Very entertaining game thus far. It's in the fourth quarter and the Sonics are up by three. Seems like the Supes are playing well despite Flip struggles. I honestly believe that the Sonics are the best team in the league. I'm hoping that Flip can contribute to this success but if he can't get consistent minutes, he's probably better off playing somewhere else. We'll see though. I'm a Sonic fan first, and right now the Sonics are a better team when Flip isn't playing big minutes. I'm really pulling for him to get the minutes he deserves though.
Wow do the Suns really need to smile so much and rub it in? I mean holy crap I have no respect for them. Their coach is a joke, way to conduct yourself professionally you tool. I'm really mad right now, wow. I really like seeing the Sonics pass the ball 80 times when trying to get a game tying shot and wasting all the time on the clock ARGHHHHHHH!
That was a great game. Sonics took control early, then the Suns came storming back. They are really good at getting themselves back into games quickly.
That one is really tough to swallow. A 16 point quarter time lead and leading for most of the game too. I don't think the Suns are going to be going deep into the playoffs with that style of ball, but they beat us fair and square tonight.
I caught the last part of the postgame show and Nate was really disappointed in our execution in the last 3 minutes. After Vlade hit that 3 to put us up 7 the Sonics had breakdowns offensively and defensively Vlade leaving Marion for the 3 in the corner, even though Rashard had Nash covered under the basket AD throwing up a wild 3 that led to a fastbreak dunk Ray Allen missing a layup and thowing a wild pass away Of course the Suns had to make plays which they did, so you have to give them credit
Well, our defense was just horrible tonight. Radman and Ray were playing efense, they left their D at home. Flip was awesome on defense the little that he was in, surprisingly. You could tell the Supes were down after losing the lead. This could be the start of what every Sonics fan is dreading. Random quote I made early in the game when I was excited and not in my right mind: "Ridnour is sticking to Nash like white on...Nash."
Great game played by both teams! You guys got some very special players in Ray Allen and Rashard Lewis, who were just racking in the points. I also thought Ronald "Flip" Murray would have a much bigger role on this team after his breakout year, I am surprised that I only saw him for 12 minutes (is he hurt?) I also underestimated your power forward, Reggie Evans, the guy is a rebound machine and I never hear anything about him. He had a nice game 13 points and 14 boards, and is having a nice year all together where he is putting up 8 boards per game. From what I saw in this game I would have to say that Evans is quite underrated. And finally you guys contained our big man, Amare Stoudemire, getting him into foul trouble early and containing him to only 20 points. It could have been worse, a lot worse. I think Stephen A Smith hit it right on the nail before the game when they asked if these teams were a playoff contender, he said something like I am going to watch and exciting game, that?s all I know. As in we don?t know if these teams are for real, but I think I might be able to say that my Suns are for real now
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Shard:</div><div class="quote_post">Wow do the Suns really need to smile so much and rub it in? I mean holy crap I have no respect for them. Their coach is a joke, way to conduct yourself professionally you tool. I'm really mad right now, wow. I really like seeing the Sonics pass the ball 80 times when trying to get a game tying shot and wasting all the time on the clock ARGHHHHHHH!</div> Yes, they do. I am sure the sonics would of been happy if they had won. That was an intense game and each team wanted to win, badly. So suck it up my sonic loving friend....You have 3 more chances. The reason why the sonics had to pass the ball 80 times is the suns were finally playing good D at the end of the game.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Supersonic:</div><div class="quote_post">That one is really tough to swallow. A 16 point quarter time lead and leading for most of the game too. I don't think the Suns are going to be going deep into the playoffs with that style of ball, but they beat us fair and square tonight.</div> Hate to break it to you but the Sonics and Suns play pretty similar syles of basketball. They both attack the basket, kick out, and shoot. Also, each team has "some" interrior prescense. Also, that style of basketball is called showtime and it has won championships. Great game...could of went either way.
Suns are never out of games no matter what the situation, the 2nd quarter they hit 3 straight threes to get back into the game then when they were down by 7 with 3 minutes left, a three from Marion and then a fastbreak dunk from Marion got them right into It again. Both plays due to Steve Nash. Sonics took poor shots during the last 2/3 minutes and paid for It. I also thought Q was huge for the Suns when It mattered, he took some really odd shots but that and1 with over a minute to go gave them believe they would win the game. Was certainly one of the best games this season, shame these two teams can't face each other 10 times a season.
i believe the suns were able to clinch this win with hard nose defense. I finally saw a team close out on the guys on the perimeter, which really excited me during the game. I give the suns mad props ont the d-side. And Nash just kept the pressure on the sonics by pushing the ball after every one of their made shot's. ( i believe early in the game when ray was celbrating a bit after his reverse layup was a good example of nash pushing the ball.) I believe the sonics just got too predictable in the last few minutes. I knew Radmonovic was going to try to light it up from the arc before he shot the ball. I saw one play where it looked as if the suns just left the inside open and were all closing out on the pereimeter. I believe to beat the sonics you have to try and keep reshard lewis contained, close out on the three, and push the ball after each of there made shots. Two out of three aint bad. ( i mean we all know sweet ray is going to get his numbers but just try and make him shoot contested shots inside the arc and you should be fine. ) great game all in all, we will see how far these teams go in the playoffs with this style. I really believe the no handchecking rule has helped this style of play out tremendously.
There was a classical travel on quentin richardson just before he made that 3 point play...other than that, great game, both teams had a chance to win it...I think Steve Nash got a little too much attention and that left other players wide open. RIdnour was clearly struggling on D against Nash...go sonics
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Shard:</div><div class="quote_post">Wow do the Suns really need to smile so much and rub it in?</div> Seriously, is it the NBA finals already? No need to celebrate just because you win one game. I don't think I've ever seen Steve Nash smile before last night. Then he has the nerve to dribble the basketball with his feet in front of the camera before the game is over. The only positive is that Nash is on my fantasy team. Anyway this game is proof that we need an elite perimeter defender. Q-rich's release isn't even all that fast. I think that Nate needs to be more open to starting Daniels. Ridnour frustrated me all night. Especially when he fouled Nash FROM BEHIND for the 3pt play. On a side note, dude disgusts me. Anyone notice how much he licks his hands? Bringing the ball upcourt, he licks his hands in between dribbles. You would think he'd get sick.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting phunky420:</div><div class="quote_post">Hate to break it to you but the Sonics and Suns play pretty similar syles of basketball. They both attack the basket, kick out, and shoot. Also, each team has "some" interrior prescense. Also, that style of basketball is called showtime and it has won championships.</div> The Sonics have two things over the Suns at this stage: They have depth (most effective bench in the league), and they actually play some D. Phoenix have the best starting five in the league by a fair margin, but they also have absolutely no depth. Can you win in the playoffs with only five guys and a style of basketball which lets the opposition have their points? Dallas couldn't go all the way with that style of basketball with an eight man rotation, can the Suns do it with a five man rotation? I have my doubts is all, if they prove me wrong then so be it.
Phoenix actually play pretty good defense, the PPG given up is overrated. The Suns have held teams to around 42-43% shooting which isn't bad and they get stops when they need to. They have a very strong PF in Amare who uses his quickness in the post to dominate teams and guys like Richardson are very good post up guards. Honestly comparing the Mavs and Suns is unfair, there are two big differences between the Suns of now and past Mavs teams, the Suns play better defense, have good post players and guys who can take you off the driple, all 5 can. As for their depth, It's not that bad actually. Barbosa, Zarko (when he is heathly) Casey Jacobsen, Bo Outlaw, Steven Hunter all soild players. Barbosa is the key though ,he has alot of talent and can produce off the bench. So overall the Suns are built for the regular season but should also have some success in the playoffs. Maybe not this year but certainly in a few years.
On a lighter note, who saw Reggie Evans flop in the 4th quarter when Nash tapped him? Hilarious stuff.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting BODY_COUNT:</div><div class="quote_post">There was a classical travel on quentin richardson just before he made that 3 point play...other than that, great game, both teams had a chance to win it...I think Steve Nash got a little too much attention and that left other players wide open. RIdnour was clearly struggling on D against Nash...go sonics</div> You have got to be kidding me! YOu are going to complain about a call that wasn't called? Both teams got crappy calls...no sense complaining about a that non-cll. Did you see the flops the sonics made? OMG!! How lame those were, its sad the refs fell for them. The sonics got bailed out at the end of the game by that flop against Nash. I'm sorry but with 1 minute left in a tight game it should not be decided by the refs...PERIOD!
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Supersonic:</div><div class="quote_post">The Sonics have two things over the Suns at this stage: They have depth (most effective bench in the league), and they actually play some D. Phoenix have the best starting five in the league by a fair margin, but they also have absolutely no depth. Can you win in the playoffs with only five guys and a style of basketball which lets the opposition have their points? Dallas couldn't go all the way with that style of basketball with an eight man rotation, can the Suns do it with a five man rotation? I have my doubts is all, if they prove me wrong then so be it.</div> I admit that the sonics do have more depth, and this might be the difference in the playoffs. However, IF the Suns can stay healthy..who cares how much depth they have? Their starting 5 destroys everyone else in the league. Although, i still feel the suns have a decent bench and can produce if needed. I also don't believe there is any comparison between the Mavs and the Suns. The suns can play D, as they showed in the last 4 minutes of that game. BTW...Ray is the man! Sonics owners better be prepared to pay up big time.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Casual:</div><div class="quote_post">Glad to see you're not biased at all, phunkster.</div> Sure no problem
