sigh, I am a huge penny fan, don't like the fact that he doesn't play in the 4th quarter Has anyone noticed in the past 10 games or so, the Suns are doing very well going into the 4th quarter, but then end up doing horrible in the 4th Quarter and end up losing, Penny BARELy plays in the 4th quarter, anyone else see a trend?
I don't like it when Penny does play in the fourth quarter. He has a tendency to take shots early in the shot clock which gives the opposing team extra possessions. Also, JJ is playing some of his best basketball the last stretch of games so why should Penny get playing time over him? As for your fourth quarter choking theory, I did some research about the past ten games. In the first quarter here is what their scoring difference in the past ten games (most recent to less recent): +6, +2, +8, -3, +7, -6, -12, +5, +1, +4 Second quarter: -9, +9, +3, -10, -7, +4, +11, +3, -15, -14 Third quarter: +2, -11, -14, -6, +3, +14, -1, +5, -3, +2 Fourth quarter: -1, -2, -7, +1, +12, -9, +2, -18, +2, -2 Looking at that it's easy to tell the Suns get off to hot starts, as they have been outscored in the first only three times in the past ten games. The fourth quarter they have been outscored six times, with three of those margins being by more than five points. In the third quarter it is also five, with three being more than five, but two of those three by more than ten. From that it is easy to say that the Suns aren't having problems in the fourth as much as the third, but then look at the SECOND quarter differences. They have been outscored five times in the second, and ALL of them have been by seven points or more. The second quarter is when the Suns, more often than not, let other teams back into the game to get big leads or make the game closer than what it should be. The third quarter is when they give up the lead for good and the fourth quarter is just when the teams start to get a little cushion, or make the game closer as the Suns win. So the Suns struggles have been an overall depreciation in scoring as the game goes along, not just the fourth quarter.
Damn, your stat work is very commendable, I agree JJ has been playing somewhat better, but the team is so young they need a veteran presence down the stretch, the past 7-10 games they have been losing badly in the 4th quarter after good leads, and penny barely plays in them, thats my only argument
JJ has been playing a whole lot better, but I agree with the Suns needing a veteran presence down the stretch. Often times I want to pull my hair out when I learn that CJ, JJ, Penny, Marion, Jake are out on the court in the fourth. That lineup can't get it done late in games. There was actually an article today on azcentral.net about Penny's limited role with the Suns now. I'll find it and post it. Ok I found it, and it was actually posted yesterday. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Two of their best young players, Amare Stoudemire and Zarko Cabarkapa, are out with injuries. They want to pressure defensively and play at an up-tempo pace, but some of their players aren't very good when they run. Or, worse, they can't run. Meanwhile, Hardaway has gone from hardly playing at all to being a starter, then back to the bench and to where he is now - a starter when the Suns play small and a reserve when they play big. Whichever way they play, he often is relegated to the bench in the fourth quarter.</div> http://www.azcentral.com/sports/suns/1228suns1228.html Go to the above link for the rest of the article.
Wow just as I critisize Penny for his fourth quarter play, he comes up big tonight. So far (still 4 minutes left as I type) he has some HUGE baskets for the Suns as the Clippers try to make a run.
