<span style="color:#6600CC">Phoenix Suns</span> <span style="color:#FF6600">(2-5)</span><span style="color:#FF6600">PG</span> <span style="color:#6600CC">Steve Nash</span> <span style="color:#FF6600">SG</span> <span style="color:#6600CC">Raja Bell</span> <span style="color:#FF6600">SF</span> <span style="color:#6600CC">Shawn Marion</span> <span style="color:#FF6600">PF</span> <span style="color:#6600CC">Boris Diaw</span> <span style="color:#FF6600">C</span> <span style="color:#6600CC">Amare Stoudemire</span>Possible Lineup Change:With Raja Bell just coming back from a rib injury and having to play with a protective vest on, Mike D'Antoni may choose to bring him off the bench instead. Also, with Barbosa's great play so far this season and the effective small line-up with Raja and Nash, Leandro could take Diaw's spot in the line-up for the game if Raja starts. Nash is questionable for today's game with a hip injury, but that "questionable" sounds more like a probable after hearing what D'Antoni had to say about the injury.<span style="color:#000000">Philadelphia 76ers</span> <span style="color:#999999">(4-3)</span><span style="color:#999999">PG</span> <span style="color:#000000">Allen Iverson</span> <span style="color:#999999">SG</span> <span style="color:#000000">Kevin Ollie</span> <span style="color:#999999">SF</span> <span style="color:#000000">Andre Igoudala</span> <span style="color:#999999">PF</span> <span style="color:#000000">Chris Webber</span> <span style="color:#999999">C</span> <span style="color:#000000">Samuel Dalembert</span>Possible Lineup Change: Webber has made it known that he is unhappy with his situation on the Sixers right now and he may be put on the bench for the game.Game NotesA rematch of the pre-season thriller in which the Sixers made a great comback, this should be a fun one to watch. The Suns are beat up, both their bodies and their egos. They are the only team in the Pacific division with a losing record and some players have yet to realize that the off-season is over.The Sixers are coming off a win vs. Seattle and are looking to win their second straight game after losing three in a row. They are tied for the Atlantic division lead, led by another great season by Allen Iverson.Match-Up of the GameAllen Iverson vs. Steve NashBoth of these guys are tremendous offensive players that lack the skills on defense. Two of the great points guards in the NBA, they should give each other a big challenge. Iverson is one of the fastest players in the league and will get his fair share of easy buckets, while Nash will pick apart the Sixers D with his great passes. Both of these guys will need to have great performances for their team to come out the winner. Nash will be playing injured so that gives AI the advantage, but Iverson will really need to carry the load on offense tonight. Bell will do a good job on one of the Sixers' wings, Webber hasn't been producing much and Dalembert really isn't much of an offensive force. PredictionThe Suns have started to play better. Amare and Diaw are going back to what they were doing before and they should have good games tonight in Phoenix. The Suns D will struggle with a player like Iverson, and while I think eventually their D will get better, tonight is not the night. I expect the Suns to win in a fairly high-scoring game.Suns 114 76ers 105
Damn you beat me to writing a preview. Nice job though. I pretty much agreed with everything you said. Can't wait for this game though. Should be a great one.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (iversonfan268 @ Nov 17 2006, 05:53 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Damn you beat me to writing a preview. Nice job though. I pretty much agreed with everything you said. Can't wait for this game though. Should be a great one.</div>I'll let you have the next Suns-Sixers match-up. But the Suns games ah mine beetch! Thank you though for the compliment...
Suns win by 13+ points in my opinion. None of our bigs can match the speed and athleticism of Marion, aside from possibly Dalembert but he will most likely get into early foul trouble. Marion is going to have a HUGE game tonight, as will Nash because he'll be able to easily pick apart the huge holes in our defense.Not really anything else I want to say because this is basically an automatic L for the Sixers unless Iverson goes off for 50+.
Nice preview bro. Nash isn't playing, by the way.BUT OH MY GOD!!!! Amare just got a technical for clapping. Are you friggen kidding me?
I just posted that before you. It was a game time type decision or else I would've known for the preview. I don't really agree with that tech but I guess it could be considered showing up the official. He has been having a great game besides that though.Here's an analogy for yall: John Madden is to Brett Favre as Bill Walton is to Boris Diaw.
I am very pleased because I actually get to watch this game because it is nationally televised. WOOOOOGood preview btw.
Suns lead 59-52 at the half. They gave up a big lead in the 2nd quarter but finished the half off with a 10-2 run. Barbosa is having a great game with 17 points and 4 steals so far. Amare has been pretty good toh man, Kurt Thomas not playing much will hurt one of my fantasy teams. He was doing well before but he has played like 20 minutes in the last 6 quarters.
Hey Maurice Cheeks, did you not realize that we were at our best when Webber was out of the game? So... get him out of there ASAP!EDIT: Good to see Willie Green is finally getting his offensive rhythm back for the Sixers...
Damn, Barbosa is carrying us tonight! He should be an all-star this year or at least his name should be brought up as a final addition.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (ASUFan22 @ Nov 17 2006, 11:14 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Damn, Barbosa is carrying us tonight! He should be an all-star this year or at least his name should be brought up as a final addition.</div>Barbosa has surprised me a lot thus far tonight, and if he can continue playing the way he has played thus far this season he should be a leading candidate for the MIP award.Marcus Banks has also impressed me, and Amare looks like those six days off have really helped his legs tonight.And Cheeks doesn't realize that Webber needs to sit on the bench! He is absolutely terrible!
Did I just hear Walton say Chris Webber is on his way to the Hall of Fame?Please tell me I heard that wrong.
Well Walton is pretty dumb...Nash's MVP chances took a dive today with the Suns owning the Sixers. Everyone played well. Now is the time to get excited again.Diaw-9 points, 8 rebounds, 6 assists. He's looking better.Barbosa- 10-15, 26 points, 10 rebounds, 3 assists, 5 steals.Amare- 10-18, 23-10-1Banks- 17-2-3 2 steals and a block. He just earned himself more playing time methinks. Suns won by 12, only scored 17 in the 4th though.
Im pretty sure one of the commentators said that lolI really enjoyed this game because I got to see my two favourite teams go at each other and yeh im not that dissipointed with the sixers cause it was obvious that the suns are the better team at the moment so yeh I wasen't really expecting the sixers to win this but they still had a decent shot. I was also happy to see that Willie Green played well, it's the first time iv'e seen my favourite player actually play since his rookie year and I can say from what I saw that he looked pretty good today so I think the sixers having him is defently a plus right now. Amare played well for the suns and I expect him to keep getting better each and everygame and so on.Good game . :rock:
Woo! Amare, Barbosa, and Banks all played great tonight!How many of y'all saw Amare's 360 layup?! Awesome!
Awesome game if you are a Suns fan, and even if you aren't - a very fun game to watch. Amare is back ladies and gentleman. Barbosa was phenominal once again, my boy Marcus Banks was incredible and made some terrific plays, it was nice to see Diaw finally get something going (Bill Walton had an orgasm every time Diaw touched the ball though, and it was annoying), and Raja Bell was pretty solid.For Philly, everyone was struggling except for Willie Green. Also, any update on Steven Hunter?<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (STAT @ Nov 18 2006, 01:10 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Woo! Amare, Barbosa, and Banks all played great tonight!How many of y'all saw Amare's 360 layup?! Awesome!</div>I saw it, and a yelled "oh!" I'm so happy Amare is back. That 1 handed putback dunk was sick too.
Told you guys awhile ago, an no one listened- Get Amare starting time and he will be fantastic as he has had the legs under him for awhile now. Just needed to shake off rust, but now he is fine. Since starting he has averaged around 20PPG, with 2 20+ point games in a row. I am not going to say he is back yet, but I feel within the next month or so he can and will be relied on to get 20 ore more on a consistent nightly basis.BTW- His dunks, and the 360 layup, were all very impressive!
I'm so happy with Amare but he still hasn't gotten his jumper yet. I think it's because he's just focusing on getting to the basket like he used to but he was starting to get a reliable mid range shot. I think he'll start shooting it better later in the season.
