<div align="center"> @ </div> <div align="center"><font color="Orange">Phoenix Suns (32-9)</font> @ <font color="SlateGray">San Antonio Spurs (31-9)</font></div> <div align="center">Where? American West Arena When? 10:30 EST | 7:00 PST TV? ESPN</div> <div align="center">________________________</div> <div align="center">Phoenix Suns Starters:</div> <font color="Orange">Steve Nash (According to ESPN.com, Probable Fri. vs Sas. 1/21) Joe Johnson Quentin Richardson Shawn Marion Amare Stoudemire</font> ---------------------------- Head Coach: <font color="Orange">Mike D'Antoni</font> I hope ESPN.com is right and Steve Nash is probable for Friday's game against the Spurs. We will definatly need him, so far we are 0-5 without Nash and I think it is OK to say that Nash is the MVP of this team. With Nash gone it has lead to poor games by Quentin Richardson, Amare Stoudemire, and Shawn Marion. On a side note Leandro Barbosa is out as he was placed on the I-L, Smush Parker will be taking over the backup point guard duties. Key Player: [IMGL]http://espn.go.com/i/nba/profiles/players/3103.jpg[/IMGL] PPG: 15.3 APG: 10.9 SPG: 1.1 TPG: 3.1 Leads NBA in Assists per Game If Nash returns from his injury he will be the key player, again the Suns are 0-5 without Nash so far and we are playing one of the best teams in the West so we will definatly need him. Predicted Stats: 12 points, 10 assists, 2 steals <div align="center">____________________________</div> <div align="center">San Antonio Spurs Starters:</div> <font color="Gray">Tony Parker Emanuel Ginobili Bruce Bowen Tim Duncan Radoslav Nesterovic</font> ---------------------- Head Coach: Gregg Popovich The big question for the Suns is how can they contain #21 from having a big night. Tim Duncan in many peoples minds is the best player in the NBA, so far this season he is putting up great numbers as usual, 21 points and 12 boards a game for him. The Spurs are not all Duncan though, they have a great back court with Tony Parker from France at the point and Manu Ginobili from Aregentina playing the two guard. Both players are very underrated and are both having outstanding years. <div align="center">______________________________</div> Key Player: [IMGL]http://espn.go.com/i/nba/profiles/players/3380.jpg[/IMGL] PPG: 14.9 APG: 3.9 3P %: 37% Ranks #7 in the NBA in Steals per game. Manu is a threat on both ends on the floor, he is #7 in the NBA in steals and he has a deadly outside shot. Manu returned to the Spurs lineup on Wednesday after missing one game with a right thigh contusion. <div align="center">_________________________</div> Prediction (if Nash plays): The Suns should try to take advantage of their MVP coming back from an injury, Steve Nash if he returns will play a big part in this game after the Suns lost 5 in a row and are playing a team that everybody doesn't think the Suns can beat. Nash and the Suns will be on a task tonight to try and prove that they can beat the Spurs and contend for a finals birth. Suns - 111 Spurs - 105 __________________ Prediction (if Nash doesn't play): The Spurs should take advantage of no true point guard on the court for the Suns by forceing turnovers and double teams, Smush Parker or Joe Johnson will be starting at point if Nash can't give it a go which isn't good. Parker committed 8 turnovers in his last game with the Suns as it is clear he still have to adjust to our style of play. If Parker doesn't start at PG, Joe Johnson, a true SG/SF will give it a go at the point guard spot for he has some handle too. But without Nash the Suns fall on their face... Suns - 92 Spurs - 107 <div align="center">_________________</div> <div align="center">CourtKing's MVP's</div> <div align="center"> </div> <div align="center">Prejected Stats:</div> <font color="Orange">Amare Stoudemire:</font> 32 points, 8 boards, 11-22 FG <font color="Gray">Tim Duncan</font>: 36 points, 14 boards, 14-25 FG Both players may be going to Denver for the all-star game. Both players are MVP canidates. Big games from both of these players, Amare and Duncan, hopefully not too many of those Duncan points come in the 4th quarter because we may be going down if that happens...
Having Nash back tonight would be huge and we could possibly stop this skid. Too bad it`s against the Spurs. I would double-team Duncan in the paint if he catches fire because he can become very hard to stop. San Antonio has a great all around team and hopefully the Suns can stop that. My prediction: 98-99 Spurs
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Flava23:</div><div class="quote_post">OMG any1 see marions shot dat was so clutch</div> DAMN! Suns had this game won... such a great game but still a downer PHX lost. Time for a winning streak.
If you look at the box score, and only look at the Suns half, and see they scored 123 points you would think they won. This is definatly a heart breaker. Manu came through in the clutch for the Spurs, 24 points in the 4th quarter and the overtime alone, a career high 48 for him. Other then Manu, Duncan, and Brent Barry the Spurs had nobody to go into double-digits.Everybody was talking before the game how was Nash going to defend Parker with his bad back and thigh, well he held him to only 2 points, but Nash was not covering Parker early in the game if I remember correctly. Great games by Marion who had 37 and 15, Amare who had 35 and 7, and JJ who had 21. But another one of those 5-18 shooting games from Q, but something I do like is that he only took 7 threes, which is still a little high.
Man it was good seeing the Suns play nationally teleivised. Marions 3 was one thing, but anybody see Q`s pass that went in the hoop? Haha good stuff. Hey we played are our hearts out but it showed just how good the Spurs are. I just hope we can end this skid soon...were at 6 games now.
The shot by Marion was insane, I thought the Suns would take it in OT after that went in. Shawn Marion had a monster game, but unfortunately the Suns ran into a career night by Ginobili. Giving up 40 in the final quarter was terrible as well. At least the Suns got Nash back, and if they had more than just 9 guys suited up, they would have likely won the game. With 6 losses in a row and a long road trip coming up, the Suns are going to be pressed to keep the top spot in the Division. Sacramento has been on fire winning 6 straight.
That was a great game by the Suns but the reason we lost was our bench scoring. Like Windmill said, 40 points to 3. Courtking, you hit the nail right on the head with your Spurs Key Player as Manu Ginobili drops a career high 48 points. Marion had a great game with 37 points and 15 rebounds! Amare also had a great game with 35 points but in the end, Duncan with his 30 points and 19 rebounds, walked away with the win. Hopefully, the Suns will bounce back against the Nets and improve our record to 32-10.
The loss was very heartbreaking. The suns once again showed their weakness, the big D. Their defense is in spurts, but when its bad....its freaken bad. However, the suns went toe to toe with the best team in the NBA right now. No shame in losing a close game.
