WuRaider

Suns win after Amaré ejection


Grizzlies forward Rudy Gay fouls Suns forward Amaré Stoudemire on a drive in the first half Tuesday in Memphis, Tenn.

by Paul Coro - Dec. 30, 2008 10:51 PM
The Arizona Republic

MEMPHIS, Tenn. - There was some history Tuesday night in the Suns' 101-89 victory over the Grizzlies, as Shaquille O'Neal passed Oscar Robertson and moved into eighth place on the NBA's career scoring list.

Amaré Stoudemire was history, too, receiving two technical fouls for arguing his third personal foul in the second quarter. He then spent the rest of the game with teammate Steve Nash in the FedEx Forum visitors' locker room. Nash sat out for precautionary reasons after suffering back spasms Monday.

"I was Marv Albert, and Steve was Doug Collins," Stoudemire said, referring to the NBA broadcasters after watching the game from the locker room.

But just when the Suns looked like they would be history - trailing 84-76 - the Suns escaped an ugly road trip against bad teams unscathed.

Just as he saved the Suns when Memphis visited Phoenix in November, Leandro Barbosa picked up his offense against the Grizzlies again, scoring 28 points. He was helped by O'Neal's 24-point, 13-rebound game in a rare consecutive-nights appearance.

The Suns needed every bit of their contributions, with Nash and Stoudemire out and Jason Richardson and Matt Barnes shooting a combined 4 for 18 from the field.

"All you've got to do is throw it down to the most consistent big man in the history of the game," O'Neal said. "I'm proven. I'm like underwear. I'm known to keep things in place."

He kept up his improved free-throw shooting by making 8 of 10 and said he missed only because a woman in the front row was flirting with him and blowing kisses.

Phoenix survived on the energy of players such as Louis Amundson and Jared Dudley at times before a near-flawless finish.

The Suns went from committing a fourth consecutive turnover on the fourth quarter's first play to not having another one for the rest of the game.

The Suns went from giving up a 29-point third quarter to holding the Grizzlies to one field goal over the final 8 1/2 minutes.

And that came on a follow.

The Suns scored the game's final 10 points after the follow.

Suns coach Terry Porter said Stoudemire needs to show more maturity in the situation that got him ejected. Stoudemire said he felt official Bill Kennedy gave him a quick whistle when he debated a call away from the ball.

"I felt disrespect," Stoudemire said. "Refs don't like me as much as the cops didn't like Tupac (Shakur)."

Suns report

Key players

Leandro Barbosa started in place of Steve Nash and scored 28 points, and Shaquille O'Neal made a rare consecutive-night appearance and added 24 points and 13 rebounds.

Key moment

Memphis led 84-76 with 8:42 to go and made one shot the rest of the game.

Key number

8: O'Neal moved into eighth place on the NBA's career scoring list, passing Oscar Robertson with a fourth-quarter dunk one night after bumping Dominique Wilkins to 10th place.

View from press row

With Steve Nash out Monday and Tuesday, the Suns needed Amaré Stoudemire. But he got his first disqualification and first ejection of the season on successive nights. Stoudemire, fourth in the NBA with nine technicals, got a silly third foul Tuesday when he grabbed Hakim Warrick away from the ball. Stoudemire argued and received one technical foul and then said something to official Bill Kennedy that would earn any player another technical.
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itlnsunsfan

Holy crap. Did you guys notice Shaq is 11th in the league in PER, sandwiched between Tim Duncan and Dirk Nowitzki. He's making the marion trade look like a steal, FOR US.

Irish

Kerr made a major gamble when he traded for an injured Shaq. We keep forgetting just how good the Suns training staff is, but it seems Kerr was counting on them.

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"I like to act decisively whenever I'm trying to get something done," Dumars said. "But I'm well aware that there has to be another team that's willing, and there has to be a good deal for both teams. Those two things will slow you down in doing a deal."

Andrew

And you are just now realizing this?

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SirStefan32

I liked the trade, but I thought that Shaq would basically play 50 games per year and average 10 points and 6 board, or maybe 12 and 7. I never thought he would be such a force. He is the Suns' best and most consistent player so far this year.
When I was watching the Spurs game, I couldn't believe it- he was going head to head with Duncan and holding his own.
I love having Shaq on this team. As I said in another thread- Amare is not the man, Nash is not the man, SHAQ is the man. He is playing as if though he were 30 years old, not 36. What I really love about Shaq is that, given the opportunity, he will put the team on his back and carry them.
I do give coach Porter a lot of credit for recognizing what Shaq is capable of.

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"Don't try to threaten me Mulder! I've watched presidents die."

"If people would know the things I know, we'd all fall apart."

"Once again, tonight, the course of human history will be set by two unknown men standing in the shadows."

Cigarette Smoking Man

Andrew

Shaq can still dominate.

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dodie53

does this mean it's time to trade Nash for a defensive oriented all star PG?

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“You can’t worry about things you have no control over.”

"Above and Beyond"

-- Steve Nash

"I don't even care how much I score.
I just want to win."
-- Ron Artest

S_Nash

LOL!

Name one, sunshine.

There's a reason Lindsay Hunter doesn't see any minutes.

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Walking through the park the other day, I stumbled across a season ticket pass for the Clippers nailed to a tree.

Naturally I took it. You can never have enough nails...

leclerc

I'm very impressed by Shaq so far. I didn't think he'd make that much of a contribution either. Way to go Diesel!

nashman

It's 2 games against bad teams guys lets not go Shaq crazy and forget some of the bigger games where he didn't show up. The Amare ejection was total BS and that ref should be fined. You don't eject a player for complaining about a call or no players would be left!

Roca Dolla

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Chaplin

Examples? Shaq has been pretty consistent all season. Oh, and the nights he was held out don't really count.

LavaLamp2

I really can't judge the accuracy of the refs' calls because a lot of game action happens too quickly, or at angles that i can't see well from on TV or from my seat.

But if Amar'e is right, then he should learn to and make it a point to manipulate things in his favor somehow... give himself a better chance to get favorable calls or non-calls.

LavaLamp2

Shaq has been workman-like in his preparation for this season. Just look at how much his free-throw shooting has improved. His spin moves are quick and crisp. He has a spring in his step. I think he has some upside still. As well as he plays right now, I think Shaq is still playing himself into even better shape for the playoffs.

Anybody read about Shaq's yoga and Jeet-kune-do this year? I came across an article about that somewhere.

LavaLamp2

In that game, Shaq scored more and grabbed more rebounds than both Shawn Marion and Kurt Thomas combined would've had they still been playing with the Suns.