I'm Not Going to Do What Everyone Thinks I'm Going to Do...

No one needs that. I don't need that. My blood pressure is already through the roof and the bile is still halfway up my throat at the moment.

I honestly feel like throwing up after watching the Suns blow this game tonight against the Spurs.

Ugly isn't really the word to describe the game. Without Tony Parker (and even Brent Barry,) Popovich had no choice but to slow it down even more and really muck it up out there.

The Suns defensive strategy of watching Jacque Vaughn clang jumpers all game worked to perfection for 24 minutes. Unfortunately, in typical Spurs fashion, they continued making adjustments and just continued chipping away, never relenting on the boards or on the defensive end throughout the second half.

As Coach D said, the Suns couldn't hit water falling out of a fucking boat at really any point in the game. Don't be stupid and think they were cold, it's all about the Spurs defense and overall philosophy.

Nash is never allowed to get into a rhthym (why in Zeus' butthole can I not spell that word right...and why isn't blogger's spell checker properly functioning?) and 3-pointers are nearly non-existent.

Shawn had a good game numbers wise, especially in the first half, but I'm sure Popovich was happy as a pig in shit with that result. It meant for the most part, no 3's. And more importantly, no offense for both Nash and Amare (the referees helped out there...that second foul could kindly be described as a joke.)

The results of the game are rather disheartening when you remember that the bearded Frenchman didn't even suit up. What's more worrisome to me is the Suns couldn't put the Spurs away when they had the chance. Going into halftime, they really should have been up by at least a dozen. Instead, they missed their last nine shots and the Spurs stayed in striking distance.

Maybe I'll crunch some numbers tomorrow but for now, I'm going to enjoy another ice cold beer and try not break everything in my house.

TCB

Yes, that's right. I just abbreviated taking care of business. It's exactly what the Suns did last night.

They came out with intensity on both ends of the floor and made the contest a no-doubter, doing what they're supposed to against overmatched teams.

-Amare was an absolute beast (10 for 11,) the Hawks had no answer for him at any point. It's important for the Suns to go to Amare early and get him involved. For whatever reason, he tends to sulk and his effort suffers if he isn't fed early and often. It worked to perfection last night, no reason to go away from him to start games.

-what should the Suns do with Boris from here on? I say start him. He consistently abused whatever defender the Hawks threw at him last night by either taking it in for a layup or demanding a double team and hitting an open teammate (Grant Hill on two consecutive occasions.) When he plays like that, Boris is fun to watch. Now let's all prepare for him to play timidly against the Spurs

-even though Grant Hill has come off the bench in just a handful of games (7 out of 673 to be exact...1%) in his career, he has to make the switch for the good of the team. The starting five gets bigger, Boris plays with energy and aggression, and the second unit matches up with any in the league.

Besides, it's not like Grant won't still get his minutes. The way the rotation works, Nash, Raja, Boris, Shawn, Amare, LB and Grant will all average between 28-35 a game. Grant surely won't get frustrated if his minutes fluctuate, the guy is a pro.

-the Hawks didn't do much of anything right besides crashing the glass, as they pulled down 26 offensive rebounds. That's a pretty alarming number but don't forget they shot just 34%, missing a whopping 67 shots. Ouch.

With that many missed shots, offensive rebounds are bound to be prevalent. 26 is still too many but I'll leave the nitpicking at that. The Suns shot 64% and were up by as many as 32 at one point. Take the bad with the very, very good.

-every player on the roster got in the game and scored last night. No one trillions for this team.

-Bickley says it's about time the Suns beat the hell out of someone. Couldn't agree more buuuut, let's not get carried away. It's not like this is the Suns very first blowout victory of the year.

What was different in this game however was the effort was there from start to finish. The Suns looked focused on both ends, with a single goal of ending the game early. On that point, Bickley is correct.

-Coro has a plethora of thoughts. Most striking is the Suns 49 deflections in the game last night. This speaks more to their activity on the defensive than anything else. They don't have to be a lockdown defensive team but the effort should always be there.

That number of deflections is a lot to expect every night but even half that really throws a team out of their offensive rhythm. With their quickness, the Suns should own the passing lanes and make teams work to move the ball.

-franchise record for blocks in a quarter, half and game last night. 19 total blocks. For you math majors scoring at home, that's ummm, let's see here, nearly 5 a quarter. Yes, that's it.

-Joe Johnson channels Peter from Office Space and tells us "he wouldn't say he's missing it" when asked about the playoffs. Couple this with his performance from last night and I suddenly don't want Robert Sarver to be crushed by the giant bag of money he saved in not resigning JJ.

-those stupid ping pong balls surely hurt the Suns last year and now Sarver will trade another pick. Mark it, dude.

But let's say, just for the hell of it, the Suns did get the 4th pick in the draft. Who would they have taken? And how would they have made room for him on the roster?

Maybe Amare or Shawn gets traded with the pick along with Marcus Banks for KG but who knows. It's hard to argue with the results thus far this year, the team is playing well and is in first place in the conference. Sometimes, the best things that can happen don't actually happen.

-look for more on Tony Parker today or tomorrow.

Catching Up...

A number of links and thoughts from the last few days, here we go:

-according to John Hollinger, the Suns have a 98.9% chance of making the playoffs. So we've got that going for us, which is nice.

Unfortunately, Hollinger also thinks the Suns have just a 4.5% chance of winning the championship. Take comfort in knowing Hollinger is the same guy who picked the Rockets to win it all at the start of the year.

-pretty cool idea from Suns ownership. It's a shame the only spectators will be guys who make a million bucks in their sleep and the bimbos who try to suck them dry, figuratively AND literally.

-Steve Kerr didn't have much to say. Seriously Steve, I know you're forced to write one of these things but put a little more effort into it. It was boring, even for toeing the company line.

-Marion had an interesting couple of games. Coro says Shawn isn't an All-Star. I'd have to agree. Not this season at least.

We can only hope his effort against the Wolves was an off night and not a symptom of what's to come. If he's planning on tanking like that every once in while, he should simply walk into Kerr's office and let him know. Better to deal him now before he submarines any value he has.

To me, there's no reason to look any further than Marion's 10 cent head. Let's face it, he's an unreal talent but he isn't the smartest guy in the world. It has to be tiring for Coach D and now Kerr to handle him with kid gloves but I don't see equal value out there for him, so staying the present course is really the only option.

-Bickley called Marion's game against the Wolves "appalling" and like Coro on Shawn's All-Star worthiness, he's right.

However, he couldn't be any more wrong in throwing Ben Wallace's name out there as a shot in the arm for the Suns. First of all, that's the first I've heard of the afroed one even being available. More importantly, what would Wallace bring to the Suns and where would he fit in?

The guy misses 9 out of 10 layups in practice and barely draws iron when shooting free throws, hardly a good fit for a high-scoring offense. Moreover, his defense has slid since he left the intensely focused Pistons and Rashweed at the power forward spot.

Wallace's effectiveness on defense was centered more on being an off the ball, team and weakside defender, not a lockdown presence. Does anyone really think he can shut down Boozer or Bynum or Duncan? To quote Jake Blues, "NO.FUCKING.WAY."

-while the Suns have kept right on winning with Grant Hill out first with the appendectomy and now with back spasms, I can't wait until he gets back, especially with the Spurs coming to town on Thursday.

Don't forget that in the win in San Antonio, the Spurs had absolutely no answer for Grant. He did it all in that game and he's a vital piece to this team.

Now let's all cross our fingers and hope Aaron Nelson is right and the back spasms are nothing more than his body compensating for the appendectomy. I'm not prepared for him to get seriously injured and not play, I've enjoyed his game far too much

-oh yeah, the Cavs game on Friday. I left work late so I missed the first quarter. I caught the second quarter from Al McCoy on the ride home. With the disgust in Al's voice apparent and me swearing the whole ride home, I took my time with dinner and turned the game on halfway through the 3rd quarter.

Thank goodness I did, the Suns showed what they were capable of on the defensive end and on the glass. What motivates this team, I just don't know. If it's an "us against the world" thing I can only hope the experts keep picking against them.

Also, funny how the ball found Marion. You can't hide Shawn. Way to sack up and finish it.

-KJ in '08! If I were his campaign manager I'd put out posters of his dunks over Hakeem and Hot Rod Williams with the slogan, "Dunking on the Head of Bad Government." Or something like that.

-Damon Stoudamire looks to be a free man. PROS: solid ball-handler, great shooter, Kerr's former teammate, played under Coach D in Portland, veteran CONS: veteran (old balls,) Kerr's former teammate (F UofA,) terrible defender, shorter than me, first basketball player I remember with arm tattoos, which is okay...except he has his name on his arm

-Webber is going back to the Warriors. Good. He'll completely poison that team, he can't run, can't play defense and can't rebound (link HIGHLY recommended.) Other than that, it's a good fit. TIMEOUT! TIMEOUT!

-drop the hockey stick, Steve. Get yourself a blowtorch and a pair of pliers. That's what Horry and the Spurs deserve.

Suns Win...but We All Lose

That may have been the ugliest basketball game I've seen since Pat Riley roamed the sidelines for the Knicks. The first quarter in particular was just about impossible to watch.

I counted a dozen airballs for the Bulls.

Glad to see the Suns get hot and put away an inferior team in the 4th quarter. It's too bad the game had enough bricks to make the Tower of Babel reach the heavens.

Look for a few posts tomorrow, there are a number of links to check out, as well as the Cavs game and Marion's effort to discuss.

I Admit it...Finally

I won't provide links because there are just too many, but the Suns do indeed miss Kurt Thomas.

The rallying cry of pundits, bloggers and idiots throughout the year in telling us what's wrong with the Suns has been pretty unified. I've heard it over and over and over. Kurt Thomas was given away to the Sonics.

I didn't see it until tonight. Perhaps I had the blinders on, I don't know. What I've realized over the last couple of nights is not that the Suns are missing Crazy Eyes' rebounding and defense.

Yes, he's solid in both those departments. But the issue here is Kurt Thomas is no longer around to set the tone on defense and in the rebounding department. The Suns don't have a crafty veteran around to show them the way.

Brian Skinner has done an admirable job of bringing effort night in and night out but really, how much respect does a guy who has played for 1/3 of the teams in the association deserve?

Crazy Eyes gave the Suns respect and more importantly, he mentored Black Jesus. As it stands, Amare is beyond clueless on the defensive end.

He stands up straight, he guesses (99% incorrectly,) and he's constantly out of position. Al Jefferson abused him like a red-haired stepchild tonight. Amare was ridiculously out of sorts.

Amare commented last year on numerous occasions that Crazy Eyes helped him with strategy and kept him focused. Do the Suns need to bring Kurt back as a consultant? What does it take to get through to Amare?

I'm tired of watching him get stood straight up and overpursing an angle. It's crazy.

Coach D needs to do what kills him most. He needs to make a commitment to defense and rebounding. If the Suns can't be in good defensive position, they can't rebound. If they can't rebound, they can't run. And if they can't run, they, for the most part, cannot win.

This Post Was Supposed to be About Starting the Road Trip off on the Right Foot

So much for that. What is it exactly about playing in Minnesota that is the Suns' kryptonite? They suck terribly up there.

At first it looked like a Suns blowout, with Amare dominating and the Suns getting up 14-4. Then everything went to hell.

Defense was something to be avoided like the plague and rebounding was only for sallies. Before we knew it, our beloved Suns were down by 20 at one point.

So what happened? Yet again, the defensive and rebounding efforts were worse than subpar. Coach D seems to have no clue how to stop a hot player (how about doubling Jefferson at some point...you know, before there's 8 minutes left in the game and the Suns are still down 14.)

Amare is beyond lost on defense. He's consistently out of position and gets beat on the simplest of moves throughout each game, regardless of who he is guarding.

It's ugly. Plain and simple.

We'll most likely hear this was the second of a back to back tomorrow and the Suns mustered all they could in the 4th quarter against the Bucks last night to get the win.

But to hell with that nonsense. The Timberwolves have won less than 10 games this year. Now two of those wins have come against the Suns. The Suns , superior from 1-8, have no excuse to lose to a piss poor team, one in this case that happens to be the worst in the league.

The funny thing is that I'm not all that upset. Pretty strange. Time to rally around this loss and come out of it stronger. Time to realize that talent only takes a team so far and that determination and grit can take a season to the next step.

Coach D has Veto Power?

Robert Sarver is pretty kooky, we all know that. That's the best I can figure when I read this quote from him on the disconnect between Steve Kerr and Coach D:

"Having different views and opinions is a healthy thing to come up with a consensus that is the best," Sarver said. "Mike and Steve have been on the same page. Steve was actually Mike's choice. Mike and I had an agreement that if we hired a GM, he'd have veto power." (my emphasis added)

Can this possibly be true? It's all well and good that there is discussion but is it healthy for a Coach to be able to overrule his boss? I think not.

It raises too many questions:
-who is really in charge?
-who has the final say?
-Kerr gets a veto as well, right?
-can I have veto power?
-why is Sarver so crazy?

I'm not saying Coach D is an idiot but there needs to be a chain of command. If a coach is questioning the GM and the GM is questioning the coach then things can go awry quickly. The last thing the Suns need is more chemistry issues. Stay on the same page, fellas.

And don't let Sarver out of his cage without supervision again.

If an NBA Game is Played on the NFL's Conference Championship Sunday, Does Anyone Know?

Sadly, the answer is almost definitely a no. I knew the Suns were on but with eating too much food, drinking too much beer and watching too much mediocre football, I neglected to tune in.

Glad to see the Suns are continuing their hot streak and have seemed to figure out that beating bad teams isn't as difficult as they've made it out to be.

Two quick notes/worthless observations even though like I said, I didn't watch the game:

-20 more minutes for DJ (box.) I'm not sure I'm ready for this brave, new world where Coach D plays a rookie off the bench. Sure it was a blowout almost from the start but it's clear he's cracked the rotation at least for now.

The kid gets it: “I’m just trying to bring defense and run around and do whatever it takes to get minutes,” he said. “We have so many scorers and playmakers out there, we just need someone to be out there dogging people on defense, diving around and doing the dirty work. That’s perfect for me. Tonight was better than (Friday) and hopefully the next game is even better.”

-Boris took 15 shots. One less than Amare. I'm practically without speech. When Diaw is aggressive the Suns are a well-oiled offensive machine. Like Coro said, a great game from Boris every other game sure beats the hell out of waiting 8 games for some effort.

Back in First Place

A few notes on an ugly, ugly game and I'm hitting the sack. The late games on TNT and ESPN are brutal.

-wow that was a lot of turnovers from both teams. That stretch in the middle of the third quarter was exruciating to watch. 23 total for the Suns, 21 for the Lakers. The difference of course is the Suns got out and ran or got shots up before the Laker defense could get set.

-good to see Boris hit open 15-footer after 15-footer but he can't fall in love with that shot. The Lakers dared him to shoot and he made them pay for it tonight. His game is getting deep in the paint and creating or coming up with an easy bucket. Either way, can't help but be happy with his aggressiveness

-what happened to Luke Walton? Just four shot attempts and zero points in 21 minutes. Not exactly the guy who many thought could anchor the triangle for years to come

-I don't understand Kobe Bryant. He comes out firing in the first quarter then pretty much takes the next 30 minutes off. Who knows what's going on inside that guys head.

The best I can figure is he hoped his teammates would keep it close and then he could swoop in like the superhero he thinks he is and wow the crowd.

He's an enigma wrapped in a riddle and while I hate his guts, he's easily the best player in the league right now (yes, I say that knowing full well there's a guy out there named LeBron James.)

-I mentioned that unwatchable stretch in the third quarter. Kwame Brown may have put together the worst 4 minutes of any player in the history of the league. I was having flashbacks to my play in a rec league as a 13 year old when I turned the ball over three times in a row and fouled a guy for a three point play on the last one.

The best part was the Lakers just kept going to him every time on the block. Again, why Kobe didn't step in and take over or at least put a stop the stupidity I'll never know

-it continually amazes me that Ronny Turiaf has found a place in the league. I guess there's always a spot for big oafs with no discernible skills except flailing and falling.

-the defensive effort was much improved tonight, the Suns really got after it and set the tone early with some big blocks. Except for a couple of breakdowns (see Vujacic, Sasha) they kept it up the entire game.

-Lakers won the rebounding battle 51-45. Doesn't sound too bad, right? Well, 23 of those boards were of the offensive variety and this alone kept the Lakers in the game. A win is a win and all that but anytime Lamar Odom rips down 13 offensive rebounds, you're usually going to be in trouble (again, he's a beast...always a tough, tough matchup for Marion.)

-I've been thinking for a few weeks now that LB has regressed this year. His shooting is down and his decision-making ability in particular isn't what it was last year. I obviously spoke to soon and have focused more on the bad than the good. Yes, he had two terrible possessions at the end of the first and third quarter, but he also hit a couple of big shots in the fourth quarter and was the leading scorer for the game. Hate to complain too much after a win.

-Doug Collins is a great announcer. He's spot on 99% of the time and I love his insights into the game. He just about called out Coach D's play to end the half. He does need to stop with the "also too" though.

-Amare needs to look at the tape of this game and understand the Lakers love to bait him into offensive fouls. They love to fall down when he takes his first step and unfortunately tonight, the referees obliged a couple of times. Such a joke.

Big, big win for the Suns tonight. They need to start having fun again and imposing their will on teams. Maybe get some swagger back and understand they're just talented if not moreso than any team in the NBA.

Nash All of a Sudden Gets It?

I found this very, very interesting. Nash's comment on the bench play:

"We have to trust some of the guys," Nash said. "I don't know what the answer is, but I probably shouldn't play 40 minutes in the regular season."

Nash is right, of course. He shouldn't play 40 minutes a game in the regular season. To be fair to Coach D, he isn't. Our MVP is averaging his fewest minutes per game since his last year in Dallas.

The point here of course is that Coach D needs to find minutes for the bench players now, not only so the starters can get some rest but so those guys can contribute in the postseason. Game 5 at home last year against the Spurs was a nightmare. Playing 6 on 9 never works out in the end.

You could read too much into this and say that even Nash is turning on his coach but that's a pretty huge leap of faith. Let's see if the pleas get to be too much for Coach D and he gets a gasp! 9 man rotation going eventually.

Chris Sheridan Isn't Quite Spot On

Quick, before it's too late! This piece from Chris Sheridan is at the moment FREE via ESPN insider. It's nice to get thrown a bone every once in a while.

Just in case they quickly change their mind, I'll just include everything in here.

Shawn Marion, Suns
With all the focus on a possible Kobe Bryant trade in October, it almost flew under the radar when Marion told the Suns he wanted out. But after Phoenix's talks with Utah -- in a potential deal of Marion for Andrei Kirilenko -- fizzled out, the Suns and Marion worked out some of their differences and are now peacefully co-existing.

The issue is all but certain to resurface over the summer. Marion is going to want a contract extension from any team that acquires him, and it's debatable whether he's worth the kind of money he's making ($16.4 million and $17.8 million this season and next).

Sheridan is playing the "may as well get something before he leaves for nothing card" here. I agree with it to a certain extent but the issue is how does one get equal value for Shawn Marion?

The two names thrown around when Marion originally bitched and moaned in the preseason were Andrei Kirilenko and Lamar Odom.

While Kirilenko is the closest match as far as skill level and all around game (defense and rebounding in particular,) a deal simply wouldn't make sense due to the salaries involved. Why would a team dump salary...only to pick up roughly the same salary with more years tacked on?

That's right. Kirilenko makes max money and is signed for three more years after this one, all guaranteed, none an option. Sarver hates paying more than he needs to, especially for a guy who isn't known for his shooting.

Wait a second, Kirilenko can shoot? (via TrueHoop)

Although Sheridan didn't mention it, it's worth revisiting Odom. He matches if not betters Marion's rebounding (the dude is a machine down there and he's nasty) and can keep up on the scoring end as well. Throw in his excellent ball-handling ability (don't forget he ran the point for Jim Harrick at Rhode Island for his only year of college ball) and it seems like a great swap (even the salaries are close.)

Except for the fact that those pesky Lakers are suddenly playing out of their minds and are in first place in the Pacific. This one is deader than Brad Renfro's career (too soon?)

So we've established that the two main trade partners from the preseason aren't going to work out. Where to go from here? Most likely onto next year when the Suns have a decision to make.

If I were another GM, I wouldn't give up an ounce of talent to acquire Marion. As much as he's loved, he can't handle the ball and can't shoot a lick. He definitely isn't worth max money and will be hard pressed to get it. He's going to be blindsided with lowball offers once he's available, just wait.

Onto the next player Sheridan thinks could be traded.

Amare Stoudemire, Suns
The Suns were willing to move him over the summer when they thought they could get Garnett, and then his name pretty much dropped out of the rumor mill. But one source close to the team told ESPN.com that the Suns very quietly revisited the idea of moving Stoudemire early in December, which would lead one to believe they'll at least be open to fielding offers as the deadline nears.

Just a thought, but doesn't Stoudemire and Atlanta's No. 1 pick, which the Suns own from a prior trade, for Gasol and Hakim Warrick make some sense for both teams? If not that one, what about Stoudemire for Rasheed Wallace?

I'd bet my house Steve Kerr tosses and turns every night wishing he pulled the trigger on the Amare for KG trade. Despite naming my blog for Amare, I know this would have been a good deal.

Alas, it was never made and now we're left with endless speculation on Amare's future with the Suns and if he'll ever give 100% on the defensive end for an entire game.

Sheridan's referring to the quiet shopping of Amare in December most likely refers to this previous shitstorm. Was the Gasol/Warrick combo or Rasheed part of those conversations?

I'm not sure I like either one, especially bringing 'Sheed into the fold. Forget the fact that Joe Dumars would die and go to heaven after making that trade and look at 'Sheed. He's old, he's gotten fat and he can be a pain in the ass. Bad idea, not a fair trade in the least.

The Gasol/Warrick combination is at least intriguing. But giving up on Amare for a hairy Spaniard and a leaper from Syracuse just doesn't do it for me.

The biggest problem with trading Amare is everyone knows he's a stud but is a flawed rebounder and defender. Every GM knows the Suns are looking for roles to be filled and have the power to lowball Kerr to get him to fill those roles. To hell with that.

Last but not least.

Theo Ratliff, Timberwolves
He makes the list not because of his talent, but because of his salary, $11.6 million, which comes off the books after this season.

Also, we expect him to take a buyout in late February and then sign with a team needing extra size -- perhaps Boston or Phoenix -- for the postseason.

I wouldn't argue with the addition of Theo Ratliff. He's another big body, he's known for his shot-blocking and his contract would come off the books anyway. Why the hell not. Just tell him to be sure and use all six fouls on Duncan wisely.

Either way, if what Sheridan says is even half true, the Suns are in for an interesting second half of the season.

We Can Always Hope

Here's a list of things I hope to see tonight in the Suns/Lakers matchup:

-Boris Diaw and not the fraud who continues to steal his jersey most games. Who from the Lakers if going to guard him tonight? He's the ultimate matchup problem, even the ugly Zen Master can't find an answer for him.

I'd also like to see him dunk over Kwame Brown and then stand over top of him for revenge from the playoffs a couple of years ago. Just pretend he's one of the blond bimbos you seem to have an affinity for, Boris.

-Kobe Bryant scoring 35+. As much as it sucks to see this guy do well, it'll mean the rest of the team is doing jack shit. That's important, because it sure seems like they've suddenly got the right mix of guys, with a coach who puts them in the right places.

-Raja Bell getting nasty with Kobe. If Kobe falls down, don't help him up. If Kobe goes hard to the hoop, make him earn a trip to the line. I'm not saying a replay of the clothesline from the playoffs a couple of years ago is in order but this smiling and laughing bullshit has gone on long enough.

Raja was brought in specifically to play defense on the 2 guards of the West, namely Manu and Kobe. Lock it down, Raja.

-better than 41% shooting from the Suns, which is what they threw up there against the Clippers the other night. Hideous, hideous game. If things go that poorly again, expect a 40 point blowout loss.

-Marcus Banks continuing to get a shot. He was -15 against the Clippers but guess what? LB was -17 (albeit in three times the minutes.) It was a shitty game from everyone and it's too easy to pin the loss on Banks. LB didn't shoot well and didn't distribute at all. The entire second unit stunk it up (followed by the starters stinking it up on their return) and there's no reason to think they'll do so again tonight.

Coach D absolutely has to play the bench and keep working on the rotation. Something will stick, it's just a matter of throwing stuff at the wall long enough.

I don't think running LB off the ball is a terrible idea, Banks can't do much worse at the 1 at this point.

-defensive rebounding is key. The Lakers will continue to exploit the Suns biggest weakness, Phil is no dummy. It may be too much to ask for this team to win the rebounding battle every night but a concerted effort on the glass isn't. Keep the Lakers from getting second chances and the odds for winning the game go up dramatically.

I sound like the manager in Bull Durham but with basketball right now.

"Basketball is a simple game. You dribble the ball, you pass the ball, you shoot the ball."

-no double teams down low. With Bynum out, Amare should be able to stay with Michael Jordan's bitch just fine. Marion and Odom is always a battle, let Shawn do his thing until it stops working.

Leaving The Snowboarding Serbian and Farmar (as well as Kobe...they wouldn't be that dumb, right) isn't a good idea. What's worse, any perimeter player not matched up is one more guy able to crash the boards.

-the retaking of first place by the Suns. This should be a statement game by the Suns tonight. Put the rest of the division and the West on notice by going into Staples Center and putting a hurt on teh Lakers.

Yes, Grant Hill is out but so is Andrew Bynum. Who's going to want it more? Who wants to lay claim to the title of best team in the Pacific?

I can only hope it's the Suns.

No Way He Drives a Prius

Great NBA commercial with Steve Nash here (via TrueHoop.)

It's very well done and they of course pick a catchy little ditty to go along with it. But take a look at his car when he gets out at the arena.

A Prius? No way. Who does he think he is, Larry David?

Make It Stop

La la la
la la la la la



La la la
La la la la la



La la la
La la la la la



La la la
La la la la la

Throwing in the Kitchen Sink

The Suns had absolutely no answer for Sam Cassell tonight, the little alien couldn't miss. Everything he threw up there, whether it was an off balance jumper, a pull up or a prayer, somehow found its way in.

It's tough to get too upset when a guy goes off like that but then you remember he's pushing 40 and has been in the league for 15 years. When he came out from Florida State I was still in junior high. He was ugly then and he's ugly now.



And yet he continues to kill the Suns. I don't see him dropping 30 on many other teams, so what gives?

Chalk it up to this being the third time the Suns and Clippers have faced off in the last couple of weeks or that the team is looking forward to revenge on the Lakers. I know it will help me sleep a little better tonight.

For whatever reason, the Suns have a hard time stopping a scorer who is feeling it. They did give him different looks, putting LB, Raja and of course Marion on him, but it didn't matter. He still just about single-handedly won the game.

The Suns carelessness with the ball in the second half and all around, sloppy, uninspired play didn't help things, but the alien was definitely the difference.

Can't wait to see Kobe drop 60 on us Thursday night.

Laker Fanbase Suddenly Dwindles

That's right you front-running assholes, your emerging center fucked up his knee last night.



Looks like it fucking hurts.

I have no ill will to the kid but it's nice to see the Lakers bandwagon experience a blown out tire. If it could just veer into oncoming traffic the world would be a better place.

Getting Carried Away

Last night sucked.

But in looking back at my rant, I overreacted. I've been frustrated all season with the Suns effort and overall play and getting stomped by stupid Utah Jazz. I can't stand those guys.

I ignored the fact that an overtime game was played the night before and that the team had to travel. And the Jazz didn't do either of those things.

Alvin Gentry said it pretty well: "“I’d like to see somebody else play without their engine, brakes and tires.”

So forgive me for going nuts. But I'm still pissed.

These are at least a little funny though (thanks FreeDarko.) Even I can admit it.

Miserable Night

The game isn't officially over just yet (there's 6 minutes to go) but they really shouldn't have bothered playing the second half.

The Suns scored a whopping 12 points in the third quarter. 12! I know Nash can't keep anything down or in. I know Hill is minus an appendix and I know Shawn's elbow and vagina are bruised, but holy shit.

This was ugly and I'm as miserable watching the Suns tonight as they are playing this game. Their body language stinks, they look like they're having teeth pulled.

In the preseason they talked about a more business like approach and using the regular season as a tuneup for the second season, the one that really matters. Well, if business like means playing with no emotion and without any consistent effort from one game to the next, I absolutely hate it.

You're probably reading this and thinking, "fuck this guy, three of their starters" were out. And you'd be right. But I don't give a shit. I think I've only truly enjoyed watching the Suns once this year and that was the other night when they destroyed Denver.

Doug Collins made a great point tonight, something I've touched on before with the help of FreeDarko. The Suns are no longer a novelty, as a number of other teams run and gun. Nothing is really a surprise anymore.

Why this sucks the fun out of the game for this team I'm not sure. But they look miserable. All of them. Even the high fives look forced.

Maybe it's our fault for hoping for so much but can you blame us? This team is ridiculously talented and despite their evident misery, have the best record in the West to show for it.

Sure as hell doesn't seem like it though. Check out Adande. Sucks because it's all true.

Here's to looking forward to Amare saying all the right things tomorrow and everyone pretending all is hunky dory with this squad.

Fuck this shit.

Hooray Internet!

-Hooray TrueHoop! Did you know Thunder Dan's "hey hun, don't forget the coffee line" comes from Good Will Hunting? I didn't either.

The video is linked at TrueHoop (along with Majerle's insane trick shots) but why link when you can embed and make a blog post look more official and take up more space? That's what I always say.



-Hooray Paul Coro! If Marion isn't an All-Star, then I don't know what an All-Star is. Josh Howard is having a great year and he's challenging Dirk for supremacy on the Mavs but who would you rather have on your team?

-Hooray Jerry Brown. No, not the former California governor and the subject of this song:



If you're not checking his blog on a daily basis, you need to start. Coro does a nice job but Brown tends to get down to the nitty gritty more often.

-Hooray youtube. Just for the fuck of it, I'm posting two KJ dunk videos. I know I've put them up before but really, they're tough to get tired of. If KJ were two or three inches taller he'd be an all-time great. As is, his career stats are more than impressive. What a fucking stud.

Letting Someone Else do the Dirty Work

I hope you don't come to this blog looking for statistical analysis or even anything resembling common sense. If you are, back from whence you came.

Thankfully, there are basketball sites/blogs out there that do that kind of stuff for me/us and I can just take a look at that and make my opinion know from there.

Today's first link comes via TrueHoop. Basketbawful thinks the Suns suck. Well, not exactly.

They do however prove something we've all known for quite some time: the Suns DO suck at rebounding. The big problem thus far this year is that they've sucked harder at this integral part of the game than in years past. Case in point:

So the Suns' biggest problem (and I'm not the first person to mention this) seems to be rebounding, where their negative differential has dropped from -2.3 to -5.6. And in case you were wondering -- and even if you weren't -- the answer is yes: The Suns have the worst rebounding differential in the league. Only the Golden State Warriors (-5.3) are nearly as bad on the boards; the next closest team is the Clippers (-2.8).

Pretty fucking awful stuff right there. So what's the answer? Basketbawful bemoans the loss of Kurt Thomas and the toughness he brought to the team (listen, I liked the guy but everyone acts like he was the fucking second coming of Bill Russell on the defensive end...the Suns have moved on. Brian Skinner brings more energy and a stupid goatee.)

The answer is nothing more than a concerted effort. Pretty simple, right? But if you've watched the Suns since Coach D took over, you know it isn't.

For whatever reason (selfishness, coaching philosophy, personnel) the Suns just don't rebound well. It's pretty crazy really. If they cleaned the glass better they'd be able to run more. And if they ran more they'd score more. And if they'd score more, well, you get the idea.

They've got to want it. What's frustrating is that at times you see those flashes of intensity and brilliance on both the glass and the defensive end. Guys go after the ball with reckless abandon and play the passing lanes like new fish guarding their butthole in prison.

Anyway, check out the article from Basketbawful. It's very well done and informative stuff. They also get into a personnel change involving Marion (something I couldn't disagree with more) and link to a post from Hardwood Paroxysm, telling us why Shawn Marion is too good for the Suns. Hint: addition by subtraction or some shit like that. Basically, dump Shawn while the Suns still can and make up for his production with a couple of other guys.

Shit, I wasn't going to get into this but here goes. That's all well and good, especially if you can get a couple, three decent players who will know their role. However, there's a couple of major issues with going that route:

1 - Shawn Marion is one of a kind. Yes, he can be whiny and immature and he loves watching cartoons (not funny stuff like ATHF but Bugs Bunny type stuff...cartoons you stopped watching when you were 9) but no one else in the league does what he does. Josh Howard is getting close but he's still a poor man's Shawn Marion

2 - this one is important: COACH D'ANTONI DOESN'T PLAY HIS FUCKING BENCH!!!! Drop Marion, pick up three players. What are those guys going to do? Coach D isn't going to trust them and he sure as hell won't play their asses. He's a stubborn, stubborn man and a Marion trade for spare parts would most likely FUBAR the season.

Blood pressure is up. Damnit.

Enough With the Butt Pee

ASU played UofA tonight and I admit I didn't watch all of the Suns game. I missed all of the first quarter and the first 8 minutes of the second. I know, I know, I'm not very good at this blog thing.

The Suns effort and overall demeanor didn't exactly help, however. They weren't having any fun and looked tired.

Maybe it has something to do with the flu going around the locker room. First Raja and now Nash. Wash your hands, fellas!

Just a couple of quick observations:
-Amare could have dominated tonight. Of course, he needs the ball in his hands to do that, something the Suns didn't do a very good job of accomplishing at times. His foul trouble was again an issue but the Pacers really didn't have much an answer for him, even with Greg Foster giving his all.

-LB played pretty well and had a great third quarter and he's been my favorite Suns player for a couple of years now...but even I have to admit he's shooting too much and forcing things. The kid can be unstoppable at times but it almost seems like he's getting a big head about him.

A reckless drive to the lane isn't always the answer and a pass of the pick 'n roll shouldn't be impossible.

It's tough to complain but thus far this year, I really think he's taken a step back. For whatever reason Coach D continues to allow him to run the point when Nash is on the bench and his reluctance to pass is a main factor in the offense going stagnant.

Yes, Marcus Banks can make some bad decisions but not everyone is Steve Nash. For my money, LB is much better off the ball than Banks. Here's to hoping it's tinkered with throughout the year.

-watching Jamaal Tinsley is like watching a heavier-set Sam Cassell. Their games are so similar it's eerie. I think their combined vertical may be about 8" though. It's amazing how they can both get their shot nearly whenever they want.

-Dunleavy clearly committed a foul on Barbosa at the end of regulation. The refs definitely missed one there, pretty pathetic really.

-usually, when Raja is the Suns top scorer, it's a recipe for disaster. Not so tonight. He hit some big shots and did his thing on the defensive end. Thank goodness the butt pee didn't sap him of all his strength.

-best wishes to Nash, nothing worse than pulling double duty (or so I'm told.) It'll be great if he's the last to be struck down by the dreaded trots.

-best wishes as well to Grant Hill. I swear this guy is cursed or something. At least it wasn't an ankle, I suppose.

-last but not least, GO DEVILS!!!!

Lots of Words

-Marcus Banks still has a loooong way to go. At least that's what Coach D thinks. Check out his postgame comments from last night:

"What he needs to do and, he's doing it, is learn how not to foul in crucial times , how not turn it over, how not to jack one up, how to be a real good team guy. He's trying."

The dude hit 7 of 8 three pointers and played solid defense on AI and all Coach D can do is beat him down with backhanded compliments and take a steaming dump in his Cheerios.



Apparently he still has a lot of work to do to truly crack the rotation and it seems like he knows it. Either way, bitching by Coach D aside, it's good to see someone other than LB contribute off the bench.

-there's no way the Nuggets are contenders. They have arguably more talent than any team in the league but with Carmelo and AI on the floor at the same time, the ball sticks far too much and guys get phased out.

Couple that with the fiery personalities of Kenyon Martin, George Karl and the aforementioned superstars and the Suns chemistry issues look like a bachelor party at the Spearmint Rhino.

-Raja definitely got in Carmelo's head a little last night, Anthony was visibly frustrated at times and used a few well-timed shoves and elbows to voice his displeasure with the lack of calls he got and Raja's physical play.

-did anyone else think Amare looked listless and lost at times last night? I know he was in foul trouble and the Suns couldn't miss from the outside but he looked more disinterested at times than he's ever looked. Sack up, Black Jesus. This is still your team and come playoff time, it'll only go as far as you'll carry it (if you're looking for my take on his absence from practice, I'm going to disappoint you. I was in a dark place all day yesterday, thinking of the worst. Now that it looks like my world will not come crashing down around me I'm just going to bury it. Bury it deep.)



-apparently Denver is upset that the Suns ran up the score and kept jacking threes at the end. How about playing some defense, assholes? Boo hoo, the Suns beat your asses, get the fuck over it. I don't recall any Suns players crying like little bitches after this beatdown from last year.

-did anyone else see Nene's dunk over Amare early in the 4th quarter? He got the ball on the block and waited for Amare to get set. Right before getting beat and dunked on, Amare called off the double team. Talk about your all time backfires.

-if there were ever a doubleheader ESPN or TNT should have picked up it was the games from last night. Suns/Nuggets is always good times as neither team plays a lick of defense. And any Golden State game is entertaining, particularly when they take down the Spurs in overtime. The Warriors are absolutely, positively frightening. They've got to break down eventually, right? Right?

I'm A Liar

Technology is amazing, isn't it? Here I sit at a laptop with a wireless connection 300 miles from home. Pretty damn cool.

Thank goodness the stupid Bulls and Blazers played two overtimes of shitty basketball because I didn't have to watch the Suns play what can simply be described as an awful first quarter (don't forget, I'm in LA...no local feed, no throwback broadcast for me.)

13 fucking points? Good Lord, that's pathetic. What's worse is the 30+ they gave up.

Buuuuut...Coach D pushed the right buttons (him telling the guys playing well didn't always happen but playing hard has to happen was brilliant...he's probably sick of saying it though) and the Suns got their shit together.

It helped that the Sonics stink and laid brick after brick from the outside but the effort in the second quarter especially was a thing of beauty.

Again, getting a top four seed is done by consistently beating the teams they're supposed to beat. Despite their worst effort of the season in the first quarter, the Suns did just that.

And they now have the best record in the Western Conference even though they've played the least number of home games of any team in the league. We should all put that in our pipes and smoke it.

Going Into the Belly of the Beast and Why I SUCK as a Blogger

This is the first post of the week. Pretty friggin' sad. What can I say, I suck. New Year's Day was spent with a plethora of college football and an obscene amount of PBR. January 2nd was spent shaking out the cobwebs and my performance as a Suns blogger has thusly suffered.



Don't get used to it, I'll be back on the proverbial horse in no time. And by in no time I mean Monday of next week. I'm driving to the city of Angels today and I'll be visiting with relatives of my wife.

These relatives happen to be huge Laker fans. I'm prepared for some abuse, as the Suns have gotten their asses handed to them twice so far by the Lakers this year. Should be fun.

Everyone have a great weeekend, until Monday.

Wait...I'm pissed I'm going to miss the throwback broadcast for the 40th anniversary tonight. Sucks. Should be good times.