<div class="quote_poster">Quoting J_Ray:</div><div class="quote_post">It just started, is Barbosa #22?</div> Nope, that'd be James Jones.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Crywalker:</div><div class="quote_post">Nope, that'd be James Jones.</div> Really, damn, see I don't know much bout them. Raja Bell looking nice early, Suns are playing pretty good w/o Amare & JJ
I would say so, they're hanging tight, and hoisting a lot of threes. My only problem is that Marion is looking tentative in transition. Both teams are going small and appear to be enjoying some success doing so. Marion is playing some pretty intense basketball on the boards. The refs are also making some silly calls on both ends of the floor.
Our boys look good at the end of the first. Owning the offensive glass and the transition game. Some more hustle on defense should see them through at least the first half.
Wow, no one on this team is afraid to shoot, and it shows. I'm loving watching Nash work, if only every team had a guy who could create as capably as him, basketball would be the most watched game in America.
Anyone catch Nash's crossover of Dirk with 4.30 to go in the third? Dude's intense, and Dirk just isn't good tonight. The suns look way better than I thought they would.
We're having dueling whistles now in the fourth, it seems like the refs are fightin over who's turning the ball over more. Anyone notice how intense Eddie House is on the defensive side of the floor. Just as I say this Jim Jackson just hit a dagger three. And Mark Cuban looks like a smurf in that outfit... That is all.
Wow, the Mavs have the slowest defensive rotation I've seen in a while. But the game is getting interesting in the fourth. Nash sitting was the best thing that could've happened to this young team in the second half. Darrell Armstrong should be starting at the point for this Dallas team, at least that's what his hustle tells me tonight.
Looks like the stellar push from the Mavs is going to just be enough. Great showing until the fourth quarter, when the defense came out flat. You ask me, Armstrong's coverage of Nash was the difference. 4.4 to go and Nash at the stripe. Bennett Salvatore taketh away. OT anyone?
OT 2 now, and Jason Terry and Dirk Nowitzki just won't give up. Both teams have looked good, but luck is on the side of the Mavs right now, as is defense, so I think this one's done. Oh well.
More drama, this is a great finish! This game has really put us through the gamut. What a fun watch. Any more bad calls and I'll scream, but other than that, nobody wants to quit. Great television. Go Suns!
Salvatore got what he wanted. By calling that foul on Van Horn's shot with 23.7 to go, he effectively ended the game. Bad decision-making on the final shot, courtesy of Jim Jackson, meant they didn't have a chance to hit that three. GREAT GAME! We'll get the next one back.
This was a great game. I think this is where Amare's presence will be missed the most. This would likely have been a blowout win for Phoenix if the big guy was on the floor. They really needed more of an inside presence in the second overtime, but the threat of him down low keeps the floor open in tight games for those shooters. They didn't have that luxury last night. With Nash at their head and running that D'Antoni offense, though, I think they can still win a lot of games. They will need to build a cushion for the fourth quarter, though, because I don't see them winning too many close ones.
I'd argue Joe Johnson's presence was missed in their first game. Steve Nash was forced to do too, much and ran out of gas at the end. Barbosa was terrible when he came in for Nash, and the Suns offense looked out of rhythm. The trio of Daniels, Harris, and Armstrong made the difference for the Mavs last night. Raja Bell and James Jones played well, but they only combined for two assists and James Jones shot only 33.3% from the field. Amare's presence was obviously missed, but not having another player capable of running the offense hurt more in last night's game.
I really want(ed) barbosa to bust out (been waiting for a few seasons now) but we have got to get a reliable backup point guard. Eh, any possibilities out there?
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting unbeliever:</div><div class="quote_post">I really want(ed) barbosa to bust out (been waiting for a few seasons now) but we have got to get a reliable backup point guard. Eh, any possibilities out there?</div> Jay Williams is still unsigned. I think they should give Eddie House some minutes at PG as well. His style fits perfectly into the Suns uptempo game.
Well double overtime against the Mavs isn't a bad outing at all, especially with only 2 starters from last season on the floor holding their own well against the Mavs.
Barbosa has played well this season backing up Nash... the whole bench has. When Nash was sitting out in the 4th the Suns were just building their lead... and there have been times when there were no starters on the floor, and Nash has been getting so much rest. I am loving what they are doing right now.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting ArizonaSportsFan22:</div><div class="quote_post">Barbosa has played well this season backing up Nash... the whole bench has. When Nash was sitting out in the 4th the Suns were just building their lead... and there have been times when there were no starters on the floor, and Nash has been getting so much rest. I am loving what they are doing right now.</div> Yeah, with barbosa playing as a shooting guard that works fine, you'll notice that when he was out there, Diaw was running point (if nash wasn't on the floor that is). I think that works pretty well with diaw, barbosa and house--pretty nice offensive bench presence.
