<div align="center"> @ </div> <font color="DarkOrange">Phoenix Suns: 19-3</font> <font color="DarkGreen">Seattle Supersonics: 18-4</font> <div align="center"><u>Your Starting Lineups:</u></div> <div align="center">Point Guard:</div> <div align="center"> </div> <div align="center"><font color="DarkOrange">Steve Nash</font>/<font color="DarkGreen">Luke Ridnour</font></div> CourtKing's Word: You will see a lot of Ridnour and backup point guard Antonio Daniels, both who are having very good years, Daniels is averaging 12 points to go along with his 5 assits off the bench. They both will be going up against one of the best in the league no dout, Steve Nash. <div align="center">____________________</div> <div align="center">Shooting Guard:</div> <div align="center"> </div> <div align="center"><font color="DarkOrange">Quentin Richardson</font>/<font color="DarkGreen">Ray Allen</font></div> CourtKing's Word: Both players are two of the best three point shooters at the 2 guard spot in the league! You should see a shooting display on Friday with both players I expect to have good games. JJ will probably have to go up against the taller Rashard Lewis, so Q will have his hands full on D. <div align="center">_________________</div> <div align="center">Small Forward:</div> <div align="center"> </div> <div align="center"><font color="DarkOrange">Joe Johnson</font>/<font color="DarkGreen">Rashard Lewis</font></div> CourtKing's Word: Another big matchup, again both players are very good at stroking the three ball so we should be in for a show. Johnson is coming off what is one of his best performances of the season against the Jazz, Johnson dropped 30 on the Jazz including 5-5 from downtown. <div align="center">____________</div> <div align="center">Power Forward:</div> <div align="center"> </div> <div align="center"><font color="DarkOrange">Shawn Marion</font>/<font color="DarkGreen">Reggie Evans</font></div> CourtKing's Word: The Question, how is Reggie Evans, a person whom last year averaged 3 points a game. The Answer: We don't know, I am expecting another double-double from Marion, even though Reggie Evan's strenth is to box out and rebound (8 a game). <div align="center">_______________</div> <div align="center">Center:</div> <div align="center"> </div> <div align="center"><font color="DarkOrange">Amare Stoudemire</font>/<font color="DarkGreen">Jerome James</font></div> CourtKing's Word: All we can do on Friday is sit back, relax, and watch Amare tear apart the Sonics, well we hope. Jerome James, is one of the best shot blockers in the NBA, I will expect Amare to have a decent night, but nothing special. 20-25 points seems about right. <div align="center">_____________________</div> <font size="2">CourtKing's Keys + Prediction:</font> One of the main keys for the Suns to win this game is to defend the 3 ball. Ray Allen and Rashard Lewis are two of the best in the business in hitting the long range shot and the Suns have to contain that. Try to get Amare out of foul trouble, against a not so great post play of the Seattle Supersonics. Both teams are at the top of the West, we will see who is the real #1 on friday. Suns - 112 Sonics - 108
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting CourtKing:</div><div class="quote_post">The Question, how is Reggie Evans, a person whom last year averaged 3 points a game. </div> Offense ain't everythang. But I wouldn't expect a Sun's fan to know that. Expect to see Evans, Radmanovic, and Collison guarding Stoudemire a lot. I doubt Jerome will be in long.
This is one of the most important games of the year for the Suns. If they can beat Seattle it pushes them into a serious contender for the title. I agree that the 3 ball will be an important element to the game. However, I think Steve Nash's ability to dish effectively will be crucial to the suns success Friday night. If Steve can pump out at least 13 dimes, then I am certain the suns will win. We know that no one in the league right now can contain amare, period. The only hope for the Sonics is for him to get into early foul trouble. Go SUNS!
This should be a very good game, especially offensively. The Suns are going to have to play the Sonics good on the perimeter, if not the Sonics will be having a field day, and when you look at it the Suns aren?t the best perimeter defenders in the world so they want to make Sonics come inside some. It's also vice versa for the Sonic's who will need to play good perimeter defense on the Suns, because 4/5 of the starters can hit the three with consistency. It would be also nice to see Amare take advantage of the Sonics not so great interior defense; I think he can make it happen. My prediction, Suns will win this one by 8+.
Suns - 55 Sonics - 57 HALF As expected it's a high scoring game, which could have been a lot worse, the Suns were down by 16 at the half but 3 threes in a row by Q, and JJ brought us back in it. <div align="center">Key Stats: Joe Johnson: 14 points, 6-11 FG, 2-4 3FG,</div> <div align="center">Amare Stoudemire: 14 points, 4-9 FG, 7 boards, 3 fouls</div>
I think we can say that we are for real now. Coming back from 16 points, to win by 2. I think this is a big confidence boaster that this young team needed, in the long run beating the #2 team in the West. This team looked unbelievable to me, as soon as the opponent would make a basket, Nash and crew would be already half way down the court. I am thinking that if we can use this to our advantage, tire out big men in the playoffs, which would make them less effective on the offensive end. This is what I think is the only way that I can think of for us to win in the playoffs without developing a low post defensive threat. Suns - 112 Sonics - 110 FINAL (2 points off my prediction) <div align="center">Key Stats:</div> <div align="center">Steve Nash: 21 points, 8-14 FG, 12 assits, 3 turnovers Joe Johnson: 24 points (team high), 10-20 FG, 10 boards, 5 assits</div>
I have to give props to Ray allen though, he is a scoring machine. Its too bad he just didn't score enough to win Go SUNS!!
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.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting AllNet:</div><div class="quote_post">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.</div> I agree with you, Tom Tolbert stressed it during the game that it doesn't matter if your up by 30 the Suns can score about 21 points in a 3 minute streach. Both teams had little 3 or 4 minute runs where they would rip off ten or more points, that was part of the game I loved, coming down to the last 3 or 4 minutes, which team would have that run where they would rip off 10 stright or so and that was the Suns. Q didn't have that great of a shooting game but he took the shots when it mattered like you said. That's what Q has seemed to be for the Suns this year, a clutch player. Hitting the game winning three ball against the Lakers and now sealing the game against the Sonics. Like phunky420, I have to give it up for Ray Allen, he was just pouring in the points last night and I think he deserves some credit even though he lost. Good thing he didn't have 35 instead of 32
I'm still unhappy with stoudamire on a couple things. Free-throws and rebounds. I mean he plays at C, he's what 6'10 or so? We know he's got the leaping ability and a big body. Yet he barely averages double digits. I'm thinking it's just an experience thing, knowing when to be where he needs to be. I hate to see him just fall back to the one trick pony show of powering in and dunking (which is cool and useful, but it can't be the only thing he does). I'm probably being a little unfair to him, but maybe when he doesn't do as well as he should, since you know he is a superstar, it stands out more?
that game last night was crazy beautiful. Im surprised allen made that last turnaround 3 pointer. But Suns won so Im happy.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting unbeliever:</div><div class="quote_post">I'm still unhappy with stoudamire on a couple things. Free-throws and rebounds. I mean he plays at C, he's what 6'10 or so? We know he's got the leaping ability and a big body. Yet he barely averages double digits. I'm thinking it's just an experience thing, knowing when to be where he needs to be. I hate to see him just fall back to the one trick pony show of powering in and dunking (which is cool and useful, but it can't be the only thing he does). I'm probably being a little unfair to him, but maybe when he doesn't do as well as he should, since you know he is a superstar, it stands out more?</div> I'd have to agree with you. I thought that his free throw shooting could of cost the suns the game, that would of been sad. He had one stretch where he missed at least 1 free throw like 7 times in a row Plus, he did not dominate as well as i had hoped. Hopefully the coaches and him watch over that tape and determine a better way for him to handle himself in the future.
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">If they can beat Seattle it pushes them into a serious contender for the title. </div> The suns are playing great and everything,but how does beating another really good team 20 games into the season push a team into being a "serious contender for the title".I dont really understand it.Its a great win,but i fail to see how it makes that big of a difference.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting GiantMidget:</div><div class="quote_post">The suns are playing great and everything,but how does beating another really good team 20 games into the season push a team into being a "serious contender for the title".I dont really understand it.Its a great win,but i fail to see how it makes that big of a difference.</div> When a team can start beating the elite teams in their conference it shows their ability to beat them in the playoffs. For example, if the suns beat the kings, san antonio, and the Twolves every time this season---what do you think that means?
