<div align="center"> @ </div> <div align="center"><font color="Teal">Memphis Grizzlies</font>: 12-15 @ <font color="DarkOrange">Phoenix Suns</font>: 22-3</div> <div align="center"><u>Starting Lineup: Memphis Grizzlies</u></div> <div align="center">Head Coach</div> <div align="center"></div> <div align="center">Mike Fratello</div> <div align="center">Starters:</div> <div align="center"></div> <div align="center">(Jason Williams/Mike Miller/James Posey/Pau Gasol/Lorenzen Wright)</div> CourtKing's Report: The Grizzlies have yet to find an idenity under new head coach Mike Fratello. Jason Williams is a playmaking point guard with flashy moves that can go for 10+ assits on any given night. The Grizz also got a pretty nice shooter in Mike Miller to join Williams in the backcourt. James Posey, a defensive-minded player is the Grizzlies starter at SF who might be filling in for Bonzi Wells, who missed last game with a bruised rib. Post play seems to be the Grizzlies strength, the 7'0 low post monster from spain, Pau Gasol will be in the paint along with shot blocking threat Lorenzen Wright. <div align="center">_____________________________________</div> <div align="center"><u>Starting Lineup: Phoenix Suns</u></div> <div align="center">Head Coach:</div> <div align="center"></div> <div align="center">Mike D'Antoni</div> <div align="center">Starters</div> <div align="center"></div> <div align="center">(Steve Nash/Joe Johnson/Quentin Richardson/Shawn Marion/Amare Stoudemire)</div> CourtKing's Report: The Suns are one of the best three point shooting teams in the league and it is lead by the backcourt of Steve Nash and Joe Johnson. Nash and Johnson are both two of the best three point shooters in the NBA. Followed by Johnson and Nash in the lineup is yet another three point threat, Quentin Richardson, Q is shockingly #16 in the NBA in steals, nobody really considers Q a defensive minded player but he is showing it this year. Yet another three point threat follows Q in the lineup, double-double machine Shawn Marion. Marion is having an all-star like season, 20 points a game to go along with his 11 boards. <div align="center">_______________________________</div> <div align="center">Key Players</div> <div align="center"></div> <font color="DarkOrange">Amare Stoudemire:</font> 25 points, 9 boards, 2 blocks <font color="Teal">Pau Gasol:</font> 19 points, 9 boards, 1 block CourtKing's Word: Both players are all-star contenders. Amare is having a career year at 25 points per game, I am expect a slowed up night from Amare on Friday though, only 18-20 points with 10 boards. Gasol on the other hand is having a "good" year, 19 points a game, he will probably try to slow up Amare as well as he can. I will expect anywhere from 23-25 points from Gasol. <div align="center">_____________________________</div> <font size="2">CourtKing's Prediction:</font> If the Grizzlies can get Amare into foul trouble and contain the three ball, they MIGHT have a chance at this game. Do I think they are going to do both of them? No. Not a chance, I am predicting a blowout win with big games from JJ, Marion, and Nash. Suns roll: Grizzlies - 97 Suns - 112
<div align="center">Grizzlies - 102 Suns - 109</div> <div align="center">Key Stats</div> <div align="center">Amare Stoudemire: 30 points, 12-21 FG, 11 boards, 5 steals, 2 blocks</div> <div align="center">Shawn Marion: 29 points, 12-17 FG, 7 boards, 4 assits, 3 blocks</div> This was an good overall game but one thing I noticed, the past two games we have allowed teams to shoot 50%+ on us. Before those games our defence was 4th in the league and now we have droped to 10th. We should try to correct that problem so that it doesn't become a major problem. Also I think a play of the game that was overlooked (I heard about it on the post-game radio show) is when Leanardo Barbosa comitted one of his fouls and they went to a TV timeout. Steve Nash, instead of Mike D'Antoni jumped to talk to Barbosa about the foul and then was the main person talking in the hudle. It really shows Nash's leadership ability on this young team. Not so great of a game for Joe Johnson though, 3 points off 1-9 shooting and 1-5 from three point land. Steve Nash had another double-ditit assits game, he had 17 points while dishing out 14 assits. Q-Rich had a poor shooting night (6-17) but he made up for it going 4-9 from deep, scoring 17 points and pulling down 10 boards. Steven Hunter only got in for 7 minutes because of Amare droping 30 and only finishing the game with 3 fouls.
Dang Amare, and Shawn were killing last night, they were hitting on all cylinders. Nash has just been amazing this season, he might be the best passer this season.
The Suns just have those runs, it happened against the Clippers too, everything is cool then they just explode, in this game it was Nash and Marion leading the charge. The Suns were down then Marion got on fire, hit a pull up jumper after taking one dribble, hit a three, and Nash hit about 2 of his runners, and I think their was an Amare dunk, and out of nowhere the Suns were up 10. I feel bad for the Raps having to play the Suns later.
