<span style="color:#6600CC">Phoenix Suns</span> <span style="color:#FF6600">(19-7)</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><span style="color:#000099">Dallas Mavericks</span> <span style="color:#3333FF">(21-7)</span><span style="color:#3333FF">PG</span> <span style="color:#000099">Jason Terry</span> <span style="color:#3333FF">SG</span> <span style="color:#000099">Devin Harris</span> <span style="color:#3333FF">SF</span> <span style="color:#000099">Josh Howard</span> <span style="color:#3333FF">PF</span> <span style="color:#000099">Dirk Nowitzki</span> <span style="color:#3333FF">C</span> <span style="color:#000099">Erick Dampier</span>The two hottest teams in the Western Conference collide today(both have combined to win 39 of their last 45 games). The last two seasons these teams have had some great games against each other, especially in the playoffs. This game, for both teams, is a good measuring stick to see where they are at right now. This game should be an important one for Amare Stoudemire who thought that his presence in last year's playoffs would have made a difference. And after coming off the bench in his last game against the Mavericks, right now as the starter he wants to prove to the TNT audience that he is back. He will face a tough challenge today against Desagana Diop. Two years ago when he destroyed the Mavs in the paint they didn't have a more athletic big man like Diop who will have a much easier time than Dampier at staying with Amare.Key Players Boris DiawDiaw had a great playoffs last year, especially against the Mavericks. He was playing the best basketball of his career and after a slow start he's gone back to that and has been more aggressive on offense like he was at the end of last season. In the playoffs, he was our Amare in the post, causing mismatches with big men using his quickness and great passing ability to get the team some easy points. Now that Amare is back that puts him in a better position. While the Dallas defense focuses on Amare, Diaw has to take advantage of the much slower Dampier or whoever else defends him. He should have a pretty good game.Josh HowardThe Mavericks right now are averaging 13 points less per game than the Suns and they'll need their 2nd option on offense to have a good game if they want to keep up. Howard is a very good all-around player and they'll need him to score 20+ points in this game so Dirk doesn't have to do everything. Shawn Marion needs to do a better job of containing him than he did in the playoffs last year. Howard also needs to do a good job defending Marion because the Suns have more than enough offensive weapons.PredictionI don't really see either team with a huge advantage. These teams are evenly matched and it will be an awesome game on TNT. The Mavericks are on a 7-game win streak right now and they are at home so I will go with them, doing so has almost always given the Suns the win so why ruin a good thing , but if both Diaw and Amare have good games and the Suns stay close in rebounding then they will take it.Mavericks 110 Suns 105
Man, this is going to be SUCH a good game. I really can't wait. You have 2 of the best 3 teams in the league going head-to-head, and both are hot right now. I have no idea who is going to win, and I'm having a very tough time deciding who I think will. I guess I'll go with Dallas. They are at home, and Phoenix is in a way "due for a loss." I say Dallas pulls it out, but I could easily see it going the other way.Great game, I can't wait!
It sounds like Stackhouse is out for tonight's game with a sprained ankle. Dallas still has a pretty deep bench though...
The Suns aren't playing very well right now. Stoudemire has done nothing. Dallas' D has been very good so far. 42-35 Mavs in the 2nd quarter right now.
Well the Suns caught up and now only trail 52-49. I'm still pretty disappointed. Nash has been great though, 15 points and 7 assists.
Dallas has done an outstanding job with getting to the free throw line, and they are bombing from downtown. The defense has been pretty solid, for the most part (for Dallas). The Jet and Dirk have been great for Dallas offensively, and Josh Howard has done a pretty good job. Diop and George brought a lot of energy off the bench as well. I'd like to see Dampier get more involved around the basket, and I'd like to see Josh Howard take better shots.For Phoenix, Nash has been phenominal as usual. He made a few questionable passes, but other than that he has done a very good job. Diaw is doing a very good job, although I doubt his stats show it. Amare started off real slow, but he finally got a few assisted buckets. That's something I have come to notice about Amare (and no, I didn't just begin to notice it this year): the majority of his points are assisted. I wonder what he could really do if he didn't have Steve Nash doing this play, that seems to work 9/10 times:Nash penetrates down and Amare screens, Nash draws Amare's man... Amare rolls to the basket, Nash feeds him.
Amare was doing pretty good winning ROY and averaging 20+ in his 2nd year. Nash has made him a little better but he does have his own moves. The microfracture has slowed him down and I've noticed he hasn't gone to the basket and scored as efficiently as he used to(same amount of TO's in 9 less min.). Right now he needs Nash to assist him and hopefully by the end of the season he gets better.
Wow, did you guys hear Sager report that his doctor said he'd imagine Amare would have to go through the same type of surgery 3-4 years from now? That would SUCK.But on the game, with the energy flowing and with Jason Terry absolutely lighting it up, you'd imagine the deficit would be a bit larger. But, Phoenix keeps on truckin' and they are still in this thing. Nash has, as usual, done an outstanding job with running the offense, Amare is hustling, Barbosa had a pretty nice 3rd quarter. Also, it's nice to see Jumaine Jones out there. I have always liked him, ever since he was in Cleveland.
Yeah, I heard that about Amare...shocking and sad. That's the end of his career then. 3 more years, lets make 'em good Suns!
I only saw bits and pieces of the game so far, but from what I saw, Terry was left open a few times, and he was absolutely lighting it up shooting wise, and he's using his explosiveness to get himself better shots, and to get to the basket.It's gonna be a great finish!Edit: OMG! Nowitzki with the clutch shot. Who says he isn't clutch? The Suns have the ball with 1.3 seconds left in the game. 99-97 Mavs....Wow...
WOW! Just wow! Dirk just possbily hit the game winning jumper! There is 1.3 seconds left, Mavs up 2, Suns ball and they'll get it at halfcourt. Anything can happen, but WOW!I'd run a double-pick for Nash to catch and shoot.
Dirk and the Jet are killing us. With just a second to play, I think it's safe to say we lost. EDIT: It's final. We'll get 'em next time...
Wow, the Suns had to have gotten the ball in to someone other than Stoudemire for the last second shot. That was just pathetic.
We sucked tonight. :no3: Nash was the only one playing well. Stoudemire put up the stats but it was just Nash tonight. This really sucks but I'm not too upset over it.
