N.D. I think it was because we used to get their playoffs game tape-delayed at 10:30 back in the late '70s/early '80s. Love watching Paul Westphal and Walter Davis.
pumpdude-Highest vertical on the Suns? I'd have to guess Marion, but I suppose that would be too obvious.
cuz-(sound of ricko sribbling notes) " . . . steal . . . from . . .espn . . ." Okay, got it. Thanks a lot for the time saving advice. Nice points on Lakers comparisons, also.
J-Dizz--I don't think I can refute your statements any better than the Suns did, so I won't.
Hey vearl-guess who's got some "suite" tickets for the Suns/Kings game next Thursday. If you guessed RickO, you are correct sir!! Don't expect much insight if I write about that game, though. I'll probably be enjoying myself too much to take notes.
Spent half my life in North Dakota. The other half, so far, in the Valley of the Sun. As a kid, I was always playing, watching, reading, or writing about sports. I lost most of the "playing" along the way, but the rest remains the same. I pledge to refrain from commenting on a blog unless I've read it in its entirety. If I have time, of course.
Carry on.
Email address: rickoblog@ear thlink.net
