Game Day Open Thread: Phoenix Suns at Portland Trailblazers

by TexSUN on Mar 18, 2008 7:51 AM MDT in Game Coverage

Phoenix Suns	at	Portland Trailblazers
44-22		35-32
7:30 PM Pacific / 10:30 PM Eastern
TV: My45 HD, NBA League Pass
Probable starters:
Steve Nash	PG	Steve Blake
Raja Bell	SG	Brandon Roy
Grant Hill	SF	Martell Webster
Amare Stoudemire	PF	LaMarcus Aldridge
Shaquille O'Neal	C	Joel Przybilla

When the Suns faced the Blazers earlier this month, they had to hang on for dear life for a five-point win that was eventually sandwiched between four losses in the early stages of The Big Experiment. This time, the Suns head into Portland on a four-game winning streak that includes two wins over divergent styles of playoff teams, and two blowouts over lottery teams. This will be the Suns' first road game since that streak began, so it's a good opportunity to see if they can carry their new-found momentum away from what has sounded on TV like an awesome USAC crowd.

On paper and with their recent play, this should be a game the Suns win in time to get some nice rest for the second of this back-to-back set tomorrow. However, my "no predictions" mantra has been working, so I'm sticking with it.

I am planning to do live blogging tonight, but it's a little up in the air right now. I'll update this post later today with the status.

Blazer's Edge has the view from the Blazer fan's perspective.

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Comments

LaMarcus Aldridge

Will be interesting to watch. Apparently, he's been waffling on whether to play inside or outside. Apparently, he's more effective inside but is a bit tired of the effort.

Also, I'm wondering how my PG action Roy will take on.

Probably short minutes for Grant today, if we're lucky. I hate that banging his wrist took. Those kind of injuries linger and will probably linger through the post-season. :(

"You can never have too many shooters." - Cotton

by ZonaFlash on Mar 18, 2008 8:42 AM MDT 0 recs

na,

marcus can bang, he's just not built for it yet, but against an amare, well, I don't know if anyone besides shaq is built for guy's like him, maybe an Oden?..but. roy's pg duties are kind of sporadic, but once the fourth quarter comes, he's got the ball.

I didn't know grant was hurt. nothings broke?

dave is hipocrock racist dove lovin poor excuse for a debate mate, let alone ship mate, mate...

by daveisapecker on Mar 18, 2008 8:52 AM MDT up 0 recs

Sprained, not broke

but he'll feel it for the rest of the season.

So, as a Blazers fan, knowing your team is going to get smoked tonight (I kid! I kid!), how to make it a positive?

Specifically, I'm curious, how do the Blazers get the most training, education and development out of it.

Any specific things Nate has been doing with the team?

"You can never have too many shooters." - Cotton

by ZonaFlash on Mar 18, 2008 8:54 AM MDT up 0 recs

I think

that we're still playing like there is no tommorow, and the slim hope at playoffs drives Nate to Stay in a set rotation, we've just sent Mcroberts to the D league, Oden has begun his 50% runs with the team, and our darius dilemma is sorting itself out as we speak.

I guess we may see a bit more of sergio (thanks by the way for him, and jones) than normal, usualy he makes an appearance with 2 left in the half, but he don't get anymore time than he's earned I suppose.

I'm sure our team takes alot out of playing against the jugernaut of sun's team, Steve Nash, your newly added desiel, not to mention your bench, alot to be learned that's for sure.

Ah, they'll hold their own, watch out at the third though, if we're only down by 6 you can bet we'll make a game of it.

dave is hipocrock racist dove lovin poor excuse for a debate mate, let alone ship mate, mate...

by daveisapecker on Mar 18, 2008 9:48 AM MDT up 0 recs

daveisapecker..

Hey man, I have to tell you, I'm very excited to see Oden get into the lineup, I'm going to be checking your team out a lot next year.

by jasonsuns1 on Mar 18, 2008 10:09 AM MDT up 0 recs

I like the Blazers

In my perfect world, they would make the playoffs over the Lakers. But they're not good enough, YET. Next year can be something else for them.

Walk on, walk on With hope in your heart And you'll never walk alone You'll never walk alone

by Nobs on Mar 18, 2008 9:51 AM MDT 0 recs

Amare own s Aldredge

There's no reason STAT can't dominate this matchup. If Shaq can get Pryzbilla in foul trouble, I like our chances. We cannot have Blake score 18 or 20 like last time, and Raja must do a serviceable job on Roy. By serviceable I mean at least make it hard for him. In the fourth quarter last time, Roy was getting whatever he wanted.

'07-'08 Suns: It's clobberin' time!

by Hawk42 on Mar 18, 2008 10:02 AM MDT 0 recs

Sort of...

Mostly I thought he took a heck of a lot of 12-15 footers. That's kinda the shot we want to force him in to taking. He just had an amazingly hot hand and hit them all.

by KJ7 on Mar 18, 2008 10:32 AM MDT up 0 recs

Amare

may own LMA now, but LMA will probably be among the worst match-ups for Stat in the future.
LMA is quick and has shown some very good defensive instincts, just need more experience and strenght.

by Bruno on Mar 18, 2008 12:33 PM MDT up 0 recs

I don't think

they'll be truely comparable side by side, their games differ too much, Aldridge's shot is almost a mirror image of sheeds, and Amare is more of a take it to the rack or shot a three type.
Defense wise Amare own's Aldridge, but that should just be a matter of gym time. I figure if he added 20 pounds he'd be a bruiser in the post, but he needs to polish that part of his game. He'll learn alot from guarding forwards with the skills of amare.

dave is hipocrock racist dove lovin poor excuse for a debate mate, let alone ship mate, mate...

by daveisapecker on Mar 18, 2008 1:01 PM MDT up 0 recs

I agree with this...

............................... LMA is basically a finesse guy that should develop a little bit more brawn and rebounding ability over time (he'd basically be a college Senior in the real world, I think -- he's a Baby Blazer).

Amare is a low post MONSTER. Their games are not comparable.

"He shoots.......... He scores!"

by timbo on Mar 18, 2008 1:19 PM MDT up 0 recs

And I will not resign from this campaign...

.......................................................... for calling him a MONSTER, because it's true.

"He shoots.......... He scores!"

by timbo on Mar 18, 2008 1:21 PM MDT up 0 recs

Calibration.

To follow up on TexSuns original point, people should pay attention to this game simply because we played the Blazers so recently. Think of the first game as a benchmark, and then a simple comparison between the Suns now and then can be made.

If we easily win this game, then one may definitely assert that the Suns are on their way. If, on the other hand, this is an all-round difficult game, then clearly Mike D has work to do.

by Pliny the Elder on Mar 18, 2008 11:23 AM MDT 0 recs

Nice idea.

but probably there is too much noise game-to-game will drown the truth. Still, we can pretend, especially if its a rout in our favor! :)

"You can never have too many shooters." - Cotton

by ZonaFlash on Mar 18, 2008 12:00 PM MDT up 0 recs

There's a difference between being on the way

and being there, no doubt.

But the first Blazers game came at a time, when if we're honest, the Suns were at a low point wrt integrating our new center.

If you concede that the only place we could go from that point in time is up, then knowing how far is probably a good thing. By playing the same competition twice in a short period of time, and compensating for the difference in home court, we should get a good idea of how much better we are now vs. then.

by Pliny the Elder on Mar 18, 2008 12:11 PM MDT up 0 recs

This is a road game too

I just forgot to change it when I cut/pasted from the previous game thread. So it's pretty much an apples-to-apples comparison. It's even the front half of a back-to-back, just like last time (although Seattle is no Denver, of course).

by TexSUN on Mar 18, 2008 12:15 PM MDT up 0 recs

Sheesh, the way they played the other night...

........................................................... Seattle is no Miami!

"He shoots.......... He scores!"

by timbo on Mar 18, 2008 1:20 PM MDT up 0 recs

Great line at Blazers edge

I like...

...the sentence, "They have Shaq but they have Shaq" I think that simply captures the enigma that Shaq has become. He's become like some ancient weapon of war, that gets wheeled onto the battle field, but you never know if it's going to work and smite your enemy, or blow up and end up killing more of your own men.

Pryzbilla does about as good a job against Shaq as anyone, "If" the referee's allow him. It's still going to be a tough game.

"Mother Nature started this fight, I think it's about time we ended it!"
by Krang on Tue Mar 18, 2008 at 09:32:00 AM EDT

Hilarious and possibly true. I hope we figure out how to use him like the Ark of the Covenant in Indiana Jones.

"You can never have too many shooters." - Cotton

by ZonaFlash on Mar 18, 2008 11:54 AM MDT 0 recs

articles

Many of you might have read these, but maybe not

SI.com article
Love this part
"During the 2003-04 season, when Hill was out of the Orlando Magic lineup with an injury, Shaq gave him the keys to the gym in his Isleworth mansion so that Hill could work out alone. "Shaq had a big TV mounted on a wall behind the basket, and I used to shoot free throws and watch the late West Coast games," says Hill. "I was hurt, but those are fond memories." Hill breaks into a laugh. "Shaq always told me that if I got a new deal, he should get 10 percent."

by jasonsuns1 on Mar 18, 2008 11:59 AM MDT 0 recs

Nice - I didn't realize they were so cordial

So Shaq gets about $100K more on his $20MM? :)

It meant a lot to me to hear Grant say he wanted to stick around for next year. He probably could pull more than the minimum somewhere else.

"You can never have too many shooters." - Cotton

by ZonaFlash on Mar 18, 2008 12:02 PM MDT up 0 recs

easily

Grant could get 5-10 or more easily. But he's already made 100 million, its about being where he wants to be, which says a lot about the players and staff for the suns, and a lot about Hill. He's easily one of my favorite players. In a video off the main nba suns website, there's an interview with Hill and his wife. Hill is asked about Nash, and he says..."Steve proves that good things can come out of Canada".. I know he was joking, but I thought it was funny as hell. So did my wife. I'm really liking this team more and more. Those that aren't sure if this team is better or worse than before Marion left, (time will tell obviously..even the next 2 weeks), but there's no doubt in my mind this team is more fun to watch!

by jasonsuns1 on Mar 18, 2008 1:29 PM MDT up 0 recs

Some props for the Suns' medical staff?

Not only has Marion been missing games with a sore ~~ego~~ back, now Banks is out too apparently.

Given that Marion pretty much NEVER missed a game in Phoenix, and Banks didn't either (not that he played enough to), it really makes the Suns' medical staff look good, doesn't it? Or else, makes Miami's medical staff and/or Pat Riley's famous lengthy practices look bad. Very bad.

Here's their list of injured/doubtful:

Alexander Johnson
Ricky Davis
Marion
Udonis Haslem
Banks
Dwyane Wade
Dorell Wright
Alonzo Mourning

...of course it could just be an outbreak of tank-itis. I hear it's highly contagious this time of year.

by TexSUN on Mar 18, 2008 12:08 PM MDT 0 recs

Tankitis may explain Marion but doesn't explain

Jason Williams longstanding injuries. Their too old school and they suck because of it.

Marion would play no matter what - he's probably not injured. Remember the one year we were resting players for the POs and Marion wanted to keep playing anyway?

Did you guys read that article by some team where the medical staff said, "Flexibility? No, we don't like that. Don't do that unless it's done normally in a game."

I forgot what team, but the staff was being praised for archaic anti-stretching principles.

"You can never have too many shooters." - Cotton

by ZonaFlash on Mar 18, 2008 12:17 PM MDT up 0 recs

Tanking

Miami and Seattle, I expect to catch Tank-itis, but what surprises me is that the Spurs have caught it as well. I guess when the collective age of your team is 75 and some of your players are already dead, getting a good draft position becomes pretty important.

parallel universe

by SilverSprings on Mar 18, 2008 12:19 PM MDT up 0 recs

Banks Injury is proof they are not tanking.

If they wanted to tank, they would be playing Banks 48 minutes a game. :)

"You can never have too many shooters." - Cotton

by ZonaFlash on Mar 18, 2008 12:22 PM MDT up 0 recs

True

This was the first time I laughed out loud at a comment on this board in ages.

Mmmmm ... Guinness

by JSun on Mar 18, 2008 1:47 PM MDT up 0 recs

Miami sucks

We think Miami is tanking because they had some good years and won a chip. But I don't think they were ever a powerhouse, I think they just lucked out on a combination of players, and Dallas Chokers. They had no business winning that title.

Also, they don't need to tank. They are really that much worse than everyone else. How the heck did we lose to them, anyway?

'07-'08 Suns: It's clobberin' time!

by Hawk42 on Mar 18, 2008 5:06 PM MDT up 0 recs

How we lost to them

I think at the time, they didn't realize they sucked. It's kinda like the cartoon who runs off a cliff and doesn't fall until he realizes it. They ran off the hill, but didn't realize it until after they beat us. And they are now falling. It would be a utter disgrace if they couldn't pass their franchise low of 15 wins established in their expansion year.

by RealTangiblesGuy on Mar 18, 2008 5:38 PM MDT up 0 recs

I heard that whom ever is doing

the rehab with greg is the same person that helped amare with his micro fracture. and if that's the case, it should be a testement to your medical team too!

dave is hipocrock racist dove lovin poor excuse for a debate mate, let alone ship mate, mate...

by daveisapecker on Mar 18, 2008 2:22 PM MDT up 0 recs

good

Very anxious to see him, someone that long and athletic, and strong,

by jasonsuns1 on Mar 18, 2008 3:32 PM MDT up 0 recs

Status of live blogging tonight

I'm off to take a pre-game nap, and hopefully will be back in time to live blog, however, if not maybe some others will chime in in the comments. Sorry, but I have an early day tomorrow, and the game doesn't start until 9:30 my time. Might have to play catchup on DVR.

by TexSUN on Mar 18, 2008 5:59 PM MDT 0 recs

Sun's announcers

Gary Bender and Tom Leandro both comment about Shaq's arch on his free throws. The word is arc, not arch. Will someone please send them an email?

arch
n. vault, upward curve; entrance with a curved top, vaulted doorway

arc
n. curve, part of a circle

by OneSunsFan on Mar 18, 2008 8:21 PM MDT 0 recs

Hey guys..

Is there any way I can watch this game online?

by PanamaSun on Mar 18, 2008 8:47 PM MDT 0 recs

Try this

http://www.janeironation.5gigs.com/cc.html#top

Phx - where Player of the Week happens

by Phoenix Stan on Mar 18, 2008 8:58 PM MDT up 0 recs

Game on (a little late for me)

Just caught up in time to catch the Blazers announcers dumping more grief on Suns fans for being critical during that tough stretch. Geez, what do these guys have against Suns fans?

Anyway, I'll pick up the live blogging starting with Q2.

by TexSUN on Mar 18, 2008 9:10 PM MDT 0 recs

Thanks srp!

I´m watching the game now... just on time to see GGs stupid foul...

by PanamaSun on Mar 18, 2008 9:12 PM MDT 0 recs

Q2 11:42 - Blogger's jinx?

Figures I pick up the keyboard and the Blazers take the lead, then the Suns make a turnover. We'll see how this goes. Might need to go dark again.

by TexSUN on Mar 18, 2008 9:12 PM MDT 0 recs

Q2 9:45: G2 running the point?

For a second, I thought Nash was back in. And that he grew a couple of inches.

by TexSUN on Mar 18, 2008 9:14 PM MDT 0 recs

Around the league

Well, the Mavericks almost came back to beat the Lakers, but fell a couple of points shy. And this is sad.

Meanwhile, Miami actually won a game! Not the best line ever by the Matrix, though. 8 points, 12 rebounds.

It's looking likely that Houston's streak will end tonight. Boston up by 12 in the third quarter. Too bad. I was hoping they'd hang on for another couple of games so the Suns could do the honors. But at least we might catch them in a post-streak malaise.

by TexSUN on Mar 18, 2008 9:21 PM MDT 0 recs

Announcers are funny

Why would fouling out Pryzbilla be our main objective? :)

"You can never have too many shooters." - Cotton

by ZonaFlash on Mar 18, 2008 9:23 PM MDT 0 recs

Hey, at least they're not griping about Suns fans

That's like scraping nails on a blackboard to me. Why is it any of their business?

by TexSUN on Mar 18, 2008 9:24 PM MDT up 0 recs

Q2 5:58 - We have a ballgame

I would say a shootout, but you can't have a "shootout" if it's only 43-42 halfway through the second quarter.

by TexSUN on Mar 18, 2008 9:23 PM MDT 0 recs

Shaq

Nice night, so far. Stupid foul now, however.

Walk on, walk on With hope in your heart And you'll never walk alone You'll never walk alone

by Nobs on Mar 18, 2008 9:24 PM MDT 0 recs

How have we given up 7 offensive rebounds?

Low energy - this is the first game "After Shaq" that we are not leading the rebounding early.

"You can never have too many shooters." - Cotton

by ZonaFlash on Mar 18, 2008 9:28 PM MDT 0 recs

Q2 4:03 - Announcers living a year in the past

I love Steve Nash. He's still my favorite player in the league, despite the fact I think Amare should be taking the reigns of the team soon. But to say Nash belongs in the MVP discussion this year is just plain silly.

by TexSUN on Mar 18, 2008 9:31 PM MDT 0 recs

Good god

What a block! Was it going down already? I missed that. But great play.

Walk on, walk on With hope in your heart And you'll never walk alone You'll never walk alone

by Nobs on Mar 18, 2008 9:32 PM MDT 0 recs

how's CP3's defense? :)

"You can never have too many shooters." - Cotton

by ZonaFlash on Mar 18, 2008 9:33 PM MDT 0 recs

LOL

And I thought I got rid of that CP3 comment in time. Didn't want to get that discussion going again just to make a point about the announcers. But CP3's defense is light years ahead of Nash's.

by TexSUN on Mar 18, 2008 9:34 PM MDT up 0 recs

Q2 2:08 - Nice teamwork

Ends in Raja with a three. The lead is seven. Believe it or not, that's high for this game.

by TexSUN on Mar 18, 2008 9:35 PM MDT 0 recs

Q2 1:09 - Ditto

This time the crisp team passing ends up with LB for the three. Sweet. 57-45, Suns.

...Of course this lead-extending run has happened largely with both Amare and Shaq on the bench, proving once again that the Suns are still a small-ball team at heart.

by TexSUN on Mar 18, 2008 9:39 PM MDT 0 recs

Yep

Its frustrating that Amare (1st) and Shaq (3rd) lead the league in fouls accrued. They give good defense but you won't always have them.

"You can never have too many shooters." - Cotton

by ZonaFlash on Mar 18, 2008 9:40 PM MDT 0 recs

Nice half

But those misses in the end costed us a big lead.

Walk on, walk on With hope in your heart And you'll never walk alone You'll never walk alone

by Nobs on Mar 18, 2008 9:42 PM MDT 0 recs

I like all the highlights with blazers

mopping the floor. Shaq really throws them down!

"You can never have too many shooters." - Cotton

by ZonaFlash on Mar 18, 2008 9:46 PM MDT 0 recs

And Amare dogging it on defense - again.

"You can never have too many shooters." - Cotton

by ZonaFlash on Mar 18, 2008 9:46 PM MDT 0 recs

At the half

A bit of chaos there at the end. I was just about to write a comment about how Nash was giving LB a clinic on how to control the clock at the end of a quarter, but he missed the three, leaving time for Channing Fry to hit a jumper, then botched the pass to LB for what should have been the buzzer-beater attempt. Suns lead by 8 heading into the half.

Meanwhile, it looks pretty certain now that Houston's streak ends tonight. Celtics up by 22 in the fourth quarter. Is KG the best streak-killer ever or what?

by TexSUN on Mar 18, 2008 9:47 PM MDT 0 recs

Pretty Physical So Far

Really hope Amare can avoid more fouls down the stretch. I still believe most possessions without Steve on the floor should go through Shaq. I love the return of the three pointer as a major offensive point.

by MichiganSunsFan on Mar 18, 2008 9:49 PM MDT 0 recs

If we win this one, Houston is set to lose

we'll be just one game back in the standings!!

"You can never have too many shooters." - Cotton

by ZonaFlash on Mar 18, 2008 9:51 PM MDT 0 recs

Nash assists

Pacers announcers pointing out that Nash only has three assists. Assuming that pace holds for the second half, I think that would mean CP3 officially takes over the assist lead. (Anybody noticed how he's averaging around 15-18 in just about every game in the past month?)

by TexSUN on Mar 18, 2008 9:57 PM MDT 0 recs

Q3 10:49 - Credit where credit is due

Aldridge with an Amare-like fly in and dunk. Not our guy, but still a sweet play.

by TexSUN on Mar 18, 2008 9:58 PM MDT 0 recs

Again Amare sleeping getting back

"You can never have too many shooters." - Cotton

by ZonaFlash on Mar 18, 2008 9:58 PM MDT 0 recs

Q3 10:01 - Amare's turn

Gets a nice flying dunk of his own.

by TexSUN on Mar 18, 2008 9:58 PM MDT 0 recs

Q3 9:20 - OK, that was too good

Nash with the "how the heck did he do that" pass to Amare. But the Suns forget to play "D", and the Blazers get it back. Lead is down to three at 63-60.

by TexSUN on Mar 18, 2008 9:59 PM MDT 0 recs

Q3 8:51 - Shaq at the line

These are becoming much less visually painful, even though he's still not terribly accurate. Much better arc, although he still looks extremely uncomfortable there.

by TexSUN on Mar 18, 2008 10:01 PM MDT 0 recs

Shaq got arc this game.

"You can never have too many shooters." - Cotton

by ZonaFlash on Mar 18, 2008 10:01 PM MDT 0 recs

Q3 8:20 - Amare with the steal...

...and the clear path for the dunk.

by TexSUN on Mar 18, 2008 10:02 PM MDT 0 recs

KG is killing the Rockets

Just flipped over during the commercial to watch the official ending of the streak. (Still 2 minutes to go, but it's going to happen with the Celts leading by 17).

by TexSUN on Mar 18, 2008 10:04 PM MDT 0 recs

Q3 7:01 - Nice block by Shaq

leads to nice dunk by Hill.

by TexSUN on Mar 18, 2008 10:06 PM MDT 0 recs

Q3 6:36 - That Amare foul was Nash's fault

...for letting Steve Blake go by.

by TexSUN on Mar 18, 2008 10:07 PM MDT 0 recs

it not like Blake is a major midrange threat

so why hug him there?

"You can never have too many shooters." - Cotton

by ZonaFlash on Mar 18, 2008 10:09 PM MDT up 0 recs

Q3 6:04 - Hill and Shaq...

...really love to play together. Nice chemistry between those two.

by TexSUN on Mar 18, 2008 10:08 PM MDT 0 recs

Lamarcus making Amare looking like an MVP... :-)

"You can never have too many shooters." - Cotton

by ZonaFlash on Mar 18, 2008 10:08 PM MDT 0 recs

Q3 5:54 - D'oh!

Shaq with another nice block, but not so nice with the outlet pass.

by TexSUN on Mar 18, 2008 10:09 PM MDT 0 recs

how's the Amare owns Aldridge

talk looking right now?

by Bruno on Mar 18, 2008 10:09 PM MDT 0 recs

looking pretty moronic!

"You can never have too many shooters." - Cotton

by ZonaFlash on Mar 18, 2008 10:12 PM MDT up 0 recs

I love Nash as a shooter!

Who would have thought our backup PG would be an MVP center?

"You can never have too many shooters." - Cotton

by ZonaFlash on Mar 18, 2008 10:11 PM MDT 0 recs

Hmm...

I do like Nash as a shooter, but he's much more fun to watch as an assist man. And I'm not sure about the Diaw for MVP talk. :)

by TexSUN on Mar 18, 2008 10:13 PM MDT up 0 recs

Come on! Just because Boris' mom was better

in the middle than he his means nothing!

"You can never have too many shooters." - Cotton

by ZonaFlash on Mar 18, 2008 10:14 PM MDT up 0 recs

Q3 4:34 - May as well just book that

...before it even leaves his hand. Nash with the wide-open three. Meanwhile, the Blazers announcers continue their Nash-love by bragging on his "underrated" defense on Blake. Might be more credible if Blake hadn't just burned Nash for a three of his own on the previous possession.

by TexSUN on Mar 18, 2008 10:11 PM MDT 0 recs

by TexSUN on Mar 18, 2008 10:16 PM MDT 0 recs

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