<div align="center"> <span style="font-size:24pt;line-height:100%">@</span> January 11, 2007 - 10:30 pm ET<span style="color:#FF0000">Game aired on TNT</span></div><span style="color:#990000">Cleveland Cavaliers</span> <span style="color:#CC9933">(22-12)</span><span style="color:#CC9933">PG</span> <span style="color:#990000">Eric Snow</span> <span style="color:#CC9933">SG</span> <span style="color:#990000">Larry Hughes</span> <span style="color:#CC9933">SF</span> <span style="color:#990000">LeBron James</span> <span style="color:#CC9933">PF</span> <span style="color:#990000">Drew Gooden</span> <span style="color:#CC9933">C</span> <span style="color:#990000">Zydrunas Ilgauskas</span> <span style="color:#CC9933">Key Bench Players:</span> <span style="color:#990000">Anderson Varajoe, Damon Jones, Donyell Marshall, Daniel Gibson</span> <span style="color:#6600CC">Phoenix Suns</span> <span style="color:#FF6600">(26-8)</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:#FF6600">Key Bench Players:</span> <span style="color:#6600CC">Leandro Barbosa, Kurt Thomas, James Jones</span> Injury ReportNone Who To Watch Out For<span style="color:#990000">LeBron James</span><span style="color:#CC9933">Season Stats: 26.6 ppg, 6.7 rpg, 6.1 apg, 1.6 spg</span><span style="color:#990000">Larry Hughes</span><span style="color:#CC9933">Season Stats: 15.0 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 3.3 apg, 1.4 spg</span><span style="color:#990000">Zydrunas Ilgauskas</span><span style="color:#CC9933">Season Stats: 12.0 ppg, 8.3 rpg, 1.4 bpg</span><span style="color:#990000">Drew Gooden</span><span style="color:#CC9933">Season Stats: 12.5 ppg, 9.1 rpg</span><span style="color:#6600CC">Steve Nash</span><span style="color:#FF6600">Season Stats: 20.1 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 11.0 apg</span><span style="color:#6600CC">Shawn Marion</span><span style="color:#FF6600">Season Stats: 19.4 ppg, 9.4 rpg, 1.9 spg, 1.4 bpg</span><span style="color:#6600CC">Amare Stoudemire</span><span style="color:#FF6600">Season Stats: 17.6 ppg, 9.0 rpg, 1.4 bpg</span><span style="color:#6600CC">Leandro Barbosa</span><span style="color:#FF6600">Season Stats: 16.5 ppg, 2.5 rpg, 4.3 apg</span>Rookie Watch <span style="color:#CC9933">CLE:</span> <span style="color:#990000">Shannon Brown</span><span style="color:#000000">Overall Selection: 25</span><span style="color:#CC9933">Season Stats:</span> <span style="color:#990000">2.5 ppg, 1.4 rpg, 0.7 apg</span> <span style="color:#CC9933">CLE:</span> <span style="color:#990000">Daniel Gibson</span><span style="color:#000000">Overall Selection: 42</span><span style="color:#CC9933">Season Stats:</span> <span style="color:#990000">4.3 ppg, 1.5 rpg, 0.8 apg</span><span style="color:#990000">Cleveland's X-Factor</span><span style="color:#990000">Damon Jones</span><span style="color:#CC9933">Season Stats: 8.4 ppg, 1.4 rpg, 1.9 apg</span><span style="color:#990000">Let's face it, Cleveland has no chance at really defending the Suns, so let's just cut right to the chase: offense. Damon Jones has been playing/shooting well as of late, and he needs to keep it up. Tonight, he's going to get open looks (considering it is against Phoenix), so he needs to knock the down.</span> <span style="color:#6600CC">Phoenix's X-Factor</span><span style="color:#6600CC">Boris Diaw</span><span style="color:#FF6600">Season Stats: 10.0 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 5.2 apg</span><span style="color:#6600CC">Diaw tonight needs to keep Gooden off the glass. Gooden is a great rebounder, and he'll snatch up any ball that comes near him. Diaw needs to use his quickness to his advantage and get position, to make sure those balls don't come to Gooden.</span> <div align="center">Key Matchup vs. <span style="color:#990000">LeBron James</span> <span style="color:#000000">vs.</span> <span style="color:#6600CC">Shawn Marion</span></div><span style="color:#000000">LeBron is a top 3 player in the league, arguably #1 (although I believe Kobe is, you could still make a very strong case), and Marion is one of the best forwards in the league, without question. Marion makes plays happen on both ends, it will be interesting to see what he can do with King James tonight.</span> CelticBalla's Extra Thoughts/NotesNo major injuries? Is this a first to this season, or what? CelticBalla's PredictionI see Phoenix winning. I think LeBron goes for 30+, but the defense is going to kill them. They can't keep up with Phoenix, it's that simple.
Thanks for taking over for me. This should be a great game! We finally get to play a good team without any injuries. Time for the Suns to prove themselves against good competition....even though it would be like playing the 7th best in the West this is a possible Finals opponent.
The Suns are tearing apart a top 5 defense in the league with 67 first half points, Nash already has 14 assists! Marion is making a strong case to be in the all-star game. Cleveland just caught us on a bad day. Suns held the Cavs to 41 1st half points and during the 2nd half they showed that the Suns defense is much better than people think.
Phoenix walked all over them in the first half. Nash played like the magician that he is, Marion did an outstanding job, Amare did a solid job, and Kurt Thomas really knocked down his shot, as did Raja Bell. Bell gave everyone a scare there with that ankle, with the way he was walking and barely standing up, I got worried.Cleveland needs to get it together. I don't think they really can, though. They just can't run with them. I mean, I'm sure Cleveland will make another run or two, but I think Phoenix owns the pace of the game, and that is a pace that Cleveland just can't match.
The Cavs aren't even playing anymore. Seriously, it's like when you're on a pickup team that sucks ass and you just stop running to the other side because they aren't going to pass it or nobody is going to help you on D or whatever. It's just pathetic. No offense ASUFan, but the Cavs are just playing terribly. The Suns are playing their game, but the Cavs aren't playing anyone's game.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Justice @ Jan 11 2007, 09:57 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>The Cavs aren't even playing anymore. Seriously, it's like when you're on a pickup team that sucks ass and you just stop running to the other side because they aren't going to pass it or nobody is going to help you on D or whatever. It's just pathetic. No offense ASUFan, but the Cavs are just playing terribly. The Suns are playing their game, but the Cavs aren't playing anyone's game.</div>This is just one of the few games that the Suns have played good defense in. They haven't even added this game to our already good defensive stats. :winkglasses:The Eastern Conference is funny. I'm not going to get too ahead of myself but if we win then we'll be 14 or 15-1 against the East. :HAHAHA:
Nash is unbelievable, and this game is just a complete demolishing. Like Doug Collins said, I expected Phoenix to win this game, but not like this. I did not expect such a big blowout.
Nash has 20 assists already and probably won't play the rest of the game. Lets get Marcus and Burke in there soon! Great win for the Suns! Now on to the #2 team, the Magic.
Games like this make me wonder if the Suns aren't the best team. The spurs haven't shown that this year but the suns have.
Suns owned the cavs tonight or should I just say they owned lebron since it's basicly a one man team, hmm.
This is one of those games where LeBron is carrying the entire load while getting no support from his teammates. The Cavs deserved to lose this one especially with the poor effort they've put into this game. Anyways, good game..
WOW at home many assists Nash had. When he passes guys finish. I wish when AI played he had guys to finish. Arg LOL
